How to Apply for Art and Design at the University of Kentucky: Most School of Art and Visual Studies Majors Need No Portfolio to Enter, the Art Studio BFA After Foundations and a Portfolio Review, and Digital Media Design with Direct Freshman Entry but a Portfolio for Transfers, with Timelines for Students from China, Canada and Transfers

At the University of Kentucky (UK), in Lexington, undergraduate art and design is taught by the School of Art and Visual Studies (SA/VS) in the College of Fine Arts. This guide summarizes UK’s official information for students at high schools in China, students at high schools in Canada (including British Columbia and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and majors

• Art Studio BFA: a selective, pre-professional degree; students may focus on one medium or combine several. Areas include animation and virtual reality, ceramics, drawing, 3D fabrication, digital illustration, graphic design, fiber, painting, photography, printmedia, sculpture and metal arts, video and filmmaking, intermedia and web design, and performance. Each student organizes a public solo exhibition with a faculty committee.
• Art Studio BA: the same areas with a more flexible path; minors or double majors are encouraged, and all BA students show work in a group exhibition in the Bolivar Art Gallery.
• Digital Media Design BS: students can emphasize commercial photography or graphic design, or take web design and development, professional printmaking, animation and fabrication, with capstone courses at the end.
• Others: BAs in Art Education, Art History and Visual Studies, and Film and Sonic Art; a filmmaking certificate; and minors in photography, digital media design, visual studies, art history and art studio.
• Foundations: students in Digital Media Design, Art Studio and Art Education take the first-year Foundations program in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital media and image analysis. The Digital Media Design page says its foundations consist of five studio courses, two art history surveys and an introductory course in academic and creative strategies. Students who took Foundations courses can enter the annual Foundation Exhibition, with about USD 10,000 in prizes each year.

2. Admission and portfolios

• Apply to UK: all undergraduate applicants apply through UK’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions and must meet UK’s standards; in the College of Fine Arts only music and dance require a separate audition.
• Most majors need no portfolio: the SA/VS admissions page says that, with the exception of Digital Media Design, its majors do not require a portfolio review or other pre-major requirements.
• Art Studio BFA: students must be admitted to UK, complete the first-year Foundations experience, then apply for and pass a portfolio review; the BFA page says all Foundations requirements must be completed before applying. The number of works, format and review dates are not published; ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies (matt.page@uky.edu).
• Digital Media Design BS, two statements: the SA/VS admissions page lists Digital Media Design as the exception that requires a portfolio, while the program page says first-year applicants need only the UK application, and transfers from other UK programs or universities (including current students adding it as a second major) must answer additional questions and submit a portfolio, with competitive admission based on academic performance and creative goals. Both statements appear on UK’s website; confirm with the school.

3. Timeline and documents (international)

• Deadlines (international requirements page, no year stated): fall (August start) priority deadline December 1, spring (January start) October 15; December 1 is also the international freshman scholarship deadline. UK’s freshman page lists early action on December 1 and regular decision on February 15 for fall 2027.
• How to apply: the UK International Application or the Common App; the fee is USD 60 (non-refundable); official transcripts in English; ACT/SAT optional.
• Grades: the international requirements page does not give a high school GPA for non-engineering majors; ask international admissions.
• English: TOEFL 71 for tests on or before January 20, 2026, or 4 overall and in each section for tests from January 21, 2026; TOEFL Essentials 7.5; IELTS 6.0; Duolingo 105.
• Exemption: the exemption list (PDF) includes Canada for first-year applicants.
• Students from China: how the Gaokao is used, and whether art exams are considered, is not published; ask international admissions.
• Students from Canada (including BC): BC grade requirements are not published; ask international admissions.

4. Costs and scholarships

• Costs (2026-2027): the minimum funding for an international undergraduate I-20 is USD 57,800, including living expenses and books of 18,234 and health insurance of 3,720; tuition and fees are on the tuition page and may vary by program.
• SA/VS incoming scholarships: up to USD 6,000 over four years (USD 1,500 a year). Eligible students are invited after their UK application is reviewed: Art Studio, Digital Media Design and Art Education students submit a portfolio, and Art History and Visual Studies students submit an essay. The page does not say whether international students are eligible; ask the school.
• UK international freshman scholarships (fall entry only, renewable and combinable):
  • Bluegrass Scholarship: USD 6,500 a year (GPA 3.0) to 16,000 (GPA 3.8, or GPA 3.5 with SAT 1360); deadline December 1.
  • William C. Parker Scholarship: variable; holistic review of applicants with GPA 3.0 or higher, no extra application; priority deadline December 1.
  • International Ambassador Scholarship: USD 3,000 to 50% of tuition; GPA 2.5 plus supplementary materials; priority deadline February 15.
• Current students: prizes at the Foundation and Carey Ellis exhibitions and several faculty-selected school awards.

5. Transfer students

• International transfers: a 2.0 college GPA; those with 23 or fewer credits also send high school transcripts. Deadlines are May 15 for fall and October 15 for spring. Completing English 101 and 102 (or equivalent) at a U.S. institution may qualify for a TOEFL waiver.
• Into Digital Media Design: additional questions and a portfolio are required.
• Into the Art Studio BFA: Foundations requirements must also be completed before the portfolio review; whether outside courses count toward Foundations is not published; ask the school.
• Transfer scholarships: the International Ambassador Scholarship (priority May 15) and the Transfer Achievement Scholarship of USD 4,000 a year (GPA 3.0, priority June 15).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by December 1 (fall priority and scholarship deadline) with English transcripts and TOEFL 4, IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 105
• No portfolio is generally needed for admission; have work ready in case the school invites a scholarship portfolio
• For the BFA, complete Foundations after enrolling, then apply for the portfolio review
• Ask international admissions about the GPA requirement and how the Gaokao is used

Students at high schools in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

• Canada is on the first-year English exemption list; ask international admissions about BC grade requirements
• Portfolio and BFA steps as above

Transfer students:

• A 2.0 college GPA; apply by May 15 for fall
• Digital Media Design transfers submit additional questions and a portfolio

Sources: University of Kentucky, College of Fine Arts admissions; School of Art and Visual Studies; SA/VS undergraduate admissions; Art Studio BFA; Art Studio BA; Digital Media Design BS; Foundations; SA/VS scholarships; International undergraduate requirements; English exemption countries (PDF); International tuition and costs; International scholarships; Freshman admission. International deadlines do not state a year; costs are for 2026-2027. Check UK’s website for the latest.