How to Apply to Art and Design at SMU: Dual Admission to SMU and the Meadows School of the Arts with a 15–20-Work Portfolio for the BA and BFA in Art, Creative Computing Through SMU Alone, and Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, undergraduate art and design are in the Meadows School of the Arts: fine art in the Division of Art, plus a newly formed Division of Design. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on SMU’s website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Programs

• BFA in Art: prepares students to become professional artists, work in the arts or go on to graduate study, taught in an integrated studio environment across ceramics, digital/hybrid media, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. At least 66 hours in the Division of Art plus 9–12 hours of art history.
• BA in Art: for students who also want significant study in another discipline, making double majors easier. At least 39 hours in the Division of Art plus 9 hours of art history.
• BFA/Master of Interactive Technology: listed among Meadows majors as a 5½-year degree plan.
• Division of Design: undergraduate programs are the BA in Creative Computing and a BA in Game Development (listed on the division page), plus a Creative Computing minor; the division also houses graduate programs such as SMU Guildhall.
• Meadows says over 80% of its students pursue a double major or minor.

2. Two admission routes

• Dual Admission: for the BA or BFA in Art, you must be admitted to SMU and, separately, to Meadows, by submitting a Meadows Art Application with a portfolio alongside your SMU application. Meadows admission depends on SMU admission. Dance, Film and Media Arts (BFA), Music and Theatre work the same way.
• Standard Admission: Creative Computation, Fashion Media, Advertising, Art History and similar programs only need an SMU application with the area of interest marked; no portfolio.
• The Meadows FAQ notes that only Dance, Music, Theatre, Art and Film and Media Arts (BFA) applicants need an audition or portfolio, and others should not list those as their first-choice major.

3. Art portfolio

• How: open a separate “Meadows Art Application” in the SMU application system and upload a digital portfolio there. You can apply to SMU first or start the Meadows application first; the Division of Art recommends submitting both in the same semester.
• Size: 15–20 works, from direct observation and imagination, showing experience with different media, your skills and interests, and including both school assignments and your own work.
• Additional questions: you will give information about the works and answer questions such as which media you are comfortable with and want to explore (traditional, experimental and digital) and why; the story of one work, its importance, obstacles and inspiration; and why you want to study art, and at SMU.
• Scholarship: submitted portfolios are automatically considered for Meadows artistic scholarships.
• Interview: not mentioned on the Division of Art pages.
• Decisions: after faculty review all portfolios, Meadows emails its decision, and SMU’s decision follows about two weeks later; the FAQ says art results generally come within two weeks of the portfolio deadline.
• The Division of Art’s portal instructions still say to choose “2026” as the application type, which is last cycle’s wording; choose the current type for 2027 entry.

4. Deadlines (two versions)

• SMU Admission (fall 2027): Early Action (non-binding) and Early Decision I (binding) on 1 November 2026; Regular Decision and Early Decision II on 15 January 2027. The international checklist lists these as the scholarship deadlines too.
• Division of Art: portfolio deadlines are the same as SMU’s, listed as 1 November (Early Action, Early Decision I, spring transfers), 1 February (Regular Decision, Early Decision II) and 1 April (fall transfers and current SMU students).
• Regular Decision is 15 January on one page and 1 February on the other; confirm with Meadows Admission (meadowsadmission@smu.edu).
• Be careful with Early Decision: it binds you to SMU even if Meadows does not admit you to Art. For the 1 November deadline, the Division of Art recommends Early Action instead.
• Applicants for the SMU Presidents’ Scholars or Hunt Leadership Scholars programs must submit the art portfolio in the fall and follow those programs’ timelines.

5. Materials, testing and English

• Applications: Common App, ApplyTexas or Coalition (SCOIR). Materials: essay, official high school transcript and counselor recommendation; a teacher recommendation and activities résumé are optional on the international checklist.
• Fee: USD 60, non-refundable (tuition page).
• Testing: SAT/ACT is fully optional for admission and scholarships.
• English: required if your high school teaches in another language or bilingually. The requirements page suggests TOEFL 90 (Reading and Listening 20+, Writing and Speaking 24+), Duolingo 115 or PTE 60; the international checklist says SMU accepts Duolingo, TOEFL and IELTS. You are exempt if you attend an English-medium high school or score 580+ on SAT Reading and Writing or 25+ on ACT Writing.

6. Students at high schools in China

• Apply through the international process; your admission counselor is assigned by high school.
• Gaokao and art exams: how the Gaokao or China’s art entrance exams are used is not published; ask your counselor or Meadows Admission.
• Students at non-English or bilingual high schools need English scores.

7. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• Graduates of high schools outside the US apply through the international process.
• English-medium high schools exempt you from English tests.
• Grade requirements for BC high schools are not published.

8. Transfer students

• SMU requirements: one full semester after high school, 24 transferable hours and a 2.7 GPA (with fewer than 24 hours, high school and college records are both reviewed). SMU degrees require at least 60 hours at SMU.
• Art transfers: also submit the Meadows Art Application and portfolio. Division of Art deadlines: 1 November for spring transfers, 1 April for fall transfers and for current SMU students.
• How transferred art credit is evaluated is not published; ask Meadows Admission.

9. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition: USD 31,868 per term for full-time study (12–18 hours), plus mandatory fees; each credit above 18 adds USD 2,046. Some courses carry course fees. One-time fees: orientation USD 400, matriculation USD 300, housing deposit USD 100.
• Meadows artistic scholarships: first-year and transfer Art students admitted to both SMU and Meadows are considered automatically for renewable artistic merit awards, based on portfolio quality and departmental need, with amounts varying by discipline; minors are not considered. Packages usually arrive between late March and early April, with a 1 May reply date.
• SMU academic scholarships: every applicant, regardless of citizenship, is considered automatically; most awards stack but cannot exceed tuition and fees. Need-based aid is only for US citizens and permanent residents.
• Aid forms: the Meadows FAQ says international applicants do not need the CSS Profile or FAFSA; the aid page asks every Meadows applicant either to submit aid information or tell Meadows they will not apply, so scholarship review is complete.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to SMU and open a Meadows Art Application in the same system; upload 15–20 works and answer the questions
• Early Action by 1 November; Regular Decision is listed as 15 January and 1 February, so confirm with Meadows
• Prepare English scores (e.g. TOEFL 90 or Duolingo 115)

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• International process; English-medium schools waive English tests; ask your counselor about BC grades

Transfer students:

• 24 transferable hours and a 2.7 GPA; fall transfer portfolios due 1 April

Sources: Southern Methodist University, Meadows Division of Art; BFA in Art; BA in Art; Art application, admission and portfolio; Meadows undergraduate admission; Auditions, portfolios and the Meadows application; Meadows admission FAQ; Meadows undergraduate majors; Meadows scholarships and financial aid; Division of Design; SMU application process and deadlines; International application checklist; Admission requirements; Transfer admission; Tuition and fees 2026-2027. Information is for fall 2027 entry (tuition is the 2026-27 rate). Check SMU for the latest details.