How to Apply to Art at the University of New Hampshire: Enter the Studio Art B.A. with 10–12 Works, Then Apply to the B.F.A. as Early as Spring of First Year, with Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of New Hampshire (UNH), undergraduate art is offered by the Department of Art and Art History in the College of Liberal Arts (COLA), with classes in the Paul Creative Arts Center on the Durham campus. Here is what you need to know, based on UNH’s website, for students at high schools in China (including A-level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Degrees and majors

• Arts: Studio Art, B.A.: drawing, painting, photography (digital and darkroom), printmaking, sculpture (steel, aluminum, bronze casting, clay and wood), furniture design and more. 128 credits, 32 of them at UNH; at least 14 major courses (56 credits) with a C or better in each and a 2.0 major GPA; a foreign language is required.
• Arts: Studio Art/Art Education option, B.A.: a second B.A. option listed by the department, with the same portfolio requirement.
• Fine Arts, B.F.A.: for students planning graduate school or careers as professional artists. 128 credits; at least 17 major courses (72 credits) with a C or better in each; no foreign language requirement. Concentration areas include painting, sculpture, ceramics, design, drawing, printmaking, photography and furniture design, and individualized proposals are possible. A two-semester senior thesis seminar is required.
• Shared foundation: both degrees include Principles of Design, Introductory Drawing and Introductory Sculpture, one 2D course, one 3D course and one photography course, plus art history.
• The department also offers a B.A. in art history and minors in architectural studies, art, art history, design studies and studio arts. The department’s list of undergraduate programs has no graphic design bachelor’s degree; design is offered as a minor.

2. The portfolio and entering the B.F.A.

• Who submits: all prospective new students, including external transfers, who want the B.A. in Studio Art or Studio Art/Art Education must submit a portfolio. Your application is not complete until the portfolio has been reviewed. The review only decides eligibility for these majors and has no bearing on admission to UNH, which follows Admissions’ own criteria.
• B.F.A.: first-year and transfer applicants must first be admitted to the Studio Art B.A., then submit a more extensive portfolio after starting at UNH, as early as the spring of the first year. The full faculty reviews B.F.A. portfolios once each spring.
• What to include: 10 to 12 of your best works, with at least four or five drawings from direct observation even if drawing is not your discipline. Choose from ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture or woodworking; your strongest area should make up more than half. Include some personal work that shows your artistic vision, and be selective.
• How to submit: send the images as individual attachments in one email to art-arthistory@unh.edu, not in the email body and not as Google Drive links or zip files. Each JPEG should be 1–2 MB, with a 24 MB total. In the email, give your name and address as on the Common App, your high school (or college for transfers), how you heard about the department, whether you are applying for Studio Art or Studio Art/Art Education, and whether you are applying Early Action or Regular Decision.
• In-person reviews: the page says in-person portfolio reviews are suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus.
• Results: after the faculty review you receive a letter with the result, and a copy goes to Admissions.
• Portfolio deadlines: February 1 for incoming first-year students; November 15 for spring transfers and April 1 for fall transfers. The page does not state a year or a separate portfolio date for early action applicants; ask the department.

3. How and when to apply

• Application: the Common App; the international page says fee waivers can be requested through the Common App. Unofficial documents are accepted, with official copies after you confirm enrollment.
• Deadlines: Spring Decision October 15, Early Action November 15 (supporting documents by December 12; decision by late January), Regular Decision February 1 (decision by late March). The page does not state a year.
• Testing: test-optional for first-year applicants.
• Interviews: none in the UNH application process.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao and art exams: UNH says admission criteria vary by country curriculum and does not say how the gaokao or art exams are used.
• English (international page): Duolingo 120, IELTS 6.5, PTE 59, TOEFL iBT 87 (before January 2026) or 4.5 (January 2026 and after). Institutional English waivers are considered case by case.
• IB: 8 credits for each Higher Level exam scored 5, 6 or 7, but no credit for Higher Level Art/Design, film and Business/Management or for standard level exams.

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

• UNH does not publish separate grade requirements or English waiver rules for Canadian or BC curricula; ask Admissions. The portfolio requirements are the same.

6. Transfer students

• University deadlines (transfer page): spring October 15, fall April 1.
• Portfolio: external transfers applying to the Studio Art B.A. also submit a portfolio, by November 15 for spring and April 1 for fall. B.F.A. applicants enter the B.A. first.
• Credit: the B.F.A. page says 3-credit transfer courses will require additional courses to reach the 72-credit major, and transfer courses can fulfil only 8 major requirements. Coursework from universities outside the U.S. needs a credential evaluation (for example WES) for transfer credit.

7. Costs and scholarships

• 2026/2027 international undergraduate estimate (Durham campus, for the I-20): tuition $37,996, total direct costs $59,452 and an estimated cost of attendance of $64,247. The page notes actual costs vary with course fees; the pages read do not list art course fees.
• Department scholarships: for incoming full-time first-year Studio Art and Studio Art/Art Education majors, based on the portfolio, with all applicants automatically considered. Amounts and international eligibility are not stated.
• University scholarships: international students are considered for merit scholarships “up to $40,000”, and the International Engagement and Service Scholarship (IESS) is for academically strong international undergraduates with financial need. International students cannot receive U.S. federal aid.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare 10–12 works with at least four or five observational drawings; email them as 1–2 MB JPEG attachments to the department
• Submit the Common App by November 15 (early action) or February 1; the portfolio is due February 1, and early action applicants should ask the department about timing
• Prepare IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 4.5 (new format) or Duolingo 120

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

• Same portfolio requirements; ask Admissions about grade and English requirements

Transfer students:

• For fall, apply and send your portfolio by April 1; B.F.A. applicants enter the B.A. first and apply after starting at UNH

Sources: University of New Hampshire, Department of Art and Art History; Portfolio requirements; Arts: Studio Art, B.A.; Fine Arts, B.F.A.; How to apply: international; Transfer applicants; International students estimate of expenses. Deadline pages do not state a year, and costs are 2026/2027 I-20 estimates. Check UNH for the latest details.