How to Apply to Art at the University of Vermont: The B.A. in Studio Art in the College of Arts and Sciences, with Drawing, Ceramics, Painting, Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture, Graphic Design and Digital Art and No Portfolio Listed on Admission Pages, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of Vermont (UVM), undergraduate art is offered by the Program in Art and Art History in the School of the Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, as art making within a liberal arts education. Here is what you need to know, based on UVM’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. Degree and curriculum

• B.A. in Studio Art: courses in drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, graphic design, digital art and time-based media. Studios are largely open 24 hours: drawing, ceramics, painting, printmaking (etching, silkscreen, risograph and relief), sculpture, a wood and metal shop, silver-based darkrooms, and digital labs for motion pictures, photo printing, printmaking and graphic design.
• Major requirements (catalogue): 29 credits in the major plus 6 ancillary credits.
  • Foundations: Drawing, Perspectives on Art Making, and two art history courses (before and after 1300).
  • Intermediate: one course in each of three areas (drawing/painting/printmaking/graphic design; photography/film and video/digital art; ceramics/sculpture), two electives and one art history course.
  • Advanced: one 3000-level or higher course, which may be an internship or independent study.
  • At least half of the major credits must be taken at UVM; the B.A. requires 120 credits, with no more than 45 from one subject code.
• B.S. in Art Education: combines studio art, art history and classroom experience and leads to a Vermont K-12 art license.
• There is also a B.A. in art history and an art minor. The pages read show no separate graphic design or other design bachelor’s degree; graphic design is taught as courses within studio art.
• Declaring the major: once you declare studio art, art history or art education, you are assigned an individual faculty advisor.

2. Portfolio

• No portfolio listed: the international application page, the catalogue’s admission requirements page and the studio art pages read do not list a portfolio, interview or set assignment. Whether a portfolio is needed is not published; email the Program in Art and Art History (artandarthistory@uvm.edu) or Admissions.

3. High school course requirements

• College of Arts and Sciences recommends: coursework across the liberal arts (fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences), four years of math including trigonometry, and a foreign language in all four years of high school.
• University minimums (international page): three years of math (algebra I and II and geometry or equivalent), two years of one foreign language, three years of natural or physical science (including lab science) and three years of social science.

4. How and when to apply

• Application: the Common App or Coalition App (Scoir); no application fee.
• Materials: secondary school transcripts (with English translations), first-quarter or mid-year grades, recommendation and English scores. SAT/ACT is optional, and non-submitters are not disadvantaged for admission, merit scholarships or the Honors College.
• Deadlines: Early Action and Early Decision I November 1; Early Decision II and Regular Decision January 15. The page does not state a year.
• Enrollment: admitted students pay a $500 non-refundable acceptance fee before starting the I-20 and visa process.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao and art exams: UVM does not say whether it considers them or publish any score requirement.
• English minimums: Duolingo 110, TOEFL 80 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5; MyBest TOEFL scores are not accepted. Students scoring TOEFL 80–89 (4.5 new) or equivalent are placed in an ESOL course in their first semester.
• English waivers: if you believe you qualify, email Admissions at admissions@uvm.edu.

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

• UVM does not publish grade requirements for Canadian or BC curricula and does not list Canada as exempt from English tests. Ask Admissions using the waiver process above.

7. Transfer students

• Deadlines: spring November 1, fall June 1, with rolling notification.
• Review: before 21 college credits, high school and college grades are both reviewed; after that, mainly college GPA and courses.
• Credit: courses below a C do not transfer; usually 30 of the last 45 credits must be taken at UVM. At least half of the studio art major credits must be taken at UVM.
• Whether transfers submit a portfolio is not stated on the pages read.

8. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 I-20 estimate (international page): tuition and fees $50,713, living expenses $17,724 and other expenses $10,575 (books, health insurance, personal costs), a total of $79,012. You must show funding for one year, most commonly with a bank statement dated within 6 months. The pages read do not list art course fees.
• Scholarships: international merit scholarships of up to $30,000 a year, awarded automatically during application review with no separate application. Students on student visas pay out-of-state tuition.
• Program awards: the Program in Art and Art History lists junior awards, senior awards and research funding; the pages read do not give conditions or amounts.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the Common App or Scoir by November 1 (early) or January 15 (regular), with no fee and optional tests
• Prepare IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 80 or Duolingo 110
• Email the Program in Art and Art History before applying to confirm whether a portfolio is needed

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

• Ask Admissions about English waivers and grade requirements

Transfer students:

• Apply by June 1 for fall; only courses with a C or better transfer

Sources: University of Vermont, Program in Art and Art History; B.A. in Studio Art; Catalogue: Studio Art major; Art advising; Catalogue: admission requirements; How to apply: international students; How to apply: transfer students; Catalogue: transfer. Deadline pages do not state a year, and costs are for 2026-27. Check UVM for the latest details.