How to Apply to Art and Design at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture: Studio Art BFAs and Design BFAs in Graphic and Interactive Design, Illustration and UX/UI, a First-Year Foundations Program Before Entering the Major, an 8–12 Piece Portfolio Due February 1 for Some Majors, and Portfolio Rules and Timelines for Students in China, Canada and Transfers

Temple University is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its art and design bachelor’s programs are in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture (Tyler). This guide summarizes the official requirements for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Degrees and majors

• Studio BFAs: Ceramics, Fibers and Material Studies, Glass, Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture. The programs page says BFAs are also offered with Entrepreneurial Studies or an Art Education concentration.
• Design BFAs (Department of Design and Illustration): Graphic and Interactive Design, Illustration and Emerging Media, and User Experience and User Interface Design. Tyler’s first-year page describes the last two as new from fall 2025.
• Others: BAs in Art History, Art Therapy and Visual Studies, plus BS programs such as Architecture and Landscape Architecture, not covered here. The first-year page says Tyler has 21 undergraduate degrees.
• Credits: for students entering in 2026-27, studio BFAs require at least 126 credits and a 2.00 cumulative GPA, with C- or better in major courses. Temple is a NASAD member.

2. Foundations first, major from second year

• First year: all BFA students take Foundations (20 credits) in Drawing, Visual Language and Space, combining analog and digital tools; Foundations students must have a personal laptop.
• Second year: six 2000-level studio courses (18 credits), including the one or two prerequisites each major requires, with no more than three from one area.
• Third and fourth years: 21–24 credits of major courses plus a capstone.
• Entry to Graphic and Interactive Design: complete Foundations and DES 2001, DES 2002 and DES 2003 with C- or better, then pass the department’s portfolio feedback session. Reviews run twice a year, at the end of fall (December) and spring (May); incomplete or late applications are not reviewed but can be resubmitted next cycle. Entry rules for Illustration and UX/UI were not covered on the pages read; see their catalog pages.

3. Portfolio: which majors require one

• Required for first-year applicants to: Art Education, Art Therapy, Design and Illustration, Studio Arts and Visual Studies. The FAQ on the same page also lists Art History; Art History applicants should confirm with Tyler Admissions.
• Architecture: portfolio optional. Any undergraduate applicant may submit one for scholarship consideration, and Architecture and Environmental Design applicants are especially encouraged.
• What to submit: 8–12 original, finished works from the last one to two years in any media, with at least one drawing recommended; sketchbooks may be added as supplements but do not count as items. Work from weekend or summer programs or your own practice is welcome.
• How: upload through Temple’s SlideRoom; do not mail work. Deadline February 1, for fall applicants only.
• Preview: Tyler Admissions offers unofficial portfolio reviews by email, and attends National Portfolio Days in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other cities each fall.

4. Dates and materials (international first-year)

• Application: Temple uses only the Common App, opening August 1, with a USD 55 fee; choose your Tyler major on the application.
• Early Action: November 1, decision by January 10, non-binding; admissions says Early Action applicants are generally admitted at a higher rate.
• Regular Decision: February 1, also the portfolio scholarship deadline. Admitted students deposit by May 1.
• Spring entry: November 1.
• Materials: official transcripts (grades 9–11 and current 12th-grade progress for four-year schools) with English translations; testing optional, with test-free applicants equally eligible for merit scholarships; up to two optional recommendations.
• None of these pages shows a year; check the latest dates for fall 2027 entry.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao and art exams: how the Gaokao or art unified or school exams are used is not published; submit transcripts as above and ask International Admissions.
• English (direct admission): TOEFL 79 or 4.0 on the new scale (no section below 4.0), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 110, PTE 53, Cambridge C1/C2 180, MET 56, iTEP 4.0 or SAT reading and writing 550.
• Bridge Program: academically qualified applicants slightly below (for example TOEFL 74–78 or 3.5, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 100–105) can be fully admitted through Bridge, taking 12 credits with extra support in the first semester. The FAQ gives TOEFL 65–78 for conditional admission; the two pages differ, so confirm with admissions.
• A-Level, IB, AP: Temple accepts advanced credit as determined by the examining body; see its advanced credit policy.

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

• English exemption: if English is your native language, or you have completed three or more years in an English-only curriculum. The page uses language of instruction rather than a country list.
• BC grade requirements are not published; ask International Admissions.

7. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 estimates (full-time, 24 credits a year): Student Financial Services lists costs by college. The “Tyler - Fine Arts” column shows USD 46,818 out-of-state tuition and fees and USD 73,504 in total; “Tyler - General” shows USD 37,698 and USD 64,384 (including housing USD 14,084, food USD 5,552 and books and supplies USD 1,330). The table does not say which majors fall under which column; confirm with Temple.
• Temple merit scholarships: international first-year students are reviewed automatically for up to USD 20,000 a year for up to four years, with no separate application.
• Tyler portfolio scholarships: submitting a portfolio by February 1 (fall applicants only) means automatic consideration. Tyler’s aid page says average aid in 2024-25 exceeded USD 21,000 per student (an all-student average). Whether international students qualify is not stated separately.
• #YouAreWelcomeHere: USD 20,000 a year, renewable, separate application due February 1, winners announced by April 1. The scholarship page says two first-year students are chosen each year; the FAQ says three to five.
• #WhyUS: USD 2,000–10,000 a year for creative responses (essay, video, drawing and more), due March 1.
• Need-based aid: not available to international students. The I-20 requires roughly USD 35,000 in documented funds.

8. Transfer students

• Deadlines: fall June 1 (application, materials and portfolio by February 1 for portfolio scholarships); spring November 1. Transfer scholarships are for fall entry and based on portfolios.
• Portfolio: required for transfers into Art Education, Art Therapy, Design and Illustration, Studio Arts and Visual Studies (8–12 recent finished works), and for anyone seeking credit for architecture studios; not required for Art History, Landscape Architecture and some others.
• Credit: Temple admissions evaluates academic credit first, then Tyler reviews the portfolio; Tyler emails admitted students a Studio Equivalency Check Sheet for studio credit.
• International transfers: also via the Common App with a USD 55 fee; international transfers are automatically considered for USD 1,000–8,000 awards.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Check whether your major requires a portfolio; prepare 8–12 recent works with at least one drawing
• Submit the Common App by November 1 (EA) or February 1 (RD), and upload the portfolio to SlideRoom by February 1
• Take TOEFL 79 (4.0), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 110
• For #YouAreWelcomeHere, apply separately by February 1

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

• Three years in an English-only curriculum exempts you from English tests
• Confirm with International Admissions how BC grades are reviewed

Transfer students:

• Apply by June 1 for fall, or by February 1 for portfolio scholarships
• Prepare 8–12 works for your major and check the studio equivalency sheet after admission

Sources: Temple University, Tyler first-year admissions; First-year deadlines and requirements; Transfer deadlines and requirements; Tyler financial aid and scholarships; Tyler programs; 2026-27 BFA Foundation; BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design; International first-year students; International transfer students; International FAQ; International student scholarships; 2026-27 undergraduate cost of attendance. Tyler and admissions deadline pages show no year; curriculum is for students entering in 2026-27 and costs are 2026-27 estimates. Check Temple’s website for the latest.