How to Apply to Art and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: A University Application Plus a 10-Image Portfolio, Applying Directly to Studio Art BFA, Graphic Design, Industrial Design and More or to Art Undeclared, and Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), undergraduate art and design is offered by the School of Art & Design in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, which is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on official Illinois information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Majors

• Majors you can apply to: Art & Art History, Art Education (BFA, leading to Illinois K-12 art teaching licensure), Graphic Design (BFA), Industrial Design (BFA), the Studio Art BA and the Studio Art BFA.
• Studio Art BFA concentrations: the first-year page lists illustration, fashion, general studio art, new media, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture, declared in the first year; the programs page also has Interdisciplinary Practice, and the intercollege transfer page lists interdisciplinary studies. Check the names for your entry year.
• Studio Art BA: art, design and art history within a broader program of general study, for students who want to combine art with other fields.
• Undecided? Apply to Art Undeclared and declare a major by 1 December of your first year. All first-year students take drawing and 2D, 3D and 4D (time-based) foundation courses.

2. Two-part application and portfolio

• Part one: apply to the university through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, choosing one of the majors above (or Art Undeclared).
• Part two: submit your portfolio online through the School’s Fall 2027 First-Year Portfolio Submission Form. The School recommends doing both at the same time; everything is online and no physical materials should be mailed.
• Size and format: 10 JPEG images, ideally 1000–1500 pixels on one side and no larger than 500 KB each; optionally up to two Vimeo or YouTube links (the committee may watch only 1–2 minutes) and a website.
• Content: recent work, such as drawings, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, photographs, digital work, product designs or video. Use one work per image, with composites of 2–3 views at most where needed. Give medium and dimensions for each; titles are optional, and no assignment or process descriptions are needed.
• The School’s advice:
  • as an interdisciplinary program, it finds that standout portfolios usually emphasize breadth and versatility over specialization;
  • it prefers original or observational work over fan art or drawings from celebrity photos, and strongly encourages observational drawing;
  • sketchbooks are a favorite; a scanned double-page spread can count as one or two of the 10 images;
  • class work is fine, and self-directed projects are welcome; work should be fully your own;
  • photograph work complete, sharp and evenly lit against a neutral background, avoiding direct sun and heavy shadows.
• Review: School faculty evaluate the portfolio and pass the result to Undergraduate Admissions, which contacts you; an offer depends on both the university’s requirements and a positive portfolio review.
• Portfolio Days: in 2026 the School attends National Portfolio Day events in Indianapolis (12 September), St Louis (20 September), Milwaukee (3 October) and Chicago (4 October).

3. Fall 2027 timeline

• Early Action (non-binding): university application by 1 November, portfolio also by 1 November, other materials by 7 November; decisions 29 January.
• Regular: university application by 5 January, portfolio preferably by 5 January and no later than 15 January, other materials by 11 January; decisions 26 February.
• Questions about admission status go to Undergraduate Admissions; the School cannot answer them.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Grades: no official transcript at application; self-report grades 9–11 (grade 12 courses as in progress) with the maximum mark and your grading scale. Official transcripts are needed only if you enroll. Illinois shows examples for Chinese 100-point, 150-point and descriptor scales.
• Tests: SAT/ACT optional; if you submit them, they are used across the whole review, not only for English.
• English: unless you completed the most recent three full years (grades 10–12) in an approved English-speaking country or submit SAT/ACT, send TOEFL, IELTS Academic or Duolingo scores from within two years of entry; subscores are considered. First-year minimums are not published; the admission policies page lists transfer minimums of TOEFL 100 (5.0 for tests from 21 January 2026), IELTS 7.5 and Duolingo 130, and notes that admission usually needs more.
• Gaokao and art exams: Illinois does not say how Gaokao or Chinese art exam (联考/校考) results are used; check with Undergraduate Admissions.

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

• English exemption: approved English-speaking countries include Canada (excluding Quebec); students who completed the most recent three full years there need not submit English scores.
• Grades: self-report grade 9–11 courses and grades, with the score range for each letter grade.
• No BC-specific grade requirements are published; the portfolio rules are the same.

6. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 international estimate (full-time): tuition and fees USD 42,248–53,078 depending on program, food and housing 15,858, books 1,200 and other expenses 2,840, for a total of 62,146–72,976. The rate for art and design is not listed on the page; use the university’s cost calculator. Under its tuition guarantee program, Illinois says you pay the same tuition each year.
• Aid: no need-based aid for international undergraduates; International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) has limited scholarships and loans.
• School scholarships: the faculty admissions committee awards first-year scholarships on merit and/or need while reviewing portfolios. Examples: the James Avery Scholarship (USD 6,000 a year for four years for Industrial Design majors), the John and Antoinette Rojc Scholarship (USD 5,000 a year for four years), the Clyde P. Davis Scholarship (four-year full ride for incoming students from the greater Chicago area), plus state-funded partial tuition waivers. International eligibility is not stated.

7. Transfer

• External transfer: for fall, file the university application 15 January–1 April and the portfolio by 15 April, with decisions in March and April; spring space is extremely limited, so the School encourages fall. Requirements are a successful portfolio review, a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher and the college transfer handbook requirements. The portfolio is the same 10 images.
• Placement: to start as a sophomore, complete college-level drawing, Design I, Design II, the program-specific intro studio and an art history survey; to start as a junior, also complete the equivalent of UIUC’s sophomore major courses.
• Intercollege transfer (current Illinois students): a favorable portfolio review and GPA 2.00 or higher (2.50 for Art Education); fall 2027 applications are due 1 March and spring 2027 by 15 October, with limited Industrial Design space for spring 2027.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to Illinois by 1 November (Early Action) or 5 January (Regular), choosing a major or Art Undeclared
• Submit 10 JPEG portfolio images on the School’s website (Regular by 15 January at the latest), ideally including observational work and a sketchbook spread
• Show English with TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo (or SAT/ACT); first-year minimums are not published

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

• Exempt from English tests after the most recent three years in Canada outside Quebec
• The same portfolio and timeline apply

Transfer students:

• External transfer: apply by 1 April, portfolio by 15 April, GPA 3.00+
• Intercollege transfer: GPA 2.00+ (2.50 for Art Education), due 1 March for fall or 15 October for spring

Sources: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Art & Design admissions and funding; First-year admissions and portfolio; Transfer admissions; Intercollege transfer; Undergraduate funding; Bachelor’s programs; First-year dates; International requirements; General admission policies and English proficiency; China application help; Canada application help; 2026-27 costs; Financial aid. Information is for fall 2027 entry (2026-27 cost estimates). Check Illinois for the latest details.