How to apply to the University of Kansas for art and design: the School of Architecture & Design BFA in Design (Animation, Illustration, Industrial, Interaction, Visual Communication), guaranteed admission without a portfolio or a 10–15 image PDF portfolio — portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer students

The University of Kansas (KU) is based in Lawrence, Kansas. Its undergraduate art and design programs are mainly in the Department of Design within the School of Architecture & Design (ArcD). This guide focuses on the BFA in Design and summarizes the official requirements for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP), students at Canadian high schools (including BC/Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Programs

• BFA in Design: Animation, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interaction Design and Visual Communication Design.
• Structure: four years and 120 credit hours. All design students spend the first semester in foundation courses and begin their chosen program in the second semester.
• Minors and certificate: Design, Interaction Design, Visual Communication Design (graphic design), Design Entrepreneurship, and a Certificate in Book Arts.
• Accreditation: KU has been an accredited institutional member of NASAD since 1968.
• Other programs in the school: Interior Architecture (BS) and the five-year Master of Architecture, with different admission rules not covered here.
• Photography: the photography page says that, effective fall 2025, new photography students are admitted through the Department of Visual Arts in the School of the Arts (College of Liberal Arts & Sciences); the same paragraph says students admitted “prior to Fall 2024” continue in the Department of Design. Both years are given as shown. We did not read the Visual Arts admission requirements; check that department’s site.

2. First-year admission

• One application: the KU online application also covers university scholarships and the School of Architecture & Design. International students use the international application.
• School deadlines: priority consideration November 1, final deadline February 1.
• Guaranteed admission (ArcD admissions page): apply by November 1; a transcript showing at least one high school art, design or drawing class with a B or higher; and a 3.8+ GPA (4.0 scale), or 3.5–3.79 with ACT 24+/SAT 1160+. Others, and anyone applying after November 1, are reviewed holistically and admitted as space permits.
• A different standard elsewhere: KU Admissions’ major-specific page lists, for Design, ACT 21 (SAT 1060) with a 3.25 cumulative GPA, or ACT 24 (SAT 1160) with a 3.0 (preferred ACT 24/SAT 1160 with 3.2), and holistic review for applicants without test scores. Both are listed here; confirm with ArcD admissions.

3. Portfolio

• Who submits: applicants to Animation, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interaction Design or Visual Communication Design who do not meet the guaranteed criteria must submit a portfolio; KU Admissions’ page says the portfolio and essay go to the Department of Design.
• Format: all images and the essay combined into one PDF, emailed to arcd@ku.edu.
• Images: 10–15 of your strongest creative works, each titled, with the medium or software, size, completion date and a one- to two-sentence description; for professional or group projects, state your own role. Include at least two mediums, such as sketches, photographs, drawings, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, 3D pieces, logos, branding, publications or yearbook, and posters; variety is essential.
• Essay: 200–250 words on “Why are you interested in studying design, what have you done to prepare, and how do you hope to use your degree?”
• Your own work: KU requires the work and essay to be your own; read the admissions page rules carefully before submitting.

4. International requirements

• Deadlines (applying from outside the U.S.): spring November 15; fall May 1, which is also the fall scholarship deadline. From inside the U.S.: spring December 1, fall July 25. The BFA school deadline (February 1) is earlier than the international fall deadline and the site does not explain how they fit, so apply by the November 1 priority date and confirm with ArcD.
• Fee: USD 90 by credit card; it cannot be waived and Common App fee waivers are not accepted.
• Admission standard: the international page lists a minimum 2.5 GPA (4.0 scale) on all previous coursework, including transfer coursework, converted by KU; individual schools may require more.
• Materials: English scores, proof of high school graduation for your country and transcripts (unofficial at application, official before enrolling); a gap statement for breaks over three months after high school; a third-party release page if an agent helps you; SAT/ACT if your school requires them.
• English: meeting the English standard is not required for admission, but a score must be submitted. Any one of these allows full-time degree courses: TOEFL 79 (18 per section), or 4.5 (4 per section) for tests from January 21, 2026; IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per band); PTE 53 (48 per section); SAT EBRW 590; ACT English + Reading 48; AP English 4; or a B on both AS and A Level English exams. Otherwise you take KU’s Applied English Center test and may take English courses first or alongside. Students with limited test access can submit Duolingo but must still take the AEC test.
• Exemptions: native English speakers; students with four years of college-prep English who graduated with a 2.5+ GPA in a qualifying region such as the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or an English-speaking province of Canada; or the full IB diploma with English HL 5+.

5. Notes for students in China and Canada

• China: submit school-attested, sealed transcripts for grades 9–12, the Huikao (学业水平测试) results and a school-attested copy of the graduation certificate, with English translations; if the certificate is not yet issued, the school provides a letter with the issue date, and originals are checked on arrival. The site does not say how the Gaokao or art exam (联考/校考) results are used.
• Canada: submit transcripts and the diploma; KU assesses averages by regional variation and college-prep curriculum, with no published BC score requirement, so ask international admissions. Students from an English-speaking province with four years of college-prep English and a 2.5+ GPA are exempt from English proof.

6. Costs and scholarships

• International undergraduate estimate: tuition and fees USD 33,854 (30 credit hours) and living expenses 18,424 (housing, food, personal items, books and mandatory health insurance), totaling USD 52,278. No year is shown, and KU notes costs may vary by major.
• International freshman scholarships: based on high school GPA alone, renewable for four years: 3.95–4.00 USD 16,000 a year (64,000 total); 3.85–3.94 14,000; 3.70–3.84 12,000; 3.50–3.69 10,000; 3.25–3.49 8,000. Apply by May 1 for fall; renewal needs a 3.0 KU GPA and full-time enrollment.
• School scholarships: ArcD notes that KU awards renewable merit scholarships to freshmen who apply by the priority deadline; the school-specific awards it lists are for continuing students, the named examples are in architecture, and there are study abroad scholarships.

7. Transfers and current KU students

• Deadlines: fall and summer February 1, spring October 1; applications are reviewed at the end of each semester and admitted as space permits.
• BFA in Design transfer: a 3.0+ cumulative GPA from previous institutions, the online application, official transcripts and a PDF portfolio emailed to arcd@ku.edu. Transfer studio courses with a C+ or lower are not accepted by the Department of Design; students from other design programs may get advanced studio placement.
• International transfers: the international page uses the cumulative transferable GPA, and its admission standard is a 2.5 GPA on all previous coursework, including transfer coursework; unofficial transcripts from schools outside the U.S. are fine for admission. International transfers are eligible for out-of-state transfer scholarships.
• Current KU students: submit a Change of School form by February 1 (fall) or October 1 (spring); review happens after two full-time semesters, and Design requires a 3.0 GPA and a PDF portfolio, admitted as space permits.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by November 1 through the international application (fee USD 90)
• Check the guaranteed criteria; if you don’t meet them, prepare 10–15 images and a 200–250 word essay in one PDF for arcd@ku.edu
• Send TOEFL 79 (new 4.5), IELTS 6.5 or another accepted score
• Prepare sealed grade 9–12 transcripts, Huikao results and the graduation certificate copy with translations

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

• Apply by November 1, with at least one high school art, design or drawing class at a B or higher
• Check whether your English-province high school English exempts you from a test
• Ask international admissions how BC grades are assessed

Transfer students:

• Have a 3.0+ cumulative GPA and apply by February 1 for fall
• Email the PDF portfolio to arcd@ku.edu; studio courses at C+ or below do not transfer
• International transfers also meet the international transfer requirements

Sources: University of Kansas, Department of Design; School of Architecture & Design undergraduate admissions; Illustration; Photography; ArcD scholarships; Major-specific admission requirements; International: apply; English proficiency; International costs; International scholarships; Admission requirements by country. Costs are the current published estimates; check KU’s website for the latest.