How to apply to the University of Oregon for art and design: Art and Art and Technology are open at entry with a portfolio review later for the BFA, while Product Design needs a separate SlideRoom application by 15 January — portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, students in Canada and transfer students

At the University of Oregon (UO, main campus in Eugene), undergraduate art and design is taught by the School of Art + Design in the College of Design, which includes the Department of Art and the Department of Product Design. Here is what you need to know, based on official UO information, 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

• Art BA or BS: 68 credits in the major and 180 to graduate (quarter system). Courses cover art foundations, art history and studios in ceramics, fibers, jewelry and metalsmithing, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture and art and technology; at least 12 studio credits must be taken at UO.
• BFA in Art: 108 credits in the major, with a concentration in ceramics, fibers, metalsmithing and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture, ending in a BFA creative project. The catalog says students apply for the BFA in a media area “in the last term of their fourth year of study”; admission is competitive and includes a portfolio review. Confirm the timing with an advisor.
• Art and Technology BA or BS: 72 credits in the major, covering interactivity, video, animation, visual communication and emerging technology.
• BFA in Art and Technology: 118 credits in the major (180 total), competitive with a portfolio review; BFA students are in residence at UO Portland for their terminal project, which includes an exhibition, a website and a catalog publication.
• BFA in Product Design: 120 credits in the major; the first three years are in Eugene and the fourth year in Portland. Courses include drawing and basic design, history of design and upper-division studios, plus an internship component. From fall 2026 Product Design carries a STEM designation, so F-1 students can apply for the 24-month OPT extension.
• Grades: major courses need a C- or better (art allows up to 12 credits of Pass); Product Design major courses must be letter-graded at C- or better.
• Laptops: Art and Technology and Product Design students must own a laptop; some courses carry course fees.
• The College of Design also offers architecture and interior architecture, which ask for a portfolio link with the application; they are not covered here.

2. How you apply: art and product design differ

• Art and Art and Technology: not on UO’s list of majors with extra admission requirements, so you are admitted through the regular UO application with no portfolio; for a BFA you apply later with a portfolio review.
• Product Design: on the list. Besides the UO application, you submit a departmental application through SlideRoom with a statement of interest, an electronic portfolio, two required references and a US$5 fee.
  • Both the UO and departmental applications are due 15 January; Product Design has no early action.
  • The department makes its own decision; if you are admitted to UO but not to Product Design, your major becomes “exploring” and you can reapply as a UO student.
  • The number of works and format are not given on the pages read; check the Product Design application page.
• College news: the College of Design dean has posted that no plan for a possible merger of the college has been presented to or discussed with her. This is not an admission requirement and is noted for context only.

3. First-year application: dates and materials

• Deadlines: early action (non-binding) 1 November, decisions 5 January; regular 15 January, decisions by 1 April; reply by 1 May.
• Supporting documents (the pages differ): the first-year page gives 15 November for early action and 15 February for regular decision; the international page’s table gives 15 February for both. International applicants may prefer the earlier date.
• International applications: accepted on a rolling basis until 15 July for fall, though late applicants may miss scholarships; use the Oregon application or the Common App, with a non-refundable US$75 fee.
• Testing: UO is test-optional.
• Grades: international first-years should have at least a B (3.00) average, meet English requirements and show financial support. Email your transcripts to admissions; no external evaluation is required and UO calculates your GPA.

4. English

• Full admission: TOEFL 4.5+ (tests from January 2026) or 80+ (earlier tests); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 110; or SAT EBRW 520 or ACT English plus Reading 40. Slightly lower scores are considered for conditional admission through UO Global Welcome.
• Waivers: citizens of Canada (English-speaking provinces only); students in the full IB diploma program.

5. Students at high schools in China

• How the Gaokao and provincial or school art exams are used is not published; contact admissions.
• Competitive A-Level applicants generally have two A-Levels and five IGCSEs including English and maths; IB applicants generally average 4 to 5 or higher.
• For Product Design, submit both the UO application and the SlideRoom application by 15 January and line up two references early.

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

• International students follow the international first-year requirements: a 3.0 GPA, English and proof of funding. BC grade requirements are not published.
• The English waiver is by citizenship: Canadian citizens from English-speaking provinces are exempt; non-citizens studying in Canada follow the rule for their own citizenship.

7. Costs and scholarships (US$)

• 2026-27 non-resident estimate: tuition and fees 47,466, on-campus housing and food 18,183, UO costs 65,649; about 71,256 with books, personal and transport costs. A one-time matriculation fee of 570 applies; first-year students must live on campus.
• School scholarships: the College of Design offers more than 100 scholarships, mainly for enrolled majors, with a few for students applying to a Design program.
• International scholarships: first-years who apply by 15 January are automatically considered for general university scholarships; there are also programs such as the International Cultural Service Program.

8. Transfer

• GPA: a 2.50 cumulative GPA for non-residents (2.25 for residents); applicants with fewer than 24 semester (36 quarter) college credits also send high school transcripts.
• Fall 2027: the transfer application page lists a priority deadline of 15 March (documents 1 April) and a regular deadline of 1 June (documents 30 June); the international admissions page lists a transfer regular deadline of 15 May (early action 15 March). The pages differ, so international transfer applicants should confirm with admissions. Transfer scholarships are for fall entrants who apply by 15 March.
• BFA: students with a comparable four-year art degree may be admitted to the BFA but must meet UO’s 45-credit residence requirement; the BFA in Art needs at least 24 studio credits (12 upper-division) at UO.
• Product Design: the departmental page lists only the 15 January dates, with no separate transfer date; confirm with the department.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Art or Art and Technology: apply by 1 November (early action) or 15 January, with no portfolio
• Product Design: submit the UO application and the SlideRoom application (statement, portfolio, two references, US$5) by 15 January
• Email transcripts to admissions; TOEFL 80 (4.5), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 110

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

• A 3.0 GPA; Canadian citizens from English-speaking provinces are exempt from English tests; confirm BC grade expectations with admissions

Transfer students:

• A 2.50 non-resident GPA; 15 March priority deadline; the regular deadline is 1 June on the transfer page and 15 May on the international page, so confirm with admissions; prepare a portfolio early if you want a BFA

Sources: University of Oregon, Department of Art; Department of Product Design; Technology and materials; School scholarships; Catalog: Art; Art BA/BS; BFA in Art; BFA in Art and Technology; BFA in Product Design; First-year students; International students; English proficiency; Departmental deadlines and applications; Transfer students; Cost of attendance. This covers fall 2027 entry (2026-2027 catalog; 2026-27 cost estimates); check the University of Oregon website for the latest.