How to Apply to Art and Design at Leeds Arts University: A Specialist University for Art, Design and Creative Subjects, with 10–15 Pieces Uploaded within Seven Days of Being Invited, and Portfolio Requirements and Timelines for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Leeds Arts University is a specialist arts university, with undergraduate courses focused on art, design, media and the creative industries. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on the university’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Courses

• Art and design BA (Hons) courses: Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Visual Communication, Animation, Comic and Concept Art, Games Art, Games Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Photography, Photography, Textile Design, and 3D Design and Craft. There are also creative courses in writing, filmmaking, acting, music and marketing.
• Length: three years, or four with a placement year, usually taken after year two. For example, Fine Art is W100 (three years) or W101 (with placement).
• Foundation Diploma in Art and Design: a one-year further education course (not a degree) that international students can take before progressing to a degree (see section 7).

2. Applying

• UCAS: institution code L28 plus the course code. International applicants can also apply directly through the university’s applicant portal.
• Deadline: the apply page still shows last cycle’s date, “6pm on 14 January 2026”, for equal consideration; later applications are considered if places remain, which may not happen for the most popular courses. Check the site and UCAS for 2027 entry.
• Assessment: personal statement, predicted grades, reference and examples of work, with digital auditions or interviews for some courses.
• Competition for places is strong; if you are turned down because a course is full, you may be offered an alternative course.

3. Portfolio

• When: after reviewing your UCAS application, the university invites you to set up the applicant portal and upload work. Most courses ask for 10–15 examples, uploaded within seven days of the request; each file must be no larger than 80MB.
• Fine Art: idea development, a range of materials and processes, and final pieces; experimental drawing and development work as well as finished work.
• Graphic Design: design and idea development, sketchbook and design-sheet pages, type and image in visual research, and critical notes or short essays; experimental development work rather than all finished work.
• Illustration and Animation: varied approaches to drawing and image making, sketchbook pages, and work communicating ideas and narrative, showing an informed interest in the subject.
• Comic and Concept Art: observational and imaginative drawing, character, creature or environment development, and storyboards, with the focus on ideas and drawing skills.
• Fashion Design: drawing and fashion illustration, colour and mixed media, annotated sketchbook development, and photographs of 2D and 3D work.
• Textile Design: drawing and colour, design development, sketchbooks, print or material manipulation and concept pages; even a five-minute sketch can be your best piece.
• 3D Design and Craft: sketchbooks, photographs of 3D work or models, material tests and finished outcomes, with attention to colour, material, form and space.
• Students without art or design subjects can still be considered if their portfolio shows potential. Photographic work containing nudity cannot be accepted.

4. Entry requirements

• International (A level): 104–120 UCAS points including an art or design-related subject.
• IB: Diploma with 26 points or the equivalent of 104–120 points, including an art or design-related subject; individual subjects are tariffed for students not taking the full Diploma.
• UAL Foundation Diploma: Distinction.
• UK students also need GCSE English at 4/C; the BSc Creative Technologies also needs GCSE Maths at 4/C.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Direct entry is possible: the Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate (Huikao or APT) with an overall pass mark of 75%, or the Gaokao at 75%, or a recognised foundation course such as the university’s own Foundation Diploma.
• Students with a lower Huikao average are still considered if they have two AP tests at 3 or higher, or an ACT composite of 26.
• You also need one reference from a teacher or counsellor and a portfolio.
• How art exam or school-specific art test results are used is not published. The China page lists a China representative’s email and WeChat for questions.

6. Students at Canadian high schools

• British Columbia: secondary school diploma with an overall 70% in five Grade 12 subjects.
• Ontario: 70% across six Grade 12 University or University/College preparation courses; Quebec: 70% across five DEC subjects; other provinces: 70% across five Grade 12 subjects.
• You can also apply with the IB Diploma at 26 points. A reference and a portfolio are required.
• Whether Canadian students are exempt from English tests isn’t stated on the Canada page; confirm with the international team.

7. English requirements

• Undergraduate: IELTS 6.0 with no part below 5.5, taken at a UKVI-approved centre (Academic and SELT IELTS for UKVI accepted).
• Also accepted: LanguageCert Academic 65 (60 in each part), PTE 61 (59 in each part), Oxford Test of English 120 (111 in each part), IB English A 4 or English B HL 5 / SL 6, Cambridge English 169+ and others listed on the entry requirements page. TOEFL and Duolingo aren’t listed, so check before relying on them.
• Applicants up to 1.0 below the required IELTS score can take an online pre-sessional course with Leeds English Language School.
• Foundation Diploma: the China page asks for the senior high school certificate or Gaokao plus SELT IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (no part below 4.5).

8. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the published international undergraduate fee is £18,600 a year for 2026/27 (rising by inflation in later years), with the placement year at 20%; the 2027/28 international fee isn’t on the page yet.
• Deposit: a non-refundable £5,000 tuition deposit, plus a £55 CAS charge if you need a Student visa. Paying the full annual fee before 31 August earns a 5% discount.
• Other costs: the international tab gives student-reported averages of £50–£200 in each of years one and two and £50–£400 in year three.
• International Vice Chancellor’s Scholarships: usually a first-year tuition discount, starting from £2,000, based on academic merit, your application, personal statement and portfolio; considered automatically during admission, so apply early.
• International Progression Award: 10% off tuition each year for international students progressing from the university’s Foundation Diploma to a degree.
• The GREAT Scholarship on the page is for postgraduate students from China and other countries, not undergraduates.

9. Transfers

• The university considers entry into year two (level 5) and year three (level 6) through UCAS, assessed under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), possibly with an interview; places are limited, so get in touch early.
• The apply page says advanced entry for September 2026 closes on 31 July 2026; check the site for 2027 dates.

10. Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Autumn to winter before entry: apply through UCAS (or directly as an international student); check UCAS for the equal-consideration date (last cycle’s was 14 January).
• Within seven days of being invited: upload 10–15 pieces to the applicant portal.
• After an offer: pay the £5,000 deposit; once you meet the conditions, the university issues your CAS for the visa (from March).

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• 75% in the Huikao or Gaokao, or a recognised art and design foundation
• IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each part); prepare 10–15 pieces and one reference

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

• BC: 70% average across five Grade 12 subjects
• Check with the international team whether you need an English test

Transfer students:

• Apply through UCAS for year two or three entry with details of your current course and work, and contact admissions early

Sources: Leeds Arts University, How to apply (undergraduate); Undergraduate entry requirements and portfolio guidance; Undergraduate fees and finance; Information for students from China; Information for students from Canada; International scholarships; BA (Hons) Fine Art; Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. International fees currently published are for 2026/27, and the application deadline on the site is still last cycle’s, as noted. Check Leeds Arts University for the latest details.