How to Apply to Art and Design at Manchester Metropolitan University: Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration with Animation, Fashion, Interior Design and More at Manchester School of Art, with an Online Portfolio Link Requested by Email after UCAS, and Portfolio Requirements and Timelines for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met), undergraduate art and design is taught by Manchester School of Art, the university’s School of Art and Design. Here is what you need to know for September 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

• BA (Hons) Fine Art: UCAS W100, three years full time, covering painting, print media, sculpture and time-based art, taught in the school’s historic Grosvenor West building with ceramics, metalwork and hot glass workshops. There is also a combined Fine Art and Art History degree.
• Design and visual communication: Graphic Design W210, Illustration with Animation W217, Animation D367 (three years), Games Art WGA1, Photography W640.
• Fashion and textiles: Fashion W230, plus Fashion Art Direction, Fashion Communication, Fashion Design and Technology, and Textiles.
• Space and product: Interior Design W250, Product Design W242.
• All of these course pages show a September 2027 start. For course length and any placement-year options, see the UCAS details on each course page.
• International top-up degrees: one-year final-year courses in Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Product Design, Textiles, Fashion Design and others for students with relevant prior study (see section 9).

2. Portfolio

• Which courses: the digital portfolio page lists Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration with Animation, Animation, Fashion, Fashion Art Direction, Fashion Communication, Fashion Design and Technology, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design and others; check each course page for the rest.
• How: after your UCAS application, the university emails you to provide a link to an online portfolio (any publicly accessible platform such as Behance, WordPress, Wix or Google Sites, with video on YouTube or Vimeo), which you submit through the university’s online form. The link must not be password-protected, and you can title it with your UCAS number rather than your name.
• When: the Fine Art page asks for the portfolio within three working days of the request; its example, “applications by 30 June 2026, portfolio by 7 July at the latest”, is from last cycle.
• Fine Art content: no minimum or maximum, but aim for about 20 images plus sketchbook work, organised by project, theme or medium with a short note on each piece. It can include painting, drawing, photography, 3D work, collage, sketchbooks and video; for group work, say what your role was. The process matters as much as the final pieces.
• The university reviews the portfolio alongside your UCAS application before deciding.

3. Entry requirements

• UCAS points: art and design courses typically ask for 104–112 points. Fine Art lists BCC at A level or equivalent, or a Merit in the UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma.
• IB: pass the Diploma with at least 26 points, or at least 104 points from three Higher Level subjects.
• If you don’t meet the requirements, you can take a foundation or international year one Art and Design pathway at Manchester Metropolitan University International College first.

4. Students at high schools in China

• The Gaokao is accepted: the China page asks for typically 64%–80% depending on the course, with subject requirements for some courses.
• Other routes: the senior high school certificate plus a recognised foundation year; or year one at a recognised university with an average of at least 70%; or the Maple Leaf International Schools Certificate with five Grade 12 subjects at 60%–73%.
• Foundation entry: the foundation section of the China page gives the Gaokao as “50 – 50%” (as written, apparently a typo), or the senior high school certificate at 70% overall; confirm with the university.
• How art exam or school-specific art test results are used is not published. The university has a China office in Wuhan, with contact details on the China page.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• British Columbia and Yukon: Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma with five Grade 12 subjects, typically C+ to A.
• Other provinces: typically 65%–75%; Ontario needs six Grade 12 U, U/C or M courses including Grade 12 English.
• Whether Canadian students are exempt from English tests isn’t on the pages we read; confirm with international admissions.

6. English requirements

• Undergraduate: IELTS 6.0 with no part below 5.5.
• Other tests: TOEFL iBT 79 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17); PTE 61 (59 in each part); LanguageCert Academic 65 (60 in each part); Duolingo 110 (100 in each part).
• Results are normally valid for two years, and scores from different tests or sittings can’t be combined. If you fall short, the Language Centre offers pre-sessional English.

7. The university’s art and design foundation

• Manchester Met runs the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, taught at Manchester School of Art, which also asks for a digital portfolio. The 2027/28 international fee is shown as “to be confirmed”.

8. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition (the pages differ): the course pages say 2027/28 international fees are “to be confirmed” and expected in autumn 2026, while the international tuition fees page gives 2027-28 international undergraduate fees of £20,000–£21,500. Your offer letter will confirm the fee.
• Deposit: after accepting an offer you pay a £5,000 tuition deposit to request your CAS for the visa.
• International undergraduate scholarship (September 2027 entry): £2,000 for each year of the degree, considered automatically with no separate application; it can’t be combined with other Manchester Met support. There are also Vice-Chancellor’s International Regional Scholarships for exceptional international undergraduates.
• Other costs (Fine Art): a basic studio toolkit costs £30–£100 a year, with other materials depending on your work; the School of Art has a cost-price materials shop and loan laptops are available.

9. Transfers

• Students from China: after year two of a bachelor’s degree with a 70% average, you can apply for year two; after year three, or with a junior college diploma (dazhuan) at 70%, you can apply for year three.
• Students from Canada: with a relevant two- or three-year diploma from your province, you can apply for year two or three, subject to mapping.
• Portfolio for advanced entry: the digital portfolio page says to email your online portfolio link with your MMU ID number to admissions; only links are accepted, not PPT or PDF files.

10. Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• The when-to-apply page still shows last cycle: an equal-consideration deadline of 6pm UK time on 14 January 2026, with applications after 30 June going into Clearing. Check UCAS for 2027 entry.
• After applying through UCAS: watch your email and submit your online portfolio link within three working days.
• After an offer: accept it, meet your conditions, pay the £5,000 deposit, then request your CAS and apply for your visa.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Gaokao at 64%–80% depending on the course, or a foundation year, or year one of university at 70%
• IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each part); build a public online portfolio in advance (about 20 images plus sketchbook work for Fine Art)

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

• BC: C+ to A across five Grade 12 subjects
• Confirm with international admissions whether you need an English test

Transfer students:

• Year two after a Chinese university’s year two at 70%, or year three after year three or a dazhuan diploma at 70%; email your portfolio link with your MMU ID

Sources: Manchester Metropolitan University, BA (Hons) Fine Art; BA (Hons) Graphic Design; BA (Hons) Illustration with Animation; UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design; Digital portfolio guidance; Fine Art digital portfolio requirements; Entry requirements for China; Entry requirements for Canada; English language requirements; International tuition fees; International scholarships; How to apply (international undergraduate); When to apply. Courses are for September 2027 entry; two pages give different information on international fees and the deadlines page still shows last cycle, as noted. Check Manchester Met for the latest details.