How to apply to Northumbria University for an art and design degree: ten BA (Hons) courses including Fine Art, Graphic Design, Fashion, Interior and Product Design, 112 UCAS points for Fine Art and others, with direct applications for international students, plus portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

Northumbria University's art and design degrees are run by the School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries on the City Campus in Newcastle. This guide covers September 2027 entry for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Courses

• Fine Art BA (Hons), UCAS code W105.
• Graphic Design BA (Hons), UCAS code W215.
• Fashion BA (Hons), UCAS code W233, listed as "4 years full time including placement".
• Interior Design BA (Hons), UCAS code W252.
• Others: Fashion Communication, Fashion Design and Marketing, Interior Architecture, Digital Design, Furniture and Product Design and Product Design (UCAS codes on each course page); the portfolio page also lists Architecture.
• Length: Fine Art, Graphic Design and Interior Design are three years full time, or four with a placement (sandwich) or study abroad year.
• Extended degrees: each course has a version with a foundation year for students not yet meeting direct-entry requirements; see each course page for its requirements.

2. What the course is like (Fine Art as an example)

• Theory and practice together, with a partnership with the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art — for example, developing an exhibition proposal in teams.
• Studios and workshops for painting, sculpture, print, digital print, darkroom photography, moving image, paper making, sound and performance.
• Final-year modules such as Identities, Technologies, World-building and Place and Community, plus a final project. International and EU students also take a 0-credit core module, Skills for Academic Success in a UK University.
• You can organise an external placement or study abroad in Europe or North America.

3. How to apply and the portfolio

• Route: the course pages say Home and EU applicants apply through UCAS, while international applicants apply directly to the university using the links on the course page (for September 2027).
• A portfolio for every course: the Fine Art, Graphic Design, Fashion and Interior Design pages all say a portfolio of creative design work is required.
• How to submit: the portfolio page says you submit through the applicant portal; after you apply, the university emails you with when to submit, how to do it and what to include.
• Course guides: there is an application guide for each of Fine Art, Architecture, Interior Architecture, Digital Design, Furniture and Product Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Fashion, Fashion Communication and Fashion Design and Marketing. They are hosted on the university's file server and were not read for this article, so follow the email and guide for numbers and content.
• Deadline: the course and international pages we read don't give an application deadline for 2027 entry; check with Applicant Services.

4. Entry requirements (2027/28 entry)

These are the requirements on the four course pages we read — Fine Art, Graphic Design, Fashion and Interior Design — which are identical; check other courses on their own pages.

• Standard offer: 112 UCAS tariff points from accepted Level 3 qualifications such as A-Levels, the IB, BTEC, Scottish and Irish Highers; the contextual offer is 96 points.
• GCSE: Maths, Statistics or Physics, and English Language at grade 4/C or equivalent.
• English: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component, or an approved equivalent.
• Art foundation diploma: the qualification list on the course pages doesn't name the art foundation diploma, so confirm whether it is accepted. The university offers extended degrees with a foundation year and an International Foundation Year.

5. Students from China

• First-year entry: the China page lists the Senior High School Certificate with 80%.
• Art school students: the same table lists the Academy of Art and Design, Tsinghua University at 65%; the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (design courses only) with two semesters of full transcripts including H&C Assessment and Studio Assessment averaging 70%; and Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (design courses only) with all modules passed plus P in the final major project.
• International Foundation: completing Senior Middle School 2 with 70% or Senior Middle School 3 with 60%.
• Gaokao: the China page doesn't mention the Gaokao; ask the university whether it is accepted.
• Advanced entry: a three-year diploma with 70% may be considered for Year 2 or 3 entry, depending on the course and subjects.

6. Students from Canada (including BC)

• BC: the Canada page asks for the BC graduation diploma with five B grades in acceptable Grade 12 courses.
• Other provinces: Ontario needs advanced level in six Grade 12 courses; most provinces including Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan need 70% in five acceptable Grade 12 courses; A-Levels taken in Canada follow the course's A-Level requirement.
• English: the Canada page says Quebec is the only French-speaking province and students from Quebec must show English ability before an offer. It doesn't say directly whether students from other provinces are exempt; confirm with the university.
• Advanced entry: an Associate Degree with GPA 3.0 / B / 73% may be considered for Year 2.

7. Fees, materials and scholarships

• Tuition: the 2027/28 international undergraduate fee table lists both Arts and Design courses at £19,850 a year (Home £10,050). A placement year is £2,010 and a study abroad year £1,510. Fees may rise from the second year in line with inflation.
• International Foundation Year: £11,750 (2 semesters), £17,250 (3 semesters), £21,250 (4 semesters).
• Extra costs (Fine Art): the department provides some generic materials; specialist materials are extra, about £100 on average, plus around £50 for printing.
• Scholarships: international undergraduate scholarships are awarded by country of domicile. The funding page says September 2027 scholarships are being announced and should be checked with the page's search tool. Amounts and criteria are not published.

8. Transfer students

• The country pages list advanced-entry routes: a Chinese three-year diploma with 70% or a Canadian Associate Degree with GPA 3.0 may be considered for Year 2 or 3. Rules for transferring from a UK or other university into an art and design course are not published; check with Applicant Services. A portfolio is still required.

9. Timeline (September 2027 entry)

• Now: international students can apply directly for September 2027 from the course page; Home and EU students apply through UCAS.
• After applying: watch for the email and submit your portfolio in the applicant portal.
• Deadline: not given on the pages we read; apply early and confirm with the university.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Senior High School Certificate with 80% for first-year entry; ask whether the Gaokao is accepted
• IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each)
• Apply directly from the course page, then submit your portfolio when emailed

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

• BC: five B grades in acceptable Grade 12 courses
• Confirm whether students outside Quebec are exempt from English tests

Transfer students:

• Diplomas and associate degrees may be considered for Year 2 or 3; check the details with Applicant Services

Sources: Northumbria University, Fine Art BA (Hons); Graphic Design BA (Hons); Fashion BA (Hons); Interior Design BA (Hons); Portfolios; Entry requirements for China; Entry requirements for Canada; International undergraduate tuition fees; International undergraduate funding. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check Northumbria for the latest details.