How to apply for art and design at Coventry University: three-year BA (Hons) degrees in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Fashion, Automotive and Transport Design and more, with an invited portfolio review once you meet the minimum requirements, portfolio requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

Art and design degrees at Coventry University are taught by the School of Arts and Creative Industries in the Delia Derbyshire building on the Coventry city campus. This guide summarises 2027 entry from Coventry's official pages for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Programmes

Art and design BA (Hons) degrees in the course finder, with the UCAS code shown on each course page (institution code C85):

• Fine Art (W100)
• Graphic Design (W211)
• Illustration (W225)
• Animation (WW27)
• Games Art (W280)
• Fashion (WN25)
• Product Design (W24D)
• Interior Architecture and Design (W250)
• Automotive and Transport Design (WHG3)
• Photography (W640)

Each of these course pages lists three years full-time or four years sandwich; the Fine Art page explains the placement year sits between the second and final years, and a study-abroad year is also possible. The course finder also lists related courses such as Digital Media, Film Production and Games Design and Development. It shows September 2027 starts at the Coventry campus, and some courses also list other start months from November 2027 to July 2028; check each course page.

2. Art and design foundation

• Coventry runs a one-year Art, Design and Media Practice Foundation (course code AHF001), which the course page describes as a way to explore art and design areas and build a portfolio ready to progress to a BA (Hons).
• Its course page lists 32 UCAS points, IB 24 and IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5. International fees are £17,600 for 2026/27; 2027/28 is to be confirmed.
• The Fine Art and other degree pages do not list the foundation as a requirement.

3. Portfolio: meet the minimum, then an invited review

• The pages for Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Fashion, Product Design, Interior Architecture and Design, Games Art and Photography say that if you meet the minimum entry requirements you will be invited to a portfolio review, on campus or online, and that applicants who do well may be made an offer with no academic requirements.
• The Animation and Automotive and Transport Design pages word it differently: you may be asked to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition, or to submit a portfolio by email, with invitations sent to your email.
• Coventry's review guide says a review has a course introduction (about 5 minutes), sharing your work in a group discussion (about 60 minutes), and questions for staff and students (about 15 minutes). Online reviews use the Microsoft Teams app. Work does not need to be finished, and you can present it in a sketchbook, digital portfolio or even on Instagram or YouTube. If you apply to several courses you only attend one review.
• What each subject looks for:
  • Fine Art: your ideas and thought process, across drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, print, video, sound or digital media.
  • Graphic Design: type combined with imagery and work developed from concept to delivery.
  • Illustration, Animation and Games: drawings of characters or environments, storyboards, work at different scales, life drawing and varied media.
  • Fashion: primary research, collage, photography and colour, mood boards and life or fashion drawing, ideally with material experiments.
  • Product Design and Automotive and Transport Design: plenty of observational, technical and expressive drawing showing perspective, proportion and volume, plus models or 3D work.
  • Interior Architecture and Design: space, scale and perspective through drawings and photos of models.
  • Photography: a selection of photographs with sketchbooks or writing; sequence and overall presentation matter.

4. Entry requirements

• A-Level / IB: most of these courses ask for 112 UCAS points (A-Level BBC). The IB Diploma is 29 for Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, Fashion, Product Design and Interior Architecture and Design, 28 for Games Art and Photography, and 27 for Automotive and Transport Design.
• English: most course pages ask for IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component. The international entry pages for China and Canada also list TOEFL iBT 79 (18 per component) or 4.0 on the new scale (4.0 per component). A pre-sessional English course is available.
• Students from China: the international entry page lists three years of high school with an 80% overall average, plus the graduation certificate and transcript, for undergraduate entry. It also lists the first year of a four-year university degree at 70%, a three-year college diploma at 70%, or a China International Foundation programme (pass or 75%). Coventry does not say how Gaokao results are used.
• Students from Canada: the international entry page lists completed secondary school (Grade 12) or the Quebec DCS, or an IB score of 30. It gives no BC-specific grade; confirm with international admissions (ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk).

5. Applying and deadlines

• International students can apply directly through Coventry's portal, through UCAS (institution code C85), or through an agent. International course pages also list an international code (for example CASU034 for Fine Art).
• You need all transcripts, one academic reference, a personal statement, certificates, an English test score and a passport copy. Coventry aims to give an initial decision within a week.
• The international page currently lists deadlines up to the July 2027 start; for example, the final deadline for January 2027 is 1 December 2026. The September 2027 deadline is not listed yet. Check UCAS for UCAS deadlines.
• A tuition deposit releases your CAS: £8,000 for applicants from "all other countries", which includes China and Canada.

6. Fees and scholarships

• Course pages show 2027/28 fees as to be confirmed; 2026/27 international fees are £20,800 a year. The placement-year fee for international students starting a placement in 2028/29 is £1,900.
• The Fine Art page lists optional overseas trips (£400+ each) as an extra cost.
• Coventry University Group Scholarship: self-funded international students (excluding EU) starting in 2026/27 or 2027/28 get £2,000 off tuition each year, or £6,000 over a three-year degree. There is no application; you must pay the full CAS deposit by the date in your offer letter and enrol.

7. Transfers and advanced entry

• The course pages do not say how to transfer into the second year from another university; ask Admissions.
• The international entry pages list "top-up" routes into a final year, such as a 2–3 year or 5-year college diploma at 75% for students from China, or a three-year associate degree or three years of university with a GPA of 2.5 in a related subject for students from Canada.

8. Checklists

Students at high schools in China:

• Aim for an 80%+ average across three years of high school, with your graduation certificate and transcript; IELTS 6.0 (5.5 per component)
• Prepare work following your subject's review guide and attend the online or on-campus review when invited
• The September 2027 deadline is not yet published, so apply early and watch for updates

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

• Completing Grade 12 meets the listed requirement; there is no BC-specific grade, so confirm with international admissions
• The entry page lists IELTS or TOEFL for Canadian students, so prepare an English score

Transfer students:

• Second-year entry rules are not published; if you have a college diploma or three years of university, look at the top-up routes

Sources: Coventry University, Undergraduate course finder; Fine Art; Graphic Design; Animation; Art, Design and Media Practice Foundation; Portfolio review guides; Entry requirements: East Asia; Entry requirements: Americas; International applications and deadlines; Coventry University Group Scholarship. Course details follow the 2027/28 entry pages; fee tables show 2026/27 amounts only. Check Coventry for the latest details.