How to apply to Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) for art and design: apply straight to the BFA or BDes, a 12-piece PDF portfolio with an observational drawing, and a 1 February priority deadline for scholarships, with requirements and timelines for students from China, Canadian high schools and transfer students

Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) is an art and design university in Calgary, Alberta. This guide summarises undergraduate admission from the university’s website, focusing on the portfolio, deadlines and the requirements for students from China, Canadian high schools (including BC) and transfer students.

1. Degrees

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): major in Studio Art, four years and 120 credits. Choose one or two of 12+ concentrations: Animation, Ceramics, Drawing, Fibre, Glass, Jewellery & Metals, Media Arts, Object Design & Fabrication, Painting, Photography, Print Media and Sculpture. First year has one 3D studio course, two art history courses, two foundational drawing courses, two critical and creative studies courses and three studio courses from any concentration.
• Bachelor of Design (BDes): major in Visual Communication Design (VCD), four years and 120 credits, in one of two streams: Graphic Design & Advertising or Illustration. First year has four foundational design courses, two art history, two critical and creative studies and two studio courses from any concentration.
• Bachelor of Creative Industries (BCI): major in Applied Creative Industries, combining artistic creation, digital innovation, project management and cultural leadership; no portfolio required.
• Studio classes average about 18 students.
• Choosing a program: you apply directly to a degree and declare your major and concentration (if applicable); you can apply to only one degree program per academic year.

2. How to apply and deadlines

• Platforms and fees:
  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents and refugees apply through ApplyAlberta; fee CAD 110, non-refundable.
  • International applicants (non-Canadian citizens) apply through AUArtsApply; fee CAD 150, non-refundable.
  • After you apply you get access to the AUArtsApply Portal, where you upload your portfolio, transcripts and English results and track your application.
• Fall entry (the key dates page shows no year):
  • 1 October: applications open.
  • 1 February: priority deadline; complete every step by this date to be automatically considered for entrance scholarships.
  • 1 May: accept your offer and pay the confirmation deposit.
  • General admission: the key dates list says 30 June (or until full), while the step-by-step text says 1 October to 1 July; the pages differ by a day.
  • 1 August: final documents due.
• Winter entry (undergraduate only): the key dates list says applications open 1 July and close 30 September, while the steps say 2 July to 1 October; accept by 1 November and final documents by 1 December. Winter applicants aren’t considered for entrance scholarships.
• The application page text still shows a priority deadline of “February 1, 2026”; check the latest dates for fall 2027 entry.
• Decisions: about two weeks after your application is complete (application, transcripts, portfolio and English results).
• International documents: interim transcripts and English results are uploaded to the portal by 1 February for priority or 1 June for general admission (per the international applicants page); official final transcripts must come directly from the school or education authority by 1 August. Transcripts not in English need notarised English translations.

3. Portfolio and statement of intent (BFA and BDes only)

• 12 pieces in one multi-page PDF (maximum 50MB), uploaded to the AUArtsApply Portal, which provides PDF, Word and Google Slides templates. Only images go in the PDF; video links are allowed.
  • 1 observational drawing drawn from real life, not a photo or online image (objects, places, people or animals).
  • 10–11 finished pieces showing a range of subjects, styles and media.
  • 1 piece of process work (optional but strongly recommended): sketchbook or notebook pages combined into one file, counted as one piece in place of a finished work.
  • Give each piece a title, dimensions and materials, plus a description of up to 50 words on how the idea developed.
• Use recent work, ideally from the last two years, in at least two or three mediums; don’t focus on one genre (such as anime/manga) and don’t include fan art or copies of others’ work. Work influenced by an era or artist must credit them.
• Assessment criteria include originality and conceptual exploration, range of media and subjects, and manual skills and technical execution.
• Statement of intent: 300–500 words in PDF or Word, as an essay or cover letter, answering why you want to attend art school, what inspires you outside art and what excites you about AUArts.
• You can book a one-on-one online portfolio review (Monday to Friday) before submitting. All work must be your own.

4. Entry requirements

Canadian high school students (outside Alberta)

• A Canadian high school diploma with at least 60% in Grade 12 English and at least 60% in three other Grade 12 courses (fine arts, humanities, mathematics or science).
• BC and Yukon: English 12 or English 12 First Peoples at 60% or above counts as Grade 12 English.
• Canadian citizens completing an international curriculum follow the international requirements.
• Alberta students have their own requirements (English 30-1 at 60% or 30-2 at 65%, plus three Grade 12 courses at 60%), and their transcripts are received automatically.

Students from China (international applicants)

• A secondary diploma equivalent to the Alberta High School Diploma with at least a 60% average in the final year.
• How the Gaokao or Huikao is used isn’t stated on the pages read; ask admissions.
• A-Levels: at least two O-Levels and three A-Levels at C or above, averaging C across the five; English at O or A/AS level exempts you from an English test. IB and AP: 3 or higher in three subjects including English.

English requirements

• If your most recent school didn’t teach in English: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL new scale 4.5 (old scale 83 with at least 20 in each section); Duolingo 120; PTE 56; CAEL 70; Cambridge English 176.
• Exemptions: two years of full-time study at an English-medium high school with at least 60% in Grade 12 English, or one year at an English-medium post-secondary institution. Partner language pathway programs are also accepted.

5. Tuition and scholarships

• Tuition: the tuition page loads its figures with a script, so no amounts appeared in the page we read; check the tuition page directly. Tuition is set by the Board of Governors under Alberta’s regulations.
• Entrance scholarships: more than CAD 50,000 a year, with no separate application; applicants who complete their application by the 1 February priority deadline are assessed automatically. They are for fall entrants only, apply to first-year tuition only, and recipients are contacted in March.
• For international students: the International Student Entrance Scholarship, two awards of CAD 4,000 a year. Other entrance scholarships (such as 17 AUArts Entrance Scholarships of CAD 2,000) are for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
• International students are eligible for government health care, prescription and dental benefits (international FAQ).

6. Transfer students

• Anyone with for-credit post-secondary coursework is a transfer applicant: minimum cumulative GPA 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and an academic English course at C (60%) or better.
• With 24+ credits in an art, craft or design program you may enter the second or third year of the BFA or BDes. Applicants admitted directly to second or third year with a CGPA of 2.67 or higher can be exempt from the portfolio; otherwise the first-year portfolio guidelines apply.
• Transfer credit isn’t assessed automatically: after applying you receive a form to request an assessment, and international post-secondary courses need course descriptions.
• Relevant AP courses at 4+ and IB HL courses at 5+ can be submitted for transfer credit.

7. Checklist by applicant type

Students from China:

• Apply through AUArtsApply (CAD 150) and finish every step by 1 February to be considered for the International Student Entrance Scholarship
• Prepare a 12-piece PDF portfolio (including one observational drawing) and a 300–500 word statement of intent
• Aim for a final-year average of at least 60% and IELTS 6.5 or equivalent; ask admissions whether the Gaokao is considered

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

• Apply through ApplyAlberta (CAD 110) with English 12 or English 12 First Peoples at 60% and three other Grade 12 courses at 60%
• Choose your degree and concentration on the application; you can apply to only one degree per year
• Apply by 1 February for entrance scholarships

Transfer students:

• CGPA 2.0+ and academic English at C+; with 24+ art or design credits you can seek upper-year entry
• Upper-year entrants with a CGPA of 2.67+ can skip the portfolio; submit the transfer credit request form after applying

Sources: Alberta University of the Arts, Undergraduate programs; Bachelor of Fine Arts; Bachelor of Design; How to apply for a bachelor’s degree; Academic requirements; Grade 12 English equivalencies; Portfolio and statement of intent; English requirements; International applicants; Tuition and fees; Entrance awards; Transfer applicants. The key dates page shows no year; check AUArts’ website for the latest.