How to apply to art and design at UBC: the Vancouver Visual Art BFA gets about 300 applications for 20 places, with up to five works and a 250–500-word statement due 1 February, while BA students declare after entry; portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, Canadian high school students and transfer students

At the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus, Visual Art is taught by the Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory (AHVA) in the Faculty of Arts. There is a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA), both four years with optional co-op; the BFA also has Honours. UBC's Okanagan campus offers a Visual Arts BFA too. This guide covers September 2027 entry for students at Canadian high schools (especially BC and Vancouver), students at high schools in China, and transfer students, based on UBC's website.

1. What is and isn't taught

• BFA: studio practice with critical theory and art history, across at least four media (digital art, photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, print media), ending in a graduating exhibition.
• BA: closer to a general liberal arts degree with a visual art emphasis, leaving room for a minor or second major.
• Not offered: the department lists graphic design, logo design, fashion design, gaming, cartoons, commercial illustration, anime, manga, character animation, architecture and ceramics. Portfolios built on these are ranked lower, and the department suggests other programs for these interests.

2. BFA: direct entry from high school, in two steps

• Step 1: apply to UBC through EducationPlannerBC, listing the BFA as first or second choice. You then receive an 8-digit UBC ID. The UBC deadline is 15 January 2027 (11:59 p.m. Pacific).
• Step 2: supplemental application on the department's site, due 1 February 2027. Decisions are expected by 15 May 2027.
• Competition: about 300 applications for about 20 places each year; no individual feedback is given.
• Portfolio:
  • Up to five finished works in at least two media (image, moving image or audio); sculpture, performance, book and installation works shown from two or three viewpoints.
  • Optional sketches or work-in-progress, labelled to the final work.
  • One PDF of at most 10 MB; video and sound by publicly accessible link (password-protected links are rejected).
  • Below each work: title, year, dimensions, medium, assignment or your own invention, and a 30-word description.
  • Work and writing must be your own; the department has further rules on how application materials are made, so read the portfolio page before submitting.
• Written statement: 250–500 words on one portfolio work, its influences and what you learned, connected where possible to art history, an exhibition or an influential artist.
• Transcripts and English proof go to UBC Admissions, not the department.

3. BFA courses and declaring the major

• Lower level: VISA 110, 180 and 183 (9 credits) with at least 72% average; 6 credits of 100- or 200-level ARTH; VISA 280; 12 credits of 200-level VISA studios at 72% average; plus a "flex" ARTH or VISA course for VISA 101.
• Upper level: VISA 380; 15 credits of 300-level VISA; 6 credits of 300/400-level ARTH; 12 credits of 400-level VISA studios; 3 more credits of 400-level VISA; and VISA 480 and 481 (6 credits) in sequence.
• Declaring: after the 100-level VISA courses, at least 3 ARTH credits and at least 27 credits overall.

4. BA: enter Arts, declare later

• First-year applicants meet the Bachelor of Arts requirements; no portfolio.
• After VISA 110, 180 and 183 with a 72% average, 3 ARTH credits and second-year standing, you can declare the Visual Art BA major.
• UBC students outside Arts complete the prerequisites and apply to change degree program.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC (BFA): graduation; at least 70% in Grade 11 or 12 English; English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 plus an audition or portfolio; no specific Grade 11 courses; six Grade 12 courses recommended but not required. Suggested areas: language arts, social studies, visual and performing arts.
• BC (BA): English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12; Pre-Calculus 12 only for Economics.
• No recommended grade range is published on the program page.
• Canadian graduates submit final grades by 15 March 2027; current students must finish all courses by 30 June 2027.

6. Students at high schools in China

• Credentials: graduation from a university-preparatory senior secondary program; Upper Middle School Report of Grades; Huikao or academic proficiency results and Gaokao results through CSSD.
• Gaokao: UBC expects at least the provincial Tier 1 university cut-off; without the Gaokao, submit three or more AP exams in distinct subjects with competitive results.
• BFA: no specific courses beyond general admission, plus an audition or portfolio.
• High school applicants outside Canada submit documents by 15 March 2027.

7. English

• Four or more consecutive years of full-time English-medium study in Canada immediately before UBC meets the requirement; IB English A at 5+ or AP English at 4+ are other routes.
• Tests: IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 each); TOEFL iBT 90 (reading and listening 22, writing and speaking 21) or 4.5 on the new scale; Duolingo 125; PTE 65. Submit by 15 February 2027.

8. Timeline

• Early October 2026: applications open.
• 15 November 2026: international applicants seeking the International Scholars Program apply to UBC and submit the award application (school nomination and financial need assessed).
• 1 December 2026: Canadian citizens and permanent residents applying for Presidential Scholars and similar awards.
• 15 January 2027: UBC application deadline.
• 1 February 2027: BFA supplemental application deadline.
• 15 February 2027: English proof due.
• 15 March 2027: documents due from high school applicants outside Canada.
• By 15 May 2027: BFA decisions expected.

9. Costs and scholarships

• First-year estimate (UBC cost estimator, year not stated): Vancouver Fine Arts tuition CAD 51,530 international and CAD 6,201 domestic; student fees about CAD 1,380 and books and supplies about CAD 1,800.
• Application fee: CAD 173.25 international, CAD 78.50 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, non-refundable (as checked for our other UBC guides).
• International Scholars Program: based on financial need and achievement, with school nomination; apply by 15 November; results in April.
• Department art awards are not published on the pages we read; ask AHVA.

10. Transfer

• Entry to year 2 or 3: apply to UBC through EducationPlannerBC with the BFA or BA as a choice, then submit the transfer supplemental application by 1 February 2027.
• Transfer supplemental: unofficial transcripts; up to 20 finished works in a range of media (one PDF up to 10 MB, each captioned); three questions of up to 200 words each (an influential artist or exhibition from the past fifty years, the role of the artist, your goals). The jury decides your entry point.
• UBC minimum: a transfer average of at least C (60%), typically on the most recent 30 credits; actual competition is higher. BC college students can check equivalencies in the BC Transfer Guide.

11. Okanagan Visual Arts BFA

• In the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies; drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and video with theory. Okanagan BFAs need 126 credits and may take more than four years.
• BC students need English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12, a portfolio and a letter of intent; students in China need the same portfolio and letter beyond general requirements. Portfolio specifics and dates are in the Okanagan Calendar, which we did not read.
• The estimator lists Okanagan Fine Arts international tuition at CAD 51,530, with student fees about CAD 950.

Checklist

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

• Apply to UBC Vancouver through EducationPlannerBC by 15 January 2027 with the BFA as a choice
• Take English Studies 12 (or English First Peoples 12)
• Submit up to five works in at least two media (one PDF, 10 MB) and a 250–500-word statement by 1 February
• Avoid portfolio work in areas the department does not teach (graphic design, anime, gaming and so on)

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply by 15 November for the International Scholars Program, otherwise by 15 January
• Aim for your province's Tier 1 Gaokao cut-off, or submit three or more AP exams
• Portfolio by 1 February; IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each), TOEFL 90 or Duolingo 125 by 15 February

Transfer students:

• Apply to UBC with the BFA or BA; submit transcripts, up to 20 works and three answers by 1 February

Sources: UBC, Visual Art (BFA) program page and requirements; Visual Art (BA); Visual Arts (BFA), Okanagan; AHVA: undergraduate admissions and portfolio; AHVA: BFA major requirements; Dates and deadlines; English language competency; University/college transfer; International Scholars Program. Information is for September 2027 entry (2027/28 Winter Session). Check UBC for the latest details.