How to Apply to Art at Western University: Direct Entry to the Studio Art BFA with a 12-Piece Portfolio Due February 15, and Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At Western University in London, Ontario, art is taught by the Department of Visual Arts in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. The portfolio program is the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Honours Specialization in Studio Art, which students can enter directly from high school. This guide covers visual (fine) arts. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Western’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. Programs

• Studio Art BFA (direct entry): OUAC code EAV, portfolio required. The department describes small classes taught by professional artists, with studio and theory brought together.
• Faculty first, module later: apply to Arts & Humanities (OUAC code EA) and apply to a module after first year. Visual arts modules include Honours Specializations in Art History and Studio Art and in Art History and Museum and Curatorial Studies, a Specialization in Visual Arts, Majors in Art History and Studio Art and in Art History and Museum and Curatorial Studies, and several minors.
• First-year foundation: the department FAQ says that even students with an art background must take SA 1601 or SA 1605 before upper-year studio courses. Students who took a special Grade 12 Studio Practice Program may be able to take 2000-level studio courses instead of SA 1605.
• Experience: visual arts internships, a studio art practicum, independent projects and a study trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. Internships and independent projects need fourth-year standing and an 80% average.
• Materials: students pay for most studio supplies; ask the department or instructor for estimates.

2. How to apply

• Step 1: apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and choose EAV, “Fine Arts - Studio (portfolio required)”. The department strongly advises also applying to “Arts and Humanities with Subject of Major Interest Visual Arts”.
• Step 2: submit the portfolio and personal statement on SlideRoom by February 15, 2027. SlideRoom opens on September 28 and charges USD 12. Upload to “Undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts Studio Art (BFA) - 2027”. Once you click submit you cannot make changes, and unsubmitted portfolios are not reviewed.
• Early offers: portfolio reviews start in January; applicants who meet Western’s admission criteria and have a successful portfolio receive early offers.
• Other dates: submit the OUAC application by January 15, 2027 for equal consideration; the National Scholarship deadline is February 14; English test results are due by mid-April.

3. Portfolio (BFA)

• 12 recent works showing a range of subject matter, approaches, techniques or media. Digital video, audio and photography are welcome alongside 2D and 3D work.
• Order the work chronologically, emphasizing recent pieces; work made outside a formal art program can be included.
• Video or audio should total no more than five minutes (2–3 minute clips, under 120MB each); images around 1024×768 px at 72 dpi; accepted formats include jpg, png, gif, mov, wmv, flv, mp4, mp3 and one PDF.
• Personal statement: 250–500 words on creative interests, influences and goals.
• Criteria: creative curiosity, ambition and the ability to convey ideas imaginatively. Aptitude, proficiency and experimental ambition are weighted equally.
• No interview is mentioned.

4. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• BC: a secondary school diploma by June and five acceptable Grade 12 academic courses, including English 12 or English First Peoples 12. Required courses (English for Arts & Humanities) need at least 70%.
• Average: five courses, always including English (the English Studies 12 final grade), then your best courses. Only one of Foundations of Math 12 and Pre-Calculus 12 counts.
• Admission average guideline: low 80s for both the BFA and Arts & Humanities. Western notes these averages reflect Ontario high school students and do not guarantee admission.
• Ontario: ENG4U, same guideline.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Documents: senior secondary transcript (completed and in-progress subjects), graduation diploma, Huikao (Academic Proficiency Test) results and Gaokao results. If your province has no general education exams, a school letter is needed.
• Courses: Arts & Humanities has no required courses; the BFA needs a portfolio and personal statement by February 15, 2027.
• Grades: Western converts your average based on curriculum and grading scale. Typically, admitted students have the equivalent of at least a B (3.0). A Gaokao cut-off is not published.
• You can apply with mid-year results and receive a conditional offer.

6. English requirements

• Applicants whose first language is not English must show proficiency; some may request an exemption (see the English proficiency page).
• Fall 2027: take the test before March 2027; tests written before January 1, 2025 are not accepted.
• Direct admission: IELTS Academic 6.5 with 6.0 in each band; TOEFL iBT taken before January 21, 2026 83 with 20 in each section, or on the new scale 4.5 with 4.0 in reading, speaking and writing and 4.5 in listening; PTE 58 with 56 in each.
• Students with lower scores can consider the English Boost Program before the degree (IELTS 5.5 and other scores).

7. Tuition and scholarships

• Estimated year-one tuition and fees (Western’s estimate based on 2025-26): international CAD 48,000–64,400; Canadian students from outside Ontario CAD 9,300–16,900; Ontario CAD 8,000–14,200. Use Western’s tuition tool for exact figures. International tuition rises no more than 4% a year after year one.
• Automatic admission scholarships (full-time first-year students entering the main campus from secondary school; no application): 250 Western Scholarships of Excellence of CAD 8,000 (CAD 6,000 in year one plus CAD 2,000 for study abroad) for top averages; CAD 2,500 in year one for 92–100% and CAD 1,500 for 90–91.9%, each plus CAD 1,000 for study abroad. Consideration is guaranteed if your application and documents are in by March 1. Scholarship of Excellence recipients from international or out-of-province schools may also receive a CAD 2,000 travel grant.
• International scholarships: Welcome to Canada (CAD 10,000) and Continue in Canada (CAD 40,000 over four years) are stated to run only until 2026-27 and not after.
• Department awards: the Department of Visual Arts offers several application-based awards, normally due at the end of January; contact the Undergraduate Chair.

8. Transfer

• From a Canadian college: a cumulative average of at least 78% in a two- or three-year diploma, or at least 80% in the first year of General Arts and Science; you also need the high school English requirement, and BFA applicants submit the portfolio and statement by February 15.
• From a university: see Western’s university transfer guidelines. The department FAQ says visual arts courses from an accredited university typically count, but credits are reviewed only after you accept an offer.
• Current Western students moving into the BFA: after completing (or while taking) SA 1601, submit 12 works on SlideRoom (at least four showing sustained exploration of one idea) and a personal statement; the application opens March 1 and closes March 31. The page still names the SlideRoom program “2026”, so check the department’s latest instructions.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Transcript, diploma, Huikao and Gaokao results
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each) or TOEFL 4.5 on the new scale
• OUAC application to EAV (also Arts & Humanities with Visual Arts interest); 12 works and a statement on SlideRoom by February 15, 2027

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

• BC: five Grade 12 academic courses including English 12, with at least 70% in English; guideline average in the low 80s
• OUAC by January 15, 2027; portfolio by February 15

Transfer students:

• College diploma average of 78% or higher; BFA applicants also submit the portfolio; credits assessed after acceptance

Sources: Western University, Arts & Humanities programs; BFA how to apply; BFA portfolio requirements; Visual Arts FAQ; BC high school requirements; China requirements; Canadian college transfer requirements; Admission deadlines; English proficiency; Finances; Automatic admission scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry; tuition is Western’s estimate based on 2025-26 rates. Check Western for the latest details.