How to Apply to Art and Design at the University of Wollongong: Visual Arts and Visual Arts and Design Majors in the Bachelor of Creative Arts, with Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is in Wollongong, New South Wales. Students who want to study fine art or design apply for the Bachelor of Creative Arts and take the Visual Arts or Visual Arts and Design major. Based on UOW’s official information, this guide covers 2027 entry for students at high school in China, students at high school in Canada (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Degree and majors

• Length and codes: three years full-time, UOW code 3256, CRICOS 118533B, at the Wollongong campus. The international course page shows Autumn 2027 as the intake, starting on 1 March 2027.
• Choose a major in first year: the degree has five majors: Creative Writing, Music, Performance and Theatre, Visual Arts, and Visual Arts and Design. You choose a major in first year, and “Still deciding” is also an option. You can add a second major, a minor or electives.
• Visual Arts major: studio-based work across 2D, 3D and 4D forms, including drawing, painting, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, photography and installation, with art history and theory.
• Visual Arts and Design major: brings fine art and visual communication together. Alongside drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and installation, it covers interaction design, socially engaged design, spatial design and client-based projects. In final year you can combine both fields or focus on one.
• Double degrees: with the Bachelor of Arts, Business, Communication and Media, or Laws.
• Practice: UOW lists internships and international exchange, and students present work publicly as exhibitions, performances and publications.

2. Is a portfolio required?

• The course page lists two entry requirements: academic (equivalent to 13 years of schooling in Australia) and English. It does not list a portfolio, interview or set task, and neither major page mentions one.
• To confirm whether any creative work is needed, contact the UOW Future Students Team (future-students@uow.edu.au).

3. Admission data (Australian reference)

• The Australian ATAR-SR for the Bachelor of Creative Arts is 65.
• The 2025 intake was 107 students: 37 (35%) with higher education study, 13 (12%) on ATAR only, and 50 (47%) on other criteria.
• 2025 ATAR-based offers: lowest selection rank 62.25, median 74.80, highest 98.60.

4. Students at high school in China

UOW’s international entry requirements page sorts bachelor degrees into three groups with different standards. Creative Arts is not named in the group lists (Group 1 includes Arts and Social Sciences; Groups 2 and 3 list specific degrees such as Economics and Finance, Social Work and Laws), so confirm with UOW which group applies to the Bachelor of Creative Arts. The standards for China are:

• Gaokao: Group 1 60%, Group 2 70%, Group 3 75%.
• Senior High School Year 3 average: Group 1 80%, Group 2 85%, Group 3 90%.
• A-levels: best 3 subjects out of 18 (A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1): Group 1 8, Group 2 11, Group 3 13.
• IB Diploma: Group 1 25, Group 2 28, Group 3 32.
• Maple Leaf World School Program (BC curriculum) Grade 12 Diploma: only the Group 1 standard is listed: 73% in the best five Grade 12 academic subjects, plus the two Maple Leaf core subjects.
• Foundation and diploma: students below direct entry can start at UOW College. A 60% Year 3 average qualifies for Foundation Studies or the three-session diploma, and 65% for the two-session diploma; students who have finished Year 2 need 70% for Foundation Studies.

5. Students at high school in Canada

• The Americas section of UOW’s international entry requirements page does not include Canada, so UOW does not publish equivalents for Canadian provincial diplomas, including the BC Dogwood. Students in BC and other provinces should contact the UOW Future Students Team before applying, or apply and have UOW assess their results.
• IB Diploma and A-level standards apply worldwide; see the section above.

6. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• Alternatively, complete UOW College’s English for Tertiary Studies at Credit: weighted average of 65, with at least 50 in Academic Reading and Writing. Other tests are on UOW’s English requirements page.

7. Transfer and credit

• Applying with university study: UOW assesses applicants after at least half a year of full-time associate degree or bachelor study, and Group 1 degrees need 50%. With a completed AQF diploma, Group 1 needs 57%. Again, confirm which group applies to Creative Arts.
• Credit for prior learning: previous study or relevant work experience can reduce the length and cost of the degree; see UOW’s credit page.

8. Timeline (2027 entry)

• Session dates: Autumn 2027 starts on 1 March and ends on 24 June 2027.
• International deadline: the 2027 row of the course page says to see the international students page, and the international applications page says some courses have closing dates listed on the course page. UOW has not published a 2027 international deadline. For reference, the Autumn 2026 international deadline was 9 December 2025. The course page says 2027 applications are still accepted after the closing date, but processing in time is not guaranteed.
• Students finishing Year 12 in Australia: apply for UOW Early Admission (usually June to August) or through UAC: UAC Early Bird 30 September 2026, UAC final round 28 January 2027; non-school leavers can apply directly to UOW by 31 December 2026.
• How to apply: international students can apply online or through an approved UOW agent at no cost. Coursework applications usually take two to four weeks to assess, and an application is complete only when all documents are included.

9. Fees and scholarships

• 2027 international tuition: AUD 19,344 per session at Wollongong; indicative total AUD 116,064. Fees are reviewed annually and confirmed in your offer; OSHC and SSAF are extra.
• University Excellence Scholarship (UES): 30% off tuition for the minimum course duration, assessed automatically. With high school results you need the Group 3 standard, such as 75% in the Gaokao, a 90% Year 3 average, A-level 13 or IB 32. The Bachelor of Creative Arts is not on the scholarship page’s list of ineligible degrees, and the page says the scholarship applies to offers issued from 12 June 2026 for 2027 entry onwards. It cannot be combined with other UOW tuition scholarships.
• Other international scholarships (merit, alumni, humanitarian and more) need a separate application; see UOW’s international scholarships page.

Checklist

Students at high school in China:

• Confirm with UOW which group applies to Creative Arts; Group 1 is 60% in the Gaokao, or an 80% Year 3 average, A-level 8 or IB 25
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band)
• No portfolio is listed; keep your work organised in case UOW asks for it
• Classes start in March 2027; the international deadline is not yet published, so apply early

Students at high school in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

• UOW does not publish Canadian equivalents; contact UOW or apply for assessment
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), or other evidence on the English requirements page

Transfer students:

• At least half a year of full-time bachelor study, or a completed diploma; apply for credit at the same time

Sources: University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Creative Arts (international, 2027); Visual Arts major; Visual Arts and Design major; International entry requirements; International applications; University Excellence Scholarships; Credit for prior learning. Information is for 2027 entry; admission data are from the 2025 intake. Check UOW for the latest details.