How to Apply to Art at the University of Western Australia: Fine Arts as a Studio Major in the Bachelor of Arts, a Foundation First Year Before Choosing Your Focus, and No Portfolio Listed, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

The University of Western Australia (UWA) is in Perth. Art at UWA is the Fine Arts major (code MJD-FNART) in the Bachelor of Arts (course code BP001). Based on UWA’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 major

• Length and intakes: the Bachelor of Arts is three years full-time, CRICOS 003005D; the Fine Arts major is also available in the four-year Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours). Classes are at the Perth (Crawley) campus, with February (Semester 1) and July (Semester 2) intakes.
• Foundation first, then your focus: Fine Arts is a studio-based major with 12 to 15 contact hours a week. First year builds practical skills and theory; in second and third year you design your own focus. UWA lists areas including (but not limited to) drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, art and biotechnologies, digital arts, animation, film, environmental arts, social practice and curatorial practice. Some units go beyond the studio into science laboratories and regional and international communities.
• Related majors: the Bachelor of Arts has 33 majors, including History of Art.
• Further study: after Honours in Fine Arts, graduates can apply for UWA’s Master of Fine Arts, Master of Curatorial Studies and other postgraduate study.

2. Is a portfolio required?

• The admission section of the Fine Arts page points to the entry requirements page and the UWA Handbook, plus English requirements. It does not list a portfolio, interview or set task.
• The Bachelor of Arts page says you must meet the prerequisites of your chosen majors, and the Fine Arts page lists none. Check the major in the UWA Handbook, or ask through Ask UWA.

3. Students at high school in China

• Minimum: the Bachelor of Arts needs a minimum ATAR of 70. UWA’s Gaokao table (out of 750; Shanghai’s 660 scaled proportionally):
  • about 65% (488–491) equals ATAR 70;
  • about 70% (525–528) equals 80, about 72.5% equals 85, and about 76% equals 90.
• High school graduation certificate only: UWA recognises the Chinese graduation certificate with the SAT or ACT (ATAR 70 equals SAT 1100 or ACT 20).
• International curricula: A-levels CDD (7 points) equal ATAR 70; IB 24 equals ATAR 70; AP, with a recognised high school diploma and at least two exams at 3 or above, totalling 6 equals ATAR 70.

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

• Provinces: high school diplomas from all provinces except New Brunswick and Quebec.
• Conversion: the average of 5 to 6 final-year subjects. An average of 60 equals ATAR 70, 70 equals 80, 75 equals 85 and 80 equals 90.

5. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0.
• TOEFL iBT: 82 (20 in speaking and writing, 17 in listening and reading), or 4.5 on the 1–6 scale (4 in writing, 3.5 in the others).
• Other tests: PTE 64 (no band below 60); Duolingo 125 (speaking 115, writing 125, reading 115, listening 110).
• Exemptions: for example, at least one year of full-time degree study in Canada (except Quebec), the US, the UK, Ireland or New Zealand within the last two years. See UWA’s English requirements page for the full rules.

6. Transfer students

• From university: at least one full-time semester of a degree in Australia (AQF level 7 or above) with a GPA of at least 4.0 out of 7.
• From vocational education: an AQF level 5 diploma or higher.
• Credit: you can ask for advanced standing when you apply or after enrolment.

7. Timeline and how to apply (2027)

• Intakes: Semester 1 (February) or Semester 2 (July).
• Deadlines: UWA’s international applicants page has three tiers:
  • Domestic and onshore applicants: Semester 1 19 February 2027, Semester 2 16 July 2027.
  • All other countries (China and Canada are not on the list below, so this tier applies): Semester 1 11 January 2027, Semester 2 7 June 2027.
  • A listed group of countries has earlier dates (Semester 1 28 December 2026, Semester 2 24 May 2027); China and Canada are not on the list.
  Dates may change, and some courses have different closing dates shown on their course pages.
• How to apply and fee: international students apply through UWA Apply or a UWA agent and pay a non-refundable AUD 150 fee before the application is processed. Year 12 students in Western Australia (WACE) apply through TISC.
• Documents: academic records, English results, passport and any course-specific documents, scanned clearly in full colour.

8. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the Fine Arts page says there is no current fee information, and the Bachelor of Arts page says international students pay an annual course fee charged per credit point and indexed each year. UWA has not published the 2027 amount; use UWA’s Fee Calculator for earlier years, and your acceptance contract will state the fee.
• Global Excellence Scholarship: for 2027 entry and open to all countries. ATAR 85+ gives 10% off tuition, 90+ gives 20%, every year for the normal course length, assessed automatically from final transcripts with no separate application. By UWA’s tables, roughly 72.5% in the Gaokao, a Canadian average of 75, IB 30, A-levels BCC or an AP total of 11 match ATAR 85. UWA says the scholarship covers 2027–2029 intakes, so a 2027 award can be deferred to 2028.

Checklist

Students at high school in China:

• About 65% in the Gaokao (488–491), or a graduation certificate with SAT 1100 / ACT 20, IB 24 or A-levels CDD
• IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); AUD 150 application fee
• No portfolio listed; for February 2027, apply by 11 January 2027

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

• High school diploma with a final-year average of 60+ in 5 to 6 subjects (ATAR 70); 75+ for the 10% scholarship
• For February 2027, apply by 11 January 2027, or by 19 February if you are already in Australia

Transfer students:

• At least one full-time semester of a degree with GPA 4.0 out of 7, or an AQF level 5 qualification; ask for credit when you apply

Sources: The University of Western Australia, Fine Arts major; Bachelor of Arts; International applicants; International and overseas qualifications; English language requirements; International student fees; Global Excellence Scholarship. Information is for 2027 entry. Check UWA for the latest details.