How to Apply to Art and Design at Flinders University: Four Degrees Open to International Students in Fashion, Costume Design, Game Design, and Visual Effects and Entertainment Design, with Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Flinders University is in Adelaide, South Australia. Its creative arts page for international students lists four art and design bachelor degrees: Creative Arts (Fashion), Creative Arts (Costume Design), Game Design, and Visual Effects and Entertainment Design. Based on Flinders’ 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. The four degrees

• Bachelor of Creative Arts (Fashion) (CRICOS 115226D): three years, February and July intakes. Run with TAFE SA, it covers design, illustration, garment construction, and manual and CAD patternmaking with digital tools such as CLO 3D; in final year students take part in South Australia’s largest single fashion parade.
• Bachelor of Creative Arts (Costume Design) (CRICOS 115225E): three years, February and July intakes, also with TAFE SA.
• Core topics for both are taught in the Adelaide CBD at the Adelaide College of the Arts, TAFE SA Adelaide City campus and Flinders City campus, with some electives online or at Bedford Park. Both also have a VET pathway version.
• Bachelor of Game Design (CRICOS 118383M): three years at Flinders City campus, March intake only.
• Bachelor of Visual Effects and Entertainment Design (CRICOS 119230J): three years, March and July intakes, run with CDW Studios; international students study at the Adelaide City campus.
• Part-time and online study are not available to international students.

2. Portfolio and supporting documents

• Fashion and Costume Design: prerequisites are listed as “None”; no portfolio is listed.
• Game Design: prerequisites are a portfolio, CV and written statement.
• Visual Effects and Entertainment Design: prerequisites are a portfolio and written statement; the FAQ says two or three pieces of work is enough, and Flinders is looking for passion and potential.
• What to submit (same on both course pages):
  • a supporting statement on why you want to study the course;
  • a CV with publications, performance, work history, training or other relevant experience;
  • a portfolio of original work in film, video production, creative writing, photography, art work, graphic design and/or production management.
• How: for SATAC applicants, Flinders emails instructions after a complete application is submitted. The international section asks for a written statement, CV and showreel/portfolio with a completed and signed coversheet; the additional requirements can be downloaded from the course page.
• No interview is mentioned.

3. Students at high school in China

• Minimum: Flinders’ international undergraduate entry page says the minimum is comparable to an ATAR of 60, and some courses need more, as shown on course pages. The “Guaranteed Entry ATAR 65” on the four course pages is in the domestic section; international entry is decided at assessment.
• Gaokao (Flinders’ ATAR table): ATAR 60 equals 55%, 65 equals 59%, 70 equals 60%, 80 equals 65%, 90 equals 75% and 95 equals 80%.
• International curricula: ATAR 60 and 65 both equal A-levels 6, IB 24 or SAT 1020; ATAR 70 equals A-levels 7, IB 25 or SAT 1100.
• Foundation: students below direct entry can start with Flinders University Academy’s Foundation Studies, which Flinders says leads into a range of degrees.

4. Students at high school in Canada

• Flinders’ ATAR table does not list Canadian provincial diplomas, including the BC diploma, so the conversion is not published. The table includes the SAT (ATAR 60 equals 1020), which SAT-takers can use as a reference.
• Students in BC and other provinces should contact Flinders International before applying, or apply and have Flinders assess their results.

5. English requirements

• IELTS: 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in speaking and 6.0 in writing; PTE 50 overall. Other bands and tests are on Flinders’ English requirements page.
• Students below the requirement can take English at Flinders University Academy or an approved ELICOS provider and enter without an IELTS or TOEFL test.

6. Transfer and credit

• With university study: the course pages list a GPA of 4.0.
• With vocational study: Certificate IV or above.
• Pathways: the course pages list the Diploma in Arts; Game Design also lists Information Technology (Game Development), and Visual Effects lists Film and Television (Screen Industries).
• Previous study can be credited through Credit Transfer. Note that applicants transferring with more than one third of the course’s credit from another institution cannot receive the tuition scholarships below.

7. How to apply and timeline

• How to apply: international students can apply directly to Flinders or through an authorised agent. Citizens of a listed group of countries applying from outside Australia must use an agent; China and Canada are not on the list.
• Documents: academic documents submitted electronically must be certified, uploads can be PDF, JPEG, TIF or GIF, and all documents must be ready before you can submit.
• Deadlines: the international how-to-apply page gives no fixed dates and warns that some courses have limited places and may close without notice. Flinders has not published 2027 deadlines, so apply early.
• Start dates: Fashion and Costume Design in February or July; Game Design in March; Visual Effects and Entertainment Design in March or July.

8. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the 2026 indicative annual international (FFP) fee on all four course pages is AUD 35,500. The 2027 fee is not yet published.
• 2027 academic scholarships for international students (new, full fee-paying international students of any nationality; none of the four degrees is excluded):
  • Kickstart Scholarship: 20% off tuition for the full course, for applicants who meet course entry requirements;
  • Global Scholarship: 25% off, for an ATAR or equivalent of 70.00–79.95 that is at least 5 points above the course minimum;
  • Global Excellence Scholarship: 30% off, for an ATAR or equivalent of 80+ (about 65% in the Gaokao by Flinders’ table);
  • Vice-Chancellor Excellence Scholarship: 50% off, for an ATAR or equivalent of 95+ (about 80% in the Gaokao); competitive, with a video submission for shortlisted applicants and instructions in the offer letter; the Semester 1 2027 deadline is to be confirmed.
  New applicants do not apply separately for the first three: eligibility is assessed with the course application and shown in the offer letter.

Checklist

Students at high school in China:

• The general minimum is about 55% in the Gaokao (ATAR 60), subject to course assessment; 65%+ can bring a 30% scholarship
• IELTS 6.0 (6.0 in speaking and writing)
• For Game Design or Visual Effects: portfolio, CV, written statement and signed coversheet
• No published deadline and places may close early, so apply early

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

• Canadian conversions are not published; contact Flinders or apply for assessment; SAT-takers can use the table
• For Game Design or Visual Effects: portfolio, CV and written statement

Transfer students:

• University GPA 4.0, or Certificate IV or above; transferring more than one third of credit rules out tuition scholarships

Sources: Flinders University, Creative arts for international students; Bachelor of Creative Arts (Fashion); Bachelor of Creative Arts (Costume Design); Bachelor of Game Design; Bachelor of Visual Effects and Entertainment Design; Undergraduate entry requirements; How to apply; Countries that must apply through an agent; Academic scholarships. Fees are the 2026 indicative figures; scholarships are for 2027 entry. Check Flinders for the latest details.