How to Apply to Art and Design at the Australian National University: No Compulsory Portfolio for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Design from 2027, Selection Rank 80, with Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

The Australian National University (ANU) is in Canberra, and its undergraduate art and design degrees are offered by the ANU School of Art & Design in the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS). Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on ANU’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. The two art and design degrees

• Bachelor of Visual Arts: three years, Semester 1 and 2 intakes, UAC code 139104, CRICOS code 073991G. Studio disciplines include ceramics, glass, painting, photography and media arts, printmedia and drawing, sculpture and spatial practice, and textiles, plus courses from the Centre for Art History and Art Theory and electives across ANU.
• Bachelor of Design: three years, Semester 1 and 2 intakes, UAC code 139103, CRICOS code 092387C. The School says students can focus on designing and producing objects, visual communication for print and screen, data visualisation and digital design.
• Honours: both degrees have an Honours option (Visual Art Honours and Design Honours).
• Double degrees: both can be combined with other ANU degrees as a Flexible Double Degree. The 2027 flyers list combinations with Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Science, Law, Engineering or Advanced Computing, among others.
• The School also offers an Art History & Curatorial Studies major, not covered here.

2. Portfolio: optional, for adjustment points, from 2027

• From Semester 1, 2027: ANU’s additional selection criteria page says the Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Visual Arts no longer have compulsory additional selection criteria. Applicants are assessed on completing an Australian senior secondary certificate or international equivalent with a minimum selection rank of 80. Both 2027 flyers also list a selection rank of 80 and no prerequisites.
• Adjustment points: applicants may submit a portfolio of original creative work; a satisfactory portfolio grants up to 10 adjustment points, and a minimum selection rank of 70 is required for the adjustment to apply. The flyers put it as “students with a raw ATAR of 70–79 may submit a portfolio”. The page does not distinguish between domestic and international applicants.
• What to include:
  • an introductory statement of 300–500 words on your relevant interests, attributes and experience, and why you want to study Visual Arts or Design at ANU;
  • six images documenting your original creative works, each with a title, date created and a brief statement of up to 50 words.
• How to submit: the additional selection criteria page points to the School of Art & Design website. The degree pages say that after submitting your application you register for an interview and upload your portfolio via the School’s application portal, while the additional selection criteria page lists the interview and portfolio as the Semester 2, 2026 requirement. Both statements are on ANU’s website, so confirm with the School how it works for 2027 entry. The School’s application page did not show its detailed instructions in the pages read for this guide.

3. How ANU assesses international applicants

• Selection Rank: ANU converts your qualification into a selection rank out of 99.95 and checks it against your degree’s requirement. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee entry.
• Up to three preferences: direct applicants can list three programs in order and receive one offer for the highest eligible preference. The application fee is AUD 150.
• UAC: international students completing an Australian Year 12, the IB Diploma or New Zealand NCEA apply through UAC.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: ANU publishes province-by-province conversions (for the Gaokao from 2017). For “other provinces” (out of 750), a selection rank of 80 needs 525; Shanghai (from 2017) needs 462; Hainan needs 630. See the Gaokao page for every province.
• A-levels, IB and AP: a rank of 80 equals 13 points from your best three A-levels or 14 from four (A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1), IB 31 (taken outside Australia), or an AP total of 14 from four exams or 10 from three (scores of 3 or above only).
• Predicted results: students still taking A-levels, IB or HKDSE can apply with predicted results, but only for Semester 2 (July) and only for programs requiring 94 or below.
• The Gaokao score for a rank of 70 is not listed in the pages read for this guide; see the full table on the Gaokao page.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• British Columbia: a 4-point average of all Grade 12 courses (A=4, B=3, C+=2.5, C=2, C-=1), excluding Graduation Transitions and Career Life Connections. A rank of 80 needs 3.45; 85 needs 3.55.
• Ontario: your best six U or U/C courses including ENG4U. A rank of 80 needs 77%; 85 needs 79%.
• Other provinces are on ANU’s indicative entry requirements page. International students at Canadian high schools apply directly to ANU.

6. English

• English proficiency is part of ANU’s minimum requirements. You can meet it through previous study in English or a test such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced or PTE Academic.
• The scores for these two degrees are published in ANU’s Programs and Courses catalogue and were not listed in the pages read for this guide; check ANU’s English requirements and the catalogue.

7. Transfer students

• Transferring to ANU works much like a first application; international students apply directly. One year of Australian bachelor study or an ANU-recognised equivalent can also meet the minimum requirement.
• After you accept an offer, you apply for credit when you enrol; the college responsible for the degree decides.

8. Timeline (2027 entry)

• Semester 1 (February 2027): direct applications close on 15 December 2026. The acceptance deadline is 15 January if you are overseas and 31 January if you are in Australia. ANU notes that deadlines for programs with additional selection criteria may vary.
• Semester 2 (July 2027): direct applications close on 15 May 2027. The acceptance deadline is 30 June overseas and 10 July in Australia.
• The portfolio deadline is not given in the pages read for this guide; confirm with the School of Art & Design.

9. Fees and scholarships

• 2027 international tuition: ANU charges each course by its discipline band. The 2027 fee schedule puts Creative Arts courses (field of education 10) in Band 1, at AUD 47,940 per 48 units (one year full-time). Your actual fee depends on the courses you take; electives from other disciplines are charged at their own band, and the degree pages point to the catalogue for indicative fees. Fees are reviewed each year.
• Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award: for students residing in China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and some other places, with a rank of 85 or above: 20% off first-year tuition, assessed automatically.
• International Achievement Award: for students residing elsewhere, for example in Canada, with a rank of 85 or above: 20% off tuition for up to four years, also automatic.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Check your Gaokao, A-level, IB or AP conversion against a selection rank of 80
• If you are between 70 and 79, prepare a portfolio: a 300–500 word statement and six images of original work, each with a statement of up to 50 words
• For February 2027, apply by 15 December 2026; confirm with the School how and when to submit a portfolio

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

• A BC Grade 12 GPA of 3.45 on the 4-point scale equals a rank of 80
• Apply directly to ANU; a rank of 85+ is automatically considered for the International Achievement Award

Transfer students:

• Apply as an international direct applicant; request credit at enrolment

Sources: The Australian National University, Bachelor of Visual Arts; Bachelor of Design; Bachelor of Visual Arts 2027 flyer; Bachelor of Design 2027 flyer; School of Art & Design; Programs with additional selection criteria; International applications; Undergraduate indicative entry requirements; Gaokao; British Columbia; Ontario; Transferring to ANU; English language requirements; International tuition fees; Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award; International Achievement Award. Information is for 2027 entry. Check ANU for the latest details.