How to Apply to Art and Design at RMIT University: Selection Tasks for Fine Arts, Photography, Graphic Design, Animation, Games, Fashion and Interior Design, and Requirements for Students in China, Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

RMIT University is in central Melbourne. Most of its art and design degrees are taught at the City campus; Fashion (Design) is at Brunswick, and Industrial Design runs at both City and Brunswick. This guide covers 2027 entry, based on the international view of each RMIT degree page, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. The degrees (international students, 2027)

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BP201): three years, CRICOS 118025M, February intake only. Four majors: 2D Studio Practices (painting, drawing, printmaking and more), 3D Studio Practices (ceramics, jewellery, sculpture), Expanded Media Arts and Photography. The first semester is a shared foundation studio; you then list studio preferences in order and the school allocates places. AU$43,200 a year in 2027.
• Bachelor of Photography (BP117): three years, CRICOS 118027J, February and July intakes, AU$43,200 a year.
• Bachelor of Graphic Design (BP115): three years, CRICOS 117452M, February and July, AU$48,000 a year.
• Bachelor of Design (Animation and Interactive Media) (BP203): three years, CRICOS 079976B, February and July, AU$48,000 a year.
• Bachelor of Games (BP214): three years, CRICOS 120597A, February and July, AU$48,000 a year.
• Bachelor of Digital Design (BP366): three years, CRICOS 120992A, February and July; the international view of the page does not list a fee, so ask RMIT.
• Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (BP328): three years at Brunswick, February and July, AU$48,960 a year. Graduates can apply for the one-year Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours) (BH127).
• Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) (BH104): four years, City and Brunswick, February and July, AU$48,960 a year.
• Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) (BH115): four years, CRICOS 083945G, February and July, AU$49,920 a year. July applicants need at least one year of tertiary study in a design discipline (architecture, interior, industrial, landscape, art, fashion, spatial design, visual communication or media).
• All fees are RMIT’s 2027 annual international fees. Student visa holders must study full-time.

2. Selection tasks (folios): who needs one and what to submit

RMIT calls its folio a “selection task”. International students completing Year 12 in Australia and applying through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) submit by the VTAC round dates (the earliest is 20 November 2026); all other international students submit it with their application, and each degree page has a downloadable task (PDF). The degree pages say:

• No task: the international entry requirements for Industrial Design (Honours) (BH104) and Digital Design (BP366) say a selection task is not required.
• Fine Arts: two statements of up to 100 words (what you hope to learn; a recent exhibition or art event you saw); one to three majors in order of preference, with up to 100 words on your first preference; up to 9 images of work from the last two years (2MB each), or YouTube, Vimeo or SoundCloud links (10 minutes in total), covering every major you select; plus one further work with a 100-word discussion. Some applicants are invited to a folio presentation (in person or by video call).
• Photography: two statements of up to 100 words, up to 8 of your own photographs, ideally exploring one theme, one per page in a single PDF, plus a 100-word statement on the theme. Some applicants are invited to a folio presentation.
• Graphic Design: two statements of up to 200 words (how your interests and experience will contribute to the design community; where design could help your community); a folio of up to four pages showing development and finished work in one PDF (4MB maximum), plus a project statement of up to 200 words; film or sound up to 4MB and 4 minutes.
• Animation and Interactive Media: a written statement on why you want to study and on the work you submit; a 12-page A4 PDF of your work (10MB maximum; nothing after page 12 is assessed); and a comic-strip storyboard of no more than 12 images on a set brief, also as a PDF.
• Games: one of six briefs, each about one day (7 hours) of work, submitted as one A4 PDF (20MB maximum). The briefs include a 3–7 page folio of prior work, improvements to an existing game, world design art, world narrative design, a game mod and your own game prototype. Show gameplay with an online video linked in the PDF.
• Fashion (Design): two statements of up to 150 words and a 10–15 page folio with two or three projects covering research, idea development, material exploration and outcomes, in one PDF (10MB maximum) or on one web page.
• Interior Design (Honours): two statements of up to 150 words (your motivation and relevant experience; an interior that inspired you) and a 10-page folio in screen format (1920×1080 pixels) as one PDF (20MB maximum). Some applicants are invited to a folio presentation (in person or by video call).
• Note: each degree page has its own rules on originality; work must be your own, and for collaborative work you must explain your role and your collaborators’ roles.

3. Entry: students at high schools in China

Every degree above asks international applicants for the equivalent of a 65% Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) average, with no prerequisite subjects. RMIT’s China equivalency (checked for an earlier guide at the same 65% level) is:

• Gao San: 75% average across all subjects. Gao Er results alone are not accepted for bachelor entry.
• Gaokao: RMIT lists only Beijing: 441. Other provinces are not published; contact RMIT international admissions.
• A-level: at least 7 points from three subjects (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1), for example CDD.
• IB Diploma: 25 points.
• AP: not published; AP students should ask RMIT.
• Below the requirement: consider RMIT Foundation Studies; each degree page says entry is also possible from Foundation Studies or some vocational courses (see section 5).
• Grades are not everything: for degrees with a selection task, offers depend on the task assessment, and meeting the academic minimum does not guarantee entry.

4. Entry: students at Canadian high schools

• BC: the BC Dogwood Diploma at 65%. RMIT does not say which BC courses are counted; ask before applying.
• Ontario: the OSSD at 65%, averaged over the best six Grade 12 academic courses (C, M or U).
• English: Canada (except Quebec) is on RMIT’s list of English-speaking countries. Six years of schooling there, including at least two years of secondary, taught in English, plus the required high school English result, exempts you from a test. Ontario requires ENG4U or ENG4C at 50%; the BC English mark is not published, so ask RMIT.
• Creative work: same as for students in China; submit the selection task with the application.

5. English, transfer and pathways

• English tests: the same on every degree page: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT for Australia 79 (Reading 13, Listening 12, Speaking 18, Writing 21); PTE Academic 58 (no communication band below 50); Cambridge C1 Advanced 176 (no component below 169). RMIT does not accept at-home or online tests. If you fall short, consider RMIT’s English Language Pathways course.
• Guaranteed entry from RMIT diplomas and associate degrees (as listed on each degree page, all with credit):
  • Graphic Design: one semester of credit after the Diploma of Graphic Design; three after the Associate Degree in Graphic Design.
  • Photography: one or two semesters (96 credit points) after the Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging; 48 credit points after the Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts.
  • Fine Arts: entry with two semesters of credit after the Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts, but no guaranteed major and February only; the Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging leads to the Photography or Expanded Media Arts major.
  • Games: two semesters of credit after the Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Content Creation and Design).
  • Industrial Design: three semesters of credit after the Associate Degree in Design (Furniture).
  • Interior Design: two semesters after the Diploma of Interior Design; two or three after the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) or the Associate Degree in Interior Decoration and Design.
  • Fashion (Design): students may apply in the final semester of the Associate Degree in Fashion (Design and Technology stream); entry is not guaranteed and a selection task is required.
• From another university: tick the credit assessment option when applying and attach course outlines. Partner institutions may have credit arrangements; others are assessed case by case. Credit can limit your choice of majors and minors.

6. Scholarships

• Pathway Scholarship for China: Chinese citizens (including Hong Kong and Macau) with a bachelor offer starting in 2026 or later, packaged with an RMIT English, Foundation Studies, Fast Track, vocational or associate degree program, get 20% off bachelor tuition. No separate application; places are limited, and you must accept and pay the deposit within 14 days of the offer.
• Direct-entry international students: the art and design degree pages we read list no scholarship specifically for international students; check RMIT’s international scholarships page.

7. Timeline (2027 entry)

• Semester 1 (February/March start): undergraduate applications close 3 March 2027, with all documents in by then; for degrees with a selection task, submit it with the application. RMIT advises student visa applicants to apply and accept at least four to eight weeks before the start.
• Semester 2 (July start): not available for Fine Arts; the other degrees take July students, but RMIT has not yet published Semester 2 2027 application dates.
• International students doing Year 12 in Australia: apply through VTAC and submit selection tasks by the VTAC round dates: 20 November 2026 for the December round and January round 1, with later rounds (if places remain) up to 5 February 2027.
• How to apply: through RMIT’s online system or an authorised agent. Only countries on RMIT’s list pay the AU$100 application fee; China and Canada are not on it.

8. Key points for each group

Students at high schools in China (Gaokao, A-level, IB, AP):

• Gao San 75%, Beijing Gaokao 441, A-level 7 points (CDD) or IB 25; ask RMIT about other provinces and AP
• Download the selection task from the degree page, follow the page and file-size limits, and submit it with your application; Industrial Design and Digital Design need none
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); complete documents by 3 March 2027

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

• BC Dogwood 65%; six years of schooling in Canada (two of secondary) plus the required English mark exempts you from a test
• Fine Arts starts in February only; the other degrees also take July students

Transfer students:

• Request credit when applying and attach course outlines; a year of tertiary design study opens the July intake for Interior Design
• Relevant RMIT diplomas and associate degrees give guaranteed entry with credit

Sources: RMIT University, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BP201); Bachelor of Photography (BP117); Bachelor of Graphic Design (BP115); Bachelor of Design (Animation and Interactive Media) (BP203); Bachelor of Games (BP214); Bachelor of Digital Design (BP366); Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (BP328); Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours) (BH104); Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours) (BH115); China equivalencies; Canada equivalencies; Recognised English qualifications; Application dates; Pathways and credit transfer; Pathway Scholarship for China. Information is for 2027 entry. Check RMIT for the latest details.