Overview
Admission to the School of Art & Design is a two-part process. You must be accepted to the University of Illinois through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions application process and to the School of Art & Design through an online portfolio review. We encourage you to submit your application and all required items to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the same time you submit your portfolio to the School of Art & Design.
Office of Undergraduate Admissions Application
The University of Illinois application is completed online. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions evaluates your academic performance and essays with the University requirements for admission to the School of Art & Design.
All transfer Art & Design students apply to one of the following majors in the College of Fine and Applied Arts: Art & Art History, Art Education, Graphic Design, Industrial Design,* Studio Art (BA), or Studio Art (BFA). Studio Art concentrations (fashion, general studio art, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture) are declared in the first year of study. Undecided students apply to Art Undeclared. Art Undeclared students will declare their Art & Design major by December 1 of their first year of study. Art Undeclared students’ first-year coursework will include courses in drawing, 2D, 3D, and 4D practices.
*Please note: admission to Industrial Design will not be available for the 2024 cycle, but is currently expected to reopen to applicants in 2025. Transfer students who are admitted to Art & Design for fall 2024 and who have completed the first-year studios may be able to graduate from the Industrial Design program with 3 years of coursework. Transfer students wishing to enroll in Industrial Design for fall 2025 should expect to spend 4 years at Illinois. If you have questions, contact Michael Foellmer at foellme1@illinois.edu or 217-244-8462.
Fall Application Filing Period
January 15–April 5
- The Office of Undergraduate Admissions: You must submit your application by 11:59 p.m. CT on April 5.
- The School of Art & Design Fall 2024 Transfer Portfolio Submission Form must be submitted online by April 10.
- Notification of admissions will be released throughout March and April.
Spring Application Filing Period
Due to extremely limited space, we encourage all students interested in transferring to apply for fall transfer.
Transfer Eligibility
Transfer students who meet the admission requirements outlined in the College of Fine and Applied Arts Transfer Handbook are eligible to apply to one of the following majors in the College of Fine and Applied Arts: Art & Art History, Art Education, Graphic Design, Industrial Design,* Studio (BA), or Studio (BFA).
Undecided students apply to Art Undeclared. Art Undeclared students’ first-year coursework will include courses in drawing, 2D, 3D, and 4D practices. Art Undeclared students will declare their Art & Design major by December 1 of their first year of study.
*Please note: admission to Industrial Design will not be available for the 2024 cycle, but is currently expected to reopen to applicants in 2025. Transfer students who are admitted to Art & Design for fall 2024 and who have completed the first-year studios may be able to graduate from the Industrial Design program with 3 years of coursework. Transfer students wishing to enroll in Industrial Design for fall 2025 should expect to spend 4 years at Illinois.
Art & Design Transfer Admission Requirements
- A successful portfolio review
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher (A = 4.00)
Art & Design Transfer Placement Requirements
- To begin at the sophomore level, students must have the following coursework completed.
- Completion of an equivalent college-level studio course in each of the categories listed below (2D, 3D, 4D, and Drawing)
- Completion of a college-level Art History survey class, comparable to ARTH 110 — Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture
- To begin at the junior level, students must have the following coursework completed.
- Completion of equivalent UIUC sophomore-level Art & Design major courses (see degree worksheets here)
Completion of an equivalent college-level studio course in each of the categories listed below (2D, 3D, 4D, and Drawing)
Completion of an equivalent college-level studio course in each of the categories listed below (2D, 3D, 4D, and Drawing)
| 2D | 3D | 4D | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTD 151 Introduction to Graphic Design | ARTD 101 Introduction to Industrial Design | ARTS 241 Image Practice | ARTF 102 Observational Drawing |
| ARTS 205 Introduction to Printmaking | ARTS 210 Ceramics Sculpture I | ARTS 243 Time Arts I | ARTF 104 Expressive Drawing |
| ARTS 221 Fashion Illustration | ARTS 230 Jewelry/Metals I | ARTS 244 Interaction I | ARTF 106 Visualization Drawing |
| ARTS 251 Beginning Painting | ARTS 280 Beginning Sculpture | ||
| ARTS 264 Basic Photography |
School of Art & Design Admissions Process
The second part of the application process involves submitting a portfolio of your creative work to the School of Art & Design. We encourage you to submit your application and all required items to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the same time you submit your portfolio to the School of Art & Design.
Fall 2024 Portfolio Review
Submit your digital portfolio using the School’s Fall 2024 Transfer Portfolio Submission Form. If you encounter problems with the online form or have questions, contact Michael Foellmer at foellme1@illinois.edu or 217-244-8462.
Portfolio Contents
The portfolio is a collection of your recent work that illustrates your ability for advanced study as an art and design practitioner, educator or historian. If you have strong works in a variety of media, consider including that range in your portfolio. Your images and objects tell us a great deal about your ideas and process. That information translates easily across all media, to all programs. The portfolio should consist of 10 examples of your recent work, and may include up to 2 videos (optional).
Portfolio Submission Guidelines
- Required: 10 JPEG images, where, ideally, the pixel dimensions are between 1000 and 1500 in either height or width. Individual image files should not exceed 500 KB. IMPORTANT: Check the image file property size (Right click > Properties in Windows, Control+click > Get Info in Mac), and, if necessary, use an image editor (e.g., Photoshop) to adjust the pixel dimensions and the final file size.
- Optional: Enter up to 2 direct video links, using Vimeo or YouTube. Be aware, the admissions committee might not watch more than 1-2 minutes. Configure your submission appropriately (trailer, excerpt, etc.).
- Optional: Enter a web address for your art work webpage.
Criteria for Evaluation
Portfolios will be evaluated in terms of the quality of the candidate’s skills, artistic perception, theoretical knowledge, and their sense of composition, form, imaginative imagery, technical skills, and ability to articulate and communicate ideas.
Notification of Acceptance
All offers for a place in the School of Art & Design depend on you meeting the university’s entrance requirements along with a positive assessment of your portfolio. All acceptance notifications will be issued from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Inquiries regarding your admissions status should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The School of Art & Design will not be able to respond to admission status questions.
Art & Design Transfer Application Checklist
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
- Submit your University of Illinois Transfer Application.
- Official transcripts are required from each college and/or university you have attended. Official high school transcripts are required to verify graduation. If you received a GED certificate, you will need to submit the GED results.
- Questions? Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
School of Art & Design
- Submit the Fall 2024 Transfer Portfolio Submission Form.
- Questions? Contact Michael Foellmer, School of Art & Design, (217) 244-8462.