Transfer Applicants: Visual Arts & Design

April 1 — Deadline to submit the online application to VCU and portfolio submission

For Spring semesters:
November 1 – Deadline for admission

VCUarts continues to review applications until all spots are filled. Transfer applicants who submit complete applications by the deadline for the Fall semester will receive a decision by June 1st.

Please ensure it stays active for at least one year, as we will use it to communicate with you throughout the application process. Use the same email address for all VCU business. Check your email frequently for updates on the status of your application.

Applicants must use VCU’s online application for admission found here: vcu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer/

Applicants may only submit one application to ONE major. Admitted students can request additional major/minor(s) during their first semester.

Applications will only be reviewed after ALL components have been received, including transcripts, test scores, and portfolio.

Transfer applicants must submit an official transcript from each accredited college or university attended, including summer schools. If fewer than 30 semester (45 quarter) hours have been completed, applicants must also submit high school transcripts.

All foreign transcripts must be official and submitted in the original language. If the original language is not English, an official translation must be submitted along with the transcript.

Transcripts must arrive in sealed envelopes signed across the seal by official high school, university or college registrars.

Transcripts should be sent to:

Office of Admissions
PO Box 842526
Richmond, VA 23284-2526

VCU requires transfer applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application to the university, unless they meet one of the following criteria:

• If you are at least 22 years old, you do not need to submit SAT or ACT scores.
• If you have completed 30 college level credits at the time of application, you do not need to submit your SAT or ACT scores.

Only official scores will be accepted. Electronic scores from the CollegeBoard or ACT are preferred.

Request your SAT scores from CollegeBoard (school code: 5570): sat.collegeboard.com

Request your scores from ACT (school code: 4379): actstudent.org/scores/send/

Your portfolio will be submitted online through the VCUarts SlideRoom website. We cannot accept physical portfolios.

Portfolio Requirements

Submit 12 to 16 works of art that you have created within the past two years that show your promise in visual art and design. Present your strongest work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas should you be accepted into VCUarts. We prefer to see a diverse range of 2D and 3D media. Drawing from observation is recommended, while copying anime, cartoons, graffiti or tattoos is discouraged.

Images may be submitted in the following formats: .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, .TIF, .TIFF, .BMP, .TGA

Videos may be submitted in the following formats: .M4V, .MOV, .MP4, .WMV, .FLV, .ASF, .MPEG, .MPG, .MKV

Images can be up to 5 MB each. Video can be up to 250 MB each.

Each video must be less than 3 minutes.

VCUarts applicants are required to have one online reference submitted by their recommender of choice. Choose the person best qualified to assess your ability to be successful at VCUarts. Preferably, your recommender will be your art teacher. If you did not have an art teacher, please select a counselor or employer who is able to assess your abilities.

You will be prompted to enter the email address(es) of your recommender(s) as part of the VCUarts supplemental materials upload site for your application. The system will email your recommender(s) to submit a letter of recommendation online. Be sure to notify your recommenders that you will list them.