Alberta University of the Arts: Acceptance Rate, Programs, and How to Apply

Alberta University of the Arts, often shortened to AUArts, is a public university in Calgary, Canada that focuses on one thing: art and design.

It is not a giant university with an art department tucked away in one building. The whole school is built around studio work, and almost everyone there is an artist or designer in training.

The school first opened in 1926 and recently passed its 100th birthday, so it has a long history for a place this focused. Around 1,200 students study there at any given time.

This guide breaks down the parts students actually search for: how hard it is to get in, what you can study, what it costs, and the exact steps to apply.

Whether you live in Canada or you are applying from the United States or somewhere else, the plain-English version is all here.

Alberta University of the Arts at a glance

What is Alberta University of the Arts?

AUArts is one of only a handful of schools in Canada that teach nothing but art, craft, and design. Others in that small group include OCAD University in Toronto and NSCAD University in Halifax. At a school like this, your day is built around making work in a studio, not sitting in giant lecture halls.

The name has changed a few times, which is why you might see it listed differently in older articles. It started in 1926 as the Alberta College of Art and was part of the school now known as SAIT.

It became its own separate college in 1985, was renamed the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) in 1995, earned full university status in 2018, and took its current name, Alberta University of the Arts, in 2019.

How hard is it to get into AUArts? (Acceptance rate)

AUArts does not publish an official acceptance rate. Based on the estimates that are out there, it is moderately selective, somewhere around 65 to 75 percent. In plain terms, it is not a long-shot lottery like the most famous schools, but it is also not a place that takes everyone who applies.

Here is the part that trips people up. For the art and design degrees, your grades get you in the door, but your portfolio decides the rest. Two students with the exact same report card can get different answers based on the art they submit.

That is normal for art schools, because they are trying to judge your creative potential, not just your marks. So do not panic if your grades are only average. Strong, original work can carry a lot of weight.

Admission requirements

The grade requirements depend on where you went to high school. None of these are sky-high, but remember that meeting the minimum does not guarantee a spot.

If you took AP or IB classes, scores of 3 or higher in three subjects (including English) can also meet the requirement. When your first language is not English, you will usually need to show an English test score, which the school calls English Language Proficiency.

The portfolio: the part that matters most

For the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Design (BDes), you submit a portfolio of 10 to 15 original pieces. A portfolio is just a small, organized collection of your best work. It is the single most important part of your application for these programs.

You do not need everything to look finished and perfect. The reviewers want to see how you think, how much effort you put in, and whether you can work in more than one way. A few tips that help:

• Show range. A mix of drawing, painting, photography, or design says more than ten versions of the same thing.

• Include work that shows your ideas, not just neat technique. Sketchbooks and rough concepts can count.

• Follow their exact submission format. Wrong sizes or file types can hurt a strong portfolio for no good reason.

• Start early. A good portfolio takes weeks, not one weekend.

Always check the official AUArts application page for the current portfolio rules before you submit, since the details can change.

Programs and majors

AUArts keeps its degrees simple. Here is what each one means in normal words:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): the classic fine-art path, where you specialize in a studio area like painting or ceramics.

• Bachelor of Design (BDes): the design path, aimed at careers in visual communication and photography.

• Bachelor of Creative Industries: a broader degree that mixes creative work with business and industry skills.

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): a graduate degree for students who already have a bachelor’s and want to go deeper.

Inside the BFA, you can major in one of these studio areas:

• Ceramics

• Drawing

• Fibre

• Glass

• Jewellery and Metals

• Media Arts

• Object Design and Fabrication

• Painting

• Print Media

• Sculpture

Inside the BDes, you major in either Photography or Visual Communication Design. Across both degrees you can also add minors in Animation or Comics, and many students pick up a second concentration. All together, the school offers more than 16 areas to focus on.

How much does AUArts cost? (Tuition)

Cost depends a lot on where you are from, because Canadian universities charge two different rates.

• Canadian students: pay the lower provincial rate set by the Alberta government.

• International students (this includes students from the US): pay more, roughly around 18,000 Canadian dollars per year for undergraduate tuition, plus mandatory student fees.

On top of tuition, plan for the things every art student pays for: books, art supplies, and living costs in Calgary. Supplies are a real expense at an art school, so do not forget them in your budget. Applying early can also help, because students who apply by the priority deadline are considered for entrance scholarships.

Tuition and fees change every year, so check the official tuition page for the exact current numbers before you plan. For US students, that international rate can still land below many private US art schools, but remember you are also paying to live in another country and to get a study permit.

Deadlines and how to apply

Applications usually open in the fall. There are two dates to remember, and both repeat each year:

• Priority deadline (around January 15): apply by this date to be considered for entrance scholarships.

• Final deadline (February 1): the last day to get your application in.

Always confirm the current year’s exact dates on the school’s site, since they can shift slightly. Here is the process, step by step:

1. Check that you meet the grade and English requirements for your applicant type.

2. Start your online application on the AUArts website.

3. Build your portfolio of 10 to 15 pieces and follow the format they ask for.

4. Submit before the priority deadline so you are considered for scholarships.

5. If you are an international student, prepare your English test proof and, once you are accepted, apply for a Canadian study permit.

If applying to college in general still feels confusing, our guide to applying to college walks through the basics that apply almost everywhere.

What is the campus and Calgary like?

AUArts sits on a single campus in Calgary, one of the largest cities in Canada, in the province of Alberta near the Rocky Mountains. The school offers on-campus housing, which makes it easier for students coming from other cities or countries.

Because the school is small, the community is tight. You are surrounded by about 1,200 people who all care about making things, which many students say is the best part. Calgary itself is known for being clean and outdoorsy, and the mountain town of Banff is close by for weekend trips.

Is AUArts worth it, and who is it for?

AUArts is a strong fit if you already know you want a career in art, craft, or design and you want to spend your whole degree on it, surrounded by others doing the same. The school is respected in Canadian art and design circles, and its alumni work as artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs around the world. It even counts several Governor General’s Award winners among its faculty and former students.

It is probably not the right pick if you want a big campus with major sports, lots of clubs, and hundreds of unrelated majors, or if you are still unsure whether art is your path. A large general university might give you more room to explore first. But if art is the plan, a focused school like this can push you further, faster.

Frequently asked questions

Does AUArts require a portfolio?

Yes, for the BFA and BDes you submit 10 to 15 original pieces. It is the most important part of those applications.

What is the acceptance rate?

It is estimated at roughly 65 to 75 percent, but the portfolio matters as much as your grades for art and design programs.

Can students from the US apply?

Yes. Students from the US apply as international students. You will need proof of English if English is not your first language, and a Canadian study permit once you are accepted.

Is AUArts a real university?

Yes. It earned full university status in 2018 and took the name Alberta University of the Arts in 2019.

What can you study there?

Fine art areas like painting, drawing, ceramics, and sculpture, plus design areas like photography and visual communication design, with minors in animation and comics.

The takeaway is simple. Getting into AUArts is less about perfect grades and more about a strong, original portfolio. If art or design is your goal, start building that portfolio early, hit the January priority deadline for scholarship consideration, and check the official AUArts site for the current-year details before you apply.