Admissions: Undergraduate Graphic Design

HOW TO APPLY FOR A BFA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN

Incoming Freshmen – START HERE

STEP 1: Apply to the University of Florida

UF APPLICATION DEADLINES:

Early Action: November 1, 2025

Regular Decision: January 15, 2026

First-time college students apply to the University of Florida through the UF Office of Admissions. There is no separate application required for the School of Art + Art History.

Freshman Admission Information
Freshman Application

No portfolio required—but we’d love to see your work.
While a portfolio is not required for admission to the BA in Art, applicants who list Art, Art History, or Graphic Design as their intended major will be invited to submit optional supplemental materials after applying to UF. These materials help us get to know you and your creative practice—and may also be considered for scholarship opportunities.

Applicants for Summer B/Fall 2026

Once you’ve submitted your application to UF by the appropriate deadline (Early Action or Regular Decision), you’ll be directed here for next steps.

We’d love to learn more about you and your art practice. You’re invited to submit an optional portfolio for review.

Portfolios are not required for admission, but they are reviewed for scholarship consideration.

All portfolios must be uploaded as a PDF via the active SlideRoom link below for your application term.

Review our PDF Portfolio Formatting Guide.

Portfolio (Optional) Deadlines & Process

Early Action:

November 25, 2025. Submit your portfolio via SlideRoom.

Regular Decision:

January 31, 2026. Submit your portfolio via SlideRoom.

A link to the current SlideRoom portal will be posted here when available.

Questions?

Email us at SAAHAdmissions@arts.ufl.edu

STEP 2: Sophomore Portfolio Review

A portfolio review takes place during the second semester of your sophomore year to determine eligibility for continuing in the program at the junior/senior level.

What to do:
Connect with the Undergraduate Advisor during your freshman year to learn more about the review process and how to prepare.

Transfer Students – START HERE

STEP 1: Welcome

We’re glad you’re interested in joining the School of Art + Art History. The transfer process can be complex, but we’re here to support you.

Each degree program has its own application requirements—be sure to review the details on the individual degree pages below.

Important:

  • Deadlines are strictly enforced. Submit all materials by the posted dates.
  • UF expects full-time enrollment (12+ credits in fall and spring).
  • Most transfer students complete their degree in 2 to 2.5 years.

STEP 2: Review Prerequisites

The UF School of Art + Art History (SA+AH) undergraduate majors are limited access programs. This means admission is competitive, and meeting the minimum GPA, coursework, or portfolio requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Minimum requirements for transfer applicants:

  • At least 60 transferable credits
  • A 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • An Associate of Arts (AA) degree is recommended for Florida public college transfers

Make sure to review all program-specific requirements before applying.


Credit Transfer

To be eligible for admission, transfer applicants must have a minimum of 60 transferable credits.

  • The UF Office of Admissions evaluates whether credits earned at other institutions can be transferred to UF.
  • The SA+AH Admissions and Advising staff determine how transferred credits apply toward specific degree requirements.

Note: If all credits were earned at a Florida state college, UF will accept a maximum of 60 credit hours, even if you’ve completed more than that. For example, if you’ve taken 90 credits at a Florida state college, only 60 will count toward your UF degree.

Students with 90+ Credits

If you’ve already completed 90 or more credits at a four-year institution, you may not be eligible for admission to UF as a transfer student.

We encourage students in this situation to complete their undergraduate degree at their current institution and explore graduate programs at the University of Florida.

Graphic Design Prerequisite Courses

A minimum 3.0 GPA is required in the following courses:

  • 2-Dimensional Design
  • 3-Dimensional Design
  • Drawing 1
  • Drawing 2
  • Art History 1 (Survey of Western art from ancient to Renaissance)
  • Art History 2 (Survey of Western art from Renaissance through modern)
  • One additional studio course in graphic design, preferably focused on design theories, methods, and processes
  • One additional studio course in graphic design, preferably focused on typography

Note:

  • Prerequisite courses do not need to be completed before applying, but must be completed before attending UF.
  • Prerequisites may not be taken at UF—they must be completed in advance.

We encourage students to complete as many studio prerequisites as possible before applying. These courses typically strengthen portfolio submissions. The list above reflects minimum requirements—students are advised to take additional studio courses when possible.

Need help choosing the right studios? Connect with the Undergraduate Advisor for tailored guidance.

STEP 3: Contact the Undergraduate Admissions & Advising Office

After reviewing the application steps on this site, feel free to contact us with any questions. We know that the transfer admissions process can be complex, and our staff is here to support you every step of the way.

Email: SAAHAdmissions@arts.ufl.edu

STEP 4: Apply to the University of Florida

UF APPLICATION DEADLINES:

March 1, 2026. Summer B/Fall 2026 Admissions.

The University of Florida has specific and strict admissions requirements. Please review them carefully on the UF Admissions website.

Be sure to apply by the deadlines listed below and confirm that the Office of Admissions receives all required materials—including your application, fee, transcripts, test scores, and residency documentation—as early as possible. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and must be resubmitted for a future term.

The Summer B/Fall deadline for Graphic Design transfer students is March 1st. We do not accept Graphic Design transfer applications for the Spring semester.

Note: Admission to the University of Florida does not guarantee admission to a School of Art + Art History program. Similarly, acceptance into an SA+AH program does not guarantee admission to UF.

To be fully admitted, applicants must meet all requirements for both the University of Florida and the School of Art + Art History.

Students are strongly encouraged to maintain direct communication with the UF Office of Admissions throughout the process to ensure all university requirements, deadlines, and procedures are met.

STEP 5: Portfolio Application

PORTFOLIO DEADLINES:

March 1, 2026. Summer B/Fall 2026 Admissions.

To be accepted into this program, you must also submit a portfolio application directly to the School of Art + Art History via SlideRoom. Please complete the SlideRoom submission linked below by the published deadlines. This is required in addition to your University of Florida application.

Important: Portfolio deadlines are strictly enforced. Late submissions will not be considered.

Limited Access Program

Graphic Design is a limited access major. Meeting the minimum GPA, completing the required courses, and submitting a portfolio does not guarantee admission. Admission is primarily based on a competitive portfolio review, which includes a Response to Prompts, as indicated below.

The School of Art + Art History will not admit students whose portfolios do not demonstrate sufficient preparation.

The Summer B/Fall deadline for Graphic Design transfer students is March 1st. We do not accept Graphic Design transfer applications for the Spring semester.

Submitting Your Portfolio

  • All portfolios must be submitted as a PDF upload to the SlideRoom link (when available) below for your application term.
  • You may start your SlideRoom submission early and make edits until you’re ready to submit.
  • We recommend beginning the SlideRoom process as soon as possible—many portfolio-related questions are addressed within the form itself.

Review our PDF Portfolio Formatting Guide.

A link to the current SlideRoom portal will be posted here when available.

Portfolio Content Recommendations

To be considered for admission to the Graphic Design program, you’ll submit a comprehensive portfolio application through SlideRoom. This application helps us evaluate your creative potential, your understanding of design processes, and your motivation to pursue advanced study in graphic design.

Your application should include:

  • Responses to required prompts (see below)
  • Your portfolio (up to 20 pages/slides in a single PDF)
  • Resume
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • SlideRoom application questions

Note: Your portfolio should include examples from courses like Typography 1 and Visual Methods and Processes. We are also looking for evidence of your understanding of the iterative design process (see prompt 3).

Statement Instructions

Respond to each prompt below (up to 350 words each).

  1. Tell us in detail about the thinking, research, and creative process behind one of your best design works, including challenges experienced and how you responded to them (this may be designed and include images if needed or refer to a project title).
  2. Tell us what past experiences have motivated your interest in graphic design as a major.
  3. Share your goals for studying graphic design, including your long-term goals as a designer.

Why Do I Need a Portfolio?

Your portfolio helps us assess your design potential, your approach to problem-solving, and your ability to grow as a visual communicator. A strong submission demonstrates:

  • Conceptual development
  • Iterative thinking and design refinement
  • Visual literacy and technical skill
  • Personal voice and motivation

What to Include in Your Portfolio

There is no single formula for success, but your portfolio should:

  • Select creative works that best represent you and your design, creative, artistic, conceptual, and critical thinking abilities.
  • Include work from previous graphic design courses—exercises, studies, sketches, or projects that demonstrate your design experience.
  • Showcase your abilities in typography, identity, packaging, icons, app design, web design, illustration outcomes, and design process. You must include examples that show proficiency with typography.
  • At least half of your portfolio should consist of graphic design or design-related work.
  • Do not include client work in your portfolio. While there are rare exceptions, this work generally does not demonstrate the depth or breadth of your potential.
  • Include at least one work that allows you to share your thinking, research, and creative process. Be sure to include examples of your design process, such as sketches or drawings.
  • You may include strong work from other areas such as drawing, photography, computer graphics/video, painting, printmaking, or sculpture.
  • Limit diversity—emphasize one or two additional disciplines, such as your second- or third-choice areas, or standout pieces you wish to highlight.

Tips for a Strong Submission

  • Choose quality over quantity. Curate a portfolio that reflects focus and intentionality.
  • Make sure images are well lit, in focus, and color-accurate.
  • Ensure your PDF is no more than 20 pages, with smart use of space to show multiple views or related works.
  • Provide image details: title, medium, size, and date. You may also include your website URL.

Technical Guidelines

Upload a single PDF via SlideRoom. Maximum 20 pages/slides.

Recommended formats and file sizes:

  • Images: .jpg, .png, or .gif (max 2 MB each; suggested 1280 x 1280 px @ 72 dpi)
  • Video: .mov, .wmv, or .flv (max 20 MB)
  • PDF documents: Max 10 MB per file

For questions or technical help, contact support@slideroom.com.

Note: All students admitted to the graphic design program must have access to a suitable computer system before beginning upper-division coursework.