Organizer Information
University of Georgia (UGA) is a public research university in Athens, Georgia. Relevant creative and academic programs are offered through units including the Lamar Dodd School of Art, the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The Lamar Dodd School of Art offers undergraduate and graduate study in visual art, design, art history, and art education, while UGA also offers Film Studies and graduate Film, Television and Media programs.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of Georgia
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA / BFA / MA / MFA / MAEd / EdS / PhD
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Art Education / Art History / Design / Photography / Graphic Design / Interior Design / Film Studies / Film, Television & Media
- Relevant Programs: BFA in Art; BFA in Art Education; BA in Art History; BA in Interdisciplinary Arts; BFA areas including Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography & Expanded Media, Scientific Illustration, Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture and other studio areas; MA and PhD in Art History; MFA in Art; MAEd in Art Education; PhD in Art with Art Education emphasis; Film Studies BA; MFA in Film, Television and Media.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Undergraduate applications open August 1; graduate applications for Lamar Dodd School of Art open after Labor Day.
- Application Deadline: Undergraduate: October 15 Early Action / January 1 Regular Decision; graduate deadlines are program-specific.
- Start of Studies: Fall; selected undergraduate and graduate programs also have other entry terms.
- Application Fee: $85 for international first-year/transfer applicants; $75 for Lamar Dodd graduate applications.
- Tuition: Undergraduate non-resident tuition: $31,804 for Fall 2026–Spring 2027; standard graduate non-resident tuition: $31,148 for Fall 2026–Spring 2027.
- Funding: UGA offers scholarships and other financial aid; several academic scholarships are open to international/F-1 undergraduate applicants.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- UGA's Lamar Dodd School of Art covers studio art, design, art history, and art education. Undergraduate BFA areas include Graphic Design, Interior Design, Photography & Expanded Media, Scientific Illustration, Jewelry and Metalwork, Printmaking & Book Arts, Sculpture and Technology, Drawing and Painting, and other studio areas.
- Graduate study includes Studio Art, Art History, and Art Education. Film-related study is offered separately through the Franklin College and Grady College.
- Portfolio requirements are program-specific. For example, Graphic Design requires portfolio review after prerequisite coursework, while students entering Lamar Dodd as undergraduate art students do not need a portfolio simply to begin art classes.
General Eligibility
- International applicants are eligible for UGA programs. First-year applicants must complete the level of secondary education that qualifies them for university study in their home country. UGA requires official SAT or ACT scores for first-year admission; the minimums are 480 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing plus 440 SAT Math, or 17 ACT English/Reading plus 17 ACT Math.
- Graduate eligibility varies by program. The online MAEd requires a bachelor's degree in Art Education, Art, or an equivalent qualification. The EdS in Art Education is designed for applicants who already hold a master's degree in Art Education.
- \rogram-specific requirements also apply. For example, BFA Art Education applicants must complete specified coursework, maintain a minimum 2.5 overall GPA, and document 35 hours of early field experience.
Language Requirements
- International undergraduate applicants may demonstrate English proficiency through qualifying SAT/ACT results or IELTS/TOEFL. UGA reports that transfer applicants whose first language is not English may meet the requirement with IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80, among other accepted options.
- For graduate admission, international applicants whose previous degree was earned outside the U.S. in a country where English is not the primary language generally must demonstrate proficiency. The minimum IELTS is 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. For TOEFL exams taken from January 22, 2026, the minimum is 4.5 overall with at least 4 in speaking and writing. Certain officially defined exemptions apply.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Level | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| International first-year applicant | $85 |
| International transfer applicant | $85 |
| Lamar Dodd graduate applicant | $75 |
| Additional Lamar Dodd graduate application | $25 |
The undergraduate international application fee is non-refundable, and international applicants are not eligible for the undergraduate fee waivers listed by UGA. Lamar Dodd states that its graduate application processing fee cannot be waived.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Category | Tuition, Fall 2026–Spring 2027 | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Non-resident / international | $31,804 | Academic year | $1,494 estimated annual student fees in UGA cost-of-attendance figures |
| Graduate | Non-resident / international | $31,148 | Academic year, standard rate | $980 estimated annual student fees in UGA cost-of-attendance figures |
UGA's published cost figures state that the graduate amount is a weighted average of the standard master's and PhD rate and that some programs have different tuition rates. Mandatory Athens-campus fees are charged per semester; international students are also assessed mandatory health insurance.
Funding & Financial Support
- UGA awards academic scholarships to incoming undergraduate students, including international/F-1 applicants. International applicants are eligible for several listed awards, including the Classic Scholarship, Classic City Scholars, Foundation Fellowship, One UGA Scholarship, and Presidential Leadership Scholarship, subject to their individual criteria.
- The Foundation Fellowship is open to incoming international first-year applicants and, for 2026–2027, lists a $30,000 stipend plus a tuition waiver equal to the difference between in-state and out-of-state/international costs.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant support includes dedicated art studios and research spaces, visiting artist and scholar programming, exhibitions, art-history research resources, and student organizations within the Lamar Dodd School of Art. Graduate students can also access research and studio facilities and interdisciplinary coursework.
- The Layton Design Studio provides Graphic Design students with client-focused, experiential design work.
Application Requirements
- First-year applicants must submit: Common Application with short-answer essays, official high school transcript, secondary school report, and official SAT or ACT scores. One teacher recommendation is optional.
- Lamar Dodd graduate applicants may be required to submit: statement of intent, résumé/CV, transcripts, three recommendation letters, and program-specific materials. MFA applicants must submit a portfolio of creative work; an MFA writing sample is optional. MA Art History applicants must submit an academic writing sample. PhD applicants must submit a writing sample and three recommendation letters.
- Program-specific portfolio requirements: Graphic Design requires portfolio review; Scientific Illustration requires a portfolio review; Art Education has its own specified application materials and five artwork images.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Early Action Application Deadline: 15 October 2026
- Early Action Materials Deadline: 29 October 2026
- Foundation Fellowship Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Regular Decision Application Deadline: 1 January 2027
- Regular Decision Materials Deadline: 15 January 2027
- First-Year Commitment Deposit Deadline: 1 May 2027
- Lamar Dodd MA/MFA/PhD Application Deadline: 5 January 2027
- Online MAEd Priority Deadline: 15 March 2027
- Online MAEd International Applicant Deadline: 15 April 2027
- Online MAEd Domestic Applicant Deadline: 1 July 2027
- Art Education Certification Program Deadline: 15 March 2027
- EdS in Art Education — Summer/Fall Deadline: 1 March 2027
- EdS in Art Education — Spring Deadline: 1 October 2026
Location
University of Georgia — Athens, Georgia, United States
Additional Details
- Lamar Dodd School of Art graduate programs accept applications for fall enrollment, except the jointly offered EdS in Art Education, which also accepts spring and summer applicants. GRE scores are not required for Lamar Dodd graduate programs.
- The online MAEd is a two-year, part-time online master's program, with an optional one-week summer studio residency on campus.
- UGA's published 2026–2027 tuition figures are university-wide reference rates; applicants should verify the rate for their specific program before applying because certain programs use different tuition structures.