Organizer Information
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a public research university in Catonsville, Maryland, United States. Its College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences includes the Department of Visual Arts and the Department of Media and Communication Studies. Relevant options for artists, designers, and filmmakers include undergraduate degrees in Visual Arts and Design, a graduate degree in Intermedia and Digital Arts, and studies in media, photography, cinema, and animation.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate, graduate
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA, MFA
- Academic Fields: Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Design, Intermedia and Digital Arts, Media and Communication Studies, Cinematic Arts, Photography, Animation, Art History
- Relevant Programs: BA in Visual Arts; BFA in Design; BFA in Visual Arts (Fine Arts); MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts; BA in Media and Communication Studies
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Varies by program and entry term
- Application Deadline: MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts — 1 January 2027 for international applicants; 1 February 2027 for domestic applicants. Undergraduate deadlines vary by entry term.
- Start of Studies: Fall or spring, depending on program and admission cycle
- Application Fee: $75 for undergraduate and graduate applications; eligible graduate applicants can apply during the 29 November–6 December 2026 fee-waiver period.
- Tuition: Undergraduate nonresident tuition is $15,100 per semester for full-time enrollment, before mandatory fees.
- Funding: Graduate assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and other financial aid opportunities are available, subject to eligibility.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
UMBC offers study options across visual arts, design, film-related practice, photography, animation, and media studies.
Relevant undergraduate options include:
- Visual Arts: BA in Visual Arts and BFA in Visual Arts (Fine Arts).
- Design: BFA in Design.
- Cinematic Arts: Undergraduate minor.
- Photography: Undergraduate minor.
- Media and Communication Studies: BA in Media and Communication Studies.
- Intermedia and Digital Arts: MFA for graduate-level interdisciplinary art practice.
The MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts is designed for artists developing interdisciplinary practices. Its curriculum includes studio work, contemporary art and theory, electives, and a thesis exhibition.
General Eligibility
- UMBC accepts domestic and international applicants. Undergraduate first-year applicants generally apply with secondary-school academic records, while transfer applicants must provide records from previous postsecondary institutions. Graduate applicants must meet the admission requirements of their chosen program.
- International applicants who require a US student visa must follow the additional international admissions requirements, including applicable English-proficiency and documentation requirements.
Educational Background
- Undergraduate first-year admission: Applicants must submit official secondary-school transcripts and applicable school-leaving examination results.
- Undergraduate transfer admission: Applicants with university-level coursework completed after secondary education may apply as transfer students. Previous academic records are evaluated.
- MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts: Applicants must provide academic transcripts, a portfolio, an artist's statement, a CV, a list of creative works, and letters of recommendation. Consult the program's official admissions page for the complete current requirements.
Language Requirements
- Undergraduate international applicants: UMBC requires evidence of English proficiency unless the applicant qualifies for an official exception. Recommended admission scores include IELTS 6.5 and SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 500. The university's page also lists a Duolingo English Test score of 115 and a TOEFL score of 4.5 on the scale introduced on 21 January 2026; the prior TOEFL scale lists 80.
- MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts: International applicants must submit TOEFL scores under the program's published requirements. The program page does not establish an IELTS minimum for this specific degree.
Applicants should confirm accepted tests, exemptions, and current minimum scores on the relevant admissions page before applying.
Application Fee
| Application category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate application | $75 |
| Graduate application | $75 |
| Graduate application during the published fee-waiver week, 29 November–6 December 2026 | $0 |
The graduate fee waiver is open to domestic and international degree-seeking master's and doctoral applicants during the stated period. Other graduate fee-waiver exceptions are subject to UMBC's published rules.
Tuition
| Study level and residency | Tuition | Billing structure |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, Maryland resident | $4,998.50 | Per semester, full-time (12 or more credits) |
| Undergraduate, nonresident | $15,100 | Per semester, full-time (12 or more credits) |
| Graduate, Maryland resident | $818 per credit | Per credit |
| Graduate, nonresident | $1,405 per credit | Per credit |
Source: UMBC Student Business Services, Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 tuition schedules.
Additional charges include an international student fee of $150 per semester, an undergraduate enrollment fee of $200, an undergraduate matriculation fee of $100, an undergraduate orientation fee of $225, and a graduate matriculation fee of $200. Some courses may carry additional fees.
Funding & Financial Support
- UMBC offers scholarships, fellowships, financial aid, and graduate assistantships through university and departmental programs. Funding is competitive and eligibility differs by award.
- The MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts considers domestic applications received by 1 February for tuition remission, health benefits, and stipends. International applicants should confirm their funding eligibility directly with the program. Applications received after the relevant funding deadline may be considered on a rolling basis without financial support, until positions are filled.
University Services & Academic Support
- UMBC's Department of Visual Arts provides academic advising for students pursuing its majors. Students who pass the portfolio review are advised by the undergraduate program director and, after earning 30–60 credits, are assigned a faculty adviser in their selected concentration. Advising can cover course planning, degree progress, internships, independent study, and study abroad.
- The MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts includes studio-based study, faculty feedback, and engagement with visiting artists and critics.
Application Requirements
Undergraduate admission
- Completed Common Application.
- Official secondary-school transcripts and applicable leaving examination results for first-year international applicants.
- English-proficiency evidence, unless exempt.
- A personal essay.
- Separate Visual Arts portfolio application for applicants pursuing the relevant Visual Arts majors.
The Visual Arts portfolio process requires six to eight examples of creative work, descriptions of the submitted work, and responses to guided artist-statement questions. The portfolio application fee is $10. Students pursuing the BFA in Design or Visual Arts tracks involving animation, photography and cinema, print and intermedia arts, or visual and media arts must complete the department's portfolio process.
MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts
Applicants must submit:
- Official academic transcripts.
- A portfolio of 10–20 artworks.
- A list of creative works.
- An artist's statement.
- A CV or résumé.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- TOEFL scores for international applicants.
The graduate application and the departmental portfolio submission are separate requirements. GRE scores are not required for this program.
How to Apply?
- Undergraduate application Portal
- Graduate application Portal
- Undergraduate Visual Arts portfolio Portal
- MFA Intermedia and Digital Arts Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
Undergraduate — Fall 2027
- Early Action Deadline: 1 November 2026
- Regular Decision Deadline: 1 February 2027
- Visual Arts portfolio deadline for Linehan Artist Scholars consideration: 8 January 2027
- Final Fall 2027 Visual Arts portfolio deadline: 2 April 2027
Undergraduate — Spring 2027
- First-year Regular Decision Deadline: 1 December 2026.
- Transfer Regular Decision Deadline: 1 December 2026.
- Visual Arts portfolio deadline for Spring 2027 transfer applicants seeking Linehan consideration: 6 November 2026.
Graduate — MFA in Intermedia and Digital Arts, Fall 2027
- Applications Open: 1 November 2026
- International Applicant Deadline: 1 January 2027
- Domestic Applicant Deadline: 1 February 2027
Graduate application fee waiver
- Fee-Waiver Period: 29 November–6 December 2026
Location
University of Maryland, Baltimore County — Catonsville, Maryland, United States
Additional Details
- Admission to UMBC does not automatically confer admission to a Visual Arts major; the department's portfolio review is a separate requirement.
- Undergraduate Visual Arts applicants should submit their university application at least two weeks before their selected portfolio review date.
- Portfolios submitted after 2 April 2027 will not be reviewed until November 2027.
- The Linehan Artist Scholars program is limited to first-year applicants and requires a separate scholarship application by 31 January 2027.
- Graduate admissions decisions generally take six to eight weeks after the program deadline, depending on departmental application volume.