Organizer Information
The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university in Denton, Texas, United States. Its College of Visual Arts and Design (CVAD) offers undergraduate and graduate programs in studio art, art education, art history, communication design, fashion design, interior design, interaction design, and interdisciplinary art and design studies. UNT also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts through its College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, with study areas related to film, television, audio production, and digital media.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: University of North Texas
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA, MA, MFA, PhD, and other university degrees
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts, Photography, Film, Media Arts, Art History, Art Education, Communication Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Interaction Design, and Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies
- Relevant Programs: Studio Art; Media Arts; Art History; Art Education; Communication Design; Fashion Design; Interior Design; Interaction Design; Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Varies by study level, intake, and program
- Application Deadline: Varies by applicant category and program
- Start of Studies: Fall, spring, and summer sessions, subject to program availability
- Application Fee: $85 for international undergraduate applicants; $75 for international graduate applicants
- Tuition: Nonresident statutory tuition is $478 per credit hour for 2026–2027, before other tuition components and applicable fees
- Funding: Scholarships, grants, and graduate funding opportunities are available to eligible applicants.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
UNT offers creative and interdisciplinary study across studio practice, visual culture, design, media production, and art education. Relevant programs include:
- Studio Art: Ceramics, Drawing and Painting, Metalsmithing and Jewelry, New Media Art, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.
- Art and Design: Art History, Art Education, Communication Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, and Interaction Design.
- Interdisciplinary Studies: Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies, including Arts Management and Design Management concentrations.
- Film and Media: The BA in Media Arts includes opportunities related to narrative and documentary production, digital cinema, television, video, and audio.
Applicants should review each program's curriculum and departmental admissions requirements. Studio Art undergraduate students enter through a pre-major pathway and must complete a separate portfolio review to enter a concentration.
General Eligibility
- UNT accepts domestic and international applicants at undergraduate and graduate levels, subject to the requirements for the intended program.
- Freshman applicants must satisfy UNT's undergraduate admission criteria. International applicants must also provide the required academic credentials and demonstrate English proficiency, unless they qualify for an approved exemption.
- Graduate applicants must meet the university's graduate admission requirements and any additional departmental criteria. Admission to UNT does not automatically guarantee admission to a particular major or graduate program.
Educational Background
- Undergraduate: International freshman applicants must hold the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma. Transfer applicants must submit academic records from previously attended institutions and satisfy the applicable transfer requirements.
- Graduate: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent qualification from a foreign institution before the graduate admission term.
- Doctoral: Applicants must meet the requirements of the intended doctoral program. UNT's general graduate admissions guidance lists a typical minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.50 for doctoral applicants; individual programs may establish additional requirements.
- MFA in Studio Art: Applicants without a master's degree must meet UNT's stated minimum bachelor's-degree GPA requirement of 3.0, alongside the department's portfolio and supporting-material requirements.
Language Requirements
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through an approved method. UNT does not accept Medium of Instruction letters as proof of proficiency.
Accepted tests and minimum scores include:
| Test | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT, tests before 21 January 2026 | 79 |
| TOEFL iBT, tests on or after 21 January 2026 | 4 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) | 53 |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 |
| Michigan English Test (four-skill) | 54 in each section |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency | C1 |
UNT also accepts qualifying citizenship or educational-background exemptions and completion of Level 6 at its Intensive English Language Institute. Test scores must meet UNT's validity and submission rules. Program-specific requirements may apply.
Application Fee
| Applicant category | Application fee | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| International undergraduate | $85 | Non-refundable |
| International graduate | $75 | Non-refundable |
UNT's international admissions guidance lists these fees. Application fee waivers may be submitted through the myUNT portal where applicable.
Tuition
The following published rates apply to the Fall 2026–Summer 2027 academic year. These are individual tuition components, not total tuition estimates.
| Tuition component | Rate | Billing structure |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory tuition — Texas residents | $50 | Per credit hour |
| Statutory tuition — Oklahoma residents | $80 | Per credit hour; undergraduate students |
| Statutory tuition — nonresidents, including international students | $478 | Per credit hour |
| Undergraduate traditional-plan board-designated tuition | $230.11 | Per credit hour |
| Undergraduate Save and Soar plan board-designated tuition | $234.71 | Per credit hour; eligibility restrictions apply |
| Graduate board-designated tuition | $227.79 | Per credit hour |
| Graduate board-authorized tuition | $50 | Per credit hour |
| Graduate board-designated tuition component | $25 | Per credit hour |
| College of Visual Arts and Design undergraduate differential | $45 | Per credit hour |
| Media Arts undergraduate differential | $30 | Per credit hour |
Applicable tuition components are charged together. Undergraduate students who do not meet Texas residency requirements are automatically charged traditional tuition; the Save and Soar plan has residency and degree eligibility conditions. The published differential tuition rates above are additional charges, not substitutes for the other tuition components.
Funding & Financial Support
- UNT offers competitive scholarships and other funding opportunities. International undergraduate applicants may qualify for UNT Excellence Scholarships and Transfer Excellence Scholarships, subject to eligibility criteria. International graduate students can explore funding through the Toulouse Graduate School and their academic departments.
- International students generally cannot receive U.S. federal need-based financial aid unless they qualify as eligible noncitizens. International students awarded a qualifying UNT competitive scholarship of at least $1,000 for the academic year may be eligible for a waiver allowing them to pay Texas resident tuition for the awarded academic year. Awards are competitive and are not guaranteed.
University Services & Academic Support
Relevant academic resources include:
- Studios and specialist facilities: CVAD provides studio spaces, computer labs, workshops, photography facilities, and other discipline-specific resources.
- Graduate studio support: MFA students in Studio Art are provided individual studios.
- Exhibition opportunities: Photography students can apply for opportunities to exhibit work in on-campus galleries.
- Academic guidance: The Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies program provides advising, mentorship, and career guidance.
- International student support: UNT provides international admissions guidance and support for students completing immigration-related requirements.
Access to facilities and opportunities may depend on the program, course, or application process.
Application Requirements
Required materials depend on the applicant category and program.
- International undergraduate applicants: Online application, application fee, official academic transcripts and certificates, and evidence of English proficiency or an approved exemption.
- International graduate applicants: Online graduate application, application fee, official transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities, and required program-specific documents.
- MFA in Studio Art: A portfolio of 15–20 recent artworks, an artist statement, a statement of intent, a résumé or artist CV, and two letters of recommendation submitted through SlideRoom. Applicants must also complete the university application.
- Undergraduate Studio Art concentration review: A portfolio of 12–18 artworks, transcripts, and a written statement are required for the separate entry-portfolio review. Applicants must meet the stated coursework, GPA, and concentration-specific requirements.
SAT and ACT scores are optional under UNT's general freshman admissions policy, although submitting scores may support admission decisions, testing exemptions, and scholarship consideration. Other programs may require additional materials or assessments.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
UNT publishes general deadlines by applicant category and intake. Graduate programs may impose earlier departmental deadlines.
International undergraduate applicants
- Fall freshman deadline: 15 July
- Fall transfer deadline: 1 August
- Summer three-week session freshman deadline: 15 April
- Summer three-week session transfer deadline: 1 May
- Spring freshman deadline: 15 November
- Spring transfer deadline: 1 December
International graduate applicants
- Fall deadline: 15 April
- Summer three-week session deadline: 1 January
- Spring deadline: 15 October
General graduate applicants
- Fall deadline: 15 June
- Summer three-week session deadline: 15 April
- Spring deadline: 15 October
Program-specific deadlines
- MFA in Studio Art priority deadline for fall enrollment: 1 February
- Undergraduate Studio Art entry-portfolio review: 15 October for fall review
- Undergraduate Studio Art entry-portfolio review: 15 March for spring review
Location
University of North Texas — Denton, Texas, United States
Additional Details
- Separate admission processes: Admission to UNT does not guarantee admission to a specific major or concentration. Some creative programs require departmental review after or alongside the university application.
- Studio Art undergraduate pathway: Students begin as Studio Art pre-majors and must pass the concentration's entry-portfolio review after completing the required Foundations courses and studio coursework.
- MFA in Studio Art: The GRE is not required for this program. Faculty make competitive admissions decisions based on the submitted materials and overall application.
- International documentation: Academic records must meet UNT's submission and translation requirements. Students who need an I-20 must first receive full admission to UNT.
- Tuition planning: Published per-credit rates do not represent the full cost of attendance. Mandatory fees, program differentials, course fees, and living expenses may increase the total.
- Application-cycle verification: The official deadline pages should be checked for the intended intake because departmental deadlines may differ from university-wide deadlines.