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The information below will assist you in preparing an application whether you are applying as a freshman, transfer, international, or inter-college student.
Questions?
Contact our college recruitment team at 312-413-9427 or cadainfo@uic.edu. we look forward to reviewing your application. Please allow 48 hours for reply.
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Freshmen
Admission to the School of Design is highly competitive. Our admission standards exceed the minimum average ACT/SAT and HSPR (high school class ranking) for the campus. The middle 50% of our Freshmen class enter with an ACT Composite score of 21-26. Applications are evaluated and selected based on a holistic review of a student’s Common Application, transcripts, GPA, ACT/SAT score, HSPR, recommendation letters, and personal statement.
Due to the high demand for limited spaces in our design programs, it is recommended that applicants submit their application as early as possible in the Fall of the senior year. All admission decisions are final.
UIC Freshmen Admission Requirements
Transfer Students
Admission and placement into the School of Design is highly competitive. Students seeking transfer should contact an academic advisor to determine the program that best suits their interests.
The UIC Bachelor of Arts in Design is a transfer degree program that offers a hands-on introduction to a range of design practices. It is possible to complete the BA in Design in three years.
The UIC Bachelor of Design (BDes) is a four-year degree program that provides an intensive pre-professional education centered on a design discipline. Please note that the BDes is a four year program regardless of transfer status and students are admitted in the fall term only. If you are interested in the Bachelor of Design, which leads to a concentration in Graphic Design or Industrial Design, and are planning to enroll in a community college with eventual transfer to UIC, we ask that you re-evaluate this approach. The BDes program begins in the first year of undergraduate study. It is possible to receive credit for some academic courses upon transfer but credits from design courses from other institutions do not transfer.
Transfer applications are evaluated and selected based on a holistic review of a student’s Common Application, transcripts, GPA, recommendation letters, and personal statement. No more than 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of credit may be accepted as transfer work from a community or junior college. All admission decisions are final.
UIC Transfer Admission Requirements
Inter-College Applicants
Current UIC students interested in admission to the School of Design must complete an intercollegiate application available in the Office of Student Affair in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts located in room 208 Jefferson Hall. All applicants must be in good standing, not on academic probation or undetermined status. School of Design eligibility requires a 2.75 UIC grade point average.
International Students
Admission and placement into the School of Design is highly competitive as evident by the talented pool of applicants we receive from around the globe. Application and processing for students interested in attending any university is lengthy and should always be completed as early as possible. School of Design programs require international applicants to present a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with sub-scores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (International).
UIC International Admission Requirements
The UIC School of Design is proud of our tradition of inclusion—welcoming students from every ethnic and racial group, religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical condition, and age. UIC has been recognized as one of the most diverse colleges in the US. We believe that diversity supports and enriches the lives of our students and the campus community at large.
The commitment of the University of Illinois to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on individual merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms. The University of Illinois will not engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran and will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations. This nondiscrimination policy applies to admissions, employment, access to and treatment in the University programs and activities.
UIC Undergraduate Policy Council