The Department of Visual Arts offers two programs: Studio Art, and History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC). Each has different entry requirements. All prospective students are encouraged to apply and will be considered on the basis of grades and, when applicable, following a portfolio review. Enrollment in the programs of the Department of Visual Arts may be limited.
Students interested in studying Studio Art must submit a portfolio in order to be considered for admission into Year One. An offer of admission is made following review of your grades and portfolio. Secondary school applicants will require an average grade in the mid to low 70s.
Students interested in the History of Art and Visual Culture studies (HAVC) program are exempt from submission of a portfolio. Students apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities – Faculty of Humanities exploratory first year program, and declare their HAVC major after the first year of their studies.
Applying to HAVC
Students interested in the History of Art and Visual Culture studies (HAVC) program must apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities – Faculty of Humanities first year program (OUAC code: BR) and declare their HAVC major while completing a general Year 1. Your Academic Advisor can recommend the courses to be completed during first year in preparation for the HAVC program (Years 2-4).
Applying to Studio Art
Portfolios:
Your portfolio submission must contain two elements:
1. A letter of intent (~300 words).
2. A digital portfolio of 6-8 of your creative works.
Portfolios are a required part of the admissions process for students applying to Visual Arts – Studio Art, Concurrent Education – Intermediate/Senior (Visual Arts -Studio Art major). We must receive your complete portfolio submission by Feb. 1, 2027 to consider your application for studies beginning in September 2027.
Preparing and Submitting Your Portfolio
LETTER OF INTENT (Max 300 Words):
Tell us what motivates and inspires your creative work. Describe your reasons for wanting to study visual arts and let us know what art practices interest you. You may also choose to share what arts activities you have participated in, or where you hope your studies in visual art might take you.
PORTFOLIO
Your portfolio should showcase your technical skill and creative abilities. Select 6-8 works that you feel best represent you and your interests. You can include a range of media and approaches, including sketchbook images. If your artwork is primarily digital (digital photography, video, animation), please include at least 2 non-digital works (e.g. drawing, painting, sculpture, sketchbook pages, etc.).
Please submit your 6-8 artworks as individual files or by building them into a single PDF presentation. (Presentations should not exceed 25MB.)
IMAGE LIST
Your image list should include information about each of the artworks that you are including in your portfolio submission: title, medium, size, date completed. You are welcome to include a brief description of each creative work. Number your image list to match the numbering of your jpg/pdf/media files (e.g., 01- 08). If you build a single PDF presentation of your portfolio, you may include the image information alongside the artwork images your the presentation.
Acceptable file types for submission:
- Text files can be submitted at PDF files.
- Image files can be submitted as JPG or PDF files. Files should not be larger than 2 MB each. Please ensure images are well documented (e.g., in focus, cropped, and an accurate representation of the original work).
- Time-based/ Digital Media files should be edited to 1-minute samples and submitted as AVI, MOV, MPEG, MP4, WMV, MP3 or WAV files. For VR objects, programs, game environments, digital models, or other digital files, please provide a video sample or still images.
SUBMITTING YOUR PORTFOLIO:
Email your application to: [email protected]
Subject line: Studio Art Portfolio Application
In your email, please include:
- your full name (as it will appear in the OUAC/Admissions System)
- your date of birth
- your Brock Student ID number (if you have it)
- your letter of intent, your portfolio files and your image list (as attachments)
Be sure to include your name on all files that you are submitting (e.g., Smith_Sam_Portfolio_1.pdf) Only send files as email attachments. Do not use Google Drive or other cloud links.
Important! Before you submit your letter of intent and digital portfolio, make sure that you have applied for admission. You can visit brocku.ca/admissions/apply for more information on how to apply.
Questions?
For questions about the portfolio process, please contact our Portfolio Coordinator at [email protected].
For information related to the admissions process, including minimum academic requirements for entry, please contact our Admissions Office at [email protected].
International Applicants
- You must apply to Brock University.
- Applicants to the Studio Art program are invited to contact the Department of Visual Arts at [email protected] to plan a portfolio submission process that coordinates with your regional academic schedule.
*Please remember that the notice from the Department of the successful completion of the portfolio review does not complete the admission process. You must also receive an offer of admission from Brock University.
Declaration or Change of Major:
A digital portfolio (that includes your Brock ID number) is also required for current Brock Students who are applying to Studio Art. Current students who interested in changing their major to Studio Art or History of Art and Visual Culture shoud consult with the Academic Advisor for the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts to review recommended course options.
Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards
There are a number of awards available to students in the Department of Visual Arts, which we have listed below. For further details on these awards please visit the Student Awards page.
- Arthur Houston Prize in Life Drawing
- Marion B. Smith Prize in Fine Arts
- Harpweaver Prize for Visual Art
- John Bott Memorial Scholarship
- Amy Kerr Book Prize
- Senior Scholarship in Visual Arts
- Marilyn I. Walker Textile Art Award
- Sylvia Osterbind Prize in Art History
- VISA Faculty Award
- Warren Hartman Bursary
- VISA Endowed Awards/Scholarships
- VISA Soiree Scholarship
- Visual Arts Scholarship