Formerly known as the Central Academy of Arts & Design, the Academy merged with Tsinghua University in 1999. With a prestigious heritage dating back to 1956, the Academy of Arts & Design offers a comprehensive range of disciplines, state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, and advanced research infrastructure, and it enjoys an outstanding reputation both nationally and internationally.
Currently, the Academy comprises 10 departments offering 20 undergraduate programs. It hosts three first-level arts disciplines—Design, Fine Arts, and Art Theory—all authorized to confer doctoral degrees. The Academy is supported by a highly qualified faculty, including numerous internationally acclaimed practitioners and thought leaders recognized at the forefront of their fields locally and globally.
The Academy maintains academic partnerships with over 60 leading institutions across the United States, Britain, France, Australia, Japan, and other countries. Every year, dozens of prominent domestic and international scholars are invited to teach courses in China.
The Tsinghua Arts and Design Institute in Milan (ADIM), officially established on April 17, 2018, serves as a strategic European hub for transcultural design education to cultivate international talent. By integrating global educational resources, ADIM offers students interdisciplinary, cross-regional, and cross-cultural learning, researching, and internship opportunities, cultivating innovative talents with global competence to address the challenges of globalization.
Tsinghua University is committed to equipping students with a solid knowledge foundation, academic excellence, good personal qualities, innovative thinking, global vision, as well as a strong sense of mission and social responsibility, helping students achieve their full potential through self-development. In line with these goals, the Academy of Arts & Design continuously advances educational reforms to cultivate innovative artistic talent with international perspectives, ambitious dreams, practical skills to meet the needs of the times, and a strong sense of responsibility. Through these efforts, the Academy strives to establish itself as a world-renowned institution in fine arts and design.
1. Eligibility and Application Procedures
For details, please refer to: Eligibility and Application Procedures for Undergraduate Programs of Tsinghua University (Admission for International Applicants).
2. Application Deadlines
Note: Online application (Beijing Time): Design and Fine Arts are open ONLY in the first round of application, Art History is open in all rounds of application.
2.1 First Round Application Design and Fine Arts are open ONLY in this round. |
Online application (Beijing Time): |
8:00 AM September 30, 2025—5:00 PM November 28, 2025 |
2.2 Second and Third Round Application Only Art History is open in these periods. |
Online application (Beijing Time): |
8:00 AM November 29, 2025—5:00 PM February 28, 2026 |
The First Round result will be issued by January, 2026.
The Second Round result will be issued by early May, 2026.
3. Undergraduate Programs, Arts Division
Discipline |
Programs |
Duration |
Design & Fine Arts |
Fashion Design |
Four years |
Fashion Design (Textile Design) |
Ceramic Design |
Visual Communication Design |
Environment Design |
Product Design |
Product Design (Transportation Design)
|
Art and Technology (Information Design) |
Digital Media Art |
Craft Art |
Painting |
| Sculpture |
Five years |
Art History |
Art History |
Four years |
Please note |
*Applicants who apply for Design & Fine Arts should choose two among all programs and give clear indication that if you agree to be subject to adjustment. *Applicants who apply for Art History can only choose Art History. *Applicants can apply for programs either under Art History or under Design and Fine Arts. |
4. Examination Schedule and Requirements
4.1 Time and form of the examination and interview will be notified later.
4.2 Subject(s) and requirements of the examination
Major |
Subject |
Score |
Timing |
Paper Size |
Exam Supplies |
Design & Fine Arts |
Colour |
100 |
3 hours |
Octavo |
gouache, watercolor |
Drawing |
100 |
3 hours |
black pencil or charcoal |
Applicant may voluntarily prepare a portfolio (the size is A4, and the number of works is around 20) for the interview.
5. Admission
The admission decision by the Academy of Arts & Design is based on a comprehensive evaluation of academic performance, language ability, supporting materials as well as examination/interview performance.
·Design & Fine Arts
Applicants who are above the minimum admission requirements will be ranked according to their total scores.
·Art History
Please refer to the admission procedures of the Liberal Arts related programs of Tsinghua University.
6. Contact Information
Admission Office
Academy of Arts & Design
Tsinghua University
Haidian District, Beijing, 100084 P. R. China
Tel: +86-10-62798170
Fax: +86-10-62798175
Email: myzb@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
Website: http://www.ad.tsinghua.edu.cn/
