The UArts–Drexel Pathway

Supporting University of the Arts students continuing their education.

As a higher education institution dedicated to helping aspiring learners throughout the Philadelphia area, Drexel University is here for students who are navigating the University of the Arts closing with the UArts-Drexel Pathway. For any questions you may have, please contact us at enroll@drexel.edu or schedule an individual counseling session.

Why Choose Drexel University?

Drexel is a respected global leader in experiential education, offering a dynamic and vibrant arts community, standing ready to help University of the Arts students stay on track to earn their degrees and continue their development as visionary leaders of the arts world. Through our Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, Goodwin College of Professional Studies, and other colleges and schools across the University, we offer a comprehensive catalog of undergraduate and graduate degree programs housed in award-winning facilities that encourage collaboration across creative disciplines in the fields of media, entertainment, design, and the visual and performing arts.

Although this may be a difficult time of transition, we are committed to providing a streamlined process that will allow UArts students to finish their degrees as Drexel Dragons with as little disruption as possible. To help guide students and families through this process, we are offering one-on-one, individualized counseling sessions to explore academic options, application next steps, and financial aid opportunities.

Drexel's Arts and Creative Programs

Drexel University has one of the most comprehensive creative communities in the country, and includes programs in the following areas which we believe would be of interest to UArts students:

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Benefits for UArts Students Attending Drexel

A dedicated admissions counselor who will work one-on-one with you to ensure a smooth transition to Drexel
Specified Financial Assistance:
- First-Year Admitted Students: Drexel will work to match as closely as possible the financial aid package originally offered by UArts.
- Current UArts Students: The University will offer a 50% tuition discount to all current undergraduate UArts students who enroll at Drexel.
Special visit opportunities to explore campus and learn about life as a Dragon
All application fees from University of the Arts to the Drexel Pathway program are waived
An accelerated transfer credit evaluation
Preferential University housing assignments and honoring of prior roommate selections
Specialized rates for University Affiliated Housing for transfer students

First-Year Students Admitted to UArts

Drexel invites first-year students who were admitted to UArts for fall 2024 to consider applying to Drexel University. Support staff is ready to help students remain on schedule to begin their college experience in September. Additionally, we are exploring opportunities to provide financial aid packages that align as closely as possible with those offered by UArts, in order to minimize the financial impacts resulting from this transition.

Current UArts Students

We are a Teach-Out Partner with UArts, allowing for current undergraduate and graduate students to enroll at Drexel and finish their current UArts degree programs as Dragons. Drexel will do all it can to ensure that credit evaluations are streamlined and conducted swiftly and that plans of study are established to follow students' prior path at UArts closely. Individual Teach-Out plans will be developed for students. UArts students may also elect to transfer to non-teach-out programs and have their credit evaluated for application to any Drexel program.

Here at the Drexel University Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, we teach through collaboration, experimentation, and a focus on the real skills needed by our creative industries. During your studies, you'll work across disciplines, rethinking what media, design, and the arts look like in our rapidly changing world. Westphal is the starting point for your ideas – a collaborative, experimental, and just laboratory for creative careers for the 21st century.

Take a virtual tour through Drexel Westphal's state-of-the-art facilities and art gallery. The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts Design is dedicated to the education of students in the areas of design, media and the performing and visual arts. To learn more about our college and creative community visit: https://drexel.edu/westphal/

We invite you to reach out to our Admissions Team by filling out this quick form. You can also contact us at enroll@drexel.edu or schedule an individual counseling session.

We will be happy to walk you through the process and ensure that you and your family fully understand all of the opportunities here at Drexel.

We are currently planning specialized event opportunities targeted for UArts students and will reach out with invitations once all of the details have been finalized. In the meantime, if you are interested in getting a closer look at our campus and learning more about what makes our University such an amazing place, we invite you to visit our Visits, Events, and Virtual Tours page. Graduate students are also welcome to sign up for Chat with Graduate Admissions to learn more about what Drexel can offer.

When you are ready to become a Drexel Dragon, know that the application fees have been waived for all UArts students and we will work closely with you to make the process of applying as easy as possible. If you would like to apply now, please select the appropriate link below:

First-Year Students: Common Application or Coalition Application
Transfer Students: Common Application or Drexel Application
Graduate Students: Drexel Application

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Application fees will be waived for UArts applicants. Please note that you can still submit your application without submitting payment. Students should select the UArts fee waiver when completing their application.

No. While a portfolio is not required to complete, process, or render a decision on your application, a portfolio can assist our faculty in evaluating your curriculum outcomes for optimal placement into the program for you are seeking admission especially if you are a transfer applicant. Portfolios can be submitted via SlideRoom.

No. Essays and writing supplements are waived. However, if you use the Common Application, you will be prompted to submit a general essay as a requirement of the Common Application.

Decisions will be rendered within two weeks of receiving your completed application.

Yes. We are happy to consider you for admission into other programs; however, this would categorize you as a transfer applicant and not a student that falls within our teach-out plan with UArts. Transfer applicants must follow and meet the Drexel degree requirements for the program they are transferring into.

Your degree will be awarded by Drexel University.

Your degree will result in a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) of an undergraduate program and Master of Science (MS) for graduate programs.

A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is an undergraduate degree that focuses on science and technology-based fields. Generally, a BS degree requires more credits than a BA degree because it is more focused in the specific major. Students are then required to focus on studying their major at a more in-depth level. Drexel does not offer BFA degrees.

Co-op will be optional for UArts students. It should be noted that co-op may not be an option for some students depending on what level they are entering into Drexel. For example, a student entering senior level may not be eligible for co-op.

The Drexel Global office is happy to work with UArts students on study abroad opportunities.

Yes. View more information about Drexel's housing options.

Drexel will aim to come close to offering a similar awards package to the UArts one received for first year applicants who did not apply to Drexel previously for the 2024 academic year. For undergraduate Pathway and transfer applicants will be awarded a 50% tuition scholarship.

For pathway applicants, Drexel will offer a similar curriculum to what you pursued at UArts. Transfer applicants will follow the degree plans for the program they are transferring into.

Academic advisors for the major that you have been admitted into will work to develop a plan of study for you. Admitted applications will receive their plans of study from our academic advising team via email.

Teach-out applicants and students are those who are pursuing programs at Drexel that are the same, directly aligned, or similar to the degree program they were pursuing at the University of the Arts. Transfer applicants are those who are pursuing a different degree program than the one they were pursuing at UArts.

Pathway Programs Include:

Visual Arts and Writing Programs (Title — Equivalent Program Title)

BFA, Animation — BS Animation and Visual Effects (3d only)
BFA, Creative Writing — BA English
BFA, Film — BS Film and Television
BFA, Film & Animation — BS Animation and Visual Effects & BS Film and Television
BFA, Game Art —BS Game Design and Production & BS Digital Media and Virtual Production
BFA, Graphic Design — BS Graphic Design
BFA, Interaction Design — BS User Experience and Interaction Design
BFA, Photography — BS Photography
BFA, Product Design — BS Product Design
BFA, Screenwriting — BS Screenwriting and Playwriting