Offers of Admission

Basic Requirements for Admission

The primary criterion for admission to OCAD University's studio-based degree programs (BDes or BFA) is a portfolio submission. All applicants must submit a portfolio to be considered. Portfolio requirements vary by program. Admission to our non-studio degree program (Honours BA) is based on a combination of academic requirements and supplemental application materials. 

All offers of admission are conditional upon meeting minimum academic requirements. Ontario high school students must successfully complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), including the following:

  • Six 4U/M courses with an overall final average of 70%
  • 4U English (ENG4U or EAE4U) with a minimum final grade of 70%

If English is not your native language and you have not completed 4 consecutive years of study in an English school system, you will be required to provide additional documentation of English proficiency.

Failed and Repeated Courses

If a course has been taken more than once, the highest reported successful grade will be considered.

Timing and Process for Admission Decisions

The only entry point for all programs is September. The recommended deadline to apply for all programs is February 1, 2019. Applications received after February 1, 2019, will be considered as space permits. 

The majority of the portfolio submissions will be due in February. We will begin making offers in April based on the results of the portfolio assessment, available academic records and supplemental application materials.

Additional Admission, Application and Program Information

You may apply to only 1 program at OCAD University. While you are required to make this choice so you can focus your studies in 1 area of interest, you will still have the opportunity to learn a broad range of concepts, skills and knowledge that are common to all programs.

Undergraduate Degrees and Areas of Major

OCAD University offers a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Visual and Critical Studies, a Bachelor of Design (BDes) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Areas of major in the BDes and the BFA include: Advertising; Creative Writing; Criticism & Curatorial Practice; Cross-Disciplinary Art (Life Studies, Publications); Digital Futures; Drawing & Painting (Digital Painting and Expanded Animation Specialization available); Environmental Design (Interior Design Specialization available); Graphic Design; Illustration; Indigenous Visual Culture; Industrial Design; Integrated Media (Digital Painting and Expanded Animation Specialization available); Material Art & Design (Fibre, Metalsmithing/Jewellery); Photography; Printmaking; and Sculpture/Installation.

Find further information about our degrees, majors, specializations, minors, academic courses and graduate degrees.

Find more detailed information about our programs and the admissions process