OCAD University

100 McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Background Image: OCAD

OCAD University is Canada's largest university of art and design, dedicated to applying the power of imagination to education, research and creative enterprise. Founded in 1876, OCAD U's past provides a rich tradition into which our community can tap as we explore new opportunities, technologies and media. Central to our constant evolution is the belief that educational and cultural institutions must look outward, not inward, nurturing ideas that will take root in the world. Our mandate is not simply to imagine the future, but to help create it.

OCAD U's bachelor's and master's degree programs allow students to benefit from an interdisciplinary university education that blends academic rigor with the experimental freedom of the studio. Our graduate programs have a focus on research that goes far beyond traditional academic inquiry. OCAD U researchers start with practice-based methodologies from art and design and integrate them with every imaginable discipline, from computer science to physiology to consumer demographics.

OCAD University is located in the heart of Toronto, Canada's largest centre for design, culture, and business. As one of the world's most multicultural cities, Toronto is a vibrant nexus that brings a diversity of creative forces together. Our city is home to the second-highest concentration of artistically creative people in North America and the third-largest design centre in North America (after New York and Boston). Our downtown location links us (and you) to an extended campus of design studios, art galleries, artist-run centres and museums that exhibit the work of leading artists and designers.

DEGREES OFFERED: BFA, B.Des, BA, MA, MFA, M.Des
ACCREDITATION: AUCC, Council of Ontario Universities, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

Hover over dots to see degrees offered and online availability.

MAJORS OFFERED:

AdvertisingBachelors Degree
Contemporary Art, Design & New Media Art HistoriesMasters Degree
Criticism & Curatorial PracticeBachelors Degree Masters Degree
Cross-disciplinary Art: Life StudiesBachelors Degree
Cross-disciplinary Art: PublicationsBachelors Degree
Design for HealthMasters Degree
Digital FuturesBachelors Degree
Drawing and PaintingBachelors Degree
Environmental DesignBachelors Degree
Graphic DesignBachelors Degree
IllustrationBachelors Degree

 

 

Inclusive DesignMasters Degree
Indigenous Visual CultureBachelors Degree
Industrial DesignBachelors Degree
Integrated MediaBachelors Degree
Interdisciplinary Art, Media & DesignMasters Degree
Material Art & DesignBachelors Degree
PhotographyBachelors Degree
PrintmakingBachelors Degree
Sculpture/InstallationBachelors Degree
Strategic Foresight & InnovationMasters Degree
Visual & Critical StudiesBachelors Degree

MINORS OFFERED:

Art and Social ChangeBachelors degree
Art HistoryBachelors degree
Communication DesignBachelors degree
Creative WritingBachelors degree
Digital & Media StudiesBachelors degree
Digital MediaBachelors degree
Drawing and PaintingBachelors degree
EnglishBachelors degree
Entrepreneurship & InnovationBachelors degree
Expanded AnimationBachelors degree
Furniture DesignBachelors degree
IllustrationBachelors degree

 

Indigenous Visual CultureBachelors degree
Industrial CeramicsBachelors degree
Integrated MediaBachelors degree
Material Art & DesignBachelors degree
On-Screen MediaBachelors degree
PhotographyBachelors degree
PrintmakingBachelors degree
Sculpture/InstallationBachelors degree
Social SciencesBachelors degree
SustainabilityBachelors degree
Wearable TechnologyBachelors degree

LEGEND

Certificate
Associates Degree
Bachelor's Degree

Postbaccalaureate Certificate
Low-Residency Masters
Masters Degree


Fully Online
Partially Online
Optional Online

UNDERGRADUATE COST OF ATTENDANCE 2023-2024
FULL-TIME  
TUITION $ 26,880
MANDATORY FEES 2,018
BOOKS & SUPPLIES 2,000
ON-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD N/A
OFF-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD 11,000
OTHER 8,459


NOTE: Cost of attendance at Canadian schools is shown here in US dollars. The tuition shown reflects the cost for international (non-Canadian) students. If you are a Canadian citizen planning to study at a Canadian institution, tuition costs will be lower. Please check with individual schools.

FINANCIAL AID 2021-2022 FULL-TIME FRESHMEN *
N/A
ACCEPTANCE RATE: 36%

Acceptance Rate = The percentage of students admitted out of applications received in a given year.

 
ENROLLMENT: FALL 2022

UNDERGRADUATE FTE1 = 4,481

UNDERGRADUATE

FULL-TIME 4,322
PART-TIME 404

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
APPLICATION: N/A
ONLINE APPLICATION: Required
APPLICATION FEES: None
HOME EXAM: Not Required
INTERVIEW: Required
ESSAY: Required
SAT / ACT: Not Required
PORTFOLIO: Required
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: N/A
IELTS: N/A
TOEFL: N/A

TRANSCRIPTS

HIGH SCHOOL: Required
COLLEGE: Required, if transferring
FACULTY: 2022-2023

FACULTY FTE1 = N/A

FULL-TIME 154
PART-TIME 0
 

STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: FALL 2022
N/A
FTE STUDENTS PER FTE FACULTY1

RETENTION

FRESHMAN RETENTION

FALL 2020 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2021
83%
 
FALL 2021 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2022
85%
GRADUATION

SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE

FALL 2015 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
65%
 
FALL 2016 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
70%

UNDERGRADUATE ETHNICITY

FALL 2022

THIS DATA IS NOT COLLECTED.

UNDERGRADUATE GENDER DISTRIBUTION

FALL 2022

NEW STUDENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION2

FALL 2022
OTHER PROGRAMS

Continuing Studies
Postgraduate Certificates

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Aboriginal Advising
Academic Advising
Ambient Experience Lab
Art Research Lab
Black Box Facility (Accessible Performance Lab)
Digital Drawing and Painting Lab
Digital Technology Lab
e-MOTION Lab (Data Visualization Lab)
Exhibition opportunities
First Generation/Student Success Programs
Financial Aid Office
Florence Off-Campus Studies Program
game:play lab
Indigenous Visual Culture program
Industry partnership opportunities
Imagination Catalyst (entrepreneurial incubator)
Gallery partnership opportunities
IDRC (Inclusive Design Research Centre)
IDI (Inclusive Design Institute)
International Student Services Office
Mobile Experience Lab
AICAD Exchange Program
Physical Hybrid Computing Lab
Rapid Prototyping Centre
SMAC Lab (Social Media + Collaboration Lab)
Social Body Lab, Smart Materials + Lighting Lab
sLAB (Strategic Innovation Lab)
Super Ordinary Lab
Student Mentor Program
Student Union
Visual Analytics Lab (VAL)
Writing & Learning Centre
Zero Lab

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc. NOTE 2: Geographic distribution is reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. NOTE 3: Includes all institutional scholarships and grants, but does not include College Work Study or third party awards.