Visual and Critical Studies (Art History)

Prerequisites

• OSSD with an overall academic average of at least 70% in six 4U/M courses, including ENG4U or EAE4U with a minimum final grade of 70%

IB and AP Requirements

• IB Admission Information
• AP Admission Information

Additional Admission Criteria

In addition to meeting the academic requirements, you are required to submit the following to be considered for admission:

1. A 1-page Letter of Interest/Creative Profile (300 words maximum) on why you would like to study the liberal arts in a studio setting.
2. An original essay of 500 words on an annually assigned topic.

You will be notified by email of the exact dates and deadlines to submit your supplemental application material.

Language Requirements

If you were enrolled in the Ontario high school system for 4 consecutive academic years or more, immediately prior to your intended start date, ENG4U or EAE4U with a minimum grade of 70% will be accepted to fulfill the English admission requirement.

If you completed less than 4 consecutive academic years in the Ontario high school system, you must provide English-language proficiency test results in addition to ENG4U or EAA4U.

If you are not applying directly from an Ontario high school, visit English-language proficiency for further details about English-language proficiency.

Offers of Admission

Basic Requirements for Admission

The primary basis 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 records 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 first 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, 2024. Applications received after February 1, 2024, will be considered if space is available. 

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; Digital Futures; Drawing & Painting; Environmental Design (Interior Design Specialization available); Experimental Animation; Graphic Design; Illustration; Indigenous Visual Culture; Industrial Design; Integrated Media (Life Studies Specialization available); Material Art & Design (Fibre, Metalsmithing/Jewellery); Photography; Printmaking & Publications; and Sculpture/Installation.

Find more information about our degrees, majors, specializations, minors, academic courses and graduate degrees on our website.

Find more detailed information about our programs and the admissions process on our website.

Alternative Offers

There are no alternative offers.