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OCAD University is Canada’s largest university of art and design dedicated to applying the power of imagination to education, research and creative enterprise. Since 1876, OCAD U’s specialized, studio-based programs have inspired students, faculty and alumni to push the boundaries of art and design analytically, conceptually and strategically. Today, the university combines the strength of that tradition with new approaches that emphasize collaboration, innovation and the integration of emerging technologies.

What OCAD U teaches reflects who it teaches. Cultural diversity, global citizenship, emerging technologies, health and wellness – by considering contexts like these, OCAD U artists and designers are revolutionizing how people think, work, live and play. Today, 20 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs allow students to benefit from an interdisciplinary university education that blends academic rigour with the experimental freedom of the studio. Intertwined with the graduate programs is a concentrated focus on research that extends beyond traditional academic inquiry. OCAD U researchers apply practice-based methodologies integrating art and design with a plethora of other disciplines, from computer science to physiology to consumer demographics.

OCAD U 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. Toronto 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).

OCAD U supports a vibrant community life, offering special events and lectures, a variety of exhibition venues, visiting artists-in-residence programs, and informal gatherings that help students gain experience in the contemporary art and design worlds.

OCAD U’s graduates are recognized for their broad skills in creativity and innovation.

Student fees

Canadian student fees  2011-12 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $5,280 - $5,410
Graduate tuition fees: $5,456 - $12,315

International student fees  2011-12 *
Undergraduate tuition fees: $15,920
Graduate tuition fees: $12,699 - $14,834

* Source: Statistics Canada. Fees for general programs in arts and humanities.

Note: In addition to tuition fees, universities generally charge fees for goods and services supplied to students. This includes areas such as student associations, sports and health. These additional fees vary widely per university and per student and can run from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Check with the university for details.

Student enrolment

2011 rounded preliminary fall enrolment *
Full-time (undergraduates): 3,200
Full-time (graduates): 70
Part-time (undergraduates): 940
Part-time (graduates): 80

* Source: Council of Ontario Universities