EAD: Bridge to First Year

ENGLISH FOR ART AND DESIGN:

Bridge to First Year

EAD: Bridge to First Year is a 6-week summer intensive pathway program for English Language Learners (ELLs).

*Please note: information on this page will be further updated over 2025.

EAD: Bridge to First Year will help you practice the language skills you need to talk and write about your art or designs, engage in group projects, participate in class discussions and complete assignments. Learn from OCAD U instructors, who are also professional artists and designers, as well as the language coach while you interact with multilingual peers. Build confidence and connections before you start your first year!

Students who successfully complete EAD: Bridge to First Year will meet OCAD University's English Language Proficiency requirements and will not need to submit updated language test results.

Please see the information, below, outlining applicants who are eligible to take this program.

Program Dates

June 30 - August 8, 2025
 

Program Eligibility

Who are eligible to take EAD: Bridge to First Year?

Students who have English Language Proficiency test scores that meet the requirements for EAD: Bridge (as outlined below) and who have received a conditional offer of admission to OCAD U.

Students (English Language Learners) who have received their offer of admission to OCAD U and have met OCAD U's English Language Proficiency requirements may also be eligible to enrol in this program and participate just before their first year. Please reach out to the ead [at] ocadu.ca (EAD program) to check for available extra spots.

English Language Proficiency Minimum Test Score Requirements for EAD: Bridge to First Year

IELTS Academic overall score of 5.5 (with minimum scores of 5.0 for Reading, Listening and Speaking components; and 5.5 for Writing).

Duolingo English Test (DET) overall score of 95–105

Language score requirements for other types of language tests can be found on EAD's English Test Scores Minimums page.

*NOTE: if your language test scores are a little below the minimum score requirements (that are indicated above), please reach out to the ead [at] ocadu.ca (EAD program) to determine if you may be eligible for EAD based on your test scores and situation.

Program Format & Hours

*EAD: Bridge to First Year will be online (please see the description below). Further information about the format and class times will be available during the registration period.

EAD: Bridge to First Year requires a time commitment of about 24 hours per week (for classes, assignments, group work and program activities).

For this online program, the 24 hours per week engagement includes both synchronous (online and happening at the same time) and asynchronous (on your own schedule) activities. Synchronous class sessions typically start at 8:30am or 9:00am (Eastern/Toronto time) for about 90 minutes. It is an intensive 6-week program, so it is likely that you will attend class meetings about five times a week.

There are three components to EAD: Bridge to First Year:

EADL-2V: Discussions in Visual Culture

In this class you will practice the language of art and design history by analyzing objects and their context. While all classes will include reading, writing, listening and speaking, this class will focus most on reading and writing in English to help prepare you for the types of assignments you will have in your first-year seminar (lecture) classes.

EADL-2S: Art & Design Studio

In this class you will practice the language and culture of art and design studio through the practice of making and working on art projects. In this class you will focus most on listening and speaking in English while learning important art & design vocabulary. This class will help prepare you for the types of assignments you will have in your first-year studio (making) classes. Students will have an opportunity to showcase their creative works developed during this class.

EADL-2L: Language Studio

Students will have the opportunity to work with an English Language Learning Consultant (Language Coach) during the program. Your Language Coach will provide feedback on assignments, offer one-on-one and group tutoring and help you review new vocabulary, expressions, and concepts introduced in the two classes listed above. There will be a weekly meeting to focus on and practice language skills.

Program Pre-Registration

Pre-register by completing the online form by May 2025.  Pre-registration will open in April 2025 (form will be posted here when available).

Pre-registering will save you a spot in EAD: Bridge. After you pre-register, you will be notified by Admissions if you meet the criteria to participate in the program.
 

Program Registration

Students who pre-register and who are eligible for EAD: Bridge to First Year will be contacted with instructions. The deadline to complete registration and pay the program fee will be in June 2025.

Costs for EAD: Bridge to First Year

$125 non-refundable pre-registration fee
Program fee of $6,221.84 (CAD), plus 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)—please note that there are no refunds for the program fee once this program has started. If you withdraw before Monday, June 30, 2025, you can receive a full refund (minus a $100 administration fee). 
Plus student health insurance, UHIP (applicable only for students living in Ontario).
2025 UHIP fee to be determined.