Info for Teachers & Counsellors
Steps to Applying to OCAD U
How to Identify Future Art and Design Students
Look for a student who:
- is creative, unconventional, curious
- is interested in arts & culture, and/or has passion
- likes to think outside the box, and/or be hands-on
- likes to problem-solve, and/or is concerned about their community
- wants to make the world a better place, and/or is sensitive to their own or other’s thoughts or feelings
How to Support Art & Design Students
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Encourage them to participate and be active in the local art community; attend openings, go to artist talks and take studio and writing classes outside of high school.
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Encourage them to experiment and take many art or design courses in high school, especially ones related to the program they’re interested in.
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Encourage them to create work and experiment on their own, outside of school.
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Book a High School Visit with our team.
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Join us on campus for a Special Tour!
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Encourage them to book a Virtual One on One meeting with Admissions.
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Encourage them to attend one of our many events including upcoming portfolio review days.
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Encourage them to sign up to our newsletter.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Choose the program
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Apply through the OUAC
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Submit a portfolio (or writing sample). Learn more about the portfolio process
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Wait for the offer
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A portfolio is a collection of art or design pieces that demonstrate a student’s experimental, conceptual and process-based ideas along with his or her technical skills in various mediums.
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Check out the Preparing a Portfolio page for more details!
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Academic requirements vary depending on the type of applicant.
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OCAD U offers an experiential learning environment where most of our faculty are working industry professionals and our downtown location gives us easy access to a wide network of industry partners.
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Our Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) offers over 400 experiential learning placements. OCAD U offers so much more than co-op because creative careers take many forms. Our approach is specialized, and individual to every student’s needs and goals. Students will be able to take advantage of:
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Short experiential learning placements from among hundreds of organizations
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Creative in-class projects with real-world industry partners
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Exclusive summer internships
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Gallery exhibitions of their work
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Freelance creative opportunities
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Jobs after graduation
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We provide both a creative studio environment and a spaces to think critically and engage in real-world, current issues.
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The studio environment allows our students to turn their ideas into a reality. Over 18 shops and studios provide tools, machines, technologies and space to build, make and create.
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Our liberal arts & science courses (like English, Humanities, Social Sciences and Science/Technology/Mathematics) support critical thinking and gives strong foundation for our students to work with and innovate across many different industries.
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Unlike at most other universities, OCAD U’s student-faculty ratio is kept deliberately low (17:1). Small class sizes connect students closely with their faculty and peers. OCAD University’s dedicated support services help students build a professional community, valuable experience and skills necessary for a meaningful career.
- For Indigenous Applicants
- Connect with Indigenous Support Coordinator, Serafina (serafinas [at] ocadu.ca)