NSCAD University

Founded 1887 | Halifax, NS

NSCAD University provides a studio-based model of education, allowing students to learn in an environment that is immersive, intellectually rigorous, hands-on and supportive. Students are encouraged to extend their learning through internships, practicums and exchange programs with 70 participating institutions in 15 countries. “NSCAD is an integral part of Halifax’s vibrant, creative ecosystem,” says president Peggy Shannon. “There is tremendous opportunity for dreaming big and making our campuses ground zero for creative placemaking with 24/7 studio access.”

Undergrads can choose from several disciplines: fine arts, including drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture; media arts, including film, animation and photography; craft, including textiles, ceramics and jewellery design; interdisciplinary design; and art history. There are also master’s programs in art education, design and fine arts.

Located in downtown Halifax, NSCAD has three diverse campuses. The Fountain Campus, an interconnected row of 19 former shops and warehouses, is the site for printmaking, painting, fashion and more. The Academy Campus, at the foot of Citadel Hill, houses the media arts programs, while the Port Campus houses the university’s foundation division—the starting point for all first-year students—and industrial spaces for woodworking, sculpture, plastics and the foundry. The Anna Leonowens Gallery, named for NSCAD’s founder, exhibits the work of students and visiting artists, while Art Bar + Projects is a popular hangout and performance art space.

Standout Programs

• Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing: Students explore traditional methods and new technology. After gaining basic skills, they can cultivate self expression while advancing to more technical procedures.

• Art History: Students can take studio courses, as well as a broad slate of offerings including literature, film history, art education and Indigenous studies.

• Interdisciplinary Design: Students apply problem-solving and creativity to design, developing skills in such areas as digital visualization techniques, photography, drawing and production processes.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$9,226 ($10,509 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: 70%, plus portfolio

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 618 | Part-time: 286

Graduates: Full-time: 55 | Part-time: 30

International Students: First-year: 16.8% | Graduate: 50.9%

Male-Female Ratio: 30 to 70

Housing Facts

Residence: Not offered

Cool Courses

• Advanced Workshop: Airport Project: Students design and install art works in a variety of mediums at the Halifax airport.

• Radio Art and Podcasting: From interview techniques to editing, students learn how to create digital audio.

Student Life on Campus

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