ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
General
Before applying for admission, students should obtain information about admission requirements from the appropriate individual program page and review the OCAD University Graduate Studies General Policies (PDF) and OCAD University Graduate Student Handbook (PDF). Applicants meeting the minimum requirements for admission are not assured admission into a graduate program. Furthermore, program admission may be limited to students whose interests are compatible with available resources and faculty expertise.
Application Deadlines
The application deadlines for each program are listed on the individual program page. This is the deadline by which all application materials must be received by the Office of Graduate Studies.
Application Requirements
Although some supporting documents (application form, transcripts, reference forms, etc.) are required by all programs, each program has additional requirements for a complete application (e.g., portfolio). Please visit the individual program’s “How to Apply” page for more detailed information.
Application Form
All applicants must complete the Graduate Studies Application Form (PDF). A printed, signed copy must be included with your application package.
Transcripts
Applicants must provide one copy of their official academic transcript from every post-secondary institution attended. Transcripts must be enclosed in an envelope provided by the institution(s) concerned and sealed or signed across the back of the envelope. Do not open. Note that faxed or photocopied records are not considered official and that documents submitted will not be returned to the student.
Applicants who attended universities outside North America must provide notarized English translations to accompany all foreign documentation not written in English.
Reference Forms
Applicants must indicate on their application form the names of those individuals who will be providing a letter of reference on their behalf.
Referees must complete the Graduate Studies Reference Form and provide it to the applicant in a sealed envelope, signed across the back of the envelope. It is recommended that Referees attach a written letter of reference to the completed form. Applicants must include these forms and letters in the sealed envelope as part of their complete application package.
Application Fee
Your application must include a $100 CDN application fee in the form of a cheque, cash or money order made payable to OCAD University. Credit card payments are not accepted.
English Language Competence
The official language of instruction at OCAD U is English.* An applicant whose primary language is not English or whose previous education has been conducted in another language must demonstrate command of English sufficient to pursue their chosen program before being accepted into that program. Applicants are required to achieve a satisfactory score on one of the following standardized English tests that include a writing component:
TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language internet based test) with an overall score of 90 and no scores below the following:
22 Reading
20 Listening
22 Writing
22 Speaking
If IBT is not available:
a) Minimum PBT (paper-based) TOEFL of 600 and essay of 5, or
b) Minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 7 on the academic modules.
*Note: Subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Committee of the program concerned, a student may write his/her thesis and be examined in French.
Application Process
Please note that only complete application packages will be accepted by the Office of Graduate Studies. Please use the checklist on the Graduate Studies Application Form to ensure that you have included all of the required materials. Incomplete files will not be processed.
Your OCAD U file is created once we receive your complete application package. Once your file is created, you will receive an official email acknowledgement from the Office. Our application processing time is normally 1-2 weeks.
Once the Admissions Committee has had an opportunity to review the applications, you will be contacted by the Office of Graduate Studies if your application has been shortlisted to invite you for an interview (where applicable). The application review process, including interviews, normally takes from four to six weeks.
Admissions Decisions
Once a decision is made on your application, you will receive an official letter in the mail from our office. It is very important to inform the Office of Graduate Studies of any address change during the application process. You will have limited time (normally at least three weeks) to accept the offer of admission. If you decide to accept the offer, you will have to sign and return the attached acceptance form along with a non-refundable tuition deposit.
If you receive a letter from the Graduate Office informing you that you have not been selected for admission, you may fall into one of three general categories:
- Although you meet the minimum program requirements, due to a combination of a highly competitive process and a limited number of spaces, we were unable to admit you.
- You have failed to meet the minimum program requirements (e.g., GPA, English language requirements etc.)
- You were deemed ineligible (e.g., non-relevant degree, lack of academic qualifications).
Visiting Students
Graduate students at other universities who wish to take courses at OCAD U not leading to a degree may be admitted, with the appropriate permissions, through the Ontario Visiting Graduate Student Plan (OVGS) or the Canadian University Graduate Transfer Agreement (CUGTA). Information on these programs and application forms should be available through the graduate department at your home university. Please visit the Graduate Course Calendar for OCAD U course descriptions.
International students wishing to take one or more graduate courses at OCADU must complete the Visiting/Exchange Student Application form.
Last Modified:1/24/2012 12:57:33 PM
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
