NSCAD University

NSCAD University provides a studio-based model of art 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 50 participating institutions in 15 countries. “NSCAD has an international reputation as a place made by artists and designers for artists and designers. Our 24/7 studio access is unique in Canada, and it means you can do your work on your own timetable,” says academic dean Jacqueline Warwick. “From day one, you are a peer and a maker and, since we’re small, you will get to know everyone, no matter what discipline you choose. And Halifax offers that same accessibility. Our students immediately immerse themselves in the creative life of the city, helping to make Halifax an exciting cultural centre that punches well above its weight.” Undergrads can choose from several disciplines: fine arts, including drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture; media arts, including film, expanded media and photography; craft, including textiles, fashion, 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 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.

Campus buzz: NSCAD relaunched its Public Lecture Series, which brings artists from across the world to talk about their artistic practices and spend time guiding students in the studio. 

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
 $10,046 ($11,820 out-of-province students)

Median Entering Grade
Not tracked. Minimum 70%, plus portfolio

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 572 | Part-time: 100
Graduates: Full-time: 57 | Part-time: 10

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 572 | Part-time: 100
Graduates: Full-time: 57 | Part-time: 10
International Students: First year: 6% | Graduate: 40%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: Residence not offered

Standout programs

Textiles/Fashion: Students learn about textile production and fashion and textile arts through colour, texture, design, weaving, dyeing and sculptural media. 
Interdisciplinary Design: Students develop skills in digital visualization, photography, drawing and production processes.
Ceramics: Students explore the media and practices of vessel, sculptural and architectural ceramics.