Design colleges in Canada offer specialty disciplines with a vast array of specializations, like in the field of engineering drawing, computer graphics, descriptive geometry, design, problem solving, Visual Effects for Film & Television, interior and interactive design. Top five design colleges in Canada namely Emily Carr University, Concordia University, University of British Columbia, University of Ryerson and OCAD University are among the 150 top universities according to QS for Global University Rankings 2022.

  • The average salary of a design graduate in Canada varies in the range of 40,000 CAD to 90,000 CAD (24.82 L INR to 55.84 L INR) per annum.
  • As per the recent study made by StatsCan, jobs in Canada for Design graduates are expected to increase with 21,400 new vacancies till 2026.
  • Average annual salary of a student with a masters in design studies is 41% more than that of a student with a bachelor's degree in design in Canada.

Design Colleges in Canada Fees

Best Design Colleges in Canada

University Name QS Ranking 2023 Tuition Fees (CAD)
Emily Carr University of Art & Design 24 14,563
Concordia University 51-100 14,263
University of Toronto 51-100 33,450
OCAD University, Toronto 101-150 30,049
Laval University, Quebec City 101-150 11,980
Simon Fraser University 101-150 5,481
University of British Columbia 101-150 44,838
University of Quebec 201-230 16,500
The King's University, Edmonton N/A 10,969
Capilano University, North Vancouver N/A 30,955

Other Design Colleges in Canada

Design Colleges in Canada for Undergraduate Programs

University Name Tuition Fees (CAD) Tuition Fees (INR)
Luther College, Regina 16,875 10.43 L
The King's University, Edmonton 10,969 6.78 L
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Surrey 33,350 20.61 L
Capilano University, North Vancouver 35,304 19.14 L
University of Quebec in Outaouais, Gatineau 13,134 8.12 L

Design Colleges in Canada for Doctorate Programs

University Name Tuition Fees (CAD) Tuition Fees (INR)
Conestoga College, Kitchener 16,286 10.07 L
College of New Caledonia, Prince George 39,180 24.23 L
Canadore College, North Bay 14,664 9.06 L
British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby 14,625 9.04 L
College of the North Atlantic, St. John's 6,188 3.88 L

Design Colleges in Canada: Admission Requirements

Emily Carr University of Art & Design

  • The minimum academic requirement for admission to Emily Carr University undergraduate programs is graduation from grade 12 secondary school, with five grade 12 subjects.
  • These include: English Studies 12 with a minimum grade of 'C', two other grade 12 academic courses..
  • The minimum overall GPA required for admission is 2.5 or C+ or 67%
  • Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of recommendation.

University of British Columbia

  • The minimum admission requirements are common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC).
  • Applicants to the MFA in visual art normally hold a BFA, BA, or BEd degree with a major in studio arts.
  • English Proficiency Test Scores: IELTS 7.0 |TOEFL: 100 or above
  • Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of recommendation.

University of Toronto

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma Six 4U/M courses, including:
  • English (ENG4U)
  • Supplemental Application Required.
    • English Proficiency Test Scores: IELTS 6.5 | TOEFL: 90 or above
    • Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of recommendation.
  • Resume

OCAD University

  • Portfolio of all your creative works, technical experiences and accomplishments, or writing sample (required for the BA in Visual and Critical Studies).
  • Official transcripts and a five-page preliminary research proposal.
  • Undergraduate degree or graduate diploma in design or equivalent in a relevant undergraduate degree program.
  • High academic standing, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a scale of 4.30.
  • Letter of recommendation
  • English Proficiency Test Scores: IELTS 6.5 | TOEFL: 80 or above
  • Resume

Simon Fraser University

  • A minimum of five approved Grade 12 courses, including English Studies 12 (min 70%) or equivalent.
  • Interactive Arts and Technology course entry requires a grade of C- or better in each prerequisite course.
  • Canada student visa
  • Updated Resume
  • Proof of finance availability
  • Statement of Purpose

How to choose Universities?

The educational system in Canada is known for providing world-class education, excellent infrastructure, cultural diversity, and work opportunities that attract a huge influx of students. Educational system in Canada is known for its quality, research, welcoming environment and affordability. Once you have decided which university you want to study in, start searching for the best universities offering that course. After the shortlisted universities, try to analyze how much is the return of investment, including, rankings, job opportunities, fees, course structure, research opportunities, etc. After that, use tools like University Comparer, to have comparison between universities shortlisted. Before finalizing, look at your budget, and the location of the university, and the student profiles of students who graduated to give an idea on how the career of the students who graduated from the university of your choice were.

After that, fill the application form, pay the application fees, wait for the university's decision, and if you have received an offer, you can proceed with the application for a student visa.

FAQs

Ques. Are there any job opportunities for design students in Canada?

Ans.As per the recent study made by StatsCan, jobs in Canada for Design graduates are expected to increase with 21,400 new vacancies till 2026, due to expansion and replacement needs.


Ques.How many universities in Canada provide Design Courses?

Ans.More than 50 Canadian universities offer degrees in Engineering courses. According to QS Ranking 2023, 8 Canadian Universities were ranked in the top 250 design colleges in the world.


Ques.What is the minimum salary of a designer in Canada?

Ans.The average salary of a design graduate in Canada varies in the range of 40,000 CAD to 90,000 CAD (24.82 L INR to 55.84 L INR) per annum. Average annual salary of a student with a masters in design studies is 41% more than that of a student with a bachelor's degree in design in Canada


Ques.How much will it cost to study design courses in Canada?

Ans.The cost to study graphic design courses in Canada is 30,500 CAD (18.86 L INR)


Ques.Are Scholarships available for international students?

Ans. Yes, each university offers financial assistance for the need- based students. You must check the portal of the university to verify your eligibility.

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Found 79 universities

Sort By
RankCollege InfoTuition Fees & living Cost(Avg.)Top CoursesRanking & Reviews
#1University of Toronto logo

University of Toronto, Toronto

Ontario, Canada43%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $40.6K/Yr (CA$56,437/Yr)Living$16.5K/Yr (CA$22,953/Yr)Admission M.A Urban DesignTOEFL93$40.6K/Yr
CA$56,437
Course duration: 2 years
Programs
9.0/10(80 Users)
#2The University of British Columbia logo

The University of British Columbia, Vancouver

British Columbia, Canada44%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $22K/Yr (CA$30,536/Yr)Living$8.2K/Yr (CA$11,353/Yr)Admission Master of Urban DesignTOEFL90$32.1K/Yr
CA$44,528
Course duration: 1 year
2+ More Programs
7.0/10(106 Users)
#3McGill University logo

McGill University, Montreal

Quebec, Canada46%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $21.4K/Yr (CA$29,780/Yr)Living$17.4K/Yr (CA$24,160/Yr)Admission M.A Urban Development and Urban ...IELTS6.5PTE65$21.4K/Yr
CA$29,780
Course duration: 2 years
Programs
5.3/10(23 Users)
#4University of Alberta logo

University of Alberta, Edmonton

Alberta, Canada58%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $16.1K/Yr (CA$22,303/Yr)Living$11.2K/Yr (CA$15,600/Yr)Admission M.Des Design StudiesDuolingo120TOEFL100PTE68$7.2K/Yr
CA$10,017
Course duration: 2 years
2+ More Programs
10.0/10(21 Users)
#5McMaster University logo

McMaster University, Hamilton

Ontario, Canada59%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $21.1K/Yr (CA$29,360/Yr)Living$9.3K/Yr (CA$12,970/Yr)Admission M.Eng DesignTOEFL88$36.5K/Yr
CA$50,730
Course duration: 1 year
1 More Program
8.3/10(29 Users)Ranked 116 by THE in 2025Ranked 173 by QS in 2026
#6University of Waterloo logo

University of Waterloo, Waterloo

Ontario, Canada53%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $34.1K/Yr (CA$47,346/Yr)Living$4.9K/Yr (CA$6,864/Yr)Admission M.Eng System Design EngineeringTOEFL90PTE63$34.1K/Yr
CA$47,346
Course duration: 16 months
Programs
8.7/10(57 Users)Ranked 163 by THE in 2025Ranked 119 by QS in 2026
#7University of Calgary logo

University of Calgary, Calgary

Alberta, Canada20%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $16.6K/Yr (CA$23,122/Yr)Living$9K/Yr (CA$12,534/Yr)Admission Master Environmental DesignIELTS7.5PTE59$12.3K/Yr
CA$17,151
Course duration: 4 years
2+ More Programs
6.2/10(33 Users)
#8Laval University logo

Laval University, Quebec City

Quebec, Canada59%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $14.4K/Yr (CA$20,040/Yr)Admission M.Sc Architecture - Urban DesignTOEFL79$12.4K/Yr
CA$17,257
Course duration: 2 years
2+ More Programs
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#9Dalhousie University logo

Dalhousie University, Halifax

Nova Scotia, Canada78%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $24.3K/Yr (CA$33,814/Yr)Living$11K/Yr (CA$15,248/Yr)Admission B.S Environmental Design StudiesDuolingo120TOEFL90PTE61$24.3K/Yr
CA$33,814
Course duration: 2 years
Programs
6.3/10(20 Users)Ranked 301 by THE in 2025Ranked 283 by QS in 2026
#10University of Saskatchewan logo

University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

Saskatchewan, Canada75%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $27.6K/Yr (CA$38,328/Yr)Living$8.4K/Yr (CA$11,684/Yr)Admission B.A.Sc Interactive Systems Desig...Duolingo110IELTS6.5PTE63$27.6K/Yr
CA$38,328
Course duration: 4 years
Programs
7.0/10(12 Users)Ranked 351 by THE in 2025Ranked 378 by QS in 2026
#11University of Manitoba logo

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg

Manitoba, Canada52%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $10.4K/Yr (CA$14,495/Yr)Living$9.3K/Yr (CA$12,929/Yr)Admission M.Des Interior DesignDuolingo120TOEFL86PTE61$10.4K/Yr
CA$14,495
Course duration: 2 years
Programs
8.3/10(14 Users)Ranked 401 by THE in 2025Ranked 643 by QS in 2026
#12York University logo

York University, Toronto

Ontario, Canada27%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $22.7K/Yr (CA$31,552/Yr)Living$8.5K/Yr (CA$11,860/Yr)Admission B.DesDuolingo120TOEFL88PTE60$22.7K/Yr
CA$31,552
Course duration: 4 years
Programs
6.3/10(40 Users)
#13Carleton University logo

Carleton University, Ottawa

Ontario, Canada21%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $22.4K/Yr (CA$31,056/Yr)Living$9.3K/Yr (CA$12,907/Yr)Admission M.DesGRE310TOEFL86PTE60$14.9K/Yr
CA$20,717
Course duration: 2 years
1 More Program
8.0/10(24 Users)
#14Concordia University-Montreal logo

Concordia University-Montreal, Montreal

Quebec, Canada78%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $16.6K/Yr (CA$23,098/Yr)Living$10K/Yr (CA$13,953/Yr)Admission M.DesDuolingo125TOEFL85PTE57$11.2K/Yr
CA$15,545
Course duration: 2 years
1 More Program
8.2/10(39 Users)
#15Toronto Metropolitan University logo

Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto

Ontario, Canada80%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $24.7K/Yr (CA$34,330/Yr)Living$14.7K/Yr (CA$20,474/Yr)Admission B.Des FashionDuolingo120IELTS6.5PTE60$26.5K/Yr
CA$36,845
Course duration: 4 years
1 More Program
7.2/10(16 Users)Ranked 601 by THE in 2025Ranked 711 by QS in 2026
#16University of Northern British Columbia logo

University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George

British Columbia, Canada75%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $8K/Yr (CA$11,042/Yr)Living$7.1K/Yr (CA$9,874/Yr)Admission M.Eng Integrated Wood DesignDuolingo135IELTS6.5PTE65$8K/Yr
CA$11,042
Course duration: 1 year
Programs
8.7/10(1 User)Ranked 1001 by THE in 2025
#17University of Lethbridge logo

University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge

Alberta, Canada93%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $16.1K/Yr (CA$22,369/Yr)Living$5.7K/Yr (CA$7,941/Yr)Admission B.F.A Dramatic Arts (Technical/D...Duolingo105TOEFL80PTE54$16.1K/Yr
CA$22,369
Course duration: 4 years
Programs
6.3/10(4 Users)Ranked 1501 by THE in 2025Ranked 1749 by CWUR in 2025
#18University of Quebec at Chicoutimi logo

University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi

Quebec, Canada88%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $7.9K/Yr (CA$11,018/Yr)Living$2.8K/Yr (CA$3,870/Yr)Admission B.A Animation and Digital DesignIELTS6.5$7.9K/Yr
CA$11,018
Course duration: 3 years
3+ More Programs
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#19OCAD University logo

OCAD University, Toronto

Ontario, Canada65%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $34.4K/Yr (CA$47,776/Yr)Admission M.Des Strategic Foresight and In...Duolingo115IELTS7.0PTE58$36.2K/Yr
CA$50,265
Course duration: 2 years
8+ More Programs
6.8/10(1 User)
#20Saint Mary's University logo

Saint Mary's University, Halifax

Nova Scotia, Canada88%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $22.1K/Yr (CA$30,750/Yr)Living$8.4K/Yr (CA$11,615/Yr)Admission M.S Computing and Data AnalyticsIELTS6.5PTE58$22.1K/Yr
CA$30,750
Course duration: 16 months
Programs
7.0/10(5 Users)