Media Relations

Emily Carr University of Art + Design is a world leader in education and research. Encouraging experimentation at the intersections of art, design, media and technology, ECU merges studio practice, research and critical theory in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. Founded in Vancouver in 1925, the university has 2000 students enrolled in graduate and undergraduate programs, and thousands more taking workshops, certificate programs and individual courses. Their faculty and alumni are internationally recognized as award-winning creators and thought leaders who have significant impact on both the cultural sector and the economy.

Undergraduate degrees facilitate work across mediums and technologies, merge critical theory with studio practice and encourage students to develop new and innovative ways of thinking and creating. Emily Carr Bachelor Degrees all begin with Foundation year. Foundation provides a quintessential experience in a range of academic and studio classes. Students are introduced to the University community and social considerations of the world beyond its doors.

Based on a spirit of critical inquiry, community/ industry/institutional partnership, and interdisciplinary exploration, the program offers a spectrum of art, design, and media courses for first year students to explore their creativity individually and collaboratively. In second year, students apply to major in one of the following three areas:

1. Bachelor of Design (three majors): Communication Design; Industrial Design; and Interaction Design
2. Bachelor of Fine Arts (four majors): Critical+ Cultural Practices; Illustration; Photography; and Visual Arts (concentrations in Ceramics; Drawing; Painting; Print Media; and Sculpture and Expanded Practices)
3. Bachelor of Media Arts (four majors): 2D + Experimental Animation; 3D Computer Animation; Film + Screen Arts; and New Media + Sound Art

The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers both a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and a Master of Design (MDes) professional degree. These prepare students to engage in the expanding fields of design, media and visual arts within the cultural and creative economies. Our graduate degree programs are designed to facilitate interaction between students and faculty in a supportive atmosphere of collaboration that encourages investigation of critical thinking in both traditional approaches and innovative, hybrid forms of production.

1. The MDes is offered as a two year, full-time, research-orientee degree for creative professionals at the forefront of design, with the option of interaction or interdisciplinary streams.
2. The MFA is delivered through two distinct but interrelated programs: Full Residency and Low Residency. Full residency cohorts progress through the program in 21 months of full-time study. Low Residency cohorts progress through the equivalent program in 28 months, with equally challenging but more flexible delivery model built around 3 summer intensive residencies in Vancouver and rigorous online curriculum.
3. Emily Carr also offers a joint Master of Digital Media degree in conjunction with our partner post-secondary institutions: Simon Fraser University, The University of British Columbia, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, at the Great Northern Way Campus through the Centre for Digital Media.

Research at Emily Carr University is focused on expanding research innovation, building industry alliances, and customizing internships for Masters students. Faculty and graduate students have access to state-of-the-art digital technologies to develop and enhance projects in all disciplines. These technologies were chosen to bridge digital and material practices and promote collaborations between departments. Our research empowers new means of production, employment, creative and aesthetic expression, and culminates in a wealth of opportunities for our graduates. The research area is deliberately designed to help graduate students and faculty identify innovative research projects and global collaborations, strengthen grant submissions, and source research team members. Graduate and undergraduate students benefit through direct involvement and employment opportunities under the leadership and guidance of faculty supervisors. The University's Research Ethics Board promotes a high standard of ethics and integrity in research and scholarship. All university-affiliated research and scholarship involving human participants requires review and approval of the University’s Research Ethics Board.

Learn more about Research at Emily Carr University.

ECU Continuing Studies offers accessible and innovative opportunities for life-long learning in art and design. Programs focusing on skills development, creativity, and personal and professional growth complement credit programs and serve the diverse needs of a multi-generational community of learners. From pre-university courses and workshops for youth to part-time and full-time certificates for adults, their Continuing Studies programs provide flexible and comprehensive learning pathways for students to achieve their goals.

Learn more about Continuing Studies at Emily Carr University.