How to Apply | Undergraduate Admissions

Review your eligibility to apply

Start by reviewing our academic requirements and portfolio requirements.

Applicants who attended educational institutions where the primary language spoken was not English must demonstrate English Language Proficiency.


Apply online and submit your Portfolio

Apply online at EducationPlannerBC and submit your portfolio through SlideRoom.

Tip: Get feedback before you submit by registering for a portfolio review.

Submit your transcripts and supporting documents

In-progress transcripts and English Language Proficiency scores can be sent to us by email to ensure we receive them prior to the application deadline.

All final high school and post-secondary transcripts must be sent directly from your educational institution to Emily Carr University. Transcripts issued in languages other than English must be accompanied by verified English translations.

Key Dates + Deadlines

September 15 | Applications open for Spring and Fall intakes

October 15 | Applications close for Spring

All your application materials, including your portfolio and educational documents as well as proof of high school graduation, must be submitted by 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time.

November 15 | Admission decisions for Spring

Admission decisions for the Spring intake will be shared with applicants via email.

January 15 | Applications close for Fall

All your application materials, including your portfolio and educational documents, must be submitted by 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time.

April 15 | Admission decisions for Fall

Admission decisions for the Fall intake will be shared with applicants via email.

August 1 | Document deadline for Fall

All final and official educational documents for those attending in the Fall semester must be submitted by this date. If additional documents have been requested by admissions, follow the instructions in those requests regarding deadlines.

Notes on our Spring Intake

The Spring intake beginning in January is offered for select programs, including those in the dropdown menu below. Please also see the dropdown menu regarding Accelerated Visual Arts Foundation.

First Year | Second Semester

Successful applicants to this intake who do not meet the equivalent transfer credit of the first semester will be required to complete those credits before continuing into their second-year major. This might take three semesters.

Bachelor of Fine Arts | Visual Arts Major

This intake is restricted to second and third-year Transfer Students only.

To apply for entry into our Spring Term, applications open on September 15 and close on October 1. Your documents and portfolio are due October 15. This includes proof of high school graduation.

Accelerated Visual Arts Foundation | Summer Intake

Complete 21 credits over 15 weeks and enter the Fall term as second year student in this unique pathway towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts Major.

Visit the program page for eligibility and application details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Direct Entry work?

For successful applicants, admission to Emily Carr offers you direct entry into the program of your choice.

Direct entry is a selective process. All future students must apply through Education Planner BC. Using this tool, applicants can select their first and second choice programs. All available programs will be listed for selection.

All applicants who wish to apply for direct entry to a program at Emily Carr must apply to the university as a whole and select a first and second choice program during the application process.

Can I explore before making a decision about my preferred program?

Future students eager to explore the many areas of study at Emily Carr can apply without declaring a preferred program.

To apply without selecting a preferred program, select the undeclared option in Education Planner BC.

A limited number of seats are available for students to be admitted without selecting a preferred program. There is no guarantee of acceptance into a major of choice when applying to a major entering second year.

For those who choose to go ahead with the undeclared option, it gives space and time to be curious about the range of disciplines and program specializations. Throughout Foundation Year, students across programs will learn what it is like to be a student in each program area.

Students with an undeclared program apply to a first and second choice program during the second term of their Foundation Year. Admission is based on GPA and availability of seats in the program.

What will the first year of my degree look like?

We believe creating a broad understanding of several art and design disciplines is a key to future success. This is why all undergraduate students begin with a common Foundation year.

In their first term, students focus on introductory interdisciplinary studies. These include hands-on studio and critical studies courses.

All students are automatically registered in the Foundation Forum lecture series in their Spring term.

Where do I send my educational documents?

Via email to submitdocuments@ecuad.ca.

Mail, courier, or in-person drop-off:

Transcripts for Admission
Emily Carr University of Art + Design
520 East 1st Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V5T 0H2

If you are requesting transcripts from within BC, you can order them online.

If your first language is not English you must submit an English language proficiency test.

Specific instructions are available for transfer, exchange + other student applications.

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