Students with a passion for art and design and a wish to improve their English language skills will benefit from a new partnership between Vancouver Community College (VCC) and Emily Carr University of Art + Design. The Creative Art Pathway (CAP) program, beginning this fall, provides international students the opportunity to strengthen English language skills while immersed in creative and critical studies at Emily Carr.

The innovative program allows students who have been conditionally admitted to Emily Carr to complete English language proficiency requirements at VCC. Students will study at both institutions, which will be located within walking distance once Emily Carr University opensin its new location this fall. The English components provided by VCC will include a customized course, English for Creative Practice, focused on the development of core foundational communication skills for creative and critical success. The program also includes up to four English for Academic Purposes classes.

“We are very excited about this partnership with Emily Carr,” said Dr. Kathryn McNaughton, VCC’s Vice President Academic, Students & Research. “This initiative is the result of vision and hard work by many people at both partner institutions, and it will support students’ success in important ways.”

“Emily Carr is committed to supporting student success and we know that our international students are vital to our community,” said Jennifer DeDominicis, Emily Carr University’s Vice President, Enrolment and Student Services/Registrar. “Our partnership with VCC has been designed specifically to help English language learners develop a vocabulary to support their success in an art and design context.”

Candidates who meet Emily Carr University’s visual art portfolio and academic admissions requirements, but do not meet the minimum IELTS score and whose IELTS score is not lower than 5.5 in any skill area will receive a conditional offer of admission from Emily Carr University to attend the CAP program. The CAP program will be offered in the fall and spring terms. Students may be required to take one or two terms depending on their skill level and academic progression through the program.