Application Requirements

Transcripts are a record of your studies at an institution and include a list of courses completed, grades received and confirmation of degree conferral (if awarded).  

Unofficial Transcripts (i.e. scanned copies of transcripts or printouts of your student record) from every post-secondary institution attended must be uploaded as part of your online application.  

Post-secondary institutions are institutions attended after completing secondary or high school education, typically universities or colleges.  

If your transcript does not clearly state that your degree was conferred, upload a copy of your degree certificate along with your transcript. 

Unofficial Transcript Upload Requirements 

Scanned transcripts must: 

• Include one copy of the institutions' legend/grading scale information (typically found on the reverse side of the transcript) 
• Be submitted in PDF format (.pdf extension) 
• Be unprotected and viewable 
• Be scanned as a single document for each institution 
• Be readable on a computer screen, with pages oriented upright whenever possible 

Documents issued in a lanaguge other than English must be accompanied by either: 

• Acertified translation to English; or  
• A World Education Services (WES) course-by-course credential assessment 

If you are unable to obtain or provide transcripts, upload a document explaining the circumstances. 

Official Transcripts 

If you are offered admission, your offer will be conditional upon receipt of official transcripts from all previously attended post-secondary institutions.  

Official transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution in a sealed envelope or via official electronic service (e.g. Parchment, MyCreds, etc.). We cannot accept transcripts that are unsealed, opened, photocopied, faxed, or scanned as official documents. 

OCAD University reserves the right to require a credential assessment at any stage of the application or admissions process. 

All program applications require two (2) recommendations. 

The following programs require a recommendation letter that addresses a set of prompts: 

• Criticism & Curatorial Practice 
• Interdisciplinary Master's in Art, Media & Design (IAMD) 
• Digital Futures 

The following programs require recommenders to complete 4-6 structured questions within the application portal (rather than uploading a letter): 

• Design for Health 
• Inclusive Design 
• Strategic Foresight & Innovation 

Recommenders must subit their recommendations directly through the Graduate Application Portal. You must enter your recommenders’ contact information in the portal before submitting your application. 

 It is your responsibility to ensure that recommendations are submitted within 1 week of the application deadline. We encourage you to contact your recommenders as early as possible, as review of your application may be delayed until all recommendation letters are received. 

We accept recommendations from both academic and professional references. Strong recommenders are those who can speak to your academic performance, research potential, relevant professional experience, and readiness for graduate-level study. 

The application fee is $110 CAD, payable through the Graduate Application Portal via credit card.

Application fees are non-refundable and charged for each program to which you apply. The application fee is charged when you submit your application. 

The official language of instruction at OCAD U is English. An applicant whose primary language is not English or whose previous education has been conducted in another language are required to demonstrate command of English sufficient to pursue graduate studies at OCAD U. 

Applicants may satisfy this requirement through one of the following:
 

• Submission of valid test results for an approved English language proficiency test with scores that meet or exceed requirements.
  
  or 
   
• Proof of completion of a Bachelor's, Master's, or doctoral degree (or equivalent) where the language of instruction was English. 
   

The following English Language Proficiency tests are acceptable. Test results will be considered valid if completed within 24 months of the intended start date at OCAD U.

English Language Proficiency Test Scores:

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT (Including Home Edition and Paper Edition)

Score Requirements for tests completed before January 21, 2026:

• Minimum total score of 90 with at least:
  • 22 in Reading
  • 20 in Listening
  • 22 in Speaking
  • 22 in Writing

Score Requirements for tests completed on or after January 21, 2026:

• Minimum total score of 5.0 with at least:
  • 4.5 in Reading
  • 4.5 in Listening
  • 4.5 in Speaking
  • 4.5 in Writing

*OCAD U's institution code for TOEFL is 0537, use this code to send your results electronically from ETS-TOEFL.

*OCAD U will accept TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) results.

*OCAD U does not accept TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP or TOEFL ITP Plus for China for admission purposes.IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic
Score Requirements: 
Minimum 7.0 overall with no part below 7.0 (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing)

*OCAD U uses the IELTS online verification system. Provide your Test Report Form (TRF) number to the Admissions & Recruitment office. 
*OCAD U will accept the IELTS One-Skill retake
*OCAD U does not accept the IELTS Indicator for admission purposes. 
 

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) iBT  (Including Home Edition and Paper Edition):

Score Requirements for tests completed before January 21, 2026: 

• Minimum total score of 90 with at least:
  • 22 in Reading
  • 20 in Listening 
  • 22 in Speaking 
  • 22 in Writing
     

Score Requirements for tests completed on or after January 21, 2026: 

• Minimum total score of 5.0 with at least:
  • 4.5 in Reading
  • 4.5 in Listening
  • 4.5 in Speaking
  • 4.5 in Writing
     

*OCAD U's institution code for TOEFL is 0537, use this code to send your results electronically from ETS-TOEFL. 
*OCAD U will accept TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) results. 
*OCAD U does not accept TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL ITP or TOEFL ITP Plus for China for admission purposes.
 

Duolingo English Test (DET)

• Score Requirements: 
  • Minimum overall score of 120  

Oxford ELLT (Oxford English Language Level Test)
 

• Score Requirements: 
  • Overall Score 8 with no individual sub-score band below 8 (sub-score bands are Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing)
     

*Results must be sent to us electronically by the testing service.

Cambridge Assessment English - Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency

Score Requirements: 

• A minimum overall score of 185 with:
  • 185 in Reading
  • 176 in Listening 
  • 185 in Speaking 
  • 185 in Writing
     

For information, visit the Cambridge English website. Results from the B2 First exam are not accepted (regardless of the result achieved).
Use the "Send Your Result" function of the Candidate Results portal to send your results electronically to the OCAD University 
 

PTE Academic (Pearson Test)
 

• Score Requirements: 
  • Minimum 66 overall with at least 66 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing)
     

*OCAD U will only accept scores submitted electronically through myPTE account. For more information, visit the PTE Help Center: Scoring page
 

CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment)

• Score Requirements: 
  • Minimum 80 overall with no sub-score band below 80 (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing)
     

*To submit your results, sign in to your CAEL Account and select OCAD University as a recipient institution. Results are transmitted to us electronically. 

Admission to the MFA in Criticism & Curatorial Practice (CCP) is competitive. Applicants should hold a BA, BFA, BDes, or equivalent honours degree with a minimum B+ (75%) average in the last two years of study, or must demonstrate significant professional experience/expertise as an artist, designer, critic, or curator.  

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants must submit: 

Research Proposal: Maximum 500 words, plus bibliography.  

Describe your proposed area of research and its significance to the fields of art history and/or curatorial studies. You may include examples of relevant previous work, such as exhibition documentation, catalogues, images, or other supporting materials. 

Samples of Work: 1-3 samples 

Submit examples that demonstrate your ability to undertake graduate-level study and support your proposed research interests. Samples may include: 

• Academic papers, essays, curatorial statements, reviews, or other writing samples 
• Images, exhibition documentation, catalogues, or video walkthroughs of curatorial projects 

Admission to the Master of Design in Design for Health (DHEA) is competitive. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent honours degree in healthcare, design or a related field with a minimum B+ (75%) in the last two years of study or must demonstrate significant professional experience in a relevant discipline. 

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants must submit: 

Statement of Intent: 750 to 1000 words 

Describe a proposal project related to healthcare innovation and sustainable change, including: 

• The project idea and research interests 
• Relevant context, theories, methods, technologies, or precedents 
• The significance of the project 
• Why DHEA at OCAD U is the right fit 
• Anticipated outcomes 
• Relevant background and experience 

Include a bibliography in your preferred citation style. 

Samples of Work: 3-5 samples 

Submit 3-5 examples of professional and/or academic work relevant to the program. 

Examples may include: 

• Research or analytical reports 
• Proposal documents 
• Service or program development work 
• Design projects 

Healthcare professionals may submit a one-page statement describing how their experience relates to the program instead of a full portfolio. 

Applicants should hold an honours degree with a minimum B+ (75%) average in the last two years of study, or demonstrate significant professional experience in a relevant field. Applicants must demonstrate creative and conceptual competence at a good level, as well as the clear potential for acquiring a practical knowledge in the diverse disciplines relevant to this graduate program to create an innovative and implementable thesis project. 

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants must submit: 

Thesis Project Proposal: 800 to 1,000 words 

Describe a thesis project you could imagine pursuing during the program (you are not committed to this proposal, but it will help us understand your ideas and interests!). You are invited to structure the proposal in a manner that best suits your idea.  

Your proposal should address: 

• The project idea 
• Relevant research, theories, technologies, or methodologies 
• The significance of the work 
• Why Digital Futures at OCAD U is the right fit 
• Expected outcomes 
• Relevant background and experience 

Include a bibliography and any references used. 

Samples of Work: 3-7 samples 

Submit 3-7 examples of work related to your interests and proposed areas of study. 

Examples may include: 

• Interactive projects 
• Installations 
• Videos 
• Games 
• Code 
• Circuit designs 
• 3D models 
• Writing or research projects 

For each sample, include contextual information about the project and your role. 

Please note: 

• External links will not be reviewed. 
• Multi-page documents may not exceed 5 pages. 
• Time-based media may not exceed 3 minutes. 

Admission to the Master of Design in Inclusive Design is competitive. Applicants should hold a BA, BDes, BComm, BEng, BSc, BFA or equivalent honours degree in a program that provides a foundational grounding in information and communication systems and practices (e.g., Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Studies, Culture and Technology or similar field), with a minimum B+ (75%) average in the last two years of study, or demonstrate significant professional experience in a relevant discipline. 

All applicants must demonstrate creative, technical and conceptual competence at a high level, as well as the clear potential for acquiring a sufficient level of expertise in the diverse disciplines relevant to this degree to create a truly innovative, germane and implementable project at the master’s level. 

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants must submit: 

Statement of Intent: maximum 1,000 words 

Statements of intent should address the following: 

• How your academic and/or professional background relates to the program  
• The perspectives and experiences you would bring to the learning community  
• Questions or areas you hope to explore through the program  
• How these interests align with Inclusive Design's values and objectives  
• Your future goals and contributions to the field 

Samples of Work: 3-5 samples 

Submit 3-5 examples of professional and/or academic work relevant to the program, reflecting the range of experience included on your CV. 

Examples may include: 

• Creative work 
• Research or analytical reports 
• Proposal documents 
• Community, service, or program development initiatives 
• Software or web projects 

Reviews, evaluations, or community feedback may be included to provide context. 

Admission to the Interdisciplinary Master's in Art, Media & Design (IAMD) is highly competitive. Applicants should hold a BA, BFA, BDes, or equivalent honours degree with a minimum A- (80%) average in the last two years of study, or demonstrate significant achievement as an artist, designer, or scholar. 

All applicants must demonstrate creative and conceptual competence at a high level, as well as the clear potential for acquiring a sufficient level of expertise in a secondary discipline to create an integrated interdisciplinary thesis project at the Master’s level. 

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants must submit: 

Statement of Intent: maximum 500 words (excluding bibliography and appendices) 

Statements of Intent should describe: 

• Your interest in interdisciplinary research 
• Themes or areas you wish to explore in the program 
• How your background, practice, and lived experience support these interests 

Include a bibliography. Visual examples or supporting appendices may also be submitted. 

Portfolio: 5-15 pieces, representing no more than five bodies of work 

Your portfolio should demonstrate your creative practice, areas of expertise, and interests relevant to your proposed graduate studies. Your portfolio should holistically (formally, conceptually, and contextually resolved) represent your work, demonstrating an in-depth understanding of your primary area of concentration. 

• A body of work is inter-related creative pieces exploring a theme, concept, or conceptual concern.  
• Time-based media may not exceed three minutes. 

Artist/Designer Statement: Maximum 250 words 

Describe your recent work and explain how it connects to your statement of intent and future goals within the program. 

Admission to the Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation (SFI) is competitive. Applicants should hold a BA, BFA, BDes, BComm, BEng equivalent honours degree with minimum B+ (75%) average in the last two years of study, or demonstrate significant professional experience in a relevant field. 

All applicants must demonstrate creative and conceptual competence at a high level, as well as the clear potential to create a truly innovative, germane and implementable project at the master’s level. 

In addition to the general application requirements, applicants must submit: 

Statement of Intent: 1,000 to 1200 words  

Your statement of intent should describe: 

• Your interest in the program 
• Your professional and/or personal goals 
• A topic, challenge, or area of interest you may wish to explore through research 
• Why Strategic Foresight and Innovation at OCAD U is the right fit for your goals 

Include a bibliography if applicable. 

Samples of Work: 3-5 samples 

Submit 3-5 examples of work relevant to your application, along with a brief explanation of why each sample was selected. 

Work may come from professional, academic, volunteer, personal, or creative contexts, reflecting the range of experience included on your CV. Applicants are expected to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of their disciplinary/professional work.  

Examples may include: 

• Visual work 
• Research or analytical reports 
• Proposal documents 

For collaborative projects, clearly describe your contribution. 

Maximum file length: 20 pages per document.