NSCAD University

Location Halifax
Established 1887
Famous For First Degree-granting Art School in Canada

Overview

NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) is a post-secondary art school in Halifax, Canada. Anna Leonowens founded the university in 1887, and it later became the first degree-granting art school in the country. NSCAD University was initially called the Victoria School of Art and Design to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

Through the eight faculties, NSCAD offers bachelor’s degrees in Design, Fine Art, and Art History, apart from the Master of Fine Arts and Master of Design at the graduate level. Students can also take up any 14 post-baccalaureate certificate programs the university offers.

NSCAD University is a supportive, immersive and rigorous academic community of artists from around the world that is known to celebrate the creativity and diversity of its students. It is part of the mission of the university to identify, define and approach the complexities of the world, and challenge conventional thinking to create value and economic impact through art, craft, media and design.

Services for International Students

International artists, designers and craftspersons have since long attended NSCAD University to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for rising in the creative industries in Canada and other parts of the world. All international students learn from fantastic faculty members, shaping them into world-class artists.

All students from international locations are eligible to work while studying, subject to the rules and regulations for part-time work in Canada. Apart from the guidance on part-time working hours, students can also take advantage of the Study and Stay in Nova Scotia program to find mentorship and support on their journey to becoming a professional after graduation. 

International students at NSCAD must have adequate health insurance and are automatically included in the fees through the NSCAD University’s International Health Insurance Plan. Students who can apply for admission by 1st March are automatically considered for Entrance Scholarships, ranging from 5,000 to 6,000 CAD annually.

Ranking

  • 126th at the National Rankings of Webometrics

Accommodation

NSCAD University does not have a residence on campus; therefore, the students are advised to arrange their accommodation.

For the convenience of students, NSCAD has made arrangements with some universities around the area to provide some rooms to its students. These include Saint Mary’s University, Atlantic School of Theology, University of King’s College and Granville Hall, which offers off-campus accommodation for international students. Apart from these options, private apartments and rental houses are also available, allowing students to stay around the campus to enjoy the city of Halifax.

About Location

NSCAD University has three campuses downtown in Kjipuktuk/Halifax in Nova Scotia. These are Fountain Campus, Port Campus and Academy Campus, and all of these are known for their exceptional architecture. Halifax is a diverse city that attracts immigrants from more than 168 countries. The city has seen a record-breaking number of international students coming to study in the last ten years. 

The airport closest to Halifax is Leeds Bradford (LBA) Airport which is around 21 km away.

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