Emily Carr University
of Art + Design
Take your creativity further at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where innovative thinking, hands-on learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration come together.
Explore programs designed to help you develop your skills, build your portfolio, and turn your ideas into meaningful creative opportunities in Canada and beyond.
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Why choose ECU?
#1 in Canada for Art and Design
QS World University Rankings by Subject, 7 years, 2020–2026
#30 in the world for Art and Design
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
Vancouver ranked #3 best student city in Canada
QS Best Student Cities 2027
#7 in the world for Animation
Animation Career Review 2026
20+ specialist shops, studios and labs
for art, design and media production
1:19 faculty-to-student ratio
for close mentorship and feedback
Located in Vancouver, one of Canada’s most exciting, diverse and creative cities.
ECU combines hands-on creative education with close industry connections, giving you opportunities to build your skills, portfolio and professional network.
Ready to find a degree at ECU?
Take a closer look at ECU
Here’s why our students love ECU
Explore everything from animation, film and illustration to communication, industrial and interaction design. You can also develop your own artistic practice through Visual Arts, while ECU’s Foundation Year lets you experiment across art, design and media before progressing further into your chosen field.
At ECU, you’ll make industry connections that help you stand out.
Learn from practicing artists and designers, work on real-world projects, and develop a professional portfolio and network before you graduate.
Top 3 reasons to choose ECU
- Canada’s #1 university for Art and Design
- Hands-on learning with state-of-the-art creative facilities
- Top partnerships and employer connections in Vancouver
Welcome to ECU
Undergraduate studies at ECU
Your route to an Emily Carr University of Art and Design degree
If you meet the academic, English language and portfolio requirements, Kaplan can help you apply directly to an undergraduate degree at ECU.
Life on campus
ECU’s purpose-built campus brings studios, galleries, workshops and social spaces together in one creative environment, with Vancouver’s galleries, cafés, waterfront and cultural attractions close by.
Fill your university experience at a university dedicated to helping your ideas take flight.
200+ work placements each year
so you can build professional experience while developing your creative practice
$3.1m+ in annual research funding
supporting practice-based research across art, design, media, technology and society
100,000+ alumni worldwide
with graduates progressing to careers at Pixar, Microsoft, Ubisoft, EA, CBC and IKEA
50+ nationalities
represented on ECU’s campus
40+ exhibitions and events each year
to discover new work, share your own and get involved in ECU’s creative community
30+ student clubs
for you to find your people, explore your interests, and make the most of university life
Any other questions?
Where is ECU?
ECU is in Vancouver, British Columbia, surrounded by the galleries, studios, technology companies and creative businesses of the city’s arts and innovation district. Vancouver brings together a thriving film, design, gaming and technology scene with mountains, ocean and one of the world’s most diverse urban communities.
12 things to do in Vancouver, Canada
What social activities are there at ECU?
There are plenty of ways to find your community at ECU. Join one of 30+ student clubs, spend time with friends in the Student Commons, take part in Students’ Union events or explore exhibitions, talks and cultural programming across campus.
You’ll also find spaces including the Oasis Wellness Lounge, Wellness Kitchen and Aboriginal Gathering Place, alongside galleries that showcase work by students, faculty and established artists.
First week at ECU VLOG
What’s it like to live in Canada?
Canada combines a high quality of life with an exceptionally diverse and international community, making it a popular choice for students from around the world.
In Vancouver, that global outlook is part of everyday life. Cultures, languages and cuisines from around the world meet a spectacular Pacific setting, while the city’s film, gaming, design and technology industries make it an especially exciting place to begin a creative career.
