Introducing Emily Carr University: Canada’s #1 for Art and Design

Want to turn your creativity into an exciting career? Meet Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU), Kaplan’s newest university partner in Canada!

Based in Vancouver, ECU has been ranked #1 in Canada for Art + Design for seven consecutive years (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2020–2026).

Ready to start creating your future? You can apply to ECU today with help from Kaplan.

What can I study at ECU?

ECU specializes in creative education, with undergraduate programs covering art, design and media. Depending on your interests, you can study:

• 2D + Experimental Animation
• 3D Computer Animation
• Communication Design
• Film + Screen Arts
• Illustration
• Industrial Design
• Interaction Design
• Visual Arts

Your launchpad for a creative career

ECU places a strong emphasis on connecting creative study with professional experience. There are 200+ Work Integrated Learning placements each year, and eligible undergraduate students can gain paid professional experience through the Work Experience Program while earning up to 9 credits towards their degree.

You’ll also have opportunities to connect directly with creative employers. Creative Industry Day has brought students together with professionals from Microsoft, Sony Pictures Imageworks, DNEG, Arc’teryx, Herschel Supply, and Mainframe Studios — to name just a few! Fine Arts students can take part in Crit Night, presenting their work to curators and gallerists from institutions including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Richmond Art Gallery, and Polygon Gallery.

ECU also works with industry and research partners such as Disney, EA, Microsoft, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Arc’teryx and the City of Vancouver, giving students further opportunities to connect their studies with the creative industries.

After graduating from ECU, alumni have gone on to work for leading organizations, including:

• CBC
• EA
• IKEA
• Microsoft
• Pixar
• Ubisoft

International students can also be considered for entrance scholarships of up to CAD$5,000 based on academic achievement and artistic merit, with no separate scholarship application required.

Learn by making

ECU’s practical approach starts from your first year. Every bachelor’s degree begins with Foundation Year, where you’ll explore art, design and media while developing the technical skills, critical thinking and creative confidence you’ll need for the rest of your degree.

Hands-on learning continues throughout your studies. ECU has 19+ shops, labs and studios, with facilities for areas ranging from ceramics and textiles to motion capture and 3D printing. Expert technicians are available to help you use specialist equipment, test ideas, and develop your work.

You can also get involved in ECU’s practice-based research. Students can work as research assistants, and contribute to funded projects, exploring areas including Indigenous knowledge, climate action, social justice, and emerging technologies.

ECU’s research centres include the Health Design Lab, Material Matters, Basically Good Media Lab and Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship, and its research culture is supported by more than CAD$3.1 million in annual funding.

This combination of studio learning, research and industry experience means you can start developing your portfolio and professional skills right away — rather than waiting until you graduate.

Study in diverse Vancouver

ECU is based in Vancouver, a multicultural city with major film, animation, gaming, design and technology industries. Its campus is in South Flats, one of the city’s creative districts, surrounded by galleries, studios and cultural spaces, with downtown just minutes away.

Known as “Hollywood North,” Vancouver is one of North America’s major film and television production hubs. It’s also home to creative and technology companies including EA, Ubisoft, Arc’teryx and Aritzia, giving ECU students access to a thriving professional community beyond campus.

Vancouver is highly international too: 42.2% of its population was born outside Canada, according to the 2021 Census, and the city welcomed 11.3 million overnight visitors in 2025. As a Pacific Rim city, it’s closely connected to Asia, the Americas, and creative networks even further afield!

Apply to Emily Carr University with Kaplan

Kaplan can help you explore ECU’s undergraduate degrees, understand the academic, English-language and portfolio requirements, and guide you through your application.

Ready to study art, design or media at Canada’s #1 university for Art and Design? Get in touch to find out more!