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OCAD University

Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD U, is a public art university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus is spread throughout several buildings and facilities within downtown Toronto. The university is a co-educational institution which operates three academic faculties, the Faculty of Art, the Faculty of Arts and Science, and the Faculty of Design. The university also provides continuing education services through its School of Continuing Studies.

"OCAD" redirects here. For other uses, see OCAD (disambiguation).

Other name

OCAD University

Ontario School of Art (1876–86)
Toronto Art School (1886–90)
Central Ontario School of Art and Industrial Design (1890–1912)
Ontario College of Art (1912–96)
Ontario College of Art & Design (1996–2010)

4 April 1876 (1876-04-04)[note 1]

C$19.9 million (2022)[1]

Jamie Watt

Ana Serrano

Caroline Langill

400[2]

4,990 (2021)[3][note 2]

4,600 (2021)[3]

390 (2021)[3]

Urban

Established in 1876 as the Ontario School of Art by the Ontario Society of Artists, it is the oldest operating school in Canada dedicated to art education.[4][5] The institution was renamed twice in 1886 and 1890 before it was granted a provincial charter and renamed the Ontario College of Art (OCA) in 1912. The institution was known as the OCA until 1996 when it was renamed the Ontario College of Art and Design. The institution was granted university status in 2002 and was empowered to grant certain academic degrees. The university designation was added to the institution's name in 2010 to reflect its change in status. In 2020, the university was empowered with full degree-granting authority from the Government of Ontario.


In 2021, there were 4,600 undergraduates and 390 graduate students enrolled at the university. As of 2022, the university holds an association with over 25,000 alumni.

Admissions[edit]

The requirements for admission differ between students from Ontario, students from other provinces in Canada, and students based outside of Canada, due to the lack of uniformity in marking schemes between provinces and countries. In addition to academic requirements, the university also requires applicants whose first language is not English to present proof that they are proficient in the English language.[89] The university's undergraduate admission process includes an interview, an essay, and a portfolio submission.[75]


In 2017, the university reported a retention rate of 92.2 per cent of first-year students that advanced to their second year.[90]

Education in Toronto

Higher education in Ontario

List of art schools

List of universities in Ontario

Payne, Daniel (2008). (PDF). Art Libraries Journal. 33 (1): 3541. doi:10.1017/S0307472200015200. ISSN 0307-4722. S2CID 53385760.

"Exhibiting information literacy: Site-specific art and design interventions at the Ontario College of Art & Design"

Shimizu, Reiko Leiko (2013). (PDF). College Quarterly. 16 (1). ISSN 1195-4353.

"Does Accreditation Matter for Art & Design Schools in Canada?"

Cameron Ainsworth-Vincze, ed. (September 2011). (PDF). SKETCH. Toronto: OCAD University.

"OCAD University at 135 years: A glimpse into our past, present and future"

Official website