STEP 1 - Review the Admissions Dates + Deadlines
ACAD admits students in Fall (September) and Winter (January).
NOTE: If the date falls on a weekend or a holiday the deadline will be the next business day.
| February 1 | | | Application + supporting documents due |
| February 15 | | | Portfolio + personal statement due |
| May 1 | | | Confirmation fees due |
| August 1 | | | Final transcripts due |
| March 1 | | | BDES Application + supporting documents due |
| April 15 | | | BDES Portfolio + personal statement due |
| May 31 | | | Final transcripts for Fall semester due |
| June 4 | | | Confirmation fees for Fall semester due |
| March 1 | | | BFA Application + supporting documents due |
| March 15 | | | BFA Portfolio + personal statement due |
| May 16 | | | Confirmation fees due |
| May 31 | | | Final transcripts due |
STEP 2 - Determine your applicant category
All applicants apply to First Year Studies unless you have completed one year of a studio-based fine arts/design program at the post-secondary level.
Please review the applicant categories and select the one that best describes your current situation. Carefully note the chosen category’s specific requirements and document submission details. You’ll need to know this for the application form.
Canadian Applicants are Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, or Landed Immigrants who possess an Alberta High School Diploma or other Provincial/Territory equivalent that meets ACAD’s academic requirements. + Learn More
Mature Applicants are Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents, or Landed Immigrants who do not hold a High School Diploma or meet the academic requirements for Canadian Applicants, but are 21 years of age or older by the first day of classes of the term to which they are seeking admission. Mature Applicants will be considered for admission to First Year Studies as a non-matriculated adult applicant provided that they possess the English requirement as outlined in Academic Requirements. + Learn more
Applicants who are from outside Canada must submit official transcripts (translated and notarized if not in English) which verify that the applicant possesses the equivalent of an Alberta High School Diploma. Please note that you must meet ACAD’s minimum Academic Requirements or their equivalent in the final year of study, as determined by the Admissions Office. + Learn More
International applicants whose first language is not English should refer to ACAD’s English Proficiency Requirements. + Learn More
STEP 3 - Organize and submit your supporting documents
Though you have filled-out the application form and have paid your registration fee you’re only partially done: you still need to get transcripts and proof of English proficiency to us by the appropriate deadline!
You should submit one official transcript from each high school and post-secondary institution you have attended, or are currently attending. Alberta applicants who are applying from any Alberta high school or post-secondary institution will have their transcripts automatically sent to ACAD by the ApplyAlberta system. For applicants from outside of Alberta, your transcripts may be dropped off by hand or forwarded by mail before the application deadline.
If you are completing your final year of high school and are applying for admission to First Year Studies, you should submit in-progress transcripts from your high school with your application. You must then submit official final transcripts by August 1 for Fall admission and by November 1 for Winter admission.
For more information on transcripts, talk to your current school or institutional counselors about how to obtain and forward your transcripts. Out-of-province or International Applicants should contact the appropriate educational agency in their area. Request post-secondary transcripts from the Registrar's Office of that institution and have them forwarded directly to the ACAD Admissions Office.
If you are at another post-secondary institution, you should submit Interim transcripts for in-progress coursework; however, final official transcripts must be submitted by May 31 for Fall admission and by October 1 for Winter admission. Mature Applicants must provide an official transcript indicating the completion of the required English coursework and the level of education attained.
Official transcripts issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by notarized English translations.
For Transfer or Advanced Standing applicants whose transcripts are issued in a language other than English we require translated and notarized detailed course descriptions. Canadian applicants may also be required to submit program and course outlines of previous studies.
STEP 4 - Prepare and Submit Your Portfolio and Personal Statement
Your personal statement and portfolio are your ambassadors to ACAD. The faculty committee who review your portfolio don't get to meet you in person, so they rely on examples of your work and your personal statement to tell us about you, your artistic ability and how you might benefit from the ACAD experience. Please be aware that there is no exact formula or template for an acceptable portfolio, and that it can take on a variety of forms.
Tell us about you – your background, ambitions, inspirations and goals. In a statement of approximately 500 words, explain the following:
- Your reasons for wishing to study visual arts and design
- Your artistic interests and specific influences (ie. Mediums and artists and/or movements)
- Why you want to attend ACAD
- How you hope to benefit from studying at ACAD.
Your personal statement must be submitted along with your portfolio through Slideroom.
Carefully select and submit 12-15 (MAXIMUM) recently completed artworks which include the following:
- DRAWING | Demonstrate your skill and understanding of representational drawing. Show us how you handle the fundamental problems of drawing from observation. Explore perspective, light, line, shape, texture, colour and composition. At least one or two technical drawings based on the figure, landscape, and/or still life are recommended. Do not draw from photographs, magazines or other artists' work.
- VARIETY | Show an exploration of various art-making materials, tools and techniques and how you utilize their characteristics and limitations. Show us that you're not afraid to think creatively in a diverse range of media.
- ORIGINALITY | Reveal how you express ideas and concepts in your work. Include self-initiated, imaginative and creative works that communicate or respond to issues, ideas and/or themes of personal interest. Some class projects are acceptable, though self-directed projects done independently of the classroom are preferred.
Portfolio deadline for Fall applicants is February 15.
Portfolio deadline for Winter applicants is October 15.
Applicants MUST submit their portfolio to us online at Slideroom. Applicants may upload images (jpg) or video (mov, wmv, flv), music (mp3) or PDF documents. For good image quality and fast uploading, your image files should be sized around 1024 x 768px @72 dpi. Please keep video files under 60 MB each. Our Slideroom portal offers additional instruction for submitting your work.
For technical assistance contact support@slideroom.com. You can also access a help desk at slideroom.zendesk.com. Slideroom will allow you to log in and edit your portfolio as much as you like; however, please note that once you have submitted it, you will no longer be able to make changes. A $10 USD fee will be charged to the applicant at the time of submission.
Start your Slideroom portfolio now!
Applicants to the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program at the 200 level or to a major at 300 level should submit 20-25 pieces of work with a personal statement. The portfolio should reflect the skills relevant to the program and adhere to the Portfolio Submission Guidelines.
Please note that the application deadline for BFA Advanced Standing applicants is March 15 (Fall) and October 15 (Winter).
Applicants to the Bachelor of Design Program at the 200 level should follow the guidelines below for the Internal Applicants to VCD or Photography.
Please note that the portfolio deadline for BDes Advanced Standing applicants is March 1 (Fall). Applications for BDes are not accepted in the Winter semester.
STEP 5 - Complete application form + pay application fee
Please note that the deadline for Applications and supporting documents is February 1, 2012 and the deadline for Portfolios is February 15, 2012. Late applications and portfolios will not be considered unless spots are still available.
All applicants to the Alberta College of Art + Design must apply through the ApplyAlberta Post-Secondary Application System. ApplyAlberta is a secure online application system.
Once you create a personal and academic history profile through ApplyAlberta, this profile will be automatically sent to ACAD and you will be able to complete your ACAD application.
When filling-out the application provide all the details asked for in the form and submit it. You will then be asked for an $85 application fee to be paid by credit card one you have completed the application.
Submit your application form and $85 application fee by the appropriate deadline. Though you apply online, you will also need to send your supporting documents to us separately by the appropriate deadline.
Complete your application form and pay your application fee now!
If you are thinking of enrolling in courses at ACAD, you may consider applying as a Visiting Student or a Non-Degree Student. Extended Studies also offers a broad selection of courses, including some credit courses that can be applied to the First Year Studies requirements.
The Visiting and Non-Degree application form is available in PDF format below.
- Download the Visiting and Non-Degree Application form (PDF, 131 KB)