STEP 1 - Review the Admissions Dates + Deadlines
ACAD admits students annually for the Fall (September).
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 |
| April 30 | | | Confirmation fees due |
| August 1 | | | Final transcripts + supporting documents due |
| April 1 | | | Application + supporting documents due |
| April 15 | | | Portfolio + personal statement due |
| May 31 | | | Final official transcripts + supporting documents due |
| June 15 | | | Confirmation fees due |
ACAD received an overwhelming number of applications for First Year Studies 2013. However, there is always the possibility that seats will be made available before classes begin at the end of August. ACAD has decided to offer the opportunity to apply to a Waitlist. Acceptance to ACAD’s First Year Studies via the Waitlist is the same as regular admission and is based on a combination of portfolio review score and academic requirements.
To apply for the Waitlist, complete the online application at ApplyAlberta for First Year Studies 2013 and upload your portfolio and statement of intent to Slideroom in the program labeled WAITLIST | First Year Studies: 2013. Waitlist applications will be reviewed at two points during the admissions cycle until classes begin at the end of August.
First Waitlist Review Deadline | April 15, 2013
Second Waitlist Review Deadline | July 15, 2013
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 which meets the equivalent of ACAD’s foundational year.
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 will need to know this to complete the online 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, or equivalence as determined by the Admissions Office. + Learn More
Applicants who have previously attended ACAD may return through a streamlined process. Applicants who have been absent for less than or up to two consecutive academic semesters (Fall and Winter), left in good academic standing and have not declared a major should contact the Registrar’s Office for more information on readmission.
Applicants who have been absent from the college beyond two consecutive academic semesters must reapply through the ApplyAlberta system. Any applicant returning to complete the First Year Studies requirements will have the portfolio component of the application waived, however, applicants who had declared a major prior to leaving the college may seek permission from the head of the department to waive their portfolio requirements, or resubmit a portfolio through slideroom to satisfy the requirement.
For further questions regarding this process or concerning your current situation, please contact the Admissions Office.
STEP 3 - Complete application form + pay application fee
For First Year Studies applicants the deadline for applications and supporting documents is February 1st and the deadline for Portfolios is February 15th.
For Advanced Standing BFA + BDes applicants the deadline for applications and supporting documents is April 1st, and the deadline for portfolios is April 15th.
Late applications and portfolios will not be considered unless space for admission is still available.
All applicants to the Alberta College of Art + Design must apply through the online 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 arrange to have your supporting documents sent to us directly from the institution by the appropriate deadline. If you are attending an institution within Alberta, we will receive your documents automatically.
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 or Non-Degree Student. Students falling under either of these categories must present a portfolio with their completed application form at the time of registration, demonstrating prerequisite skill for the courses sought. In addition to their application form and portfolio, Visiting Students must present an official transcript and a Letter of Permission from their home institution granting approval for all courses sought.
Registration for Non-Degree and Visiting students is typically at 10am in the Registrar’s Office the day before regular classes begin, on a first come, first serve basis. All classes for Non-Degree and visiting students are subject to availability. For specific registration dates for each term, please refer to the current online Academic Calendar. For further inquiries regarding this type of study, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 403.284.7617 or registrar@acad.ca.
Note: Courses in Visual Communications Design and Photography are restricted to degree students only.
- Download the Visiting and Non-Degree Application form (PDF, 131 KB)
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 have the opportunity to meet you in person, so they rely on examples of your work and your personal statement to tell us about you, your artistic ambition and how you might benefit from the ACAD experience. Please be aware that there is no exact formula or template for an acceptable portfolio beyond the general guidelines, 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 online 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.
The portfolio deadline for Fall First Year Studies applicants is February 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 on an ongoing basis; 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 + BDES Advanced Standing applicants is April 1st.
Also note that the portfolio deadline for BFA + BDes Advanced Standing applicants is April 15th. Applications for Advanced Standing BFA + BDes are not accepted in the Winter semester.
Applicants who have completed our First Year Studies requirements to the Bachelor of Design Program at the 200 level should follow the guidelines below for the Internal Applicants to VCD or Photography when submitting their portfolio online.
STEP 5 - Organize and submit your supporting documents
After you have filled-out the online application form and have paid your application fee you are required to send your transcripts and proof of English proficiency to us by the appropriate deadline as outlined by your applicant category.
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.
Note that all transcripts, mailed or otherwise must be received in a sealed envelope from the sending institution.
All forwarded transcripts for admission should be mailed to:
Admissions Office
Alberta College of Art + Design
1407-14th Ave NW
Calgary, AB
T2N 4R3
If you are completing your final year of high school and are applying for admission to First Year Studies, we require in-progress transcripts from your high school to support your application. Official final transcripts must be received at ACAD by August 1 for Fall admission (omitted the winter deadline). As noted above, if you are currently attending an Alberta institution, we will receive your transcripts automatically, both for the interim and final requirements.
Out-of-province or International Applicants should contact the appropriate educational agency in their area and request post-secondary transcripts to be forwarded directly from the Registrar's Office of that institution to the ACAD Admissions Office. For obtaining high school transcripts from Canadian provinces outside of Alberta, applicants should refer to the Transfer Alberta website or the appropriate provincial Ministry of Education. A good resource for more information on how to obtain and forward your transcripts is often your current high school counselor or institutional Registrar.
If you are an Advanced Standing applicant and are currently at another post-secondary institution, you are required to submit Interim transcripts for in-progress coursework; however, final official transcripts with final grades must be submitted by May 31 for Fall admission. Interim transcripts may typically be found electronically from your current institution, through your online student account. This format is acceptable for interim transcripts; however, we require official copies for all final transcripts. Please note that if you are attending a post-secondary institution in Alberta, your transcripts will automatically be sent to us. For out-of-province institutions, you must have the documents forwarded directly to the ACAD Admissions Office from the sending institution, or they must be received by ACAD in their original, sealed envelope.
Mature Applicants must provide an official transcript indicating the completion of the required English coursework and the level of education attained. To send official transcripts, follow the method as outlined above.
All Official international transcripts issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by notarized English translations. For applicants seeking transfer credit from international, post-secondary institutions, official transcripts must be assessed by the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS). Please note that the processing time for IQAS assessment may take up to 10-12 weeks, and we recommend allowing plenty of time prior to your document deadline to ensure a streamlined application process.
For Transfer or Advanced Standing Applicants whose transcripts are issued in a language other than English, we require translated and notarized detailed course descriptions to accompany the official transcripts. Canadian applicants may also be required to submit program and course outlines of previous studies to determine official transfer credit.