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Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD)

Nova Scotia, Canada
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  • Public Type
  • 820 Students
  • 5 Faculties
  • 1887Founded
  • ArtSpecialization
  • YesAccept Int. Studs
  • YesDistance learning

About

NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) is a post-secondary art school in Halifax, Canada. Anna Leonowens founded the university in 1887, and it later became the first degree-granting art school in the country. NSCAD University was initially called the Victoria School of Art and Design to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

Acronym NSCAD
Motto / Slogan Head, Heart, and Hand
Colour Purple and Green
Founded 1887
Location Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Address 5163 Duke Street Halifax, NS B3J 3J6 Canada

Mission

To nurture transformative experiences that challenge conventional thinking through art, craft, design and media. 

Vision

To ignite and spread creative innovation across the world. 

Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

Objectives

NSCAD University's primary objectives are to foster creativity, critical thinking, and innovative thinking through art, design, and media.

Main Academic Divisions (Faculties)

  • Art History and Contemporary Culture
  • Craft
  • Fine Arts
  • Interdisciplinary Design
  • Media Arts

Reasons to Study at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

  1. Extensive Facilities and Studio Access

    Students benefit from 24/7 studio access and a wide array of specialized facilities, including wood and metal fabrication shops, photography labs (black and white and digital), sound rooms, editing suites, and a plastics lab.


     

  2. Vibrant Location

    Located in the attractive coastal city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, students are immersed in a lively arts and culture hub with numerous galleries, live music venues, and independent shops all within walking distance.


     

  3. Career Support and Alumni Success

    The university provides robust career assistance, including internships, a job bank, and the Creative Entrepreneurship Lab (CEL). Graduates have a strong record of success, with 85% working in a field related to their studies and alumni working in top organizations like Pixar Canada, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and Google.


     

  4. Global Exchange and Networking

    Students can pursue international study and internship opportunities through partnerships with more than 70 art and design schools in 19 countries, broadening their horizons and connecting them to a wider creative community.


     

Admission

Undergraduate Admission Requirement

For detailed information on the entry requirements for Undergraduate admission, view the Requirements page.

Supporting Documents

  • Admissions essay
  • Transcripts
  • Proof of English language proficiency.
  • Portfolio and Sketchbook
  • Some programs ask you to provide additional documentation specific to their discipline. It’s your responsibility to check the program’s requirements (e.g. personal statements, letters of reference, or accrediations). Check the program pages to confirm specific documents.

Postgraduate Admission Requirments

For detailed information on the entry requirements for Graduate admission, view the Requirements page.

Supporting Documents

  • Statement of intent
  • Transcripts: An academic record of current and previous post-secondary study is required from all applicants.
  • Letters of recommendation: Two letters of recommendation are required as part of the application process. 
  • Portfolio
  • Graduate applicants to the Master of Arts in Art Education should submit a sample of current writing (created in the last 6 years) such as a course paper, report, exhibition catalogue essay, research proposal, published article, scholarly manuscript, book chapter, blog post or web content, etc. 
  • Proof of English language proficiency.

How To Apply For Admission

Applications are made via Slideroom.

Admission Contacts

Phone : +1 902 494 8241

Apply For Admission

Campus Tour

Facilities

  • ✓Classrooms
  • ✓Library
  • ✓Laboratory
  • ✓Research Center
  • ✓ICT
  • ✓Cafeteria
  • Library: The NSCAD University Library is Atlantic Canada’s largest library dedicated to fine arts, craft, and design. It houses an extensive collection of print and media resources, online databases, and special collections to support learning in all subjects taught at NSCAD.
  • Laboratory: NSCAD University has several specialized facilities and research centers that function as laboratories, including a Drawing Lab, Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab), Creative Entrepreneurship Lab, and various media and studio labs. 
  • Research Center: NSCAD University has research centers, including the Alfoldy Craft Institute and the Institute for the Study of Canadian Slavery. These centers are focused on specific areas of research, such as crafts and the study of Transatlantic Slavery, and work to support researchers, artists, and academic curriculum. 
     


 

School Contact

Address

5163 Duke Street Halifax, NS B3J 3J6 Canada

Email Address

[email protected]

Phone Number

+1 902 444 9600

Website Address

https://nscad.ca/

Social Media Pages

Accreditations

  • Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada 
  • Design and architecture, are accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design)

Vice Chancellor

Professor David B. Smith

Prior to joining NSCAD, David served in key academic and administrative leadership roles at the University of San Diego in California for almost a decade, ranging from Chair of the Department of Art to Special Assistant to the Provost. Smith began his university studies in Business Administration and Commerce at York University and worked in the financial sector in Toronto, though ultimately he ch... read more
ose to pursue a degree in the Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1992. He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for post-graduate studies, receiving his Master of Science in Visual Studies from the School of Architecture and Planning in 1997.


 

Academic Staff

  • Gary Markle

    Associate Professor Gary Markle is an associate professor of fashion at NSCAD University. He holds an MFA from NSCAD University, Halifax, NS, Canada (1995) and a BFA from Parsons School of Design, New York, NY, USA (1988... read more
    ).


     

  • Glen Hougan

    Associate Professor Professor Hougan is an industrial/product and service designer with a background in user experience, product development and design thinking. He is principal of the design consultancy Wellspan Researc... read more
    h and Design which offers design research and product development services and workshops in healthcare and design for an ageing population. As well as a full-time faculty in the design division at NSCAD University, he is an Adjunct Professor at engineering at Dalhousie University.


     

  • Jennifer Green

    Associate Professor Jennifer Green is an Associate Professor in the Textiles/Fashion Department at NSCAD University. Green received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University and thereafter completed her Master of A... read more
    rts at the Royal College of Art in London, UK. Upon graduation, Green worked as a denim designer in Belgium and has designed fabrics for artisanal and industrial production across the fields of fashion, accessories, vehicle design and interiors, collaborating with, amongst others, Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (Italy), John Boyd Textiles (UK), Vanners Silk Weavers (UK), and Nishiyama Silk (Japan).

  • Dr. Nicole Lee

    Assistant Professor Dr. Nicole Lee is an Assistant Professor in Art Education at NSCAD University. She earned a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts, Studio), and a Bachelor of Education (Visual Arts... read more
    and English in the Intermediate/Senior divisions) from York University. Now at NSCAD University, Dr. Lee teaches in the Master of Arts in Art Education (MAAE) program, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program, and Visual Arts Certificate for Teachers (VACT) program.


     
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Notable Alumni

View More Alumni

History

NSCAD University, also known as the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), was established in Halifax in 1887, largely through the efforts of one of its founders, Anna Leonowens, the former tutor of the King of Siam depicted in the stage and film productions of The King and I. She was also assisted by Mrs Jeremiah (née Helen Furniss) Kenny and sisters Ella and Eliza Ritchie. Originally named the Victoria School of Art and Design, it began as an artistic enterprise to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Classes at the Victoria School of Art and Design were held in the Union Bank building in downtown Halifax, moved to rented rooms in the Halifax Academy in 1890, and in 1903 r... read more
elocated again to the Old National School, where it remained for 54 years.

In 1925, Victoria School of Art and Design incorporated by the provincial charter as the Nova Scotia College of Art. In 1969 it became the first independent degree-granting art school in Canada and was renamed the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD). The college was renamed NSCAD University in 2003.


 

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