You can apply to transfer to NSCAD if you have completed at least one year of a visual arts program, at a recognized post-secondary institution. Depending on your prior learning, you can transfer up to a maximum of 75 of the 120 credits required for a degree.
Most students transfer from college diploma or university feeder programs, while others transfer from related degree programs at other universities. Some switch to NSCAD to study a discipline not offered at their current school, or to study with a particular faculty member or facility unavailable elsewhere. Whatever your reason for transferring, we will recognize your prior experience and help you realize your undergraduate goals.
Limited spaces for admission are available for the January start term. NSCAD works on an academic year registration system where all students are given the opportunity to register for a full year, including September and January terms, each spring. If you wish to begin your studies in January, it is best to apply by the September entry deadline.
All Transfer applicants are required to submit the following:
- Admissions Essay
- Official Post-Secondary and Secondary Transcripts
- Digital Portfolio (up to 20 pieces)
- Application Fee of $70
Admissions Essay
In a one page essay (250-500 words), write about your previous experience in Fine Art. Additionally, speak about why you would like to attend NSCAD University and what direction(s) you would like to continue your studies in.
Visual Submissions
Transfer applicants for Fine and Media Arts, Craft, Communication Design or Graphic Design (introductory/intermediate/direct entry) must submit a maximum of 20 pieces. The work may be of their choice, but must be recent work. Do not send original work.
Application Fee
Pay a $70 Canadian non-refundable application fee. The application fee
may be paid by personal cheque or money order made payable to NSCAD
University. You may also include your credit card number and expiry date
(Visa or MasterCard) as part of your application package. You may also
phone the Office of Admissions at (902) 494-8129 or our Business office at (902) 494-8219 and they will process your
payment over the phone.
How to submit:
Advanced applicants must submit their work as digital images to a maximum of 20 images. The work may be of their choice, but must be recent work. The purpose of the portfolio is to illustrate clearly to the Admissions Committee that the applicant has learned specific material and conceptual skills relevant to study at NSCAD. In particular, show drawing from observation and capacity with materials relevant to one’s specific prior studies in areas such as printmaking, painting, textiles, jewellery, film, etc. The portfolio should also illustrate the current direction of your work beyond material capacity alone. The Admissions Committee’s goal in looking at transcripts of prior studies combined with portfolio is to make an accurate placement of the applicant in the appropriate level of study at NSCAD. If there is not sufficient work in the portfolio to make accurate placement, the applicant may be asked to submit additional work, causing delays in assessment.
• All work must be clearly labeled with applicant’s name.
• No work should be submitted in its original form; only photographic documentation (digital files) of work should be submitted.
• Each digital image file must be identified with your name and a number that corresponds to a list of works that includes your name at the top and, for each slide: Title, Media, Dimensions, Date.
eg:
1_firstname_lastname.jpg – untitled, oil on board, 33”Hx20”W, august 2010
2_firstname_lastmame.mov – sunshine, digital video, 3 mins, January 2009
3_firstname_lastname.jpg – untitled – plaster, wire, 12”Hx12”Wx6”D, April 2010
• Digital image files may be presented on DVD/CD or USB stick as individual .JPG files, PowerPoint or Acrobat documents are also acceptable, but discouraged. Keep file sizes small; images should be no larger than 600×800 dpi, resolution should be no greater than 100ppi.
• Time-based pieces (video, audio, interactive applications or film) should be submitted on DVD/CD or USB stick. Works should not exceed 5 minutes each.
• Submit your work in a format that best represents it. Ensure that discs and USB sticks are readable on a variety of computers, check that your photographic documentation is correctly colour-balanced, in focus and clearly represents the original work. It is appropriate to submit more than one view of three-dimensional pieces in order to fully illustrate the work. Also, in the case of larger works, a separate detail image may be submitted.
• Design Portfolios should be submitted as a multi-page .PDF file, however multiple digital images on DVD/CD or USB Stick are also acceptable.
- Please follow the instructions above. The Admission Committee may not be able to review work that does not follow these guidelines.
Submission of Application Materials
Please send all application materials to:
Admissions
NSCAD University
5163 Duke Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3J6
CANADA
Applicants are encouraged to submit portfolios on DVD/CD or USB stick that they do not need to be returned. For works the applicant does wish returned, s/he is responsible for their immediate retrieval after review by the admissions committee. If arrangements are not made to retrieve the work immediately after its review, the work will be considered disposable.
For applicants who cannot retrieve his/her portfolio in person, portfolio return will be completed by NSCAD using applicant-provided pre-stamped (Canada only) and addressed mailing envelopes, prepaid courier invoices, or cheques/money orders/credit card information to cover postage costs. Do not submit metered postage as it has an expiration period of 24 – 48 hours and will not be valid for portfolio return. Although all possible care is exercised in handling application materials, the university does not accept responsibility for the loss or damage of these materials.
All documents submitted, with the exception of the portfolio submission, become property of NSCAD University. Under no circumstances can transcripts or letters of recommendation be returned to the applicant once submitted for consideration.