Bachelor of Design: Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design & Advertising stream)

Bachelor of Design: Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design & Advertising stream) is a undergraduate (bachelor's) course in arts, design & media at Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary, Canada. It takes 4 years full-time (120 credits), in person and studio-based, with intakes in Fall (priority deadline 1 February; general deadline 1 June for transcripts and test scores).

Alberta University of the Arts is a public institution. Read the full course description, modules and entry rules on the official course page.

Tuition for international students is C$23,041 a year, about ₹15.4 lakh. Over 4 years that is roughly C$92,164 (≈ ₹61.7 lakh) before any yearly increase.

2026-27 international tuition for 30 credits (CAD 768.04 per credit); plus mandatory fees, a studio supplementary fee of CAD 20.23 per studio credit and about CAD 2,500 for first-year materials. 2027-28 fees not yet published

Living costs for Canada as a whole: C$20,000–30,000 a year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.

Job roles

• Broadcast journalist
• Magazine journalist
• Editorial assistant
• Digital copywriter
• Public relations officer
• Social media manager

Employers hiring for these roles worldwide

• BBC
• Reuters
• Bloomberg
• News Corp
• Axel Springer
• Bertelsmann
• WPP
• Heineken
• Meta
• Google

General entry requirements at Alberta University of the Arts for bachelor's courses. Some courses ask for more, so check the course page.

• Class 12 (or equivalent) with at least 60% overall in the final year.
• A digital portfolio of 12 original artworks (one PDF or Word file) and a 300–500 word statement of intent.
• Upload interim transcripts and English scores by 1 February (priority) or 1 June (general). Final transcripts must arrive by 1 August.
• International application fee CAD 150; new international undergraduates pay a CAD 1,000 confirmation fee.

For this course: IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 83 (20 in each section); PTE 56; Duolingo 120; CAEL 70.

Need a score? IELTS and PTE coaching is available with us.

This course starts in: Fall (priority deadline 1 February; general deadline 1 June for transcripts and test scores).

1. 1Check the entry requirements and the deadline on the official course page.
2. 2Take IELTS, PTE or the test the university accepts, if you need one.
3. 3Prepare your documents: transcripts, statement of purpose, recommendation letters and CV.
4. 4Apply on the university's application portal and pay any application fee.
5. 5Accept your offer, meet any conditions and pay the deposit.
6. 6Apply for your student visa for Canada, then arrange accommodation.

• Valid passport
• Class 12 mark sheet (interim, then final official transcript)
• Portfolio of 12 original works and statement of intent
• English test score, unless you qualify for a waiver

Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts) is a public university in Calgary that teaches only art, craft and design. It began in 1926 as the art department of the Provincial Institute of Technology and Art (now SAIT), became Alberta College of Art + Design in 1995 and gained university status as AUArts in 2019. It has about 1,200 students and average classes of 18.

Indian students look at AUArts for studio-based bachelor's degrees in fine arts and design: the BFA in Studio Art (animation, ceramics, glass, media arts, photography and more), the BDes in Visual Communication Design (graphic design and advertising, or illustration) and the new Bachelor of Creative Industries. A portfolio of 12 original works is needed for every bachelor's application.

Arts, Design & Media courses at other universities in Canada

• New Media Design and Web Development (Diploma)British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)18 months (78 weeks) full-time, blended, with a 9-week internship · C$29,709 / year
• Bachelor of MusicBrandon UniversityFull-time bachelor's degree · C$17,904 / year
• Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS)Carleton University4 years · C$55,000 / year
• Bachelor of Industrial Design (BID)Carleton University4 years · C$55,000 / year
• Bachelor of Journalism (BJ)Carleton University4 years (Honours) · C$39,000 / year
• Techniques de design d'intérieur (DEC, 570.E0)Cégep Beauce-Appalaches3 years (technical DEC), with work-study and DEC-BAC options · C$19,610 / year

More courses at Alberta University of the Arts

• Bachelor of Design: Visual Communication Design (Illustration stream)4 years full-time (120 credits), in person and studio-based · C$23,041 / year
• Bachelor of Fine Arts: Studio ArtFull-time, studio-based; one or two concentrations such as animation, ceramics, media arts, painting or photography · C$23,041 / year
• Bachelor of Creative Industries: Applied Creative Industries4 years; in person, non-studio and hybrid (launched in 2026) · C$28,023 / year
• MFA in Craft Media20 months; ceramics, fibre, glass, jewellery and metals, or an interdisciplinary plan · C$31,250 / year

We researched this page on 28 Oct 2026 from the university's own pages. Fees, entry rules and intakes change every year; confirm them on the official course page before you apply. Listing a course doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents the university.

1. Alberta University of the Arts: Bachelor of Design: Visual Communication Design (Graphic Design & Advertising stream) (opens in a new tab)
2. AUArts: 2026-27 Academic Calendar fees (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
3. AUArts: International applicant requirements (opens in a new tab)
4. AUArts: English requirements for bachelor's degrees (opens in a new tab)
5. AUArts: Bachelor of Design (opens in a new tab)