About the university
NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) is a public specialist art and design university in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. It teaches fine art, design and craft: Bachelor of Fine Arts majors from film, photography and painting to ceramics, jewellery and textiles and fashion, a Bachelor of Design in Interdisciplinary Design, art history degrees and three master's programmes. Every undergraduate starts with a year-long Foundation programme covering all of NSCAD's disciplines.
For Indian students interested in creative careers, NSCAD's Interdisciplinary Design degree (with pathways in UI/UX, typography and illustration, and prototyping) and its film and photography majors are the most relevant, along with the two-year Master of Design. Applications are made through SlideRoom with a portfolio. NSCAD advises budgeting at least CAD 20,000–25,000 for living costs for 8–12 months, on top of tuition.
- Type
- Public specialist university of art, design and craft (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design)
- Degrees
- BFA, BDes and BA (Art History); MFA, MDes and MA in Art Education; certificates
- First year
- All undergraduates start with a year-long Foundation programme
- Campus
- Fountain Campus, 5163 Duke Street, downtown Halifax
- Intakes
- Fall (September); Winter entry is also shown in NSCAD's fee tables
- International tuition
- About CAD 24,800 a year for a full-time undergraduate load (2026/27)
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Design – Interdisciplinary Design
- Fee / year
- C$24,806
- Duration
- 4 years full-time, starting with the Foundation year; optional pathways in UI/UX, typography and illustration, and digital and physical prototyping
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 120 or CAEL 69
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- C$24,806
- Duration
- Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 120 or CAEL 69
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Photography
- Fee / year
- C$24,806
- Duration
- Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 120 or CAEL 69
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Textiles+Fashion
- Fee / year
- C$24,806
- Duration
- Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 120 or CAEL 69
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Expanded Media
- Fee / year
- C$24,806
- Duration
- Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 120 or CAEL 69
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Jewellery+Metalsmithing
- Fee / year
- C$24,806
- Duration
- Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 120 or CAEL 69
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Arts – Art History
- Fee / year
- C$24,806
- Duration
- Bachelor's degree (studio or non-studio)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 120 or CAEL 69
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- C$25,027
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 60 credits) at Fountain Campus, with practicums and design workshops
- Intakes
- Check NSCAD's admissions deadlines
- English
- IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 94 (no section below 22), PTE 70 (no score below 65), Duolingo 130 or CAEL 69
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Design – Interdisciplinary Design | 4 years full-time, starting with the Foundation year; optional pathways in UI/UX, typography and illustration, and digital and physical prototyping | C$24,806 | ≈ ₹16.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts – Film | Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year | C$24,806 | ≈ ₹16.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts – Photography | Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year | C$24,806 | ≈ ₹16.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts – Textiles+Fashion | Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year | C$24,806 | ≈ ₹16.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts – Expanded Media | Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year | C$24,806 | ≈ ₹16.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts – Jewellery+Metalsmithing | Bachelor's degree, starting with the Foundation year | C$24,806 | ≈ ₹16.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Arts – Art History | Bachelor's degree (studio or non-studio) | C$24,806 | ≈ ₹16.6 lakh |
| Master of Design (MDes) | 2 years (4 semesters, 60 credits) at Fountain Campus, with practicums and design workshops | C$25,027 | ≈ ₹16.8 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at NSCAD University with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Apply through SlideRoom with your Class 12 results and a portfolio; NSCAD's undergraduate admission requirements and Building Your Portfolio pages set out what to submit.
- If you do not yet meet the English requirement, NSCAD gives a conditional offer pending an acceptable score, and accepts several language pathway programmes in Canada.
Postgraduate
- MFA applicants go through an application review and interview with faculty and students, judged on artistic and critical ability; applicants usually have training in a studio discipline.
- Graduate degree requirements are on NSCAD's graduate admission requirements page.
Documents
- Class 10 and 12 marksheets (and degree transcripts for graduate programmes)
- Portfolio uploaded to SlideRoom
- English test scores sent directly by the testing service (NSCAD's TOEFL code is 3265)
- Passport and study permit (DLI 019021269652 on your acceptance letter)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Undergraduate 6.5 (no band below 6.0); graduate 7.0 (no band below 6.0) |
| TOEFL iBT | Undergraduate 90 (no section below 20); graduate 94 (no section below 22) |
| PTE Academic | 70, no score below 65 (undergraduate and graduate) |
| Duolingo / CAEL | Duolingo 120 undergraduate, 130 graduate (no sub-score below 110); CAEL 69 (no score below 60) |
| Exemption | Not needed if your language of instruction was English for at least three years of high school or one year of post-secondary study |
Accommodation and living costs
NSCAD's international page does not list residence costs. It advises budgeting at least CAD 20,000–25,000 for 8–12 months of living costs, excluding airfare.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| NSCAD's suggested living budget (excluding airfare) | C$20,000–25,000per 8–12 months | ≈ ₹13.4 lakh – ₹16.8 lakh |
Campus and location
NSCAD teaches at Fountain Campus on Duke Street in downtown Halifax, with studios, equipment depots and making facilities.
- Year-long Foundation programme for every undergraduate.
- Six major design studios anchor the Interdisciplinary Design degree.
- Mandatory 12-month international health insurance is billed with fees.
- Adobe software and U-Pass fees are included in per-semester fees.
Careers and graduate outcomes
NSCAD says Interdisciplinary Design graduates have worked as creative directors, product and industrial designers, illustrators and UI/UX specialists. See our Canada guide for work rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much does NSCAD cost for Indian students?
For 2026/27, a full-time undergraduate load (15 credits a semester) costs about CAD 12,403 a semester in tuition, or about CAD 24,800 a year, before fees, health insurance and materials.
Do I need a portfolio?
Yes. Applications are made through SlideRoom, and NSCAD has a Building Your Portfolio guide on its admissions pages.
What English score does NSCAD need?
IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) for undergraduate study and 7.0 for graduate study, or the TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or CAEL equivalents.
Sources
- NSCAD: Tuition (opens in a new tab)
- NSCAD: International applications (opens in a new tab)
- NSCAD: Undergraduate programmes (opens in a new tab)
- NSCAD: Interdisciplinary Design (BDes) (opens in a new tab)
- NSCAD: Master of Design (opens in a new tab)
- NSCAD: Master of Fine Arts (opens in a new tab)
Official website: nscad.ca (opens in a new tab)
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