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Design

MacEwan University

Design and Visual Communication: blue ink subject illustration
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Checked 2026-11-05

Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted

Deadlines

October 2026

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Next deadline

Other deadline details
No central deadline published by ApplyAlbertaApplyAlberta, deadlines are set per institutionRecurring annual · Every year
  • No central deadline published by ApplyAlberta
  • ApplyAlberta handles applications, but each institution publishes its own deadlines and fees
Full source wording

ApplyAlberta publishes NO deadline dates at all on its public pages. Its How to Apply page describes the process only: verbatim, "Now you will 'Start a New Application' at the institution of your choice. You will be directed to the institution's application portal where you will apply and pay any application fees", and "All application fees are paid directly to the institution you are applying to. Each institution has its own unique application fees". Deadlines must be read from each of Alberta's 26 publicly-funded institutions.

SourceChecked
June 30Fall: ApplicationStanding annual entry · Every year
  • Bachelor of Design
  • domestic applicants
  • June 30
SourceChecked
May 1; an earlier programme closing date still appliesFall: International applicationStanding annual entry · Every year
  • Bachelor of Design
  • international applicants
  • May 1; an earlier programme closing date still applies
SourceChecked
August 1Fall: Final documentsStanding annual entry · Every year
  • Bachelor of Design
  • all applicants
  • August 1
SourceChecked

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites

Check the university’s requirements for your province and applicant category.

MacEwan University programme calendar admission criteria
Application steps
  1. Step 1Check the admission requirements
    • Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
    MacEwan University programme calendar admission criteriaMacEwan University programme calendar admission criteria
  2. Step 2Apply through ApplyAlberta
    • Create your application and select this program.
    ApplyAlbertaApplyAlberta
  3. Step 3$110 application fee
    • MacEwan publishes a $110 non-refundable application fee for 2026/27.
    MacEwan 2026/27 tuition and fee estimatesMacEwan 2026/27 tuition and fee estimates
  4. Step 4Academic transcripts and requested documents
    • Applicants monitor myStudentSystem for transcript and document requests. Interim documents are generally due two weeks after the program application closes.
    MacEwan admission document deadlinesMacEwan admission document deadlines
  5. Step 5Apply to the Bachelor of Design. Students can declare the Digital Experience Design major in second year.
    • Complete this item using the university’s applicant instructions.
    MacEwan University programme calendar admission criteriaMacEwan University programme calendar admission criteria
Applicant pathways
Regular Admission

Regular Admission; only the named route and programme-specific major conditions apply

  • To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
  • Applicants must have a minimum overall average of 65 percent, with no course grade lower than 50 percent, in the following high school courses:
  • ELA 30-1 or 75% in ELA 30-2
  • Four subjects from Group A, B, C, or D
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to present a broad range of subjects in order to benefit from the breadth of learning and to increase flexibility of future program and course choices.
  • A maximum of two Group B subjects may be presented; they must be from different disciplines.
  • A maximum of one Group D subject may be presented. Group D subjects used for admission must be 5-credit or any credit combination of at least 5 credits (e.g., two 3-credit subjects).
  • Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
MacEwan University programme calendar admission criteria
Mature Admission

Mature Admission; only the named route and programme-specific major conditions apply

  • To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
  • Applicants must be 20 years of age or older and have been out of full-time high school at least one year by the beginning of the intake term. Applicants must have the following:
  • ELA 30-1 with a minimum grade of 65 percent (or equivalent)
  • OR
  • Six credits of university-level English with no grade less than C-
  • Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
MacEwan University programme calendar admission criteria
Additional programme application criteria

Applicants in the categories explicitly named by each criterion

  • All applicants must meet the following:
  • To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
  • Applicable to all admission categories
  • All applicants must meet an acceptable level of English language proficiency. We will require official documents such as high school or post-secondary transcripts or proof of successful completion of standardized language evaluation. Full details are available in MacEwan University’s academic calendar or online at MacEwan.ca/ELP.
  • MacEwan University
  • Privacy
  • We acknowledge that the land on which we gather in Treaty Six Territory is the traditional gathering place for many Indigenous people. We honour and respect the history, languages, ceremonies and culture of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit who call this territory home.
MacEwan University programme calendar admission criteria
International versus Canadian admission categories

International applicants and Canadian applicants choosing a programme admission category

  • International applicants must qualify through the regular or previous-postsecondary category. The mature category is open only to Canadian applicants. Each programme publishes its own required secondary subjects or postsecondary equivalents and admission criteria.
  • A competitive programme can require stronger results or additional criteria beyond the stated minimum. Resumes, references, letters of intent, security checks, portfolios, auditions, experience and English proficiency may be required by the particular programme. This shared category rule does not certify that every held programme offers every category.
macewan how apply · official applicant policy
Previous-postsecondary AGPA assessment

Applicants with attempted postsecondary study; programme-specific admission eligibility remains controlling

  • Nine or more attempted postsecondary credits may require an admission grade point average in addition to secondary-school requirements. The programme defines which postsecondary coursework is eligible. This threshold identifies AGPA calculation and is not a universal threshold for degree-entry eligibility.
  • With at least 24 attempted credits, use all coursework in the most recent two terms if they contain 24 credits; otherwise include earlier complete terms until at least 24 credits are reached. All grades in those included terms count, so the calculation can exceed 24 credits. With 9 to fewer than 24 attempted credits, use all attempted credits. Below 9 attempted credits, no AGPA is calculated and assessment uses secondary-school grades. No normalized admission minimum is changed.
macewan postsecondary · official applicant policy

Degree requirements

Credits and degree requirements
  • Choose 3 credits of ENGL from the following: 3
  • Program Options 6
  • Total Credits 120
  • Total Credits 60
  • The Digital Experience Design major requires 21 credits with at most nine credits at the 100 level.
ReferencesMacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Bachelor of Design and Digital Experience Design declarationMacEwan: current faculty and school contact directoryMacEwan 2027/28 official programme-length table and named majorsMacEwan official directory: native faculty contact recordsMacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Digital Experience Design major options
Required courses and electives
  • Electives 24
  • Students are required to complete 24 credits of electives (defined as courses selected by the student, excluding those that use the DESN subject code), with no more than 12 credits at the 100-level.
  • A minimum of 9 of these elective credits must be from the Social Sciences (PSYC, SOCI, ANTH, POLS, ECON and BCSC 200 ).
  • 3 elective credits must be from the Triffo School of Business (ACCT, BUSN, FNCE, HRMT, INFM, INSR, INTB, LEGL, MARK, MGMT, MGTS, MSYS, ORGA, PMGT, SCMT).
  • All courses will be accepted as electives for the remaining 12 credits except: ARTE 106 , ARTE 111 , AGAD 107 , BCSC 102 , ENGL 108, ENGL 111 , ENGL 199 , ENGL 211 , VCPH 100, WRIT 101 , DESN, PACT, TRVL, OAAS, OADM, OALS, OAMS, COOP.
  • Additional Program Options/Elective Requirements 21
  • Students are required to complete 21 credits in their choice of program option courses and/or electives. Of these 21 credits, no more than 9 credits can be at the 100-level.
  • All courses will be accepted as electives except: ARTE 106 , ARTE 111 , AGAD 107 , BCSC 102 , ENGL 108, ENGL 111 , ENGL 199 , ENGL 211 , VCPH 100, WRIT 101 , DESN, PACT, TRVL, OAAS, OADM, OALS, OAMS, COOP.
ReferencesMacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Bachelor of Design and Digital Experience Design declarationMacEwan: current faculty and school contact directoryMacEwan 2027/28 official programme-length table and named majorsMacEwan official directory: native faculty contact recordsMacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Digital Experience Design major options

Program facts

Entering average~72–85%
MacEwan Bachelor of Design 2027/28 admission requirements
InternshipInternship details
MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 719Check work experience options

Majors & specializations

Apply to the Bachelor of Design. Students may declare Digital Experience Design in their second year.

Digital Experience Design

BDes

Declare this major in the second year. Study digital product and interface design.

Published requirements

Courses

Named courses across the linked calendar section's requirements and options. Major, minor and route lists can overlap; this is not a timetable. Discontinued courses and course-recognition categories are excluded. Named courses across the published program requirements, including alternatives and elective banks. This is not a timetable or a list every student takes.

2027–2028: Degree Requirements25 listed

Published requirement group, not an academic term. Course alternatives remain alternatives; complete source footnotes, prerequisites and entry-year rules apply. Choose 3 credits of ENGL from the following: | 3.

MacEwan 2027–2028 Design requirement groups
Digital Experience Design

Digital Experience Design

design options13 listed

Choose 12 to 21 credits from this list.

MacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Digital Experience Design major options
complementary options8 listed

Choose up to nine credits toward the major from this list.

MacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Digital Experience Design major options
optional field placement1 listed

The calendar lists DESN 295 as a zero-credit programme option.

  • DESN 295Field Placement0 credits

    The opportunity to establish working relationships and observe the real- world workplace is central to this course as students experience the pace and demands of a design agency or communications department.

    MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 716
MacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Digital Experience Design major options
Additional published courses
Elective choices
  • Electives 24
  • Students are required to complete 24 credits of electives (defined as courses selected by the student, excluding those that use the DESN subject code), with no more than 12 credits at the 100-level.
  • A minimum of 9 of these elective credits must be from the Social Sciences (PSYC, SOCI, ANTH, POLS, ECON and BCSC 200 ).
  • 3 elective credits must be from the Triffo School of Business (ACCT, BUSN, FNCE, HRMT, INFM, INSR, INTB, LEGL, MARK, MGMT, MGTS, MSYS, ORGA, PMGT, SCMT).
  • All courses will be accepted as electives for the remaining 12 credits except: ARTE 106 , ARTE 111 , AGAD 107 , BCSC 102 , ENGL 108, ENGL 111 , ENGL 199 , ENGL 211 , VCPH 100, WRIT 101 , DESN, PACT, TRVL, OAAS, OADM, OALS, OAMS, COOP.
  • Additional Program Options/Elective Requirements 21
  • Students are required to complete 21 credits in their choice of program option courses and/or electives. Of these 21 credits, no more than 9 credits can be at the 100-level.
  • All courses will be accepted as electives except: ARTE 106 , ARTE 111 , AGAD 107 , BCSC 102 , ENGL 108, ENGL 111 , ENGL 199 , ENGL 211 , VCPH 100, WRIT 101 , DESN, PACT, TRVL, OAAS, OADM, OALS, OAMS, COOP.
  • For the Digital Experience Design major, take at least 12 credits from the named Design list and up to nine credits from the complementary options.
Study locations
Published academic-unit location
Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications lists its Dean’s Office in room 11-415. This is the faculty’s administrative contact office; individual teaching rooms and external placements are separate.MacEwan official directory: native faculty contact records
ReferencesMacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Bachelor of Design and Digital Experience Design declarationMacEwan: current faculty and school contact directoryMacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 719MacEwan 2027/28 official programme-length table and named majorsMacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 662MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 714MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 715MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 716MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 717MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 718MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 720MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 736MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 663MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 664MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 784MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 665MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 674MacEwan 2027–2028 exact course description, PDF page 675MacEwan official directory: native faculty contact recordsMacEwan 2027–28 Academic Calendar · Digital Experience Design major options

Careers

Career sectors

13
  • Graphic design
  • Branding
  • Advertising
  • Publication design
  • Information design
  • Illustration
  • Photography
  • Website and app design
  • Digital experience design
  • User interface design
  • Motion graphics
  • Packaging design
  • Environmental graphic design
Career sectorsPublished career information
Scope and qualifications

Published design responsibilities vary by the pathway chosen. Employment settings include agencies, studios, print shops and communications departments.

Costs

Bachelor of Design

Published cost estimate

2026–27 · Fall + winter credit rates · CAD

Canadian students example · Choose your category

Tuition$293 / credit
Books and suppliesNot researched
Residence
Not estimated
Meal plan
Not estimated
Estimated subtotalNot available

Tuition only · International term minimum $8,469

Housing and meals are outside this estimate.

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