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Design

York University · Keele Campus.

Design and Visual Communication: blue ink subject illustration
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Conceptual study artwork, not a photograph of teaching facilities.

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Checked 2026-11-05

Symbolic subject artwork; no university facility depicted

Deadlines

November 2026

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Next deadline

  • Application: Winter 2027 (January) entry, all applicant types

    Winter 2027

    Applies to Ontario high school, out-of-province high school, international, and university/college transfer and mature students alike. Verbatim: "Submit your application by the date(s) listed below for guaranteed consideration" and "we will continue to accept and assess applications until each program is full".

    Official deadline
Other deadline details
No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by programOUAC Undergraduate application, applicants who are not Ontario high school students (Group B)2026 entry
  • No single OUAC deadline, deadlines are set by each university and sometimes by program
  • No single OUAC deadline
  • University, program, transcript, portfolio, interview, and audition dates still apply
Full source wording

Verbatim: "There is no specific Undergraduate application deadline if you are a Group B applicant. Deadlines vary at each university and sometimes depend on the program. Visit the university websites or contact the universities directly for their deadlines. If you are interested in a program but the deadline has passed, you may contact the university's admission office for help. Be aware of university-specific deadlines for submitting transcripts and portfolios, if required, and for arranging interviews and auditions. You must ensure the OUAC has enough time to process your choices before the universities' program deadlines." OUAC defines Group B as anyone who does not meet the Group A criteria, e.g. not currently taking an Ontario high school course, a Canadian outside Ontario, an international applicant, a postsecondary transfer student, or a mature applicant.

SourceChecked

Requirements

Admission requirements

High-school prerequisites
  • ENG4UEnglish
  • Complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
  • Complete ENG4U.
  • Complete 5 additional Grade 12 4U or 4M courses.
  • A portfolio review is required.
York current Ontario school-leaver admissions table
Application steps
  1. Step 1Check the admission requirements
    • Check the published entry route for your applicant category.
    York current Ontario school-leaver admissions tableYork current Ontario school-leaver admissions table
  2. Step 2Apply through OUAC
    • Create your application and select this program.
    OUACOUAC
  3. Step 3Official academic transcripts
    • Normally required for undergraduate degree and certificate applicants, with published exceptions for mature applicants and visiting students on a letter of permission. Unofficial records can support conditional admission; final official originals must arrive directly from the institution before classes.
    York required undergraduate documentationYork required undergraduate documentation

A portfolio review is required.

York Design portfolio selection
Applicant pathways
Ontario high school prerequisites

Ontario high school applicants

  • Complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
  • Complete ENG4U.
  • Complete 5 additional Grade 12 4U or 4M courses.
  • A portfolio review is required.
York current Ontario school-leaver admissions table
Conditional offer requirements

Ontario high school applicants who received an offer

  • Maintain a final academic average of at least 80%.
York current Ontario school-leaver admissions table
Alberta high school requirements

Alberta high school applicants

  • Earn an Alberta High School Diploma and complete ELA 30-1 or English 30.
  • Complete four additional academic courses at the 30 or 31 level.
  • Complete the supplementary evaluation after applying. Submit the online component by February 5, 2027 for guaranteed Fall 2027 consideration.
  • After a conditional offer, maintain a final academic average of at least 80%.
York Canadian high school outside Ontario programme selector
British Columbia high school requirements

British Columbia high school applicants

  • Earn a British Columbia Secondary School Graduation Diploma and complete English 12 or English 12 First Peoples.
  • Complete four additional Grade 12 academic subjects.
  • Complete the supplementary evaluation after applying. Submit the online component by February 5, 2027 for guaranteed Fall 2027 consideration.
  • After a conditional offer, maintain a final academic average of at least 80%.
York Canadian high school outside Ontario programme selector
Quebec CEGEP requirements

Quebec CEGEP applicants

  • Complete one year of CEGEP with two semesters in English (603) or French (601).
  • Complete ten additional CEGEP academic courses. High-school equivalents are excluded.
  • Complete the supplementary evaluation after applying. Submit the online component by February 5, 2027 for guaranteed Fall 2027 consideration.
  • York may assess additional courses for transfer credit and award DEC holders up to one year of transfer credit.
  • After a conditional offer, maintain a final academic average of at least 80%.
York Canadian high school outside Ontario programme selector
International Baccalaureate Diploma requirements

International Baccalaureate Diploma applicants

  • Complete the IB Diploma with passes in six subjects, either three Standard Level and three Higher Level or two Standard Level and four Higher Level.
  • Complete the supplementary evaluation after applying. Submit the online component by February 5, 2027 for guaranteed Fall 2027 consideration.
  • York grants up to 30 transfer credits for Higher Level courses with a final grade of 5 or higher.
  • York may consider applicants with at least 30 IB diploma points. Maintain at least 30 points after a conditional offer.
York international programme selector

Degree requirements

Required courses and electives
  • The 120-credit Specialized Honours BDes includes 51 Design Studio, 18 Design Studies, 6 Professional Practice, 18 General Education, 12 out-of-major AMPD and 15 free elective credits.
ReferencesYork Design programmeYork University · Fall/Winter 2026–27 Design BDes advising worksheet

Program facts

Entering average~low 80s or higher

Current York guidance for Ontario high school applicants

York current Ontario school-leaver admissions tableYork current Ontario school-leaver admissions table

Majors & specializations

Information Design

BDes

Focus on the design and communication of information for readers and audiences.

Published requirements

Courses

Design Studio · required courses13 listed

The worksheet lists these requirements without assigning a semester.

  • FA/DESN 1001Communication Design Foundation3 credits
  • FA/DESN 1002Understanding Form & Context3 credits
  • FA/DESN 1003Typography: Letter and Word3 credits
  • FA/DESN 1004Drawing for Design3 credits
  • FA/DESN 1011Visual Interaction Design3 credits
  • FA/DESN 2001Communication Design Process3 credits
  • FA/DESN 2002Typography for Publishing Systems3 credits
  • FA/DESN 2011Designing for Human Interactions3 credits
  • FA/DESN 2012Prototyping & User-Centred Strategies3 credits
  • FA/DESN 2021Information Design for Understanding3 credits
  • FA/DESN 3001Designing for Existing Systems3 credits
  • FA/DESN 3005Designing for Visual Complexity3 credits
  • FA/DESN 4000Degree Project6 credits
York University · Fall/Winter 2026–27 Design BDes advising worksheet
Design Studies · fixed courses2 listed

The worksheet lists these requirements without assigning a semester.

  • FA/DESN 1111Design of the 20th Century3 credits
  • FA/DESN 2101Design in Contemporary Society3 credits
York University · Fall/Winter 2026–27 Design BDes advising worksheet
Elective choices
  • Design Studio and Design Studies each include 9 elective credits at the 3000 or 4000 level. Design Studies also includes a 3-credit choice from FA/DESN 2111, 2112 and 2113.
Study locations
Teaching campus
Keele Campus.York Design teaching site

Careers

Career examples have not been verified for this page.

Official program page

Costs

Design

Published cost estimate

2026–27 · Published full-year estimates or per-credit fee categories · CAD

Ontario students example · Choose your category

Tuition$9,179.50 / year
Books and supplies$1,400–$2,600 est. (2025–26)
Residence
Not estimated
Meal plan
Not estimated
Estimated subtotalNot available

University-published approximate tuition · Ancillary fees extra

Housing and meals are outside this estimate.

Last updated

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