Bachelor in Indigenous Visual Culture

OCAD University in Toronto is Canada’s specialized public university for art, design, and digital media, with a history dating back to 1876 and a student community of roughly 5,000. OCAD U offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degrees focused on creative practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research-led innovation. International students are part of a vibrant campus culture that encourages experimentation across visual arts, design, media, and emerging technologies.

The university provides studio-based learning environments, specialized labs, fabrication workshops, and exhibition spaces that enable hands-on development of portfolios and public-facing projects. Cross-disciplinary initiatives and partnerships with cultural institutions, industry, and community organizations in Toronto give students opportunities for internships, collaborative research, and real-world project experience. Faculty are practicing artists and designers who emphasize critical thinking and professional development.

OCAD U supports career readiness through portfolio development, mentorship, and connections to galleries, studios, and creative enterprises. International applicants can access services for admissions advice, visa guidance, and orientation to city life in Toronto. Prospective students should investigate program specifications, studio resources, and opportunities for collaborative projects to ensure alignment with their artistic and professional goals.

The Bachelor in Indigenous Visual Culture at Ontario College of Art and Design University is a four-year English-language program that honors the creative traditions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art and design practices. You will deepen your understanding of Indigenous visual, cultural, social, and political histories and explore your own art and design through a supportive studio-based learning environment.

The curriculum covers topics such as Indigenous sculpture strategies, Indigenous materials and methods, and electives in media, printmaking, painting, and photography in the first year. In subsequent years, you will study Indigenous time-based media, Turtle Island visual culture, and language and the land. You will also have the opportunity to take advanced courses like beadwork, abstraction, and Indigenous art experimentation.

Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Indigenous artists, curators, art educators, community arts workers, or cultural consultants. They can work in various industries, including arts and culture, education, and community development, for employers such as galleries, museums, and Indigenous organizations.