Bachelor in Visual and Critical Studies

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 Visual and Critical Studies at Ontario College of Art and Design University is a 4-year program for students who want to study art history and make art themselves. This program is unique because you get to take studio courses and make art and design, in addition to studying the history of art.

The curriculum includes classes in global visual and material culture, critical frameworks, and art history. You will also take studio art and design classes, and choose from electives such as art and globalization, history of modern art, and art history and visual culture. In your fourth year, you will research and produce a major research paper and showcase your work at GradEx, OCAD U's Graduate Exhibition.

Graduates of this program can become art historians, curators, critics, or artists. They can work in museums, galleries, or art schools, or pursue careers in art writing, editing, or publishing. Some specific job titles include art critic, museum curator, art teacher, or gallery director.