BA/BS in Film (BFA) at NSCAD University in Halifax, Canada is a bachelor's degree in Film & Animation programme. The programme runs for 4 years. Tuition for international students is CAD 827 per credit (CAD 352 per credit for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Bachelor's Degree
Field:Film & Animation
Duration: 4 years
Local tuition: CAD 352 / credit
International tuition: CAD 827 / credit
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Major in Film runs four years and is based at NSCAD's Media Arts campus in Halifax. It combines storytelling with digital and analogue filmmaking techniques and the history and criticism of the moving image, giving students hands-on experience across dramatic, documentary, and experimental approaches and across departments including screenwriting, directing, cinematography, production design, sound, acting, and post-production work such as editing, sound design, colour correction, and visual effects. Students have access to professional equipment including sixteen-millimetre film cameras, digital video equipment, editing bays, lighting and grip gear, a large soundstage, and Halifax's urban landscape as filming locations. As with other NSCAD undergraduate programs, students begin with an immersive foundation year before specializing. The program suits students seeking collaborative, practical filmmaking training that balances creative vision with technical and crew skills. Graduates pursue careers in the film industry, independent filmmaking, and production companies; alumni work has screened at festivals including Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:70.00 / %
Admission Requirements: The Film programme page defers to NSCAD University's general undergraduate admission requirements rather than stating separate criteria. Applicants completing high school need Grade 12 (or the highest grade required for secondary graduation) with an overall average of at least 70%, including a minimum of 70% in Grade 12 English; an International Baccalaureate Diploma of at least 24 points is accepted, and CEGEP applicants need one full year of a DEC with a 70% average. All applicants must submit a portfolio and sketchbook. Applicants whose prior schooling was not in English must demonstrate proficiency: TOEFL iBT 90 (no section below 20), IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0), PTE Academic 70 (no score below 65), CAEL 69 (no part below 60), Duolingo English Test 120 (no sub-score below 110), or Oxford ELLT 7 (no band below 6).
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:NSCAD considers applications year-round but gives priority to applicants who meet its posted deadlines: for September 2027 (Fall) entry, applications open 1 October 2026, entrance-scholarship consideration requires applying by 1 March 2027, the extended international deadline is 1 May 2027, and the extended domestic deadline is 31 July 2027; transfer applicants have until 1 June 2027. For January 2027 (Winter) entry, international, domestic and transfer applications are due 1 October 2026, with an extended domestic deadline of 30 November 2026. Graduate programmes (MFA, MDes, MAAE) begin only in September, opening 1 October 2026, with early deadlines of 1 November 2026 and a final deadline of 15 January 2027. Late applications for any term may still be considered on request, making admission effectively rolling around these posted dates. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
