At NSCAD University in Halifax, Canada, BA/BS in Photography (BFA) is offered as a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts programme. Tuition for international students is CAD 827 per credit (CAD 352 per credit for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Bachelor's Degree
Field:Visual Arts
Local tuition: CAD 352 / credit
International tuition: CAD 827 / credit
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Major in Photography is based at NSCAD's Academy and Fountain campuses in Halifax. The program balances technical and artistic training, covering line, shape, form, texture, colour, size, and depth in both digital and analog photography, alongside coursework in ethics, persuasion, portraiture analysis, and contemporary photography theory; it also offers a drone-pilot training course leading to Transport Canada certification. Students work with darkrooms, professional lighting kits, large-format equipment, and image-editing software. All students complete a mandatory foundation year before specializing, and the program offers internships with local photographers and media agencies as well as workshops with visiting artists. It suits students who want to work across the many current forms of lens-based image-making. Graduates pursue careers as artists, commercial photographers, journalists, curators, photo editors, writers, media producers, advertisers, and arts administrators.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:70.00 / %
Admission Requirements: The Photography 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.
