Hons in Illustration at OCAD University in Toronto, Canada is a honours degree in Visual Arts programme. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 32,000 per year (CAD 8,900 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Honours Degree
Field:Visual Arts
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 8,900 / year
International tuition: CAD 32,000 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This program leads to a Bachelor of Design (Honours) over four years, delivered in person at the Toronto campus, and trains students to produce images that complement the written word while standing on their own as visually communicative artwork, spanning traditional and digital illustration for publishing, advertising, packaging, and graphic novels. The first year covers observational drawing, design principles, illustrative concepts, painting, and art history; the second year adds graphic design for illustration, anatomy, and digital media studio work; the third year introduces graphic novel illustration, book illustration, storyboarding, concept art, and animated illustration. The fourth year is centred on a year-long thesis project that develops a portfolio for self-promotion, with the option to exhibit at OCAD U's graduate exhibition. Career-services support includes short placements, industry-partner projects, summer internships, and freelance opportunities. It suits aspiring illustrators aiming at publishing, advertising, digital studios, freelance practice, or fine art.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:70.00 / %
Admission Requirements: OCAD University's Illustration program page adds only a portfolio and a Statement of Intent to the university's general undergraduate admission requirements, so the baseline comes from OCAD's own academic requirements and English proficiency pages. Ontario high school applicants need the OSSD with Grade 12 U English (ENG4U/EWC4U/ETS4U/EAE4U/EAC4U/EAL4U) at a minimum of 70%, six Grade 12 U/M courses, and a 70% overall academic average; applicants from other Canadian provinces need a 70% average in university-preparatory courses including senior-level English at 70% or equivalent; international applicants need an equivalent secondary credential with a B/70% in English, or a minimum of 24 points on the IB. Applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not completed four consecutive years of English-medium schooling, must submit an approved test: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (6.0 minimum per band), TOEFL iBT 84 overall (Reading 20, Listening 19, Speaking 22, Writing 20), PTE Academic 58 (56 per section), Duolingo 110 (105 Production), or CAEL 70 (60 per band). Illustration itself asks for a portfolio, prepared per OCAD's portfolio guidance, and a Statement of Intent. Admission is competitive; meeting the minimums does not guarantee a seat.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:OCAD University admits only in September each year through OUAC, and as of September 2026 it has not yet posted specific dates for fall 2027 entry; the most recently published cycle, fall 2026, set a recommended application deadline of February 1, 2026 and a portfolio-submission deadline of February 10, 2026, with applications opening in early October 2025. OCAD applies the same recommended deadline to domestic and international applicants alike and does not publish a separate international date. The university describes admission as continuing on a rolling basis after the recommended deadline while space remains, rather than as a hard cutoff. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
