BACHELOR of DESIGN
Admission REQUIREMENTS
Admission requirements include the high school subjects or post-secondary equivalents you need to complete and the minimum grades you need to achieve to be considered for admission into this program.
Along with academic criteria, you will need to ensure additional admission criteria are met.
2025/26
You must meet the following requirements to apply for Fall 2025 intake.
To be eligible for admission into a competitive program, you need to have a higher minimum overall average than that listed in the Categories of Admission below.
The competitive criteria indicates the grade range/average we will consider for admission. This competitive average may change as applications are received. The average you need depends on the grades achieved by your peers who are applying to start in the same term.
Competitive criteria
| 2024/25 AVERAGE | 2025/26 AVERAGE | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular/mature admission |
low 70s to mid 80s |
low 70s to mid 80s |
| Previous post-secondary admission |
2.5 to 3.3 |
2.5 to 3.3 |
Courses used in the calculation of your admission average or admission grade point average (AGPA) must be completed by the course completion deadline for competitive programs.
Categories of admission
Applicants may be admitted to one of the following:
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicants must have a minimum overall average of 65 percent, with no course grade lower than 50 percent, in the following high school courses:
- ELA 30-1 or 75% in ELA 30-2
- Four subjects from Group A, B, C, or D
Learn more about Group A, B, C or D courses
Notes:
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to present a broad range of subjects in order to benefit from the breadth of learning and to increase flexibility of future program and course choices.
- A maximum of two Group B subjects may be presented; they must be from different disciplines.
- A maximum of one Group D subject may be presented. Group D subjects used for admission must be 5-credit or any credit combination of at least 5 credits (e.g., two 3-credit subjects).
Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicants must be 20 years of age or older and have been out of full-time high school at least one year by the beginning of the intake term. Applicants must have the following:
- ELA 30-1 with a minimum grade of 65 percent (or equivalent)
OR
- Six credits of university-level English with no grade less than C-
Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar | Admission in this category does not imply or guarantee the transfer of any coursework and/or credential unless a block transfer agreement (internal or external) is in effect and published in the calendar by the Office of the University Registrar. In addition, transfer of coursework does not imply or guarantee that an applicant will be admitted.
Applicants must have completed one of the following from a recognized institution:
- A diploma in design (or equivalent)
OR
- A minimum of 24 university-level credits with a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and must have completed the required high school courses listed under the Regular or Mature Admission category.
Additional admission criteria
All applicants must meet the following:
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar | Applicable to all admission categories
All applicants must meet an acceptable level of English language proficiency. We will require official documents such as high school or post-secondary transcripts or proof of successful completion of standardized language evaluation. Full details are available in MacEwan University’s academic calendar or online at: MacEwan.ca/ELP.
Beginning in fall 2023, a portfolio is no longer an entry requirement for the Bachelor of Design program. We believe that creativity and innovation come from individuals with a variety of backgrounds, skills and talents. By eliminating the portfolio requirement, we hope to welcome a wider variety of applicants, including those who might not have had access to traditional fine art education. Applicants will now be evaluated based on academic achievement to create a more equitable and accessible admissions process. In this new admissions model, students with a strong arts background will still be recognized through their grades in Art 30, Design 30 or similar high school courses.
We want your admission experience to be successful and straightforward. To help you along the way, we've prepared a step-by-step guide to the admission process.