Call for applications: MFA and MDes programs

Emily Carr University of Art + Design has a global reputation for art, media and design research and practice. We are a unique and thriving learning community with competitive graduate programs in design and the fine arts.

We are seeking serious practitioners, thinkers, designers and artists for our Masters of Fine Arts (Full and Low Residency options) and Masters of Design (Interdisciplinary or Interaction Design concentrations).

Situated in Vancouver, Canada, a unique urban location with close proximity to nature, ECU is uniquely enmeshed in a vibrant cultural scene. A strong legacy of artists-run centers, an emerging start up community, and a deep commitment to environmental justice all act to bolster and set the foundation for leading edge design and art propositions.

Our graduate degrees include courses in studio practice, research and critical theory that span diverse art and design contexts and approaches. The dialogic, critique-based nature of our programs are for practitioners willing to take risks, think unconventionally, seek to foster change, and actively contribute to local and global conversations. 

Our unique MFA low-residency program is designed for established professionals whose practical circumstances make relocation to Vancouver, or the resident program schedule, unmanageable. It is structured around three consecutive four-week summer intensive residencies on campus in Vancouver during the month of July, with innovative and interactive online coursework in between. The requirements and benefits, including professional opportunities, access to technologies and shop support, are equivalent to the resident program.

Our new MDes Interaction Design stream encourages a range of context-driven, participatory based work addressing ethics, behaviour insights, big data and the implication of new tools in connection with our research centres, local non-profit organizations, government and industry partners.

Praxis and research
Research is an integral aspect of graduate education Emily Carr. All students in our MFA and MDes programs are offered the opportunity to participate in collaborative research, at the intersection of art, media, design, and broader cultural and environmental matters.

Our approach to critical making actively integrates praxis with research, Attention to care, use and social engagement further expands theoretical and experimental frameworks for contemporary art and design practice. Graduate students have full access to our research resources, labs, and studio facilities.

We host three Canada Research Chairs (Studio for Extensive Aesthetics, Studio for Critical Making, Chair in Indigenous Studies) and several active research centers (Health Design Lab, Living Labs, Material Matters, Basically Good Media Lab, DESIS and the Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship).

Dedicated studio spaces + facilities
We believe learning happens not just in curriculum but through material exploration and play.  Graduate students have access to integrated studios, labs and workshops that house a wide range of media, analogue and new digital technologies. Dedicated exhibition spaces offer opportunities for multimedia and large-scale works while peripheral spaces present extraordinary flexibility for innovative exhibitions.

Scholarships, awards + funding opportunities
To recognize high academic achievement and artistic potential, several graduate entrance scholarships are offered to incoming students. Additionally, a variety of research and teaching assistantships can offset tuition.

For more information on our graduate programs and faculty click here.
For information on admission, visit ecuad.ca or contact masters [​at​] ecuad.ca.