Animation Courses In Canada: Universities, Tuition, How To Apply & More

Animation courses in Canada hold immense value across the globe. Let’s find out what sets animation apart in Canada:

Master craftspeople must instruct and coach creatives. One is animation. Using tools to learn and practice topics requires being up to date. Experimenting, collaborating, and innovating require all facilities. Canadian institutions provide the environment, resources, facilities, and teachers to develop your animation abilities.

Canada has world-class universities. QS World University Rankings 2023 includes 30 Canadian universities. If you study animation at one of these universities, you’ll achieve your ambitions. This site will help you study animation in Canada.

Why Study animation courses in Canada?

• Respected across the world: Animation schools in Canada are well-known for providing degree and certificate programs that are well regarded and esteemed around the world. Canadian animators are regarded as extremely efficient and competent in their field.
  
• Outstanding job opportunities: Along with being highly reputed, animation programs in Canada are also known to offer excellent employability rates upon graduation, precisely greater than 90%.
• Excellent education: The greatest animation colleges in Canada have distinguished themselves globally by providing the best facilities. Canada is well-known for providing excellent educational and industrial opportunities to international students. The course material is accredited by well-known organizations, making it highly relevant for today’s employment market.

Home of animation pioneers: From Norman McLaren to Chris Landreth, Canada is famous for housing some animation pioneers, Oscar nominees and winners.

Top Universities To Study Animation In Canada

There are 24 universities in Canada that offer animation and multimedia courses. We’ve identified the top 5 universities in Canada for animation and multimedia studies. The following are the top animation schools in Canada.

• Sheridan College
• Vancouver Film School
• Vancouver Institute of Media Arts
• Seneca College
• Ontario College of Art & Design

1. Sheridan College

One of Canada’s top animation school is Sheridan. It gives you hands-on experience to apply classroom concepts. Micro credential job accelerator programs place graduates of the animation degree Canada in jobs. The table below shows Canadian animation course costs.

• Type: Public
• Course Duration: 4 years
• Course Offered: Honour Bachelor of Animation
• Average Tuition Fee: 30,182.55 CAD for the first year

2. Vancouver Film School

International students rank Vancouver Film School highly among Canadian animation schools. Its campuses feature top-notch production facilities for gaming, TV, cinema, digital apps, design, and animation. World-renowned educators and mentors will help you master your craft at VFS. Vancouver animation schools should choose it.

• Type: Private
• Course Duration: 1 year
• Course Offered: Classical Animation
• Average Tuition Fee: 31,000 CAD  for an entire course

3. Vancouver Institute of Media Arts

Animation Career Review ranks Vancouver Institute of Media Arts’ animation diploma #2 internationally. The top-ranked school is ROOKIES-Certified. The Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills, and Training approves 2D/3D Character Animation. Vancouver’s best animation school has the most international students.

• Type: Private
• Course Duration: 12 months
• Course Offered: 2D/3D Character Animation
• Average Tuition Fee: 33,750 CAD for full course

4. Seneca College

One of Canada’s top animation college is Seneca. Co-ops and work terms supplement classroom and practical learning at the college. If you qualify, you can work while studying. It provides real-world experience. Canada VFX course fees are listed below.

• Type: Public
• Course Duration: 3 years
• Course Offered: Bachelor in Animation
• Average Tuition Fee: 21,101 CAD for the first year

5. Ontario College of Art & Design

Ontario College of Art and Design is a member of the Ontario Colleges group in Canada. It is one of Canada’s top VFX schools. As an international student, you will gain hands-on job experience and employee partnerships, as well as the ability to transfer between colleges. It is well-known for being one of Canada’s most affordable animation schools.

• Type: Public
• Course Duration; 2 years
• Course Offered: Diploma in Animation
• Average Tuition Fee: 16,570 CAD for the first year

Eligibility Criteria To Study Animation Degree Canada

Animation courses are available at many Canadian universities. Every university’s admission council examines student applications based on a set of criteria. Though the criteria stated by each university differ slightly, we’ve highlighted the common criterion below.

• Minimum Educational Qualifications
• English proficiency test scores
• Portfolio

Talking about the eligibility for animation in Canada briefly, let’s start with:

1. Minimum Educational Qualifications

Academic transcripts and a bachelor’s degree (if applying to PG programs) are two of the most fundamental criteria for pursuing an animation degree in Canada. For Bachelors or PG diploma programmes, applicants must have a minimum of 65% in higher secondary school. To apply for Animation courses in Canada, specific prerequisite topics such as English and Visual Arts are necessary.

2. English proficiency test scores

As international students, you have to show confirmation of English competence in the form of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or other tests. The minimal IELTS criterion for international students to study animation courses in Canada is an overall score of 6.5 or above, depending on the university/program.

3. Portfolio

The majority of courses, including bachelors and masters in animation in Canada at the top universities, will ask you for a portfolio showcasing your work.

Documents Required To Study Animation Degree Canada

When applying to study animation degree Canada as an international student, you must present supporting documents. These documents are used to authenticate the information on the student application form. The complete collection of documents necessary varies by course and is determined by the university. There is a collection of documents that all universities must follow. We’ve included a list of them below for your convenience.

• Educational transcripts
• Scorecard of English Language Test
• Statement Of Purpose (SOP)
• Letter Of Recommendation (LOR)
• CV/Resume
• Financial proof
• A copy of a valid passport and Canadian student visa

Admission Process For Animation Courses In Canada

The admission process for applying to some of the best animation universities in Canada has been discussed briefly below:

• Choose your course and a university to start your degree or diploma in animation in Canada.
• Submit the application form along with the application fee.
• Submit all the required documents including transcripts, along with additional requirements like SOP, Resume, portfolios,
• LORs, and proof of work experience, as asked by the particular university.
• You may also be asked for an interview process.
• Apply for a scholarship or financial aid, if available at the university.

Cost To Study Animation Courses In Canada

The cost to study animation courses in Canada is divided into two costs.

• Tuition fee for the course
• Cost of living for the course duration

Tuition fee for the course

Animation universities in Canada have a reputation to provide a plethora of programs ranging from bachelor’s degrees to diplomas and certificates. The fees for the vfx course in Canada are mentioned below.

A master’s degree in animation in Canada costs between 20,000 and 50,000 CAD a year. Diplomas, PG diplomas, and certifications in animation all cost between 10,000 and 24,000 CAD per year.

Cost of living for the course duration

Students should budget for the cost of living in Canada of about 900 CAD – 1500 CAD per month in addition to program fees. This estimate is based on a single person’s basic needs, which include lodging, groceries, clothing, public transit, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Scholarships For Animation And Multimedia Courses In Canada

Though quite affordable, your study in animation in Canada can be aided by various scholarships, including many university-specific, privately funded and government-funded scholarships.

Given below are some scholarships with their benefits to help you fund your animation courses in Canada:

• Michael McKenzie Scholarship – 1,000 CAD
• Sheridan Degree Entrance Scholarships – 1,500-3,000 CAD
• International Degree Entrance Award – Variable
• Entrance Awards, Bow Valley College – Variable
• Don Arioli Award – Variable

Jobs After Animation Courses In Canada

The animation industry is thriving. With the world getting digital, the number of animation firms and positions is always growing. Among the most well-known animator recruiters are:

• Bardel Entertainment Inc
• DHX Media
• Ubisoft Entertainment Inc

Moreover, the scope of animation in Canada is immense. Let us make you explore some career options upon pursuing animation in Canada:

• Higher education in various specializations like Visual FX, Character Design, etc.
• Become an animator, animation director, 3D animator
• Start a business/ venture of your own
• Become an educator in the field of animator

For a better knowledge of what jobs are available after completing animation courses in Canada, we have compiled a list of the top animation job profiles and their typical salaries:

• Graphic Designer: 50,884 CAD
• 3D Animator: 62,331 CAD
• Motion Graphic Designer: 56,915 CAD
• Animation Director: 112,157 CAD
• Concept Artist: 65,016 CAD

Universities in Canada offer a variety of animation diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs. The course curriculum is determined by the specialization and course type you select. It is critical to make the appropriate decision in order to get the most benefits and achieve your educational goals.

FAQs

• What are the best animation colleges in Canada?

Apart from the 5 colleges listed above, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Visual College of Art and Design of Vancouver, and Max the Mutt College of Animation, Art & Design are some of the best animation universities in Canada.

• What is the maximum amount of scholarship available for animation courses in Canada?

Every Canadian university offers a list of scholarships for animation courses that it accepts. As an international student, you must first determine whether you are eligible for the scholarship and then apply for it when you apply for the course at the university. Sheridan Degree Entrance Scholarships offer a maximum scholarship of 3,000 CAD each year off the tuition fee.

• What are the famous Masters courses in VFX & animation in Canadian universities?

The universities in Canada offer more than 50 Masters courses in animation. The highly-opted courses are Masters in Animation & Design, Graduate Certificate in 3D Animation and Character Design, and Graduate Certificate in 3D Computer Animation.

• What is the scope of jobs in Canada after studying the VFX course in Canada?

Canada has long promoted animation and innovation. For several years, Canada has held some of the world’s oldest animation festivals. Since 1975, the Ottawa International Animation Festival has been taking place in Canada. In Canada, there are hundreds of design firms, creative agency, and game design studios where you can launch your animation career.