4 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

Full	Carleton Communication and Media Studies OUAC CCR Remove	Ottawa Multidisciplinary Design- Experiential Learning (4 years) OUAC OMC Remove	Western Media & Communications Studies OUAC EI Remove	OCAD Digital Futures OUAC HDF Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	75%	75%	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	Not published“N/A”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	No course codes parsed — see prerequisites	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	one of ENG4U, FRA4U one of MCV4U, MHF4U one of ISC4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SPH4U	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English (ENG4U) 5 best 4U/M courses Alternative Offers Find more information about alternative offers .	ENG4U or FRA4U MCV4U or MHF4U One of the following: SBI4U, SCH4U, ISC4U, SPH4U Students who do not have the 4U Math prerequisite can take the replacement course at the University either the summer before or during their first year.	English, ENG4U	OSSD with an overall academic average of at least 70% in six 4U/M courses, including English 4U with a minimum final grade of 70%
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only	Yes Admission based primarily on your portfolio assessment. All offers of admission are conditional on meeting the minimum academic requirements. Alternative Offers There are no alternative offers. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	No	Available	No
Degree	—	—	—	Bachelor of Design, BDes, Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA
First-year intakewhere published	200	21	300	—
What you study	Media and Communication Studies PoliticsPublicity StudiesSocial Policy	Computer Science Design Interdisciplinary StudiesOthers in Technology	Information Systems Information Technology Media and Communication StudiesOthers in Technology	Computer Animation and Visual Effects Design Fine Art Information Systems
What it is	You study how media works, how messages spread, and how communication shapes society and politics. This program combines theory with hands-on practice, and includes a mandatory work term where you apply classroom learning in real media or communications settings. It suits people interested in journalism, public relations, social media strategy, or understanding how news and information influence the world around them.	You study design across multiple disciplines, blending computer science, visual and product design, and hands-on problem-solving. Unlike a single-discipline design program, this approach lets you explore how technology, creativity, and practical application intersect in real projects. It suits people who want to design solutions but aren't sure whether they lean toward coding, visual work, or engineering, and who learn best by doing.	This program combines the study of media, communication, and information technology — learning how messages are created, shared, and understood across digital and traditional platforms alongside practical IT skills. The co-op requirement means you alternate between classroom terms and paid work placements in media, tech, or communications companies, giving you real industry experience alongside your degree. It suits students interested in how technology shapes storytelling and public conversation, who want hands-on workplace experience before graduating.	Digital Futures is a design and fine arts program where you study visual storytelling through digital tools and media, combining animation, graphic design, coding, and art. Unlike traditional design or fine art streams, it's built around interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world projects that blend artistic creativity with digital technology and communication. It suits people who want to create visually, think critically about media, and work across both artistic and technical domains.
The door tomajors you reach through it	communications	Applied to directly	communications	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	22 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	None published by average
Source	Carleton University on OUInfo	University of Ottawa on OUInfo	Western University on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.