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 Public Affairs and Policy Management OUAC CPX Remove	Laurier (Waterloo) Arts Degree (BA) + Master's Degree (MA or MAP or MIPP) OUAC UZB Remove	OCAD Visual and Critical Studies (Art History) OUAC HVC Remove	Western Arts and Humanities OUAC EA Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–82%	77–80%“High 70s”	Not published“N/A”	80–83%“Low 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	No course codes parsed — see prerequisites	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	Optional concentrations: Development and Human Rights; International Policy; Public Policy and Administration Combined honours with Communication and Media Studies available 6 best 4U/M courses Alternative Offers Find more information about alternative offers +1 more on the program page	English at 60%	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%	English, ENG4U
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Yes In addition to meeting the academic requirements, you are required to submit the following to be considered for admission: A 1-page Statement of Intent (300 words maximum) on why you would like to study art history in a studio setting. An original essay of 500 words on an annually assigned topic. Usually closes before January 15	Yes Unless otherwise noted, required courses must be completed with a minimum average of 70%. Prospective students applying to Fine Arts will need to submit a portfolio. For the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities (SASAH), students must indicate interest on the OUAC application and complete a Statement of Interest by February 28, 2026. Usually closes before January 15
Co-op	Available	No	No	Available
Degree	—	—	—	Bachelor of Arts, BA, Bachelor of Business Administration/Bachelor of Arts, BBA/BA, Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA, Certificate, Cert, Diploma, Dipl.
First-year intakewhere published	—	—	—	—
What you study	International Development Media and Communication Studies Others in Business & Administrative Studies Politics	English Studies History Modern Languages Politics	Creative Writing Design English Studies Fine Art	Ancient Middle Eastern LanguagesCinematics & Photography Classical Greek Studies Classical Studies
What it is	You study how governments, organizations, and institutions make decisions and solve public problems, combining politics, policy analysis, and communication. The program lets you focus on areas like international development, social policy, or media's role in public discourse, and you can pair it with a communication degree if you want. It suits people interested in working in government, non-profits, advocacy groups, or international organizations where understanding policy and public issues matters more than technical expertise.	# Arts Degree (BA) + Master's Degree (MA or MAP or MIPP) You complete a four-year bachelor's degree in one of these humanities or social fields — English, History, languages, Politics, Social Policy, or Religious Studies — then continue directly into a related master's program without applying separately. This combined route saves time and lets you specialize deeper than a BA alone. It suits students who know they want advanced training in humanities or policy work and prefer a streamlined path from undergrad through graduate study.	You study the history of visual art and design, learning to analyze images, objects, and cultural movements across time periods and societies. This differs from a studio art program because you focus on understanding and interpreting art rather than creating it yourself. It suits people who want to think critically about visual culture and understand how art reflects and shapes society.	Arts and Humanities programs at Western let you study literature, history, languages, creative work, and visual art — subjects focused on human culture and expression rather than science or business. You can pursue a general BA, combine business with arts, earn a specialized BFA in fine art, or complete a shorter certificate or diploma. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work placements related to your field. This suits people drawn to writing, analysis, visual creativity, or understanding how societies and cultures work.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	english languages philosophy
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	16 published, 9 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	11 published, 1 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	None published by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	Carleton University on OUInfo	Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo	Western University on OUInfo

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