3 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.

	Western Media & Communications Studies OUAC EI Remove	OCAD Visual and Critical Studies (Art History) OUAC HVC Remove	Ottawa Multidisciplinary Design Engineering (4 years) OUAC OJG Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	Not published“N/A”	80%
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U	No course codes parsed — see prerequisites
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	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%	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.
More than marks?supplementary application	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	Marks only
Co-op	Available	No	No
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	300	—	—
What you study	Information Systems Information Technology Media and Communication StudiesOthers in Technology	Creative Writing Design English Studies Fine Art	Computer Science Design Interdisciplinary StudiesOthers in Technology
What it is	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.	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.	You study engineering design by combining computer science, hands-on design work, and problem-solving across multiple engineering fields rather than specializing in one discipline like civil or mechanical engineering alone. This program emphasizes learning how different engineering areas connect and learning to design solutions that draw on several specialties at once. It suits students who want to engineer real products or systems but haven't decided on a single engineering focus, or who like working across different technical areas.
The door tomajors you reach through it	communications	Applied to directly	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	None published by average	22 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 75%See them
Source	Western University on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo	University of Ottawa on OUInfo

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