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	Western Media & Communications Studies OUAC EI Remove	OCAD Visual and Critical Studies (Art History) OUAC HVC Remove	Waterloo Honours Arts and Business (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WAB Remove	Western Arts and Humanities OUAC EA Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low to mid 80s”	Not published“N/A”	77–80%“High 70s”	80–83%“Low 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—	—
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%	Any Grade 12 U English (min. 70%)	English, ENG4U
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	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	Available	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	300	—	298	—
What you study	Information Systems Information Technology Media and Communication StudiesOthers in Technology	Creative Writing Design English Studies Fine Art	Anthropology Archaeology Business Studies Classical Greek Studies	Ancient Middle Eastern LanguagesCinematics & Photography Classical Greek Studies Classical Studies
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.	This program combines arts courses — drawn from fields like English, history, economics, and creative writing — with business studies to prepare you for careers that value both analytical and communication skills. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work placements at real companies, giving you experience before you graduate. It suits students who want a broader education than straight business but need practical skills for the job market.	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	communications	Applied to directly	marketing	english languages philosophy
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them	None published by average	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	Western University on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	Western 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.