4 programs, side by side

Full	Waterloo Architecture (Co-op Only) OUAC WR ☆ Add to planRemove	Laurentian Architectural Studies OUAC LDA ☆ Add to planRemove	OCAD Digital Futures OUAC HDF ☆ Add to planRemove	U of T (Scarborough) Visual & Performing Arts, Arts Management and Media OUAC TUC ☆ Add to planRemove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	83–87%“Mid-80s”	75%	Not published“N/A”	73–77%“Mid-70s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4USPH4U	ENG4U	ENG4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	one of MCV4U, MHF4U	one of MCV4U, MDM4U, MHF4U	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	English (ENG4U – min. 78%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) or Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Physics (min. 70%)	1 grade 12 English U/M course (ENG 4U) 2 grade 12 4U/M Math courses 3 other grade 12 U/M courses Statement of Interest and Portfolio A minimum overall average of 75% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses +1 more on the program page	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
More than marks?supplementary application	Yes Qualified applicants will be invited to submit a portfolio. Usually closes before January 15	Yes In addition to meeting the academic requirements below, applicants must submit: A portfolio to demonstrate their creativity and skills A statement of interest (500-1000 words) to explain their interest in architecture as well as their choice of Laurentian University/McEwen School of Architecture Usually closes before January 15	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	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	No	No
Degree	—	—	Bachelor of Design, BDes, Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA	—
First-year intakewhere published	75	—	—	340
What you study	ArchitectureBuildingDesign	Architecture	Computer Animation and Visual EffectsDesignFine ArtInformation Systems	Cinematics & PhotographyComputer Animation and Visual EffectsDanceDesign
What it is	You study how to design and plan buildings and structures, learning both the creative design side and the technical skills needed to make buildings work safely and function well. This program requires you to do paid work terms at architecture firms throughout your degree, alternating with school semesters, so you graduate with real professional experience. It suits people who want hands-on learning alongside theory and are ready to balance intensive coursework with workplace responsibility.	Architectural Studies teaches you how to design buildings and spaces, from sketching initial ideas to understanding how they're built and function. This program includes paid work terms where you apply what you're learning at real architecture firms alongside your classroom studies. It suits students who combine creative design thinking with interest in how buildings work technically and who want practical experience before or alongside their formal studies.	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.	You study the creative and business sides of art, film, design, and performance. This program combines hands-on work in fields like photography, animation, drama, and dance with classes in marketing and media studies, so you're not just making art — you're learning how to manage projects and reach audiences. It suits people who want careers in creative industries but also need to understand budgets, promotion, and how to run cultural organizations.
The door tomajors you reach through it	architecture	architecture	Applied to directly	communications
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	6 published, 5 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	None published by average	4 published, 4 with no applicationfrom 85%See them
Source	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	Laurentian University on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo	University of Toronto — Scarborough on OUInfo

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.