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.

	York Design (BDes) OUAC YD Remove	Waterloo Architectural Engineering (Co-op only) OUAC WEA Remove	OCAD Environmental Design OUAC HED Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	83–87%“Mid-80s”	83–90%“Mid- to High 80s”	Not published“N/A”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U SCH4U SPH4U	ENG4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	—	—
Prerequisitesas published	Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) ENG4U 5 additional 4U/M courses	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Chemistry (min. 70%) Physics (min. 70%)	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	Yes Submit your application for admission to the OUAC by January 15, 2026, for guaranteed consideration to this program.Applications received after this date will be reviewed if space is available. In addition to applying for admission to York via the OUAC, applicants must complete an audition, interview and/or portfolio review. Find out more at ampd.yorku.ca/apply. Usually closes before January 15	Yes NEW: All Engineering program applications require an online video interview. You will receive more information after you apply. An Admission Information Form is also required. We will send you instructions when we acknowledge your application. Also considered: Involvement in extracurricular activities in school or community, evidence of interest in engineering and strong performance in mathematics, science or engineering-related competitions. Usually closes before January 15	Yes Admission is 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	No	Available	No
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	50	90	—
What you study	Design	ArchitectureBuildingCivil Engineering Design	Architecture DesignFacilities ManagementLandscape & Garden Design
What it is	A Bachelor of Design teaches you to create visual and physical solutions to real problems, combining art, technology, and user needs. You'll learn design thinking, digital tools, and how to present ideas clearly rather than focusing narrowly on fine art or engineering alone. This program suits people who want to solve practical problems through creativity and aren't sure whether they're more interested in making things or making them look good.	You study how buildings are designed and constructed, combining architecture with engineering principles like structural systems, materials, and building codes. This program requires you to do co-op work terms alongside your studies, so you alternate between school and paid job placements in design firms or construction companies. It suits students who want hands-on experience in the building industry and prefer learning by doing real projects, not just in classrooms.	Environmental Design at OCAD combines architecture, landscape design, and urban planning to teach you how to shape buildings and outdoor spaces that work well for people and the environment. Unlike a traditional architecture program, it emphasizes the relationship between design and sustainability across multiple scales, from gardens to whole neighbourhoods. It suits students who want to design physical spaces but prefer a broader, more environmentally conscious approach than architecture alone.
The door tomajors you reach through it	Applied to directly	Applied to directly	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	29 published, 4 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	None published by average
Source	York University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	OCAD University on OUInfo

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Same subject area and a similar published range, at a campus you have not got in the table yet.

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.