York Film & Media Arts - Media Arts (BFA)
York University
The published admission average for Film & Media Arts - Media Arts (BFA) at York University is 83–87% for September 2027 entry, under OUAC code YJD.
You study the theory and hands-on practice of creating visual media — film, photography, and digital work — combined with understanding how media shapes culture and communication. Unlike a straight film production program, this one balances creative making with critical analysis of media's role in society. It suits people who want to both create visual work and think deeply about what it means.
Plain-English summary. The universities publish requirements but not an explanation of the program, so this one is written for you and checked against the official listing above. Read the university’s own page before you decide.
Admission average
83–87%
OUAC code
YJD
First-year spaces
25
York University publishes this as “Mid-80s”
What’s the York Film & Media Arts - Media Arts (BFA) acceptance rate?
York University doesn't publish an acceptance rate for Film & Media Arts - Media Arts (BFA), and no Ontario university publishes one for any program. What it publishes is the admission average: 83–87% for September 2027 entry. York acceptance rate, program by program
Admission requirements
- Required
- ENG4U
York’s own wording
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- ENG4U
- 5 additional 4U/M courses
- See Ontario high school course codes.
How many other programs require these outright:
Also required
- Submit your application for admission to the OUAC by January 15, 2027, for guaranteed consideration to this program (applications received after this date will be reviewed if space is available).
- Alternative Offers
- More information about alternative offers
What it costs
First-year tuition at York is $6,240.30 for an Ontario student in arts and science in 2026–27. Schulich BBA and iBBA ($10,565.10) and Lassonde Engineering ($9,763.20) cost more. York tuition, program by program
Source: York University on Ontario Universities’ Info. Grade ranges change year to year and are not guarantees — confirm with the university before you apply.
What this leads to
The picture for cinematics & photography as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.
Graduates work as cinematographers framing shots and lighting film and TV productions, or as videographers and editors handling corporate videos, commercials, and social media content. Some specialize as colour graders, photo editors, or camera operators on set.
In its favour
- Your work is visible and used—you build a portfolio you can actually show. Strong portfolio and networking matter more than credentials, so self-taught people genuinely do break in.
- AI tools are becoming standard professional workflow. Learning them (colour correction automation, shot matching) gives you an edge, not puts you behind.
- Event, documentary, and specialized work (product photography, fashion, architecture) still need humans present on location to capture real moments and authentic details.
Worth knowing
- Entry level is tight and unstable. Most starting roles are freelance contract work with irregular income, not salaried positions.
- Stock photography and routine commercial work are being disrupted by AI image generation. Repetitive, formulaic content creation is increasingly vulnerable.
- Colour correction, shot matching, and basic editing—historically junior-level work that paid entry salaries—is now being automated. Tasks that used to teach you the craft now get done by software.
- Starting pay varies widely but is often low. Freelance gigs can pay $150–$400 per day when you're starting, and stability takes years to build.
How AI is changing this work
AI is automating technical grunt work in post-production right now. Colour grading can be reduced from hours to minutes using tools like DaVinci Resolve and Imagen; shot matching and exposure correction are nearly fully automated. This means junior roles that historically taught the discipline are disappearing. However, cinematography on set (camera operation, lighting, composition, directing the visual story) and work requiring human presence (events, documentaries, authentic moments) remain human-driven. Starting a degree in 2027 means you need to pick a specialization that requires presence or creative direction—not become a technician doing repetitive corrections. If you want to be a "camera operator" taking direction, that's safer than hoping to be a colourist.
Where this came from (6 sources)
- 1. Cinematographer Salary in Canada in 2026 | PayScale
- 2. Salary: Cinematographer (April, 2026) | Glassdoor
- 3. Discover 50 Cinematography Jobs and Work Opportunities | Indeed
- 4. Cinematographer salary in Canada
- 5. SalaryExpert - Cinematographer Film Editor Salary in Canada (2026)
- 6. Cinematographer: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Deadline reminders
Application dates move, and supplementary deadlines land before the January OUAC one. We’ll email you before the ones that apply to Film & Media Arts - Media Arts (BFA).
We send your email address and the programs you’ve starred, so the reminders are the right ones. Your marks and your average are never sent — they stay in this browser. Deadline emails only, a week before and the day before each date, and every one has a link to stop them.