Emily Carr University of Art and Design is a prestigious institution located in Vancouver, Canada, dedicated to nurturing creativity and innovation in the fields of art, design, and media arts. As one of Canada's top art schools, Emily Carr offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, providing students with a transformative learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and critical thinking. With a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and hands-on studio work, the university prepares students to become highly skilled artists, designers, and media practitioners, empowering them to make meaningful contributions to the art and design industry. Emily Carr's vibrant community, world-class faculty, and cutting-edge facilities create an inspiring environment for students to explore their artistic vision, push boundaries, and forge successful careers in the creative industries.

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Expand your practice and perspective. For critical thinkers and artists who want to take their creative practice to the next level, an MFA at Emily Carr will allow you to experiment, research, and explore in a unique studio environment. Our curriculum is designed to encourage a rigorous and innovative approach to contemporary art production — with the flexibility to support your established practice and research initiatives. Our programs bridge disciplines and methodologies in a practice and research-based studio setting. Flexible and intersectional, an MFA at ECU provides a concentrated, challenging, and supportive experience that will further your artistic practice and encourage important critical inquiry. Show less

There two distinct paths available to you at Emily Carr: Full-residency and Low-residency

Full-residency
A two-year degree that includes coursework, creative research, and material exploration in an on-campus delivery model. As a student, you will participate in innovative and generative coursework during the Fall and Spring terms, and develop your independent thesis over the Summer term.

Why choose this option?

The full-residency MFA is perfect for artists seeking an on-campus, concentrated academic experience where they can enjoy year-round access to our expansive labs, studios, facilities, and research centres.

The Fall and Spring terms provide periods of intense studio-practice development, allowing you to focus on material exploration and engage deeply with theoretical frameworks. Through a predominantly critique-based environment, you will be encouraged to take risks, challenge yourself, and grow your established material processes and critical perspectives.

Throughout the degree, you will develop your thesis project with guidance from a faculty mentor. This is an integral creative endeavour comprising both a practical and written component.

Research seminars, studio classes, public exhibitions, and studio visits from renowned artists and curators will inform and supplement your practice, and deepen your professional development.

Low-residency
The low-residency MFA takes two years to complete, with a hybrid delivery model of online coursework and on-campus summer residencies. As a student, you will attend and contribute to innovative and interactive online coursework during the fall and spring terms, and intensive on-campus residencies in the summer terms.

Why choose this option?

The low-residency MFA was created for artists who want to continue to learn in their home communities while deepening their practice and building new professional connections.

You'll leverage remote learning technologies in a flexible delivery model that includes a concentrated summer schedule. You'll work both online and independently, delving into research and practice for your chosen area of fine arts or media arts.

Designed to provide the best of both worlds, the low-residency degree includes on-campus summer residencies where you can focus on your studio practice, allowing you to deepen your creative research and material exploration in Vancouver.

There are many opportunities for low-residency students to connect with their full-residency peers and the wider ECU community by participating in year-round professional development activities and other programming.

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You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

How to book:

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it

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