How to Apply to Art and Design at Conestoga College: Design, Animation and Interior Design Degrees That Invite a Portfolio After a Grade Check, Including Figure and Hand Drawing for Animation, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

Conestoga College is based in Kitchener, Ontario (Doon campus, 299 Doon Valley Drive). Its art and design degrees are all in the School of Creative Industries: the Bachelor of Design (Honours), the Bachelor of Animation and the Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours). Here is what you need to know, based on Conestoga’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. The three degrees

• Bachelor of Design (Honours): code 1336C, 4 years, Kitchener – Doon campus, hybrid, starting September 2027. Typography, colour, drawing and illustration, branding and marketing, interactive and digital design, with co-op work terms in the upper years.
• Bachelor of Animation: code 1671C, 3 years, Kitchener – Doon, hybrid, starting September 2027. 3D character animation, creature movement, rigging, modelling and digital sculpting, storyboarding and life drawing, a paid co-op term, and an original animated short film in the final year.
• Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours): code 1068C, 4 years, Cambridge – Fountain Street campus, hybrid, starting August 2027. Accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and meets the education requirement for the CIDQ (NCIDQ) exam; two paid co-op terms.
• Graphic Design, Animation, Game Art, Game Design, Interior Decorating and similar programs are diplomas and are not covered here.

2. How and when to apply

• International students: apply through the OCAS international applicant portal (Ontariocolleges.ca International); Conestoga says not to use the domestic Ontariocolleges.ca link. The application fee is CAD 100 via Flywire, and you must return to the application and click “submit” after paying. Applications are accepted until program capacity is reached. After receiving your Letter of Acceptance, you pay a non-refundable CAD 2,500 deposit before Conestoga requests your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
• Canadian students: the program pages say to apply online or by phone at 1-888-892-2228.
• Deadlines: no application or portfolio deadline was shown on the pages read. The animation portfolio page only says to submit before the deadline, and interior design reviews portfolios in the order received, so submitting early means an earlier offer.

3. Portfolio (all three degrees)

The process is the same for all three: applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements are invited to submit a portfolio, and selection combines grades and portfolio.

• Bachelor of Design:
  • 8 to 10 images of varied work (drawing and painting, 3D, printmaking, digital work, graphic design, photography, lettering), each with an English description of up to 100 words (title, media, ideas, terminology) written by you.
  • Also 3 to 5 sketchbook or process pages, which do not count toward the total.
  • Build it as a PowerPoint or Google Slides slideshow and export each slide as a JPEG, PNG or similar image; give YouTube or website links for video or animation.
  • The admission procedures on the same page also say a maximum of 15 pieces may be presented. Both statements are on Conestoga’s site; follow the portfolio submission instructions and confirm with the program if unsure.
  • Final selection combines academic strength with the portfolio’s design survey, creative, technical and presentation scores; English background is also considered.
• Bachelor of Animation: an online portfolio of up to 21 items in three parts:
  • Observational artwork, 12 items: 4 human figure drawings (2 poses of 5 to 15 minutes and 2 gestures of 30 seconds to 2 minutes, not from photos), 4 hand studies, and 4 sketchbook drawings of people or animals from life.
  • Character, environment and storyboard, 4 items: 1 original character rotation (¾ front, ¾ back, profile, front, back), 1 four-panel storyboard and 2 environment drawings.
  • A third part of personal artwork showing a broader range.
  • All work must be your own original work. Assessment covers technique and drawing, anatomy, perspective and composition, creativity, storytelling, detail, character consistency and presentation.
• Bachelor of Interior Design:
  • After the invitation email, email the URL of your online portfolio to the program; PDFs and attachments are not accepted.
  • It has three parts: a cover sheet (name, student number, contact details, date and a signed declaration that the work is your own); 3 to 5 original pieces (freehand drawings of an interior or a group of objects, colour work, photos of 3D objects you made, at most one architectural drafting piece, and so on), each with a title, media and short description; and a 250 to 500-word English essay on your interest in and knowledge of interior design, showing you understand how it differs from interior decorating.
  • Applicants without art classes can submit at least one piece plus a longer written submission of up to 700 words.

4. Admission requirements

Ontario students:

• Bachelor of Design: OSSD or equivalent (or age 19+), six Grade 12 U or M courses averaging at least 65%, including ENG4U at 70% or higher; a U-level math course is recommended.
• Bachelor of Animation: six 4U/M courses averaging 65%, or six 4C courses averaging 75%.
• Bachelor of Interior Design: six Grade 12 courses averaging 65%, including ENG4U and Grade 12 U math or Grade 11 U/M math (at least 65%).
• All three note that higher averages are often needed because seats are limited.

BC students: Conestoga lists only “OSSD or equivalent”; how BC courses are matched is not published, so check with admissions@conestogac.on.ca.

Students from China: the international documents page lists a senior middle school diploma and transcript for China, uploaded as scans of originals. The grades required and whether the gaokao is used are not published; ask internationaladmissions@conestogac.on.ca.

English (international, degree programs): IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL 88 (no skill below 22; 5 on the new 1-6 scale from January 2026), Duolingo 120, PTE 58 or CAEL 70 (no sub-test below 60). On whether students at English-language schools in Canada are exempt, the degree pages only say that applicants with transcripts from non-English institutions must show proficiency.

Transfer and advanced standing:

• Bachelor of Design: graphic design diploma graduates may enter third year (level 5), selected on grades, with some assessed on portfolio and writing; graduates from other institutions apply to level 5 of 1336C on ontariocolleges.ca.
• Bachelor of Animation: graduates of related diplomas should contact the program coordinator; advanced standing is assessed individually under college and PEQAB policies.
• Bachelor of Interior Design: graduates of interior design advanced diplomas may apply with advanced standing.

5. Costs and scholarships

• Fees (2026-2027, two terms, including ancillary fees):
  • Bachelor of Design: CAD 21,596.73 international (tuition CAD 16,933.20), CAD 10,163.53 Canadian.
  • Bachelor of Animation: CAD 20,873.92 international, CAD 9,712.04 Canadian.
  • Bachelor of Interior Design: CAD 20,938.92 international, CAD 8,964.10 Canadian.
  • Fees for September 2027 onward will be published in spring 2027; a computer meeting program specifications is extra.
• Scholarships: the Degree Entrance Scholarship goes to students entering the first term of eligible degree programs with an average of at least 70%; the amount and whether international students qualify are not stated on the program pages. The international awards page only says Conestoga gives over 400 awards a year; see the awards pages or email awards@conestogac.on.ca.

6. Checklist

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC):

• Prepare six Grade 12 courses for your program; Design needs 70% in ENG4U and Interior Design needs math
• BC students: confirm course equivalencies with admissions first; submit your portfolio soon after you are invited

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply through the OCAS international portal (CAD 100); programs close when full, so apply early
• Prepare your diploma and transcript and IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each) or equivalent; for animation, practise figure and hand drawing from life

Transfer students:

• Graphic design diploma graduates can apply to third year of the Bachelor of Design; animation and interior design diploma graduates should contact the program coordinator

Sources: Conestoga College, School of Creative Industries programs; Bachelor of Design (Honours); Bachelor of Design admissions and portfolio; Bachelor of Animation; Bachelor of Animation admissions and portfolio; Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours); Bachelor of Interior Design admissions and portfolio; International admission and English requirements; International academic documents; International application information; International awards and scholarships. Admission and portfolio details are for 2027 entry; fees are for 2026-2027, and Conestoga says fees for September 2027 onward will be published in spring 2027. Check Conestoga College's website for the latest.