Ten reasons why Design at York is viewed as the benchmark for design education in Canada
1. York University Bachelor of Design Program
It is a four-year University undergraduate degree delivered by one of Canada’s leading research institutions and recognized throughout North America for maintaining the highest academic and professional standards. Our alumni demonstrate the excellence of our program through their ability to secure positions with leading design firms, technology startups, and cultural institutions.
2. Orientation to the Discipline
The core focus of this program provides a professional orientation that prepares our graduates to enter the practice of design in areas of interaction, information, and visual communication. With additional courses in design theory and history, DESN* students are well prepared for graduate study in design or other disciplines.
3. Advanced Studios and Technical Support
Design at York offers high quality, technology-enriched facilities. Our studios are state-of-the-art for design education and are supported by 2 technicians with 24-7 access. We have a dedicated Fabrication Lab and Photo Studio with industry-standard tools and equipment for design production across diverse media. Design at York offers the most technology-enriched design education facilities in Canada.
4. Comprehensive Design Education
This program is presented in the context of rich multi-disciplined experiences with specialized courses in UX/UI, information design and data journalism, motion graphics and broadcast design, all grounded in visual communication. With a variety of electives, university-wide the academic experience for our students is extensive. Situated within a robust research university, DESN offers students exposure to many learning and collaborative opportunities at York, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of design.
5. Financial Aid
All Ontario students with an OSSD average of 80% or higher receive an Entrance Scholarship of between $1000 and $4,000. In addition, every student has access to applicable York University bursaries, scholarships, and awards.
6. Class Size
Class size in all DESN studio courses is much lower than at other institutions, promoting a personalized learning experience. Student satisfaction is reflected in our retention rate — year after year, our program has the highest retention rate on campus, with over 90% of entering students completing their degree.
7. Faculty
All full-time faculty contribute their considerable expertise to our rigorous academic design curriculum. Many of our faculty members maintain international reputations through professional practice, active research initiatives and participation in academic and professional conferences and publications.
8. Fellow Students
You will be studying with the most talented and brightest students from Canada and around the world. Our students have been very successful in annual national and international competitions held by industry and professional organizations. The Design Students Association (DSA) actively supports students and provides an important social network.
9. Professional Introduction
All of our students participate in a professional design placement between their third and fourth years. They exhibit their work in the annual graduation show attended by a large number of design professionals from the GTA, including successful alumni who seek and hire our talented graduates.
10. Strong Industry Network
Design graduates have taken positions with a wide range of national and international firms including Facebook, Google, Shopify, IDEO, Bruce Mau Design, LinkedIn and IBM. Industry leaders frequently seek out York design students for internships and full-time employment within their companies, often before graduation.
