Undergraduate

Tuition + Financial Support

Undergraduate

Tuition + Financial Support

UNDERGRADUATE tuition + fees

Investing in Your Education

Planning for the cost of your education is an important part of preparing for success. When your finances are in place, it’s easier to concentrate on your creative journey.

This section explains undergraduate tuition and fees, how they are determined and what to expect regarding increases over time. You will also find useful information about Vancouver living costs, other fees and Financial Aid + Awards.

Undergraduate Tuition + Fees

Tuition fees are charged at domestic or international rates in Canadian dollars. Students pay per semester rather than all at once or by year.

Fees are subject to change and are reviewed each year by Emily Carr University’s Board of Governors. Domestic students can expect tuition to increase by 2% each year, in line with other B.C. universities. International students can expect increases of up to 6% each year.

Esimated Costs (in Canadian dollars)

Tuition + Fees

Domestic Students

A bachelor’s degree at ECU requires 120 credits. If you finish in four years, here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay annually:

Tuition and mandatory fees:
Approximately $6,027.90 per year

Total for four-year degree:
Approximately $24,111.60

  • Tuition + Fees include Tuition, Learning Access Fee, Students’ Union Fee, and BC Federation of Students Fees.
  • Estimates shown are based on the tuition and fees for the 2025-2026 academic year.
  • These estimates do not include optional, mandatory or additional fees, and exact totals may vary based on individual circumstances, including the number of credits you take per term.
  • Mandatory fees include LinkedIn Learning, Adobe Creative Cloud, UPass BC for all students and ECSU Health Plan for students taking over six (6) credits. 

Esimated Costs (in Canadian dollars)

Tuition + Fees

International Students

A bachelor’s degree at ECU requires 120 credits. If you finish in four years, here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay annually:

Tuition and mandatory fees:
Approximately $28,632.30 per year

Total for four-year degree:
Approximately $114,529.20

  • These estimates do not include optional or additional fees, and exact totals may vary based on individual circumstances, including the number of credits you take per term.
  • Tuition + Fees include Tuition, Learning Access Fee, Students’ Union Fee, and BC Federation of Students Fees.
  • Newly admitted international students will be charged a one-time $208.48 mandatory international health care insurance premium. See more information about health insurance below.
  • Estimates shown are based on the tuition and fees for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Minimum and Maximum Credits Per Semester
  • A 120-credit minimum is required to graduate.
  • ECU follows a Fall Semester (Sept-Dec), Spring Semester (Jan–Apr), and two short Summer Semesters (May–June, July–Aug).
  • Students typically take 12–15 credits per Fall/Spring semester: 9–12 studio credits AND 3–6 critical studies credits

Credit Load Guidelines

  • Minimum:
    • 9 credits are required for B.C. student loan eligibility.
    • 12 credits needed to maintain a BC Arts Council scholarship.
  • Maximum:
    • Students may take up to 18 credits per semester.

Enrolling in more than 12 studio credits requires Studio Overload Access approval. For more details on financial aid, visit the Financial Aid + Awards.

Detailed Tuition and Fee Breakdown

For a comprehensive breakdown of tuition and fees based on credit load, please refer to the tables below or download the full tuition and fee schedules (linked below).

  • Tuition + Related Fees include Tuition, Learning Access Fee, Students’ Union Fee, and BC Federation of Students Fee. 
  • Other Mandatory Fees include LinkedIn Learning, Adobe Creative Cloud, UPass BC for all students and ECSU Health Plan for students taking over six (6) credits. 
  • ECSU Health Plan is paid in the Fall Term only for full-year coverage. Students can opt-out through ECSU.
Summer 2025

Domestic Tuition

CreditsTuition + Related FeesOther Mandatory FeesTotal per Term
3$503.04$184.00$687.04
6$1,006.08$184.00$1,190.08
9$1,509.12$184.00$1,693.12
12$2,012.16$184.00$2,196.16
15$2,515.20$184.00$2,699.20
18$2,999.67$184.00$3,183.67

International Tuition

CreditsTuition + Related FeesOther Mandatory FeesTotal per Term
3$2,772.54$184.00$2,956.54
6$5,545.08$184.00$5,729.08
9$8,317.62$184.00$8,501.62
12$11,090.16$184.00$11,274.16
15$13,862.70$184.00$14,046.70
18$16,616.67$184.00$16,800.67

International Tuition (2022/2023 Academic Year and Earlier)

CreditsTuition + Related FeesOther Mandatory FeesTotal per Term
3$2,063.79$184.00$2,247.79
6$4,127.58$184.00$4,311.58
9$6,191.37$184.00$6,375.37
12$8,255.16$184.00$8,439.16
15$10,318.95$184.00$10,502.95
18$12,364.17$184.00$12,548.17

22/23 Academic Year and Earlier Cohort students are defined as those students who are currently working towards a degree without taking a leave of studies and have enrolled in credit-level courses at ECU in any term up to and including Spring 2023.

The mandatory fees includes UPass for all students. For a detailed breakdown, download the full tuition and fee schedule.

Fall 2025 + Spring 2026

Domestic Tuition

CreditsTuition + Related FeesOther Mandatory FeesTotal per Term
3$513.24$312.90$826.14
6$1,026.48$597.90$1,624.38
9$1,539.72$597.90$2,137.62
12$2,052.96$597.90$2,650.86
15$2,566.20$597.90$3,164.10
18$3,060.36$597.90$3,658.26

International Tuition

CreditsTuition + Related FeesOther Mandatory FeesTotal per Term
3$2,773.68$312.90$3,086.58
6$5,547.36$597.90$6,145.26
9$8,321.04$597.90$8,918.94
12$11,094.72$597.90$11,692.62
15$13,868.40$597.90$14,466.30
18$16,623.00$597.90$17,220.90

International Tuition (2022/2023 Academic Year and Earlier)

CreditsTuition + Related FeesOther Mandatory FeesTotal per Term
3$2,064.93$312.90$2,377.83
6$4,129.86$597.90$4,727.76
9$6,194.79$597.90$6,792.69
12$8,259.72$597.90$8,857.62
15$10,324.65$597.90$10,922.55
18$12,370.50$597.90$12,968.40

22/23 Academic Year and Earlier Cohort students are defined as those students who are currently working towards a degree without taking a leave of studies and have enrolled in credit-level courses at ECU in any term up to and including Spring 2023.

For a detailed breakdown of fees, download the full tuition and fees schedule.

International Students Temporary Health Insurance

Newly admitted international students will be charged a one-time $208.48 mandatory international health care insurance premium. This provides 4 months of health care coverage until you complete your BC Medical Services Plan (BCMSP) application and are eligible to transition to the mandatory BCMSP.

Students who do not have BCMSP in place after 4 months will incur another international health care insurance premium charge the following term. Students with access to other temporary health insurance are eligible to opt out of this fee. However, you must provide proof of insurance to intadvising@ecuad.ca by August 15th (Fall 2025 intake) and December 15th (Spring 2026 intake).

For more information on medical coverage visit: International Students Health, Medical + Wellness. Questions about this fee requirement can be directed to intadvising@ecuad.ca.

Costs of Living

In addition to your tuition, you’ll need to prepare for your costs of living off-campus in Vancouver, plus other creative, studio and academic expenses.

Costs to Expect

Estimated Costs (in Canadian dollars)

Off-campus Accommodations

Shared Housing
$800 – $1,200 rent per month / Approx. $9,600 – $14,400 rent per year

Private Apartments
$1,800 – $3,000 rent per month / Approx. $21,600 – $36,000 rent per year

Find out more about living in Vancouver in our Off-Campus Housing + Living Guide

Transportation

U-pass Monthly Regional Transit Pass
$187.60 per term (included in mandatory tuition fees)

Evo Car Share
Per-minute: $0.49 / Per-hour: $17.99 / Per-day: $104.99

Mobi Bike Share
Per-minute: $0.29–0.39 / Monthly: $49 (waives unlock and minimum fees)

Books + Supplies

$3,500 per year

Food

$400 – $600 per month / $4,800 – $7,200 per year

Personal Expenses

$530 – $730 per month / $6,360 – $8,760 per year

More Tuition + Fees Information

Application Fees + Other Optional Fees

Application Fees

Applications for admission is completed and paid for on EducationPlannerBC. Application fees (subject to change):

  • Domestic Applicants – $71.40 CAD
  • International Applicants – $110 CAD

For details and help visit EducationPlannerBC.

Optional Fees

These fees are optional, at the choice of the student.

Locker Rental – see Locker Rentals for Students for more information

  • Per term – $17.00
  • Full academic year – $30.00

Other Fees

These fees vary from student to student and are in addition to the tuition and fees in the table above.

  • Additional individual course fees may be charged to cover the costs of materials consumed in/or incorporated in the making of student work associated with individual courses.
  • Graduation Fee – $85 (Applies to all graduating students in their last year)
  • OneCard replacement fee – $15
Previous Years Tuition + Fees

See the 2024/25 undergraduate tuition and fees schedule here.

See the 2023/24 undergraduate tuition and fees schedule here.

See the 2022/23 undergraduate tuition and fees schedule here.

See the 2021/22 undergraduate tuition and fees schedule here.

See the 2020/21 undergraduate tuition and fees schedule here.

Next: Financial Aid + Awards

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