Life at ECU

Where creativity and community come together.

Life at Emily Carr University is a full creative experience shaped by the people, spaces and opportunities that surround you. Learning extends beyond studios into a campus alive with ideas, collaboration and care.

This section highlights what brings the ECU experience to life: places where you learn, play, connect and create, resources to set you up in Vancouver, and services that support your academic, personal and creative growth. You’ll also find our guide for international students.

A man and a woman walking in front of the main ECU campus building on a sunny day.

Group of students sitting and laughing in a lounge decorated with posters, string lights, and vinyl records.

Campus + Community

Explore the spaces, people, and experiences that make ECU’s campus vibrant and welcoming. From galleries and gathering places to coffee spots and clubs, discover how creativity connects our community.

This section includes:

ECU’s official merch store: apparel, accessories + gifts
A tour of ECU’s campus spaces and surrounding Vancouver arts district
Food + drink options on and near campus
Student spaces, lounges + clubs for connection and rest
ECU galleries, bookstore + cultural programming
The Aboriginal Gathering Place and Indigenous community initiatives

Explore Campus + Community Life

Creating + Learning

Learn, make, and explore across shops, studios, and classrooms designed for hands-on creativity. This section highlights the people and spaces that support your growth as an artist, designer, or researcher.

This section covers:

Shops + studios for art, design + media production
The Library + Archives: research, learning + discovery
The Writing Centre: tutoring + communication support
The Teaching + Learning Centre for faculty resources
Exhibition + community spaces for critiques, shows + events

Discover Spaces for Creating + Learning

An instructor and a student talk in a ceramics studio beside a wall display of colorful glaze tiles arranged in a gradient. The instructor points to a section of blue tiles while the student listens and smiles, wearing a light blue shirt and apron.

Aerial view of False Creek and downtown Vancouver on a cloudy day, with BC Place Stadium visible in the background.

Living in Vancouver

Find your place in one of the world’s most livable cities. From housing and neighbourhood guides to renter rights and lifestyle tips, this section helps you settle in and make the most of your Vancouver experience.

This section covers:

Local culture, recreation + creative community highlights
Housing resources and rental search tools
Neighbourhood guides + tips for choosing a location
Support for families, Indigenous + LGBTQIA2S+ students
Tenant rights + renter protections in B.C.

Explore Living in Vancouver

Student Services

Get the support you need to succeed academically, personally, and professionally. This section connects you with the many student-facing services available at ECU.

This section includes:

Academic advising, learning support, graduation resources
Student forms, registration help + conflict resolution
Accessibility, counselling, wellness + financial guidance
Career, work + experiential learning opportunities
Student exchanges
Indigenous student supports

Find Student Services + Support

Two people looking at a laptop together, with one pointing at the screen and the other leaning in to see.

Person working at a desk with multiple monitors, creating a 3D digital scene featuring a small character and oversized objects.

International Students

Applying to ECU as an International Student? Find everything you need to get started — from preparing for arrival to understanding work and study requirements.

This section covers: