Creative Excellence
Canada’s #1 Art + Design University
At Emily Carr University, creativity is the air we breathe. For 100 years, we have been home to artists, designers and makers who believe bold ideas can shape a better world.
Education here is hands-on, curiosity-fueled and alive with possibility.
Hands-On Learning
Learning at ECU happens by making. Step into 19+ shops, labs and studios, from ceramics to textiles, motion capture to 3D printing, and test your ideas with tools, materials and feedback. Our expert technicians are here to guide you, whether you’re troubleshooting a prototype or scaling up a project.
- Real-world briefs + industry partners
- 19+ shops, labs + studios
- 40 expert technicians
- 24/7 graduate studio access
Faculty + Mentorship
At ECU, you won’t get lost in the crowd. With a 1:19 faculty-to-student ratio, your instructors will know your work and your name. Our faculty are practicing artists, designers and researchers who bring their energy from galleries, studios and industry collaborations straight into your classroom.
- Learn with practicing artists + designers
- Small classes (1:19 ratio)
- Feedback that pushes your work forward
- Connections that open doors
Recognition + Outcomes
- #1 in Canada for Art + Design, #29 globally (QS 2024)
- #7 worldwide for Animation (Animation Career Review 2025)
- Alumni featured at Venice Biennale, TIFF, SXSW
- Hired by Pixar, Microsoft, IKEA, Ubisoft, EA, CBC — or founding their own studios
- A network of 100,000+ creative alumni worldwide
Research + Innovation
Research here is practice-based and public-facing. Students join research centres and labs to explore urgent questions, such as Indigenous knowledge, climate action, social justice, emergent technologies and more. Work as a research assistant, co-lead funded projects and publish or exhibit your results.
ECU Research Centres + Labs include the Health Design Lab, Material Matters, the Basically Good Media Lab and the Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship. Together, they fuel a culture of discovery supported by more than $3.1M in annual research funding.
Vancouver Advantage
Vancouver is consistently ranked among the world’s most livable cities — and it’s also a creative powerhouse. Film, design, gaming and green tech industries thrive here, offering students inspiration and opportunity beyond the classroom.
Our LEED Gold campus sits in the city’s innovation corridor, just minutes from galleries, studios, and the waterfront. In 2026, the new Great Northern Way–Emily Carr SkyTrain station will open right at our door, making access even easier. Mountains, ocean and creative culture are all part of your daily backdrop.
Stay Connected
Follow us or subscribe to our newsletters for announcements, invitations and to be part of the greater ECU community.
