Graphic Design

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Domestic students should apply online or by phone at 1-888-892-2228.

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Admissions - September 2025

Admission requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or 19 years of age or older with mature student status (See Mature Student definition for details.)
  • Grade 12 compulsory English, C (70%) or U (60%), or equivalent, OR Conestoga College Preparatory Communications (COMM1251), or equivalent
  • All applicants who meet the academic strength requirements (70%) must attend a program information session and present a portfolio of their creative work.
  • For more information on preparatory programs, visit Academic Upgrading

Canadian admissions contact

International admissions contact

Admission procedures

  • An academic strength is calculated by averaging the submitted marks of required subjects. If more than one mark is received for a required subject, the highest mark will be used in the calculation.
  • Ten (10) additional marks are added to each Advanced level, OAC, U, U/C, and post-secondary course used in the calculation of academic strength.
  • Applicants meeting minimum academic requirements are invited to begin the selection process which requires them to attend a program information meeting where they will present a portfolio of their design-related work.
    • The portfolio presentation provides the applicant with an opportunity to show and explain their work. Through the presentation, the program faculty assess the applicant's communication skills and aptitude for the program.
    • Portfolio
    • A portfolio consists of samples of the applicant's work. Portfolios should include a maximum of 15 diverse pieces of your creative work plus one sketchbook. Pieces may include art and design-related work such as: symbols, lettering, paintings, sculptures, drawings, finished illustrations, graphic design and web design, and/or other applied graphics.
  • Final selection is made using a formula that combines academic strength with the portfolio creative, technical, survey and presentation scores.
  • A sound English background is important for success in this program and is considered during the admission selection process. Minimum cutoffs apply.

Portfolio requirements

The portfolio submission is a mandatory component of the admission process for the Graphic Design program.

When do I submit my portfolio?

Selected applicants will receive an invitation to attend a program information session which involves portfolio review. Through the presentation, the program faculty assess the applicant's attitudes, communication skills and aptitude for the program.

What should my portfolio include?

  • Portfolios should include a maximum of 15 diverse pieces of your best creative work, plus 1 sketchbook. Some examples include:
    • advertisements
    • animations
    • computer artwork (digital photo manipulations)
    • drawings (charcoal, pastel, pencil, pencil crayon, etc.)
    • illustrations
    • layouts that combine text and images (posters, magazine covers/interior pages, year book layouts, etc.)
    • lettering and typeface samples
    • logos and identities
    • paintings (oil, acrylic, watercolour)
    • photography
    • prints (block, etching, screen, lithography)
    • sculptures
    • technical drawings (perspectives, diagrams, floor plans, elevations, etc.)
    • websites
  • When possible, faculty prefer to review original pieces and not reproductions or photographs of work.
  • Sketchbooks typically contain your concept or process work, research, inspiration, loose sketches, etc.

Program requirements

  • A design kit is included as part of your tuition and fees. The kit will be distributed during the first week of classes and is essential for completing the course requirements.

Credit transfer

You might be eligible to enter a program at an advanced level, or be exempt from a course, if you have formal post-secondary education. Learn more about credit transfer opportunities.

Pathways

Some Conestoga programs have pathways for current students, including certificate-to-diploma, diploma-to-diploma and diploma-to-degree opportunities. Learn more about pathways at Conestoga.

Articulation agreements

Conestoga partners with other post-secondary institutions, allowing students the opportunity to study elsewhere, usually in pursuit or an academic credential. Learn more about articulation agreements.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Through PLAR, Conestoga may credit prior learning or skills acquired through employment, formal and informal education, or life experiences. Learn more about PLAR at Conestoga.

Disclaimer

The College reserves the right to alter information including requirements and fees and to cancel at any time a program, course, or program major or option; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies in the job market or for budgetary reasons; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations, over-acceptance of offers of admission, budgetary constraints, or for other such reasons. In the event the College exercises such a right, the College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to the College. Students actively registered in cohort delivered programs who take longer than the designed program length of time to complete their studies are accountable for completing any new or additional courses that may result due to changes in the program of study. Unless otherwise stated, students registered in non-cohort delivered programs must complete the program of study within seven years of being admitted to the program.