Founded in 1876, OCAD University (formally Ontario College of Art and Design) Canada’s oldest and largest art, design and media institution located in downtown Toronto, Canada. OCAD U is dedicated to art and design education, practice and research, as well as knowledge and innovation across a wide range of disciplines. We continuously build on our traditional, studio-based strengths, adding new approaches to learning that support cross-disciplinary practice, collaboration and the integration of emerging technologies. In the age of imagination, members of the OCAD U community are uniquely qualified to act as catalysts for advances in culture, technology and quality of life for all Canadians.

Students at OCAD University engage in hands on art and design studio-based learning that explore technical, critical, and conceptual knowledge, materials and frameworks. Our programs and research bridge fields of digital media and design, sustainability, health and wellness, cultural diversity and Indigenous cultures.

OCAD U is located in the heart of downtown Toronto which is home to more than 40,000 working designers as well as the third largest concentration of visual artists and entertainment professionals in North America. We are situated on the ancestral and traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabe and the Huron-Wendat — the original owners and custodians of the land on which we stand.

OCAD U's Experiential Learning Program offers a continuous approach to bridging formal studies with opportunities for professional, personal and civic growth. It is more specialized than traditional co-ops, responding to the individuality of students’ needs and goals. Experiential Learning at OCAD U is informed by considered responses, guided self-reflection and critical action. Students learn to take an empathetic and informed approach to building their professional community, gaining valuable experience and skills necessary for a meaningful creative career through field placements, internships, professional practice courses, and more.