- Level
- 4-Year Bachelor Degree
- CIP code
- 50.0702
- Duration
- 4 year bachelor degree
- Open intakes
-
Off-shoreJan 2027, Sep 2027
- Field
- Fine and Performing Arts
- Institution
- Public University
- Offer speed
- Fast Offer Speed5–7 days
- Next deadline
- 2026-09-01
Program overview
A four year studio degree in contemporary art practice, covering drawing and painting, sculpture, printmaking, digital and time based media, critical theory and a graduating exhibition.
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art is studio led and culminates in a public exhibition, and VIU also offers a two year diploma in the same subject at identical tuition, which is worth comparing carefully.
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art is delivered by Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, a designated learning institution, and because Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art is a degree it is exempt from the Canadian field of study requirement. Completing Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art therefore supports a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years without the subject being tested against an eligibility list. A British Columbia attestation letter is required with the study permit application for Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art, and the university issues it alongside the letter of acceptance. The permit length follows the length of Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art, so a four year degree supports the full three years while a shorter programme supports correspondingly less.
Applicants to Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art need Grade 12 or Class 12 with a minimum of 50 percent. The English requirement is IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, and tuition for Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art is recorded at CAD 24,963 a year with a CAD 156 application fee, with a recorded initial deposit of CAD 10,000. No scholarship is recorded against Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art. Five windows a cycle, in September and January. Apply Study Visa manages the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art application, the deposit, the letter of acceptance and the Canadian study permit as one process.
What it costs per year · indicative
Living cost is an estimate; tuition is the institute's published international fee. We confirm exact, current figures before you pay anything.
Do you qualify?
These are the published minimums. Whether your profile fits — with your marks, gap and budget — is exactly what a free counsellor check confirms.
Admission requirements
Who can apply (guide for international students):
- Education: Grade 12 or Class 12 with the percentage stated for this programme.
- English (meet any one): IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 88 with at least 20 in each section, PTE Academic 60 with no component below 60, or the Duolingo English Test at 115 with no sub score below 105.
- Application and deposit: An application fee of CAD 156 applies. An initial deposit of CAD 10,000 is recorded, which is substantial and should be confirmed in writing before any money is sent.
- Scholarship: No scholarship is recorded against this programme. Budget the full tuition.
- Programme availability: VIU is working through a published Deficit Mitigation Plan and has cancelled or suspended a number of programmes since 2025. Confirm in writing that this programme is running for your intake before you pay a deposit.
- Work permit: Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art is a degree, so it is exempt from the Canadian field of study test and supports a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years. No spousal open work permit arises, because that needs a master programme of 16 months or longer. A British Columbia attestation letter is required with the study permit application.
- Study permit: Apply Study Visa handles the British Columbia attestation letter, the study permit application and the biometrics appointment with you.
English requirements
Documents you'll need typical · we confirm yours
- Valid passport (6+ months validity)
- Class 10 & 12 marksheets and certificates
- English test scorecard (IELTS / PTE / TOEFL) or MOI certificate
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Financial proof — bank statement / loan sanction + GIC
- Passport-size photographs
- Study-gap affidavit or work-experience letter (if applicable)
Getting documents right is the #1 reason applications succeed or get refused — our team checks every file before submission.
Career opportunities
Typical destinations for graduates:
- Practising Artist: exhibitions, commissions and residencies
- Gallery Assistant: public and commercial galleries
- Arts Administrator: cultural organisations
- Art Technician: fabrication and installation
- Community Arts Facilitator: participatory programmes
- Graduate Study: fine art master degrees
Reality check: very few visual art graduates earn a living from making art alone, so treat the transferable visual, project and communication skills as the practical outcome.
About Vancouver Island University
- Type
- University
- Ownership
- Public
- Rating
- ★ 4.6
- World rank
- #1366
- Established
- 1936
- Reference No.
- O19395299688
