College Certificate - Art Foundation

The Art Foundation certificate is an eight-month intensive building the core visual skills and portfolio needed for entry into competitive art, design and animation programs.

Content covers observational and life drawing, two-dimensional design and composition, colour theory, three-dimensional and sculptural form, painting fundamentals, digital media introduction, art history and visual literacy, critique and critical thinking, and portfolio development with guidance on presenting work for admission.

Its purpose is explicit: this is a bridging year for students whose portfolios are not yet competitive for degree or advanced diploma admission in art, design, animation or illustration. It is not a terminal credential and will not itself lead to employment — plan the follow-on program before enrolling, and note that eight months is the minimum length for PGWP consideration.

Humber Polytechnic — formerly Humber College — is Ontario’s largest public college and a Designated Learning Institution (DLI O19376943122). The Lakeshore campus sits on the shore of Lake Ontario in south Etobicoke, next to Colonel Samuel Smith Park, and is home to Humber’s business degrees, media and creative arts, and social and community services programs. Heritage buildings, a residence opened in 2024 and a free shuttle to the North campus make it the most distinctive of Humber’s sites.

Its field maps to CIP 50.0702 (Fine and studio arts). Important: this is a college credential rather than a degree, so it is not exempt from the November 2024 PGWP field-of-study restriction — eligibility depends on this CIP field appearing on IRCC’s eligible list when you apply. Humber publishes a PGWP-eligible program list with CIP codes; check it, and confirm with an Apply Study Visa counsellor before committing. IRCC makes the final decision.