Design Thinking

Founded in 1925, Emily Carr University is a world leader in art, media and design.

Merging studio practice, research and critical theory in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment, ECU encourages experimentation at the intersections of art, design, media and technology. We’re ranked as the top university in Canada for art and design, and 24th in the world.

We have more than 1,800 students enrolled in graduate and undergraduate programs, with thousands more taking workshops, certificate programs and individual courses. Our faculty, staff and alumni are internationally recognized as award-winning creators and thought leaders whose work consistently advances the resilience and potential of both cultural sectors and the economy.

Students are at the centre of a dynamic, creative environment:

• Four faculties and two areas that deliver our academic programs:
  • Eleven undergraduate programs
  • Two graduate degrees
  • A jointly-offered Master of Digital Media
  • Year-round certificates, programs and classes for lifelong creative study delivered from various locations
  • Canada's most intensive research focus in the creative field
  • An interdisciplinary faculty + staff who contribute to advance the interests of community, culture, and the economy sustainably, through their professional and personal practices in art, design and media education, research, and administration
  • A dedicated centre for Aboriginal cultural development
  • Public galleries, a bookstore, and an extensive art, design, and media library

People

The university serves over 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students (including domestic and international), and about 1,900 active non-credit students.

International students come from more than 50 countries, and throughout the year we have 35 exchange students and researchers from around the world on campus.

Emily Carr’s alumni and faculty are among the most influential and important artists and designers working in their respective fields.

With over 400 dedicated employees, Emily Carr provides a close-knit community, enabling students to have the advantage of a personal level of service in a creative environment.

Milestones

The University continues to add to its list of key dates:

Formerly known as the Vancouver School of Applied and Decorative Arts, our institution was officially established on October 1, 1925.

In 1978, it was designated a provincial institute before moving to Granville Island in 1980.

A second building on Granville Island opened in 1994, and the following year, Emily Carr was granted authority to offer bachelor degrees and honorary degrees.

In 2001, Finning International donated a parcel of land to four institutions - Emily Carr, SFU, UBC and BCIT - in what is now known as the Great Northern Way Campus.

In 2006, Emily Carr launched a Master of Applied Arts degree, and opened Intersections Digital Studios, the home of Research within the University, significantly expanding the university's research capabilities.

In 2008, the school was granted university status and in 2013, the Master of Design Degree was launched.

The University officially broke ground in 2015 for a new state-of-the-art campus at Great Northern Way, which opened in September 2017.