Ready to design your future?
Apply for admission to our programs:
We welcome applicants with creativity, drive, and a desire to learn. Whether you're starting fresh or shifting careers, our programs offer hands-on training and a supportive community.
Apply for admission to our programs:
Graduate in as little as 12 months and start earning sooner. Apply today to begin your professional design journey.
To apply, please download and fill out the PDF application form. Once completed, email the form and any supporting documents to registrar@pdaeducation.com.
01
Provide proof of high school completion or its equivalent (e.g., GED). This must include official transcripts, or diploma, or post-secondary degree. Non-English original documents must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
02
Applicants must meet at least one of the following English language proficiency requirements:
—Completion of grades 9-11, including English 11 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher from a country where English is one of the principal languages, or
—Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction, or
—Submission of verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below.
03
Submit a letter detailing your background, interests, and future goals. The letter should explain why you wish to pursue the program and how it aligns with your career objectives.
All applicants are required to fill out a registration form. Each registration form must be accompanied by a letter of intent along with proof of education or a copy of your Birth Certificate or Drivers License and a $200.00 ($500 for international students) non-refundable registration fee. These application requirements cannot be waived.
The minimum requirement for acceptance is Grade 12 Diploma or equivalent. Students under the age of 19 require their parent or guardian’s signature. Basic computer literacy is a definite asset, but not mandatory for any program.
The letter of intent is a 1 or 2 page letter in which you articulate why you are applying to the program, why you feel you will be successful and to clarify your future goals (to ensure the program meets your needs).
Yes, The Pacific Design Academy is a Designated college with the Private Training Institutions Branch of the BC Ministry of Advanced Education.
This allows our students to access any funding options available to them.
Students enrolled in diploma programs at the academy are eligible for financial assistance from a number of sources. The Canada Student Loan program offers assistance for eligible students, WorkSafe BC (formerly W.C.B.), Social Services and Human Resources Canada also offer sponsorship programs. Contact the school or the agency involved for further information. Any sources of funding available to public colleges are eligible for to be used at the Pacific Design Academy.
All successful applicants will be notified by mail and email within a month of being approved. Applications will not be processed unless all required materials are submitted. Please call us to inquire about the progress of your application.
Full time programs start in the Fall (September). Evening Workshops and Professional Certificates have rolling start dates through the year. Summer Programs have different program start and end dates. Consult the Programs Page for more information.
All full-time programs at the Pacific Design Academy consist of three 12-week terms for a total of 36 weeks or 720 hours of instruction each year. There are breaks between each term, totalling between 2-3 weeks each year.
Each class has no more than 18 students. Our facility and courses are structured around this class size, this allows us to offer plenty of individual attention.
All full-time programs at the Pacific Design Academy offer 20 hours of in class instruction each week. You can expect an additional 20 hours of homework each week (on average). That’s a total of 40 hours of work each week – which will vary week to week. Expect the last two weeks of each term to be a very busy time. Most students find the work load increases throughout the school year. We train our students to be able to work in the related industries, these programs are not ‘art therapy’.
Some of our students work their way through school by taking evening or weekend jobs. Some students struggle to maintain a balance between their work, school and social lives. Many students find their grades, performance and enjoyment of the course increase if they are able to reduce or eliminate their working hours outside of the school.
The school itself does not offer job placement. However, employers seeking entry-level employees often contact us. As such, we ask all students to provide us with a current contact e-mail so that we can pass these postings along. We also have an in-house jobs board and forward contract opportunities to our students. Students should also regularly review the Pacific Design Academy Facebook page for job postings. The Pacific Design Academy measures our success on the employment rate of our graduates and we enjoy high employment rates in our programs.
No, the Pacific Design Academy does not offer accommodation to our students. We offer homestay options through our partnership with the ‘Canada Homestay Network’. CHN arranges a personalized and objective match between the student and their Canadian host based on their mutual backgrounds, interests, lifestyles, and educational goals. Once a student is happily placed, they monitor their progress in their program so they can fix problems when they arise, promptly and efficiently. They will meet with students on their first day at school and are available in person every week thereafter.
All full-time programs at the Pacific Design Academy are 20 hours each week, over 36 weeks for a total of 720 hours each year. The Fall session runs from late September till the end of June with a summer break between each year of study. The Winter session begins in January and ends in September with no summer break; this option allows students to graduate from the full two-year diploma program in just 18 months.
Please see the full details of our refund policy HERE
