Start Your
Design Journey
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.
Ready to design your future?
Apply for admission to our programs:
Ready to get started?
Graduate in as little as 12 months and start earning sooner. Apply today to begin your professional design journey.
2025 Design Program
PDF Admission Applications
To apply, please download and fill out the PDF application form. Once completed, email the form and any supporting documents to registrar@pdaeducation.com.
Diploma Program Admission Requirements
01
Educational Background
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
English Proficiency
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
Letter
of Intent
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.
what our alumni say
Admission FAQ
All applicants must complete a registration form and submit the following materials:
A letter of intent
Proof of education (e.g., transcript, diploma) or a copy of your Birth Certificate or Driver’s License
A non-refundable registration fee of $200.00 (or $500.00 for international students)
Proof of English proficiency
Education Background 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. English Proficiency Applicants must meet at least one of the following English language proficiency requirements:
Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program.
Letter of Intent 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. |
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, Pacific Design Academy is EQA-designated (Education Quality Assurance) by the Government of British Columbia. As a designated institution, our students are eligible to apply for student loans through StudentAid BC and may qualify for other provincial or federal financial assistance programs.
Pacific Design Academy is a designated institution, making students in diploma programs eligible to apply for financial assistance through StudentAid BC.
For programs over one year in length, students may also qualify for the BC Access Grant, which provides non-repayable funding to help with tuition and living costs.
In addition to government support, students are encouraged to explore non-profit and community-based funding sources that may offer scholarships or sponsorships.
All successful applicants will be notified by email and mail within one month of approval.
Please note:
Applications will not be processed unless all required materials are submitted.
If you haven’t received an update within a month, we encourage you to contact us directly to check the status of your application.
📧 Email: registrar@pdaeducation.com
📞 Phone: 250-383-3631
- Full-time diploma programs begin in the Fall (September) each year.
Workshops and Professional Certificate programs have rolling start dates throughout the year.
Summer Programs have varied start and end dates, depending on the course.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please visit the Programs Page or contact us directly.
Each practical course class is limited to 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.
Please see the full details of our refund policy HERE
