Film TV and video Schools and Programs in Canada

Film TV and video Studies in Canada

Film, television and video are studied in Canada along two lines. Production degrees, usually a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), train students to make films: directing, camera, editing and sound. Film and media studies degrees, usually a Bachelor of Arts (BA), concentrate on history, theory and criticism, often with some production work. Many departments combine both, and the balance between them is the first thing to check when comparing programmes.

SpainExchange lists three schools in Canada for film, TV and video, all in the province of Ontario: one in Toronto, one in Ottawa and one in Kingston.

Degrees and how they are organised

According to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC), a bachelor's degree normally takes three or four years of full-time study, depending on the province, and a master's degree one to three years.

• York University in Toronto offers both lines at its School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design. The BFA in Film Production covers directing, cinematography, editing and sound design. Students work in on-campus facilities and at the York U Motion Media Studio at Cinespace Studios, a film and television production site in Toronto. The BA in Film Studies and Creative Media Industries approaches film, television, gaming and social media through history, theory and criticism, with courses in producing, marketing and media curation.
• Queen's University in Kingston has a Department of Film and Media that describes itself as mainly an arts department rather than a fine arts one: it focuses on the history, theory and criticism of film, television and new media, and also trains students in film, video and digital media production. An honours degree in the Faculty of Arts and Science has 120 units, of which a major takes 48. At graduate level the department offers an MA in Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies, a 12-month programme, and a PhD.
• Carleton University in Ottawa teaches film studies as an academic subject, with a BA and an MA. The MA takes one to two years and starts in the autumn. All students enter a coursework stream and may apply in the first semester to write a research paper or a thesis. The university points to internships and research at institutions in the capital such as Library and Archives Canada and the Canadian Film Institute.

Admission

Each university sets its own admission requirements and assesses foreign school certificates itself. For film there are some typical extra steps:

• Supplementary application. York's BFA in Film Production requires a supplementary evaluation after the application. For entry in autumn 2027 the online part is due by 5 February 2027. The programme has no winter intake.
• Entry in second year. At Queen's, students apply to the Faculty of Arts and Science, take an introductory film course in first year and then declare Film and Media. Automatic acceptance into the major or specialisation requires a B or higher in the introductory course and a cumulative grade point average of 2.6.
• Graduate entry. The Queen's MA asks for a four-year bachelor's degree in film, media studies or a related field with at least B+ (75%) in the last two years. Carleton's MA has an application deadline of 1 February for guaranteed space and funding.

The programmes described here are taught in English. Applicants who need a language test must reach the score set by each university; York's general undergraduate minimum is 6.5 in IELTS Academic. Canada also has French-language and bilingual universities.

Costs and funding

Tuition fees vary by region, programme and school. EduCanada puts average university tuition for international undergraduate students at $41,746 per year (Statistics Canada, 2026). Carleton estimates total tuition for its film studies MA at C$16,000 for Ontario residents; international students pay more and should use the university's fee estimator. Queen's states that its MA students currently receive funding of at least $18,000 for the academic year, which covers tuition and contributes to living costs.

Study permit

Most foreign nationals need a study permit, which costs CAN$150. The application normally requires a letter of acceptance, a provincial or territorial attestation letter obtained through the school and proof of funds. For applications from 1 September 2026, a single student outside Quebec must show CAN$23,448 for a year of living costs, on top of tuition and travel. Eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during term.

Careers

York lists film director, cinematographer, producer, lighting or sound designer and film editor as paths for its production graduates. For the film studies degree it lists festival programmer, film, television or media producer, media critic, scholar, and film and archive researcher. No official employment figures were used for this page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between film production and film studies?

A production degree, such as York University's BFA in Film Production, trains students to make films. A film studies degree, such as the BA at York or Carleton University, concentrates on history, theory and criticism. Queen's University combines both in an arts degree.

Do I need a portfolio to study film in Canada?

It depends on the programme. York requires a supplementary evaluation for its BFA in Film Production. At Queen's, entry to Film and Media depends on first-year grades instead.

Can I do a master's degree in film in Canada?

Yes. Carleton University offers an MA in Film Studies lasting one to two years, and Queen's University a 12-month MA in Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies.

Can I work while studying?

Eligible full-time students with a study permit can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during term, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).