Program Information

• Studio-based learning: Project-driven courses in typography, branding, layout, illustration, user experience and interface design, and motion graphics that connect design theory with real-world briefs.
• Multi-platform skills: Training that spans print, packaging, environmental graphics, web and app interfaces, social media and video-based design.
• Print production: Hands-on experience preparing files for professional output, including colour management, prepress, proofing and working with vendors for packaging, environmental graphics and promotional materials.
• Hands-on industry experience: Applied projects with external partners, community organizations and industry events that build confidence and professional networks.
• Creative collaboration: Opportunities to work with other CNA arts programs (e.g., Applied Music, Journalism, Sound Recording & Production, Television and Film programs, and Textile & Apparel Design) on cross-media storytelling.
• Portfolio and career focus: Guided development of an industry-ready portfolio, job-search preparation and support for freelance and entrepreneurial pathways.
• Proven career outcomes: High job placement success rate with graduates securing roles across design agencies, corporate studios, freelance practice and creative industries.

• CNA's studio-based diploma builds job-ready portfolios in high-demand areas like user experience, interface design and motion graphics, boosting your edge in agencies and freelance markets.
• Graduates are working at exciting careers throughout Canada and around the world.
• Students have won dozens of regional, provincial and national awards over the past decade.
• The unique skills of graphic designers have been globally recognized with the term, “design thinking,” which applies the thought process designers use for just about any field or discipline.
• A designer’s primary concern is communication.
• It takes two-tenths of a second for people looking at a website for the first time to form an impression.^[1]

1. Develop technical skills in industry-standard software for print, digital, user experience and interface design, motion graphics, and interactive media.
2. Create conceptually driven designs that solve real-world problems, communicate messages effectively, and evoke action across static, web, and animated formats.
3. Apply proficiently graphic design tools, workflows, and equipment, including file preparation, colour management, prepress, and production for diverse outputs.
4. Execute hands-on production techniques for print (packaging, environmental graphics), digital interfaces, social campaigns, and short-form motion content.
5. Collaborate effectively in interdisciplinary teams, integrating feedback from peers, instructors, and clients to deliver on-time project solutions.
6. Communicate professionally through critiques, client pitches, project documentation, and presentations that articulate design rationale and iterative processes.
7. Manage projects and time to balance creativity, quality, and deadlines in studio and client-driven environments.
8. Employ a user-centered design process involving research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and refinement to deliver functional, innovative solutions.
9. Assemble a professional portfolio featuring branding systems, UI/UX prototypes, motion pieces, print production, and campaign work meeting industry standards.
10. Demonstrate entry-level readiness for roles in agencies, in-house teams, freelance, or creative industries through practical experience and job preparation.

Mandatory Fees

• Application Fee - $100.00 per program (non-refundable) | Application Page
  Applicants must pay a non-refundable fee for each application to the College.
• The following fees are due within two (2) weeks of date of Letter of of acceptance to each program at the college:
  • Confirmation Fee - $103.00 per program annually (non-refundable)
    Student must pay this non-refundable fee on confirmation of acceptance to each program at the College. The fee covers registration and student association fees and is paid annually for the duration of the program.
  • First Semester Tuition- which includes the $1500 Deposit Fee
    Deposit fee - $1500 non-refundable, non-transferable fee.
• Academic Audit Fee (once per program) - $50.00
• Technology Fee (per semester) - $83.00

Full-Time Student Fees

Certificate & Diploma Programs:

Regular Term (15-weeks)
Academics, Applied Arts & Tourism (per semester) - $4,581.00

Intersession (up to 7-weeks)
Academics, Applied Arts & Tourism (per semester) - $2,291.00

Part-Time Student Fees

Certificate & Diploma Programs:

Tuition Fee (per course) - $1,046.00

Exceptions:

• Heavy Equipment Operator (per week) - $354.00
• Commercial Driver (per week) - $354.00
• All other Trade programs (per week) - $313.00

Estimated Program Costs for International Students (2025-2026) 

Application fee:
If applying online, the application fee must be paid via credit card when completing and submitting your application to College of the North Atlantic.

For all other tuition payments:
College of the North Atlantic has partnered with PayMyTuition for international tuition payments. All tuition payments, unless otherwise noted, can be paid via PayMyTuition. With PayMyTuition, you can pay your tuition payments from any bank, in any country in any currency at better than bank exchange rates. PayMyTuition is fast, simple, and cost effective.
Please note that you can only use PayMyTuition once you have being assigned a CNA student number.

Regulations Governing Payment of Fees & Charges

1. All student fees must be paid by the date specified in each term.  The dates are listed in the Academic Calendar on page. Students receiving Student Aid must present their notification of Student Aid form on the first day of classes. These students are permitted to have fees outstanding until receipt of the Student Aid, at which time these students must pay their accounts in full.
2. Students who have not paid all fees within the time limits given in these regulations may have their registration cancelled by the College.
3. Students with outstanding accounts will be ineligible for a subsequent term, will not be awarded a diploma or certificate, access to register, and will not be issued a certificate of standing (transcript), grade report, or access to on-line grades until the outstanding account has been paid in full. It is the student’s responsibility to address outstanding balances and to work with their respective campus student services office on inquiries related to their account balance.
4. Should the College cancel a program, all tuition and fees paid will be refunded.
5. Out of sequence students registering or withdrawing within a term will pay a prorated tuition and equipment and materials fee per week.
6. Students taking courses above their normal term load (requires application to extend normal course load per semester) will pay tuition for each additional course taken.
7. Senior Citizens, 60 years and older, are required to pay 50% of confirmation fee and tuition.
8. Students wishing to audit a course will pay 50% of the tuition and 100% of the technology fees (if applicable).