Inclusive Design (MDes) in Canada at OCAD Canada




University OCAD University (OCAD Canada)
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Type Public
Program Type Coursework/thesis
Program Delivary On campus
Language English
Program Duration 2 years
Students 6,072
Learn more about Inclusive Design (MDes) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Detailed Information of Inclusive Design (MDes) in Canada at OCAD University

Program Overview for Inclusive Design (MDes) in Canada:

The Inclusive design promotes accessibility and encompasses the full range of human diversity, including ability, language, culture, gender, and age. 
The Inclusive design recognizes that we are not all the same. Design must be usable, flexible, and customizable, among other qualities, to be truly inclusive. From policy, customer service, infrastructure, technology, architecture to daily products, we can design to accommodate and tolerate everyone. 

The program is mainly provided through online technology and learning systems. It is the only product of its kind in Canada. We provide you with the opportunity to become a world leader in the ever-evolving field of inclusive design. 

You will learn to think in different ways and break down social barriers to meet the growing demand for access and inclusion. This program benefits from accomplished teachers engaged in multidisciplinary research and design practices, and you will learn from your own education. And various professional knowledge and experiences, learning, and research projects. 

You will explore equity and access issues through the lens of design thinking applying inclusive digital technologies. The program prepares graduates for advanced career or doctoral programs:

  • Digital media and ICT systems
  • Public sector policy and management
  • Design of the built environment
  •  Art And Culture
  • Healthcare
  • Graphic and communication design
  • The program meets the needs of working professionals and international students. The two-year full-time courses include: 

The structure and content of the INCD course can be understood as consisting of five interrelated parts: core courses, theory courses, research methods courses, and laboratory courses. These parts come together to support the final Core Research Project (MRP) Seminar courses offered throughout the year in a highly interactive online format. The Core Research Project in the second year of the program will put you at the forefront of the thinking of inclusive design.


The second-year academic seminar is open to the public. A culminating festival and graduate seminars. They will create their path together through the program and have the opportunity to participate in elective courses, seminars in the first and second year of the program.

Conference courses are offered online and face-to-face courses that support student learning at a distance and on campus. Course assignments include group projects, online discussion forums, and contributions from guest experts and leading innovators in the field of inclusive design. With the emergence of inclusive design research centers and public and private sector funding projects, 4,444 research positions and grants are provided throughout the program. 


All courses and classroom materials are accessible and provide assistance to students who have English as a second language and who face other challenges in study and courses. 

The intensive "residency" campus includes two full courses and is held in each of the two summer semesters. Students must participate in these courses and activities on the OCAD University Toronto campus.

The eligibility for Inclusive Design (MDes) in Canada for both domestic and international student is:

The application process for admission into the Master of Design in Inclusive Design at OCAD U is highly competitive. Applicants must hold a BA, BDes, BComm, BEng, BSc, BFA or comparable honors degree/certification in a program that provides a foundational grounding in information and communication systems and practices (e.g., Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Studies, Culture, and Technology or similar field) with an average of 75 percent (B+) or better during the last two years of study, or must demonstrate exceptional experience/expertise as a practitioner in a relevant discipline. All applicants must demonstrate creative, technical, and conceptual competence at a high level and the clear potential for acquiring a sufficient level of expertise in the diverse disciplines relevant to this degree to create a truly innovative, germane, and implementable project at the master’s level. Other Admission Requirement:

    • Statement of Intent: Applicants should provide further information about themselves by addressing the following questions in their Statement of Intent (maximum 1000 words): How does your academic background and/or professional experience relate to this program? What other unique perspectives do you bring that would contribute to the program’s diverse learning community? What is your key area of intended research in the Inclusive Design program? How does your intended research align with the objectives of this program? How do you envision the Inclusive Design program contributing to your future?
    • Samples of Work: The work samples should include representative samples of the relevant student or professional work produced in the last five years. Software, user-experience designs, analysis reports, proposal documents, web applications, and websites may be included.
    • CV: Applicants should include an updated copy of their curriculum vitae.
    • Program Specific Questions: Applicants will be asked to respond to a series of questions specific to the program.
    • Transcripts
    • Three (3) reference letters.

These are the test eligibilities for the Inclusive Design (MDes) to qualify.

The English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for Inclusive Design (MDes) in Canada: are:

N.B: ELP is not mandatory for all international students. You could apply without ELP if your previous degree's medium of instruction were in English. Students of Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, for example, are not required to take the ELP test.

The international student tuition fees and costs for Inclusive Design (MDes) in Canada.

Items Costs
Application Fees CA$110.00
Tuition Fees CA$23,488.91 /year
Living Cost CA$14,400.00/year
(CA$1,200.00/month)
Student Earning CA$17,920.00/year
You will earn CA$17,920.00/year by working 20 hours *4 weeks * 8 months * 14 CAD/h + 40 hours * 4 weeks * 4 months * 14 CAD/h at minimum wage of $14.00/hour.

The domestic student tuition fees and costs for Inclusive Design (MDes) in Canada.

Items Costs
Application Fees CA$110.00
Tuition Fees CA$7,776.71 /year
Living Cost CA$14,400.00/year
(CA$1,200.00/month)
Student Earning CA$17,920.00/year
This is just an estimate. You don't have any work hour limit. You will earn CA$17,920.00/year by working 20 hours *4 weeks * 8 months * 14 CAD/h + 40 hours * 4 weeks * 4 months * 14 CAD/h at minimum wage of $14.00/hour.

The program meets the needs of working professionals and international students.

The two-year full-time course includes:

  • The structure and content of the INCD course can be understood as consisting of five interrelated parts: core courses, theory courses, research methods courses, and laboratory courses. Together these parts support the final Core Research Project (MRP).
  • Seminar courses are offered throughout the year in a highly interactive online format.
  • The Core Research Project in the second year of the course will put you at the forefront of inclusive design thinking.
  • The second academic year The seminar is open to the public climax and postgraduate seminars. Together you will create your own path through the project and have the opportunity to participate in elective courses, seminars, and conference courses.
  • The first and second years of the project provide online and face-to-face courses, support students to learn remotely and on campus.
  • Course assignments include group projects, online discussion forums, and contributions from guest experts and leading innovators in the field of inclusive design. With the emergence of the Inclusive Design Research Center and projects funded by the public and private sectors, the entire program provides research positions and grants.

All courses and classroom materials are accessible and assist students facing other challenges in their studies and courses in English as a Second Language. The intensive "residency" campus includes two full courses and is held in each of the two summer semesters. Students must participate in these courses and activities on the OCAD University of Toronto campus.

Funding options for international students in Canada are limited. It is important that you have a solid financial plan in place before beginning your studies. In order to obtain a study permit, you will be required to prove to Canadian immigration officials that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself.

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