Questions and answers

NPC College of Arts & Design is a private post-secondary college in Richmond, British Columbia, in Metro Vancouver. It offers three full-time diploma programs for the film, game and animation industries: Concept Design, Computer Art and Entertainment Concept Design. The college is designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of British Columbia.

NPC College of Arts & Design is designated by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of British Columbia, the provincial regulator for private career colleges. PTIB sets the standards institutions must meet, keeps the public directory of certified institutions and programs, and oversees the Student Tuition Protection Fund. NPC College is also a Designated Learning Institution for international students, number O272070464932.

NPC College offers three full-time diplomas: Concept Design (15 months, five terms), Computer Art (five terms) and Entertainment Concept Design (12 months, four terms). Concept Design graduates can also continue to a Bachelor of Fine Arts at College for Creative Studies through a transfer agreement.

Concept Design is the longest and broadest program: 28 courses in character, environment, prop and vehicle design, digital painting and 3D, ending in a senior project. Computer Art adds animation, storyboarding and visual effects and ends with a short film. Entertainment Concept Design covers the core of concept design in 12 months, with 3D taught in Blender.

The Concept Design Diploma takes 15 months of intensive training, excluding holidays, across five terms. The Computer Art Diploma runs for five terms. The Entertainment Concept Design Diploma takes 12 months across four terms. All three are full-time.

Tuition for Concept Design and Computer Art is CAD $24,923 per year for domestic students and $32,400 per year for international students. Tuition for the one-year Entertainment Concept Design program is $24,400 for domestic students and $32,400 for international students. Application, assessment, administrative, material and graduation fees are extra and are listed on the tuition page.

Applicants need a portfolio of at least five original artworks, a high school transcript with a minimum of 70% in English, and a passed general assessment test. For Concept Design and Computer Art, applicants must be at least 16; international applicants must be at least 19 with a high school diploma. For Entertainment Concept Design, applicants must be high school graduates or at least 19.

Submit at least five original artworks: two personal creative pieces in any medium, one observational piece in painting, acrylic or sketch, one perspective drawing (a simple line drawing without shading is fine) and one digital artwork. A sketchbook is also accepted. Upload photographs as JPEG files of up to 5 MB each in the online application.

The next intake starts in September 2027. The early admission deadline is March 1, 2027 and the regular admission deadline is July 1, 2027.

Apply online at npc-arts.com/apply. Complete the application, upload your transcripts, identification and portfolio in the same form, and pay the non-refundable CAD $100 application fee by card. Admissions emails you a decision, and a tuition deposit then reserves your seat.

Yes. NPC College of Arts & Design is a Designated Learning Institution in British Columbia (DLI number O272070464932, beginning with the letter O). International students need a study permit, translated transcripts and proof of English proficiency. International applicants to Concept Design and Computer Art must be at least 19 with a high school diploma.

For Concept Design and Computer Art: IELTS Academic 5.5 overall, TOEFL iBT 60, or Duolingo 85 to 90, or proof of completing secondary or post-secondary education taught in English. For Entertainment Concept Design: an interview with NPC Admissions, or IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 70, or a Duolingo English Test.

Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility is decided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and depends on the institution and program. Check the designated learning institutions list on canada.ca for the current PGWP status of NPC College of Arts & Design, and confirm with NPC Admissions before you apply.

Yes. Under a transfer agreement with College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, graduates of the NPC Concept Design Diploma can apply to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Concept Design at CCS in three years. Up to 33 of the 126 credits required for the BFA may transfer. Admission to NPC does not guarantee admission to CCS.

Graduates are prepared to work as entry-level concept artists in the animation, film, TV and game industries. Roles include character designer, environment designer, prop and vehicle designer, creature designer, concept art generalist, color key artist, matte painter, illustrator and storyboard artist.

Courses are taught by working industry professionals. Program Head Andrew An was Art Director on WondLa at Skydance Animation and a designer on The Addams Family 2. Other instructors work or have worked at Atomic Cartoons, Bardel Entertainment, Cinesite, WildBrain and Taiko Studios.

Across the programs students use Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, KeyShot and V-Ray. Computer Art also uses Nuke and Adobe After Effects for visual effects. Digital drawing is taught on Wacom Cintiq displays and tablets.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents enrolled in a full-time program at NPC can apply for Canada and provincial student loans through StudentAid BC. Other options include a student line of credit and RESP savings. Applicants to the Concept Design Diploma are automatically considered for NPC scholarships based on portfolio review and academic achievement.

NPC College of Arts & Design is at 3260-8888 Odlin Crescent, Richmond, BC V6X 3Z8, in Metro Vancouver. The office is open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 20:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. It is closed on Mondays.

NPC College of Arts & Design is a PTIB-designated post-secondary college that grants diplomas in concept design, computer art and entertainment concept design. NPC Arts Centre is its sister school: it teaches portfolio development for university applications, AP Art, kids’ classes and workshops. If you want a diploma and a career in the entertainment industry, you want the College.