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Graphic Design

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Program Code: 11571
Credential: Advanced Diploma
Start Dates: January, September
Program Length: 6 semesters
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Humber is proud to have the highest graduate employment and employer satisfaction rate of the GTA colleges based on Colleges Ontario’s key performance indicators for college graduates in 2022-2023.

Program Overview

Humber’s Graphic Design advanced diploma program develops creative and strategic designers who wish to execute a wide range of visual communication strategies through interactive media such as web and screen, user interaction, motion design, and traditional print-based media.

Through a mix of theory and hands-on practical training, you will combine art and design to produce unique visual communication solutions. Our program will allow you to explore creative strategy and design process, typography, editorial and publication design, package design, user experience (UX), user interface (UI), web design, information design, and motion design. Additionally, our program will prepare you for your career through professional practice and entrepreneurship to round-out a comprehensive skillset to attain employment or freelance work.

As part of the interaction and design common platform cluster, you will be trained on industry-based skills, technology and current design software techniques. Your first semester is shared with the Multimedia Design and Development program. Your exposure to different types of design work and common programming elements will enable you to investigate your options and choose a focus prior to your second year of study.

Work-Integrated Learning  

Students will participate in a mandatory which takes place in the last semester of study. After completing a field experience preparation course, students will be supported in marketing themselves to prospective employers to find a field experience that aligns with their personal career goals.

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Media & Creative Arts Students Vote for the Future

Students from more than eight Media & Creative Arts programs worked with Villamedia to test the company's AI-driven generative art project, Vote for Peace, and to learn how the technology may be used in the future.

One Common Semester

The Interactive & Design Platform offers a shared first semester between two programs giving you the freedom to change your area of study in the second semester to any of the two.

Core Skills Gained in Semester 1

  • Web Technology
  • Digital Technology
  • Motion
  • Creative Thinking
  • Design
  • Typography

blue logo with the letters FIND in it and below written in light and dark blue says HUMBER GRAD SHOW 2014 graphic design advanced diploma program

Watch the video to see the 2014 Humber Grad Show. Hear from students and faculty about their experience in the Graphic Design program, what they learned, and how it prepared them to find work in the future program through hands-on experience.

RGD Partner Program

Learn more about Humber's partnership with the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Canada’s largest professional association for graphic designers.

Graphic Design students collaborate with Siemens Canada and students from the Faculty of Media & Creative Arts and the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology to produce data visualization for the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation.

Career & Student Success Advisors support your educational and career goals. Read more or book an appointment with Natasha Haniff.

BuildingF brings marketers and agencies together with advanced students from virtually any Humber program to produce strategic creative content and technology solutions. Instead of just being given a grade for assignments, students are provided with a chance to work with real clients, on actual accounts, receiving first-hand experience in the field.

The disciplines that can be accessed through BuildingF include anything found in a modern advertising, design or PR agency, including brand experience design, communications marketing, advertising design, writing, production, and much more.

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Expert Faculty

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Dwight Alexander

Dwight Alexander is a creative director, educator, and content creator. As a seasoned designer with over 30 years of expertise in digital and graphic design, Dwight has provided exceptional design solutions for renowned brands such as Nike, Royal Bank, Sunlife Financial, Manulife, Telus, Corus Entertainment, CBC Kids, Warner Brothers, Netflix, and the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation (OLG). He has been “Making things Visually Delicious since 1992!”

 

 

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Natalia Bertok

Natalia is a multidisciplinary creative specializing in the digital and print advertising industry. She is a full-time art director for a digital advertising agency and has worked with many highly honoured clients in Toronto and internationally. Natalia has worked in various roles and industries, incorporating art direction, visual design and print marketing skills in her creative endeavours. With a passion for fusing digital and print advertising applications, Natalia continues to implement instruction with both mediums in mind. Her previous experiences have been a key foundation in her creative journey. Natalia’s teaching encourages students to explore creative strategies and how theories can be applied in our daily lives through impactful reflection. She strives for students to embrace their creative expression through purposeful and dynamic creations.

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Kevin Brandon

My name is Kevin Brandon and I have taught in the Humber Graphic Design program since 2008. My industry design experience started with the print industry and transitioned into web design. This allowed me to fuse front-end coding with a strong graphic design sensibility.

Courses I have taught include digital design, UI/UX, front-end web design, branding, strategy and portfolio.

I hold a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University.

I am also an active member of the Adobe Educator Leaders group, which is an international team of educators who are engaged in the latest digital design tools from Adobe, focusing not just on the tools but the design potential and collaboration.

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Dylan Cunanan

Dylan's background in academic advising and career counselling made student affairs natural for him. Paired with his education in media and design, working in UX/UI design, community management, and post-secondary education was the perfect career that crossed innovation, advocacy, and research.

He couldn't choose between theory and practice - so Dylan chose both! He holds a diploma in Media Communications and a BAA in Media Studies. His published research is about cognitive behaviours in mobile environments, and he is now researching abstract semiotics in environmental graphic design.

After completing his MA in Media Production, Dylan continued his career at Humber College as a professor for the Graphic Design, Multimedia Design and Development, Bachelor of Design - User Experience, and User Experience Design programs, primarily teaching the Information Design and Digital Technology courses.

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Farid Ghasem Asad

As an executive member, I played a crucial role in the development and approval of a new course for the University of Yorkville's video game design diploma program. I am well versed in the process of obtaining approval for new programs from the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities.

I possess a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of the creative digital industry, having served as a member of the 3D design team for acclaimed games such as Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed.

Between 1997 and 2004, I held a leadership position where I successfully managed the marketing and sales team at Sabir Dam Company, in collaborationwith Liebherr and Caterpillar companies. During my tenure, I achieved impressive results, including a 19% increase in sales of Dam-Engineering machines and a 23% increase in sales of engineering services.

Since 2018, I have been leading and managing the design, marketing, and sales teams for Can-Technologies and Entelegies in Cambridge, Ontario. Through my leadership, we have achieved a significant 33% increase in sales.

I had the privilege of leading and overseeing the design team responsible for the development of the Toronto Star's advanced mobile and tablet applications. I worked closely with the Toronto Star newsroom and content marketing team, providing guidance and leadership to ensure the success of the project.

I possess full mastery of the execution operations and details involved in graphic design, web design, and motion graphics, with a particular focus on achieving marketing goals. Additionally, I have extensive experience in hands-on design for a wide range of creative technology products.

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Greg Goralski
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Andrew Harris

When it comes to your interactions with innovative technology, Andrew has always believed you are more than a user. Over his lengthy career, he’s proven time and again that technology has the power to connect people through storytelling and shared emotional experiences. An award-winning designer, creative technologist, creative director, and now an instructor at Humber, Andrew seeks to use design to make the world a better place, not just for users but humans, too.

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Leslie Harrod
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Mark-Anthony Karam

Mark-Anthony Karam is a design educator with over 15 years of experience as a graphic and interactive designer. Mark focuses on leveraging education technology that fosters accessible opportunities for social collaboration, student agency, and promotes the inclusion of wellness as a framework for teaching design in higher education. Keeping the learner's experience in mind, Mark has researched and developed strategies and pathways for teaching and learning design through social constructive collaboration and future creative technologies for both face-to-face and remote/online e-learning environments.

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Reuben Looyenga
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Leanna Palmer

Leanna Palmer is a multi-disciplinary Creative Director and design educator. She has been a professor at Humber since 2016 and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design Art from Concordia University, and a Master of Arts from the Bard Graduate Center in New York City.

For the last 15 years, Leanna has been actively involved in the ever-expanding field of design in an array of environments: large established companies, start-ups, agency, in-house, and as a freelancer. She uses her deep digital expertise and extensive knowledge of the industry as a catalyst for inspiration in the classroom.

Leanna is a creative thinker who enjoys solving user-centric problems and has worked with some of Canada’s biggest companies including: Online Creative Director at Indigo head office, Digital Art Director at the CBC, and an Art Director at the Havas Agency. An innate curiosity has also led her to explore digital materiality and interaction design through some interesting collaborations with artists at Eyebeam Art and Technology Center in New York City, and Hexagram in Montreal.

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CJ Veloso

CJ is a freelance motion designer and educator, focused on creating compelling animations to assist brands, with an immersive human-centered experience in mind. As a creative, CJ has collaborated with major financial corporations, agencies, independent clients, and start-ups that range from Canada, the US, and Australia. With a diverse background in motion design, he works with a variety of mediums from social media and live web channels, to digital signage and live events. CJ's client roster includes but is not limited to Capital One Canada, Sportsnet, Cineplex, Scotiabank, LG2, Klick, Melbourne Fashion Hub, and more. In addition to his five-plus years of industry experience, CJ has been teaching at Humber College since 2020 and at University of Guelph-Humber since 2023. His teaching philosophy involves creating a collaborative, engaging hands-on experience and open learning environment both in and outside the classroom. CJ encourages his students to be open minded, learn something new every day, all while having fun with it. As a lifelong learner, CJ strives to use his knowledge and creative skill set to give back to the community in ways that creatively solve problems and push boundaries. He is currently involved with Holland Bloorview, a teaching hospital and children's rehabilitation centre, to create an immersive, sensory-filled open-world environment by tapping into the minds of children with disabilities to create and show a world of possibility without barriers.

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Jessica Wellman

Jessica Wellman has over a decade of experience as a graphic designer and art director. Her expertise ranges from agency work to editorial design to digital design. She has worked for various brands including Chatelaine Magazine, House & Home Media, Shoppers Drug Mart, etc. Having taught for over six years at various educational institutes, she brings a diverse level of experience and approach to teaching.

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Judy Wood

As a seasoned Graphic & Digital Media Designer and Educator, I bring a wealth of experience from both corporate and freelance realms. Since 2009, I've been dedicated to teaching at Humber College, leveraging my expertise to cultivate engaging learning environments.

My educational journey includes a master's in Learning and Technology, which has equipped me to deploy dynamic teaching methodologies across traditional, hybrid, and online platforms. I'm committed to continuous improvement, regularly evaluating instructional approaches to enhance learning outcomes inside and beyond the classroom.

Fostering a learner-centric atmosphere, I encourage students to unleash their creativity through diverse media forms. Actively involved in esteemed groups such as Adobe Education Leader, Apple Teachers, and Microsoft Education, I stay connected with global educational communities, ensuring alignment between industry standards and classroom practices.

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Judy Wood
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Cynthia Young

Cynthia Young is a highly experienced professional with over 25 years of experience in progressively senior roles in publishing, media, marketing, and advertising. She has a focus on deeply understanding the audience/customer using analytical and organizational design frameworks and has experience in brand marketing, media strategy, executive strategy, and product user experience design. Prior to becoming a professor at Humber College, she led the transformation and innovation at the Globe & Mail as their head of audience, moving over 6 million Canadians from paper news to digital news and teaching over 200 journalists the value of listening to their audience. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Creative Leadership from the Berlin School of Creative Leadership, a Teaching Excellence Program and Inclusive Curricular Design Certificate from Humber College, and a Reconciliation Education Certificate from Humber College and First Nations University. She is currently a professor and curriculum lead for Ontario’s first and only post-graduate certificate in Content Strategy at Humber College. She is also a professor in Humber’s three-year Graphic Design program, fostering designs that are embedded with audience-first strategies.

Study Abroad

We offer many global opportunities for you to explore during your time at Humber! We live in a very interconnected world and by participating in a global opportunity, not only will you gain new skills, but you may also be eligible for academic credits and/or co-curricular record (CCR). Some of the global opportunities at Humber include Summer Abroad, Semester Exchange, faculty-led trips, Humber Global Summer School and many others! To learn more, please visit Humber Global Opportunities.

Your Career

With more than 25,000 designers, Toronto is at the centre of Canada’s design sector. As North America’s third largest hotspot for design, there are many opportunities in Toronto for aspiring graphic designers. Our program helps you develop the skills and training you need to pursue your chosen career.

With your powerful combination of creative thinking and technical abilities, you’ll be ready to make your mark in a wide variety of employment contexts including:

  • branding
  • commercial printing
  • editorial and publishing
  • marketing and advertising
  • multimedia production
  • user experience and interface design
  • visual communications
  • web and interactive design

Your wide-ranging design abilities and use of digital tools and software will assist you in creating original and appealing designs for a broad range of projects including magazine advertisements, outdoor campaigns and billboards, promotional materials, brand experiences, digital applications and corporate websites.

In addition to creative and technical abilities, students will develop entrepreneurial skills through learning the business of freelance and design. As a freelance designer, you can enjoy the benefits of choosing your own projects, clients, and setting your own rates and flexible hours.

Professional Accreditations & Recognition

Registered Graphic Designers (RGD)

This program satisfies the educational requirement necessary for graduates to pursue the Registered Graphic Designer (RGD) designation, the professional standard for the industry. This designation is granted by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD).

Additional requirements may apply.

Note: The requirements for the additional credential(s) are determined by the granting body, which is independent from the College. Students are encouraged to obtain the specific requirements directly from the granting body before enrolling.

Program Availability

Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Open
Jan 2025 Course-Based North Open
Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Open
Jan 2025 Course-Based North Opening Soon

Humber is a publicly-funded institution and does not have a public-private partnership. International students graduating from Humber or Humber’s International Graduate School (IGS) are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

International Students in Canada who apply for May 2024 start could be eligible for a $1,000 Scholarship*. Apply now

Start dates between Sept 2024 - Aug 2025
START DELIVERY LOCATION STATUS
Sep 2024 Course-Based North Open
Jan 2025 Course-Based North Opening Soon

Humber is a publicly-funded institution and does not have a public-private partnership. International students graduating from Humber or Humber’s International Graduate School (IGS) are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

International Students Out of Canada can Apply through Humber International

Recruitment Events

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Can't make it to campus?

Experience Humber Virtually  

Pixel Perfect

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Watch the video to see students from a variety of programs collaborate on the annual Pixel Perfect show.


News Feed

Bachelor of Industrial Design Students Participate in BRP International Design Competition

Bachelor of Industrial Design Students Participate in BRP International Design Competition

Wed, May 10, 2023

The Industrial Design program was invited to return and participate in the BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) International Design Competition!

Read the Full Article
Industrial Design Third Year Students Design for Modern Living in Umbra/Humber Studio Project

Industrial Design Third Year Students Design for Modern Living in Umbra/Humber Studio Project

Fri, March 24, 2023

Driven by innovation, Toronto-based Umbra has become a global leader in product design, known for pushing boundaries in its approach to original design.

Read the Full Article
Annual By The Lake Book Club Scholarship Awarded to Emerging B.C. - Based Writer

Annual By The Lake Book Club Scholarship Awarded to Emerging B.C. - Based Writer

Mon, February 27, 2023

Layla Reeves, a Vancouver Island writer and student in Humber's Creative Writing Graduate Certificate program, is the 2022 recipient of a $1,500 scholarship.

Read More
Designs Created by Fast Students Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Designs Created by Fast Students Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Wed, February 01, 2023

Prof. George Paravantes (FMCA) and Dr. Dennis L. Kappen (FAST) proudly unveiled the results of the 2022 ARROW HMI - Humber Industrial Design competition.

Read More

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Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.

Contact Us

Admissions Questions

General Enquiries

Call 416-675-3111 or email enquiry@humber.ca. If you have already applied, be sure to check your application status on myhumber.ca.

Domestic Applicants Enquiries

Domestic applicants can book a one-on-one advising appointment with an admissions representative.

International Applicants Enquiries

Contact the International Centre for information about full-time programs (including the International Graduate School), how to apply and to follow up on your submitted application.

Program-Specific Questions

Speak to the Program Co-ordinator about the course curriculum, projects and career options.

Mark Karam, program co-ordinator
416-675-6622 ext. 3019
gdes@humber.ca

Campus Information

Book a campus tour to take a closer look at what it's like to be a student at Humber.

Want More Info?

Find out more about the student experience and everything that Humber has to offer Future Students.

for more info on Humber, including programs, special events and more!

How To Become An Apprentice

Becoming an Apprentice

Find an employer willing to sponsor you as an apprentice.

Contact the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to register as an apprentice.

Work with your employer approximately one year before attending Humber.

View Instructions 

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

If you’re in high school – grade 11 or 12 – you can earn co-op education credits through work placements in some skilled trades.

Visit OYAP 

How to Apply

Domestic Students

Applications to Humber are made through ontariocolleges.ca. Be sure to submit your application by the equal consideration deadline of February 1. You may apply after February 1, however, post-February 1 applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the availability of the space in the program.

To check program availability refer to the Campus/Availability listing on Humber’s program pages, search by availability, or ontariocolleges.ca.

To see where you are in the admissions process, visit the Admissions Road Map.

International Students

If you’re an international student, you can apply directly to Humber via our International Centre.

Need Advice?

Program Advising Appointments

Get help narrowing down your program options or book a one-on-one pre-enrolment advising appointment with one of our Recruitment Officers.

Transfer & Pathway Advising

Book a virtual appointment with a Student Mobility Advisor learn more about getting Transfer Credit(s) for previous post-secondary experience, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), and Pathways options.

Admission Requirements

Admission selection is based on the academic criteria indicated. Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission selection is based on the following five requirements:

  • Academic

    To be eligible for admission, you must possess the following:

    • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent including these required courses:
      • Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U or equivalent)
      • Three Grade 11 or Grade 12 C, M or U courses in addition to those listed above

    or

    or

    Mature Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or other postsecondary school, and will be 19 or older as of the first day of classes. Humber will invite you for testing to demonstrate that you meet all listed course requirements.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a mature applicant if they have not completed secondary school or attended postsecondary studies, and will be 21 or older as of the first day of classes. Mature applicants for degree programs will be required to meet course requirements at the U/M level or equivalent.

    College Transfer Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a college transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a college-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or college courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants must have an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 65 per cent in the program. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

    University Transfer Applicants

    Diplomas and Certificates

    An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility.

    Degrees

    An applicant is considered a university transfer applicant if they have completed some or all of a university-level credential. Humber may use a combination of secondary school and/or university courses and grades to determine program eligibility. Applicants are required to disclose and provide academic transcripts for all course work completed at the postsecondary level.

  • Portfolio

  • Please submit 3 to 5 examples of your creative work. This could include: paintings, drawings, sculpture, sound art, dance, written work, music, technological play/prototypes, digital design, concept & strategy, animation or any other method through which you have explored your creative expression. We want to see you express your creative thinking and creativity.

    Also, please include 3 to 5 samples of your rough work which could include: sketches, notes, thumbnails, writing process, thinking process. If you do not have visual artifacts of your process, please write a brief 250 word (max) description of how you approach and work through a creative project. We want to know how you think. 

  • Written Submission

  • Select three (3) of the pieces in your portfolio. For each of the three (3) pieces, in 150 words, describe why you chose to include that piece in your portfolio. In total, your written submission should not exceed 450-500 words. 

    Submission Instructions

  • English Language Proficiency

    All applicants whose first language is not English must meet Humber’s English Language Proficiency Policy.

  • International Credit Evaluation

    Canadian citizens or permanent residents with international education are required to provide a credential evaluation. Note, for international High school education course by course evaluations, ICAS must be used. For international post-secondary education, a WES evaluation must be provided. In situations where you expect to apply for transfer credit, it is recommended that a course by course WES evaluation is completed.

International Academic Equivalency

Admission equivalencies for Humber depend on your country of study. Please enter your location or choose detect my location to see the requirements for your country below.

Post-Admission Requirements

Once you have been accepted, and have confirmed your offer, you may need to complete a further set of requirements related to your program (Post-Admission Requirements).

N/A

Equipment & Device Requirements

All Semesters

Details and Specifications Minimum Specs Recommended Specs
Processor M1 Apple Processor or Intel i7 or better Intel i7 (Quad Core or Higher)
OS Mac/Windows (Mac Preferred) Mac/Windows (Mac Preferred)
Memory 16GB or higher 16GB or Higher
Storage 512GB+ (SSD Solid State Drive Preferred) 512GB or Higher (SSD Solid State Drive Preferred)
Monitor 13" or higher 15" or Higher
Other Adobe CC & Microsoft Office Subscription. External Hard Drive (256GB or Higher) Adobe CC/Office Subscription. External Hard Drive (256GB or Higher)

Program-Specific Questions

Speak to the Program Co-ordinator about the course curriculum, projects and career options.

Mark Karam, program co-ordinator
416-675-6622 ext. 3019
gdes@humber.ca

Fees & Financial Aid

The 2024/2025 fee for two semesters is:

  • domestic: $4,041.74
  • international: $20,851.66

Fees are subject to change.

Fees by Semester

Domestic Fees International Fees

Additional Costs

$200 – $500: subscriptions, printing and web hosting costs (for one semester). Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific laptop and software requirements for this program, visit our website for Equipment & Device Requirements.

Financial Aid, Scholarships and Bursaries

Understand the costs associated with coming to Humber and explore resources available from first year to your final year on Student Fees and Financial Resources.

Scholarships

Humber Scholarships

Find out more about scholarships and bursaries that you may be eligible for, visit Student Scholarships. International students can visit International Student Scholarships.

Humber Bursaries

Bursaries are available for Certificate, Diploma and Degree programs primarily based on financial need, visit Humber Bursaries.

External Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Find out more information about external scholarships and bursaries, visit External Awards.

Indigenous Student Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships

Humber offers a variety of bursaries and scholarships for Indigenous students, visit Indigenous Student Awards.

Explore Opportunities through Humber Pathways

Humber Pathways include:

  • Opportunities to build on your college education and complete your diploma or degree at Humber.
  • Degree and graduate study opportunities at other institutions in Ontario, Canada and abroad.
View Transfer Out Opportunities From This Program  
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