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Capilano University
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Compare Capilano University programs, admissions, costs, residence, student support, and career pathways in one source-reviewed guide. Jump to the decision section you need below.
The short answer
- Fall 2027 applications open on the first Tuesday in October 2026, based on CapU's standing rule for Fall intakes.
- CapU has no single entrance average. Each program sets its own academic floor, required subjects, and deadlines.
- The Bachelor of Science needs a 60% admission GPA (grade point average) plus Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, and a senior science.
- The Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts asks for 75% on two academic Grade 12 courses, plus a Video of Intent and questionnaire.
- For 2026–27, domestic tuition is $152.62 per credit and international tuition is $724.24 per credit.
Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Official university sources · How we review guides
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Overview
Quick Facts
| Location | North Vancouver, British Columbia |
|---|---|
| School Type | Comprehensive teaching and applied-program university |
| Directory Size | Mid-size university |
| Campus Setting | Regional university city with a defined campus community |
| Ranking Signal | No QS World 2026 position listed in this guide |
| Program Strengths | Business, Film, Arts, Education, Tourism |
First, look at campus and program fit. Then check official admissions, residence, and cost details. Do this before you build the final application list.
Admissions Planning
Fall 2027 admissions planning
Capilano University admission requirements
CapU does not use one entrance average for all programs. Academic floors, required subjects, deadlines, and selective materials belong to each program. Film, animation, visual effects, and Jazz add more items. These may be portfolios, videos, interviews, questionnaires, or auditions.
Fall 2027 opens
First Tuesday, October 2026
Confirmed by CapU’s standing Fall-intake rule; program closing dates remain pending.
BSc floor
60% three-course GPA
Plus published Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, and senior-science prerequisites.
Motion Picture Arts
75% on two academics
Plus Video of Intent, mandatory information session, and entrance questionnaire.
Program-by-program requirements
| Program | Academic preparation | Published minimum | Selection note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science — General | English 12 plus two academic Grade 12 courses, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, and one senior Biology, Chemistry, or Physics course | 60% admission GPA; subject grades vary | The 2026–27 Calendar lists C+ science and Pre-Calculus 12 alternatives. Check the complete equivalency list. |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | English 12 and an accepted Grade 11 or 12 Mathematics course | English C+; Mathematics C/pass depending on course | This is a four-year bachelor degree. The Business Administration diploma and certificate are separate credentials. |
| Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts | High-school graduation, English 12, and two academic Grade 12 courses | 75% average on the two academic Grade 12 courses | You need a Video of Intent, a mandatory information session, and an entrance questionnaire. Admission cut-offs can fluctuate. |
| Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies | High-school graduation | No universal percentage published | Interview and audition are required; performance, aural, sight-reading, and theory are assessed competitively. |
| 2D Animation & Visual Development Diploma | High-school graduation | No universal percentage published | Interview and portfolio are required; applicants may also complete a drawing exercise. |
| Visual Effects Diploma | High-school graduation | No universal percentage published | Requires a personal video or creative-work examples plus a supporting reference letter. |
| Tourism Management Co-op Diploma | High-school graduation, English 12, and accepted Mathematics | English C; Mathematics C/pass depending on course | This is a two-year diploma with a mandatory work term; it can ladder to the Bachelor of Tourism Management. |
Fall 2027 evidence status
| Checkpoint | Date | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2027 applications open | First Tuesday in October 2026 | Confirmed by the standing 2026–27 Calendar rule for Fall intakes; most programs open 11 months before term. |
| General Fall 2027 closing date | Not cycle-published | CapU says deadlines vary by program. Current program profiles have not yet posted Fall 2027 closing dates. |
| Fall 2027 portfolio, audition, and supplemental deadlines | Not cycle-published | Do not roll Fall 2026 animation, film, design, or performance dates forward. |
| Fall 2027 registration | July 5–16, 2027 | Confirmed on CapU's live academic schedule; individual registration time tickets vary. |
| 2027–28 tuition, residence, and entrance-award cycle | Not published | Use 2026–27 figures only as the latest planning base. |
Do not reuse Fall 2026 creative-program dates
Animation, Motion Picture Arts, Jazz, and other limited-enrolment pages have not published Fall 2027 submission schedules. Apply after the cycle opens. Then follow the date printed in the live program profile and supplemental portal.
Current English-test minimums
IELTS Academic
6.5 overall; no band below 6.0
Program-specific English coursework and higher requirements can still apply.
Duolingo English Test
125; no subscore below 115
Program-specific English coursework and higher requirements can still apply.
PTE Academic
56
Program-specific English coursework and higher requirements can still apply.
CAEL
70
Program-specific English coursework and higher requirements can still apply.
TOEFL after January 21, 2026
4.5 overall; no section below 4.0
Program-specific English coursework and higher requirements can still apply.
Application opening rule
Current requirements · Published for this period
Most program applications open 11 months before the term starts. Fall applications open on the first Tuesday in October. Spring applications open on the first Tuesday in February. Summer applications open on the first Tuesday in June.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Admission and readmission policy · Verified August 16, 2026
Motion Picture Arts supplemental requirements
Current requirements · Published for this period
Applicants submit a Video of Intent and an entrance questionnaire. They also attend a mandatory information session. Annual cut-offs may go up or down with the applicant pool.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts requirements · Verified August 16, 2026
Fall 2027 Animation portfolio deadline
2027 pending · Fall 2027
Not published. The current public program page only exposes an older intake state and must not be projected into Fall 2027.
Recheck the live program profile and SlideRoom instructions after Fall 2027 applications open.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: 2D Animation diploma requirements · Verified August 16, 2026
TOEFL new-scale minimum
Current requirements · Published for this period
For TOEFL tests taken after January 21, 2026, CapU lists 4.5 overall. No section may be below 4.0. Valid older tests use the earlier 83 threshold.
Applies to: International
Capilano University: English-language requirements · Verified August 16, 2026
Official admissions sources
Programs and Pathways
Credentials, campuses, and selection
Capilano programs and distinctive pathways
Compare the credential first. A career diploma in animation or Tourism is not the same academic route as a bachelor degree, and a certificate at Ts̓zil has a different community and delivery context.
Animation, VFX, and Motion Picture Arts
Career diplomas sit alongside the four-year Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts.
Portfolios, videos, interviews, information sessions, or questionnaires differ by program; they are not interchangeable.
Jazz Studies
A four-year Bachelor of Music with performance/composition focus.
Every entrant must audition. Seats are restricted and ranked by instrument. Acceptance does not guarantee a place in an ensemble.
Tourism Management Co-op
A two-year 60-credit diploma with a mandatory four-month co-op work term.
The diploma ladders into the Bachelor of Tourism Management; the closed Tourism Management International diploma is different.
Squamish programs
A mix of bachelor degrees, diplomas, certificates, associate study, and academic upgrading.
Confirm the program profile's campus field; not every CapU credential is offered in Squamish.
Líl̓wat Nation Language and Culture
A certificate offered through the Ts̓zil Learning Centre.
Ts̓zil is owned and operated by Líl̓wat Nation; CapU delivers programs there in partnership.
ḵálax̱-ay and Sunshine Coast are the same place
CapU’s dedicated update says the physical ḵálax̱-ay | Sunshine Coast campus in Sechelt closed April 24, 2026. Community-based delivery was redesigned. Some general location pages still use older active-campus language. So confirm the actual Fall 2027 delivery site.
Motion Picture Arts credential
Current requirements · Published for this period
Motion Picture Arts is a four-year Bachelor degree using the Bosa Centre's sound stage and film-production facilities.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts requirements · Verified August 16, 2026
Tourism co-op credential
Current requirements · Published for this period
Tourism Management Co-operative Education is a two-year, 60-credit diploma with a mandatory co-op term and a ladder to the Bachelor of Tourism Management.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Tourism Management Co-op diploma · Verified August 16, 2026
Squamish campus
Current requirements · Published for this period
The 18-acre purpose-built Squamish campus opened in Fall 2024 with teaching space, housing, dining, an athletic centre, and a sports field.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: CapU Squamish campus · Verified August 16, 2026
ḵálax̱-ay physical-campus closure
Current requirements · Published for this period
ḵálax̱-ay is the Sunshine Coast campus in Sechelt, and its dedicated page says the physical location closed April 24, 2026 while delivery was being redesigned.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: ḵálax̱-ay Sunshine Coast campus update · Verified August 16, 2026
Ts̓zil partnership
Current requirements · Published for this period
Ts̓zil Learning Centre is owned and operated by Líl̓wat Nation; CapU offers courses and programs there in partnership.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Ts̓zil Learning Centre · Verified August 16, 2026
Líl̓wat language credential
Current requirements · Published for this period
The Líl̓wat Nation Language and Culture Certificate covers Ucwalmícwts language, culture, history, and tradition. It teaches these from a Líl̓wat perspective.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Líl̓wat Nation Language and Culture Certificate · Verified August 16, 2026
Residence and Campus Fit
North Vancouver and Squamish
Capilano residence costs and offer process
CapU publishes separate room inventories and meal-plan budgets for North Vancouver and Squamish. The current process uses priority and late deadlines, then a waitlist; it does not publish a universal first-year guarantee.
| Location | Room and meal plan | Per term | Two terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Vancouver | Shared double room plus mandatory meal plan | $6,250 | $12,500 |
| North Vancouver | Single room plus mandatory meal plan | $7,150 | $14,300 |
| Squamish | Single suite with shared washroom plus mandatory meal plan | $6,566.80 | $13,133.60 |
Application
$50
Non-refundable housing application fee.
Offer acceptance
$500
Confirmation payment due when accepting an Offer of Residence.
2027–28 rates
Pending
Reprice both locations when CapU publishes the new cycle.
Student-housing locations
2026–27 · Published for this period
CapU publishes student housing for the academic year at North Vancouver and on the Squamish campus. The room inventories and rates are different at each.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: 2026–27 residence fees · Verified August 16, 2026
Housing offer process
Current housing · Published for this period
Prospective students can apply after they get CapU login details. Housing later issues a conditional offer or formal Offer of Residence. Housing opens a waitlist after late deadlines.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Residence application and waitlist process · Verified August 16, 2026
Residence guarantee
2027 pending · Current housing
No universal first-year residence guarantee is published on the fetched current housing pages.
Treat priority deadlines and offers as a process, not a guarantee.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Residence application and waitlist process · Verified August 16, 2026
2027–28 residence rates
2027 pending · 2027–28
Not published for North Vancouver or Squamish.
Reprice both locations when CapU publishes the 2027–28 housing table.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: 2026–27 residence fees · Verified August 16, 2026
Official residence sources
Housing and Location Questions
| Campus Setting | Regional university city with a defined campus community |
|---|---|
| Residence | Check residence guarantee rules and first-year room styles. Also check meal plans, deposit deadlines, and off-campus housing pressure. |
| City Fit | Students should compare transit, weather, and cost of living in North Vancouver. They should also compare safety and community feel. |
| Commuting | If you live off campus, map your commute time to classes, labs, placements, and evening activities. Do this before you commit. |
Tuition, Scholarships, and Aid
2026–27 latest available
Capilano tuition, fees, and entrance awards
The standard rate is only a baseline. Program surcharges, mandatory student fees, supplies, and residence are separate. Fall 2027 tuition and entrance-award dates remain pending.
Domestic standard tuition
$152.62 per credit
$4,578.60 across 30 credits before mandatory or program fees.
International standard tuition
$724.24 per credit
$21,727.20 across 30 credits before mandatory or program fees.
International EAP reduced rate
$586.75 per credit
Applies to EAP courses except EAP 100 and 101, which retain the standard international rate.
Latest entrance-award values
Capilano Excellence Scholarship (CAPX)
Up to $56,000
10 awards
Capilano Community Leadership Award
Up to $2,500
25 high-school awards plus other applicant groups
International Student Entrance Award
Up to $1,500
3 awards
Y.P. Heung Foundation Post-Secondary Award
Up to $5,000
Number varies
Cycle warning
The entrance-award page still labels the 2026–27 cycle, with CAPX due March 1, 2026 and other awards due March 31, 2026. Those are not Fall 2027 deadlines. Recheck after the next award cycle opens.
Standard domestic tuition
2026–27 · Published for this period
The 2026–27 standard domestic rate is $152.62 per credit. That is $4,578.60 for 30 credits. This is before mandatory and program-specific fees.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: 2026–27 tuition and other fees · Verified August 16, 2026
Standard international tuition
2026–27 · Published for this period
The 2026–27 standard international rate is $724.24 per credit. That is $21,727.20 for 30 credits. This is before mandatory and program-specific fees.
Applies to: International
Capilano University: 2026–27 tuition and other fees · Verified August 16, 2026
Program-specific surcharges
2026–27 · Published for this period
Specialized programs and courses can add charges to the standard per-credit rate. These can include tuition surcharges, consumable fees, supplies, and other charges.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: 2026–27 tuition and other fees · Verified August 16, 2026
Fall 2027 entrance-award cycle
2027 pending · Fall 2027
Not published. The live future-student page still labels October 2025 through March 2026 dates for the 2026–27 cycle.
Do not reuse the March 2026 deadlines for Fall 2027 applicants.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Future-student entrance awards · Verified August 16, 2026
Official cost and award sources
Cost Planning
| Tuition | Tuition depends on your program, student status, and year. Check domestic and international tuition on the official fee schedule. |
|---|---|
| Scholarships | Check automatic entrance awards, competitive major awards, faculty scholarships, and international-student awards. |
| Living Costs | Budget for residence or rent, food, books, transit, and health insurance. Also budget for winter clothing and emergency funds. |
| Proof of Funds | International students should confirm current study-permit financial requirements and school-specific cost estimates. |
Student Life and Support
Fit Signals
| Community | Mid-size university profile: compare the feel of classes, access to professors, and student clubs. Also compare how easy it is to build community. |
|---|---|
| Student Supports | Review academic advising, accessibility services, mental health supports, international student services, and writing centres. |
| Clubs and Leadership | Look for discipline clubs, cultural groups, entrepreneurship programs, varsity/intramural sports, and volunteering. |
| First-Year Transition | Ask how orientation, peer mentorship, residence programming, and advising help students settle in. |
Co-op, Research, and Career Outcomes
Work-integrated learning
Capilano co-op, practicums, and career preparation
CapU uses a few WIL models. Tourism has the clearest co-op route. Its diploma and bachelor degree include a required paid summer term. Other programs may use internships, practicums, field placements, clinical education, service learning, or applied projects.
Tourism work term
Mandatory four-month term
This term is scheduled between May 1 and early September. After it, you return to academic study.
Workload
500 paid work hours
The employer page defines the May–August term as paid employment.
Accreditation
ACE-WIL and CEWIL Canada
CapU publishes both accreditations for Tourism co-op.
Placement reality
Competitive, not guaranteed
CapU supports the search and posts opportunities, while employers interview and hire students.
Build a placement plan
- 1.Confirm whether work experience is mandatory, optional, paid, or unpaid in the exact credential.
- 2.Budget immigration authorization early if a work term is mandatory for an international student.
- 3.Use CapU’s preparation and postings, but keep an independent employer search because hiring remains competitive.
- 4.Return to academic study after the Tourism work term as the program requires.
Work-integrated learning types
Current requirements · Published for this period
CapU lists co-op, internships, practicums and clinical placements, field placements, applied projects, entrepreneurship, service learning, and work experience as WIL forms.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Work-Integrated Learning at CapU · Verified August 16, 2026
Tourism co-op duration and pay
Current requirements · Published for this period
The Tourism work term runs for four months from May through August, totals about 500 paid hours, and must be followed by an academic term.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Tourism co-op information for students · Verified August 16, 2026
Tourism co-op accreditation
Current requirements · Published for this period
CapU says Tourism co-op is accredited by ACE-WIL and CEWIL Canada.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Tourism co-op information for students · Verified August 16, 2026
Co-op placement guarantee
2027 pending · Current requirements
No placement guarantee is published. CapU gives preparation and postings. Employers interview students and hire them.
Describe the term as paid only after a student is hired into a qualifying placement.
Applies to: All applicants
Capilano University: Tourism co-op information for students · Verified August 16, 2026
Official WIL and co-op sources
Compare CapU with other British Columbia options in our Canadian university guide directory.
Career Planning
| Experiential Learning | Check whether your target program offers co-op, internships, clinical placements, practicums, studios, field schools, or research terms. |
|---|---|
| Career Services | Compare job boards, employer partnerships, resume support, interview preparation, and alumni mentoring. |
| Research Access | For graduate-school or professional-school pathways, look for undergraduate research assistant roles and lab access. |
| Outcome Questions | Ask where graduates work or study next, and whether outcomes differ by program, co-op stream, or campus. |
Capilano applicants should compare the exact credential, campus, academic prerequisites, and selective materials for their program. Do not rely on one university-wide average. Use the confirmed Fall 2027 opening rule and registration window. Keep closing dates and 2027–28 prices pending. Note the North Vancouver, Squamish, Ts̓zil, and post-closure Sunshine Coast delivery. Treat paid Tourism co-op as competitive employment, not a guaranteed placement.
Capilano Admissions, Costs, Residence & Co-op FAQs
Direct answers on CapU program minima, Fall 2027 evidence, English scores, tuition, entrance awards, North Vancouver and Squamish residence, creative-program supplements, campus delivery, and paid Tourism co-op.
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide organized so you can compare. But official university pages are still the source of truth. They are the source for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology
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