Canada has universities and polytechnic institutions that offer film- and cinema-related programs, including film production, cinema studies, screenwriting, animation, and media arts. The schools below provide a useful starting point for domestic and international students comparing film-related programs in Canada.
If you are interested in filmmaking or cinema studies, compare each program’s curriculum, admission requirements, learning opportunities, and costs carefully. In this article, we introduce these top film schools in Canada for aspiring students.
Top Film Schools in Canada
1. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia offers film-related undergraduate and graduate study through its Department of Theatre and Film. Undergraduate options include a BA in Cinema Studies, a BFA in Film Production, and a Diploma in Film Production. Film-related graduate options include an MA and a Ph.D. in Cinema and Media Studies and an MFA in Film Production.
Admission requirements vary by program. Some Department of Theatre and Film programs require a separate supplemental application in addition to the general UBC application. For the BFA in Film Production, supplemental materials include a creative self-portrait video and a short film or video.
The BFA in Film Production involves four years of concentrated study. The Diploma in Film Production consists of two to three years of concentrated study and 60 required credits. The MA in Cinema and Media Studies is a two-year program that includes coursework and a thesis.
For international undergraduate students starting a Fine Arts degree in 2026/27, UBC lists full-course-load tuition of CAD $51,530.40 for 30 credits. For the MFA in Film Production, UBC lists first-year international tuition of CAD $10,081.65 for regular full-time study. Fees are reviewed annually. Students should also review UBC’s scholarship options.
2. Toronto Metropolitan University
The Toronto Metropolitan University is located in the heart of Toronto. Its School of Image Arts offers the full-time, four-year Image Arts: Film BFA. Students gain practical experience in areas including story development, cinematography, sound design, and editing with digital and analog technologies. An optional internship is available. The school also offers graduate programs, including an MFA in Documentary Media and an MA in Film + Photography Preservation and Collections Management.
Image Arts: Film is a Grades-Plus program. Applicants must submit non-academic materials, including a portfolio, a project outline, a written statement, and a résumé, and pay a CAD $50 assessment fee. For 2025/26, international tuition and fees for the full-time format range from CAD $36,845 to CAD $37,265. TMU states that it awards more than CAD $20 million in awards, scholarships, and bursaries across all levels of study.
3. York University
York University offers undergraduate film- and media-related programs through its Department of Cinema and Media Arts. Options include the BA in Cinema & Media Arts and BFA programs in Production, Screenwriting, and Media Arts. York’s Graduate Program in Film/Cinema and Media Studies offers MA, MFA, and Ph.D. pathways.
Admission requirements vary by program. The Production and Screenwriting BFA programs require supplementary applications. The BA in Cinema & Media Arts and BFA in Media Arts do not require a portfolio review. Applicants should check the requirements for their intended program before applying.
For full-time international students in most Arts and Sciences programs, York estimates annual tuition of approximately CAD $40,000 for fall/winter 2026/27. Actual fees vary by course load and program. For fall 2026 admission, York’s automatic international entrance scholarships range from CAD $2,500 to CAD $37,500, and other awards may require separate applications.
4. Humber Polytechnic
Humber Polytechnic offers a Film and Television Production Advanced Diploma and a Bachelor of Film and Media Production honors degree.
The Advanced Diploma in Film and Television Production takes six semesters, while the bachelor’s degree takes eight semesters. For 2026/27, Humber lists international fees for two semesters of CAD $21,874.65 for the advanced diploma and CAD $23,493.60 for the bachelor’s degree. Fees are subject to change.
In 2025, Humber held its inaugural Current Cut Film Festival, a two-day event that showcased student and recent graduate films in collaboration with NBCUniversal.
5. Concordia University
Concordia University is home to the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, which describes itself as Canada’s largest university-based center for the study of film animation, film production, and film and moving image studies. Its undergraduate offerings include BFA programs in Film Production, Film Animation, and Film and Moving Image Studies. Graduate options include an MFA in Cinematic Arts and MA and Ph.D. programs in Film and Moving Image Studies.
The Film Production BFA takes a minimum of three or four years of full-time study, depending on the student’s academic background. Film Production students can participate in the student-run Concordia Film Festival and pursue internship opportunities. Concordia’s current undergraduate costs and financial aid page estimates tuition and fees of CAD $32,120 for U.S. and international Fine Arts students.
The schools above offer film-related programs, but their admission requirements vary. Some production-based programs require supplemental materials or a portfolio, while other programs have different requirements. Review the official admissions page for your intended program before applying. Good luck with your application!
We hope this article about film schools in Canada has been informative. Check out the Available Courses for International Students page for more courses or visit our Study in Canada!
