The Vancouver Film School - Wilfrid Laurier University Degree Pathway

You can find out more about Laurier's Film Studies (BA) program here.

You can find out more about Laurier’s English (BA) program here.

The VFS-Laurier Pathway is ideal for students and/or families who desire:

• A fast track to the ultimate film education—an Honours BA in Film Studies, Honours BA in English, or Combined Honours BA in English and Film Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University and a diploma in Film Production, Writing for Film, Television & Games, or Acting for Film & Television from Vancouver Film School in just four years.
• To combine direct experience training in film production, writing, or acting with an in-depth and comprehensive degree education in film studies and/or English.
• To work and/or reside in Canada (international).

• Acting for Film & Television
• Film Production
• Writing for Film, Television & Games

Yes, alumni who have graduated from the relevant programs listed above within two years will map seamlessly into the Film Studies BA, Honours BA in English, or Combined Honours BA in English and Film Studies program at Laurier. Laurier will also review the education and work-experience qualifications of those who graduated more than five years ago to ascertain eligibility.

VFS students can count their VFS program as credits towards their Honours Film Studies BA at Laurier. In other words, your year spent at VFS counts as a year of coursework towards completing your degree at Laurier. How your courses “transfer” to Laurier depends on which program you completed at VFS.

January and September of the Laurier academic calendar are the intake options for students entering the 2nd year of the Laurier Film Studies program.

Step 1: You must apply to Laurier using the Ontario Universities Application Centre for the period you would like to enter (September or January).  You must submit your application directly to the Ontario Universities Application Centre.

You can also find further information on the application process for international students in Laurier's International Admissions Toolkit. 

Domestic students can find further information in Laurier's Admissions Toolkit.

Step 2: Once you have completed 6 months of your program your mid-program grades will be available.  Email Reception at VFS at [email protected] and request an official transcript.  Once received, please deliver to WLU admissions as follows:

Email: [email protected]

Mail: International Recruitment & Admissions

75 University Avenue West

Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5

Laurier people who manage that account will match the documents with the submitted application from OUAC. 

Step 3: Once an offer of admissions is made to the student, they will receive (online to see and download) their offer letter and conditional letter of acceptance which they can then take to CIC to extend their study permit.

International:

• BA Film Studies, English, or Combined Honours BA (years 2, 3 and 4)

Domestic:

• • BA Film Studies, English, or Combined Honours BA (years 2, 3 and 4)

The application fee is $240 CAD for all students.

Tuition e-bills are sent out to students in late July/early August for the fall term, mid-November for the winter term, and early April for the spring/intersession/summer term. They are due at the end of August for the fall term, mid-December for the winter term, and late-April for the spring/intersession/summer term. For more information on tuition due dates, please visit the Laurier Registration Page.

• Students admitted to Laurier from VFS will be required to have a Year-12 high school English literature course, or equivalent college level course with a minimum grade of 60%
• The minimum GPA for entry to the Academic Programs at Laurier from VFS is a cumulative average of 75% (B- average)

Class sizes range from large for first-year classes (200 students) to medium for second- and third-year classes (50 students) to small for fourth-year classes (22 students).

Class sizes are limited; however, Film Studies and English students have the first chance to enroll in Film Studies and English courses and there are always enough places for students who enroll on time.

Qualifying study permit holders in Canada who are studying full-time may gain work experience by working both on and off campus while completing their studies.  For more information and to assess your eligibility please visit the CIC website.

Working on Campus

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-oncampus.asp

Full Time versus Part-Time

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/students/consider.asp

The definition of full-time or part-time varies depending on the educational institution. A study permit may be issued whether or not the student’s studies are on a full-time or part-time basis (i.e., the condition that study permit holders must actively pursue studies does not require them to be enrolled on a full-time basis), as long as they are enrolled at a designated learning institution. However, the student must have a full-time status in order to work on or off campus.

Working Off Campus

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp

For more information about work permits, please visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-who.asp.

For direct student inquiries, please contact:

Dr. Katherine Spring
Associate Professor & Undergraduate Officer, Film Studies
Department of English and Film Studies
Wilfrid Laurier University

T. 1-519-884-0710, ext. 4149
E. [email protected]

Note: All third party inquiries must direct all inquiries to VFS International office by emailing [email protected].