Earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Vancouver Film School (VFS) diploma in just four years through Laurier’s unique partnership with VFS. You’ll spend Years 1 and 2 at Laurier, immerse yourself in hands-on training at VFS during Year 3, and return to Laurier for Year 4.
Located in Vancouver, also known as “Hollywood North”, VFS is internationally recognized for excellence in film, television, animation and digital design. With industry-standard facilities and mentorship from award-winning professionals, the Laurier-VFS pathway combines academic study with real-world experience, preparing you for careers in the film, media and entertainment industries.
Discover what makes this Laurier program unique and how you'll gain real-world experience.
Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete, and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:
Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more):
Explore a sample weekly schedule to see what your day-to-day might look like in this program.
While you’re at the Vancouver Film School, choose one of five exciting diploma options:
These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:
Once you’re at Laurier, you can connect with an academic advisor in your first year for more information about pursuing a minor. In the meantime, check out other electives and minors to enhance your degree.
OUAC code: UZO
When you apply on the OUAC application:
Students applying to this program from a Canadian province outside of Ontario are encouraged to review our course equivalents by province chart. This chart will show you what courses from your province are equivalent to the admission requirements listed under the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum must present the following:
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements. You will find which courses from your country's curriculum are equivalent to the admission requirements listed above. If your country or curriculum is not listed, please reach out to international@wlu.ca.
Laurier's language of instruction is English, and so we may require you to provide evidence of your English proficiency to help make sure you are successful in your academic courses.
Your three most recent years of full-time education must be in English without taking any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. If you do not meet this requirement, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.
We reserve the right to request an English-language test from any applicant.
If you do not meet Laurier's English proficiency requirement but are academically qualified for your program, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission.
The Academic Transition Pathway (ATP) program is offered through our affiliated institution, Wilfrid Laurier International College, and provides an option for meeting our English-proficiency requirement. If you have received an offer to Laurier with a condition to meet our English-proficiency requirement, you can meet that condition by successfully completing the ATP program.
If you've completed studies at another college or university, you may be eligible to transfer into Wilfrid Laurier University's Film Studies (BA) and Vancouver Film School Diploma program. Admission requirements vary depending on your academic background and the number of postsecondary courses you've completed.
To find out if you can transfer into this program, we encourage you to:
1. Review our transfer admission requirements to find the criteria that applies to your unique situation, including information about transfer credits and academic requirements.
2. Explore our transfer pathway opportunities to see how your previous studies may count toward this program.
If you have already completed an eligible diploma at Vancouver Film School, you may be eligible for one of our VFS pathways.
Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for transfer students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.
It’s not only about the journey; the destination matters. Let us help you get set up for a meaningful career.
Our Film Studies (BA) + Vancouver Film School diploma graduates go on to a wide range of rewarding careers. Here are just a few examples:
Note: Additional training and education may be required.
As a Laurier alum, you'll have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.
Below is a breakdown of tuition fees and expenses for Laurier Arts students for one year (or two terms) studying full time. Fees are based on 2026/27 rates and are subject to increase. All fees are shown in Canadian dollars.
| Fee Type | Domestic Students | International Students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $6,180 | $36,624 |
| Student Fees | $2,133 $4,018 with co-op |
$3,082 $4,967 with co-op |
| Textbook Fees | $500 | $500 |
See a full breakdown of your first-year expenses.
Vancouver Film School offers competitive tuition discounts and various scholarships for Laurier students enrolled in the Honours BA in English or Film Studies.
The Vancouver Film School offers 24 Excellence in Media scholarships to Laurier students who achieve the highest GPA in their major and overall. Students can also participate in the Pitch Competition, which awards winners with scholarships of various amounts.
This is primarily an in-person program, meaning you'll attend classes on campus and learn face-to-face with professors and classmates. When you register for courses, you'll be able to select from available sections and create your timetable.
In-person delivery gives you direct access to faculty, hands-on learning opportunities and a traditional university student experience.
Become a Laurier insider to get quick, fun and informative updates along your application journey.
Have questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548‑889‑8888 or see all contact information.
Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?
