It’s just about time to start your academic journey with us here at NSCAD University, and we can’t wait to meet you! Before you arrive, it’s important to make sure you’ve taken care of some critical tasks. We’ve created a handy dandy check-list to help keep you on track! 

1. Submit your final High School or Post-Secondary Transcript! 

• Now that your grades are finalized, NSCAD needs to receive an updated version of your official transcript.  Once we receive these final transcripts, they will be evaluated for any transfer credits. Please also provide us with any IB or AP transcripts that you may have if you were an IB or AP student in high school.   
• In order to start this process, you will have to ask your last institution attended to send your final official transcripts to us via email or mail. We cannot accept photos or personal copies of transcripts, so please have the school send it to us virtually at admissions@nscad.ca or mail it to: 5163 Duke St. Halifax, NS, B3J 3J6. 
• If you just graduated from a Nova Scotia public high school, NSCAD University will simply obtain a copy of your final transcripts through the Nova Scotia Department of Education. No further action is required. 
• If you have already submitted your final transcripts please move on to step 2! 

2. Confirm you’ve registered for Winter 2024 courses! 

• Log into Self-Service and click on the calendar in your course plan to view your schedule and confirm you’re registered for courses. 
• If you’ve planned courses but weren’t able to complete the process by clicking “Register”, reach out to ose@nscad.ca for assistance. 
• If you haven’t registered yet, reach out to ose@nscad.ca as soon as possible so we can help finalize your schedule! 
• If you’re having trouble logging into Self-Service, visit our Resources Page for guidance. 

3. Submit your RSVP for January 2 Orientation Day! 

• An email was sent to your NSCAD email account for all new incoming NSCAD students with a link to the Orientation RSVP form. Email ose@nscad.ca if you haven’t received this link and we’ll flip it into your inbox. 
• In addition to Orientation Day, Graduate Students (MDes, MAED, and MFA) will also be invited to a Graduate Student Orientation event. Keep an eye on your NSCAD email for further details.   
• The RSVP form includes information we need from you in advance to arrange: 
  • your Student ID Card 
  • your Building Access Card 
  • your Library Barcode 
• It’s critical that you complete the RSVP before December 15 so we can prepare for your arrival! 
• One more thing! Orientation Day will start for you on January 2 at the Fountain campus.

4. Smile for the camera, we need your ID photo! 

• To help us prepare for your arrival, please send an appropriate ID photo to welcome@nscad.ca. The deadline to receive this photo is December 15. 
• After this date, you will need to visit the Office of Student Experience on the second floor of the Fountain Campus opposite the elevator to  get your photo ID printed.  
• Here are some photo guidelines: 
  • File naming convention: StudentID_lastname_firstname 
  • Proportion: 2.5cm x 3.3cm (1:1.32) (this matches most smartphone cameras with no additional editing required)  
  • Image format: JPG  
  • Image size: Maximum 2MB  
  • Background: solid and Neutral (Blue/Grey/White). Take the photo up against a neutral-coloured sheet or wall.  
  • Image quality: the image should not be pixelated or blurry 
  • Subject appearance: even lighting, the eyeline should be parallel with the top edge of the image, and the face must be upright without looking over the shoulder or tilting. The subject must look straight at the camera, with eyes open. NO tinted glasses, no covering of eyes, and no face masks. 

5. Update your new address and Emergency Contact Information! 

• Once you know your local address in Halifax, you’ll need to login to Self Service and complete your student profile by submitting your address and emergency contacts. We’ll need your most current Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) address. We will use this address should we need to contact you by post (which we don’t do very often, but still need to do from time to time!)  
• We also require contact information for two safe people we can connect with in case of an emergency: 
• One contact should live in Nova Scotia – this can be a friend, roommate, coworker, residence staff, etc. 
• One is a personal emergency contact – this can be anyone that you would like us to contact in case of emergency, within or outside of Canada. 

6. Show us your Study Permit (International Students)! 

• For international students, IRCC sends compliance reports to the University each semester for updates on inte rnational student status. You must remain in full-time status to not violate your agreement with the Government of Canada.  
• You must send a copy of your current valid study permit to belong@nscad.ca or take a copy of your study permit to the Office of Student Experience (second floor at Fountain Campus, opposite the elevator) before January 30, 2024. 

7. Complete your WHMIS training through your Brightspace account! 

• In the interest of safety, all NSCAD students must have Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Training (WHMIS) certification to enter workshops and studios.  
• The WHMIS course is offered online to all students free of charge through their personal Brightspace account. You should now have access to Brightspace and can complete this training any time before the first week of classes.  
• Once you’ve completed this training, stop by the Office of Student Experience on the 2nd Floor of the Duke Building (5163 Duke Street) to pick up your WHMIS sticker for your ID card! Have your WHMIS completion confirmation email in hand to show us so we can issue the sticker.