All NSCAD campuses closed at noon, February 24, 2024 due to freezing rain. All campuses will reopen at 9 a.m. on February 25.

Our City

Home Sweet Halifax

K’jipuktuk /Halifax is in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. It is a rich and diverse city where over 100 different languages are spoken, and immigrants have settled from more than 168 different countries. At NSCAD University, artists and makers of all different backgrounds and interests have the freedom to experiment and explore. Year after year, NSCAD students come from around the world to study their craft, many choosing to call the city their forever home.

ARTS AND CULTURE ARE A PILLAR OF OUR CREATIVE COASTAL COMMUNITY

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Living and Expenses

From rental properties in historic homes to contemporary high rises, there are great options to finding a place to live as a NSCAD University student. Halifax is a pedestrian-friendly city where you’ll find cyclists sharing the roads with skateboarders and motor vehicles, keeping transportation costs low. Plus, students receive a transit pass, called a UPass, providing unlimited access to buses and ferries of the Halifax Transit System.

Food and Shopping

Halifax is filled with award-winning restaurants, quaint and cozy  pubs, amazing year-round farmers’ markets and plenty of international culinary options. Shopping local is a breeze  with independent retailers all across the downtown and North End. Larger retail chains you know and love can also be found along Spring Garden Road or at the Halifax Shopping Centre.

Arts and Culture

Halifax is the artistic hub of Atlantic Canada. NSCAD University is surrounded by over a dozen art galleries—including the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia—and live music venues, independent shops, creative spaces and cinemas are all within walking distance. Many local pubs and cafes throughout the city also host regular art exhibitions.

Nova Scotia boasts breathtaking scenery. With just a 15-minute drive outside of downtown Halifax, you will find coastal hikes, pristine lakes and old-growth forests, and fantastic beaches for swimming or surfing. Beyond that, outdoor adventures abound throughout the province, such as the lush Acadian farmlands of the Annapolis Valley, the spectacular highlands of Cape Breton and rustic villages and coves in any direction.