Centennial College's Animation - 3D diploma is based at the Story Arts Centre, one of Centennial's five Toronto-area campuses and the college's dedicated hub for media, animation, and creative programs. Centennial was Ontario's first public college, opened in 1966, and has long drawn large international cohorts into its Business, Engineering Technology, and Media programs — it held the highest number of international student study permits of any Canadian post-secondary institution in 2018. For applicants interested in animation specifically, Centennial's pitch is a two-year, portfolio-building diploma inside Toronto's media and creative-industries market, at a fraction of the cost and time commitment of a four-year degree — though, as covered below, that shorter credential carries a different Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) outcome than Centennial's degree programs.
This guide covers what the data actually shows: how admission works, real tuition figures, requirements, English-test rules, and what the diploma means for post-graduation work eligibility.
Acceptance Rate
Centennial does not publish an official percentage-based acceptance rate. Like other Ontario colleges, admission runs through the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) on a rolling, capacity-based basis: applications are reviewed continuously and offers extended until a program's seats fill, at which point that intake closes regardless of the published deadline. Third-party aggregators sometimes cite an estimate in the 60-70% range for Centennial overall, but Centennial itself does not report a program-specific rate for Animation.
What this means practically: Centennial names Media programs specifically among its most in-demand offerings for international applicants, alongside Business and Engineering Technology, so applying early in the intake window matters more than trying to clear a published competitive threshold that doesn't exist.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
The Animation - 3D diploma is billed at Centennial's diploma-level international tuition rate. Approximate annual figures (per Centennial's published fee schedule):
| Cost Item | Amount (CAD/year) |
|---|---|
| International tuition | $16,164 |
| Estimated living expenses | $15,500 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance (international) | $31,664 |
| Application fee | $100 |
| Tuition deposit (non-refundable, due after offer) | Required, amount varies by program |
Over the two-year diploma, total program cost runs to roughly $63,000 CAD before any scholarships or part-time work — well below a comparable four-year animation or media-arts degree elsewhere.
Admission Requirements
Centennial does not set a single college-wide GPA cutoff; the Animation - 3D diploma specifies its own secondary (or post-secondary, for advanced-standing applicants) prerequisite grades, and — as with most animation and design programs across institutions — applicants should expect a creative portfolio component to be part of the admission process; confirm the exact current requirement on the program page, since Centennial's JSON-level program data does not itemize a specific portfolio format.
Required documents:
- Application submitted via the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS)
- Official secondary school transcripts (or post-secondary transcripts, for applicants applying with prior credentials)
- Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, or Duolingo), unless exempt
- CAD $100 application fee
- Non-refundable tuition deposit once an offer is accepted, to secure your seat
GRE/GMAT: Not required — standard for Canadian college diploma admission.
Intakes: Centennial runs Fall, Winter, and Summer intakes for a subset of programs, all on a rolling basis. Fall offers the widest program selection.
How to Get Into Centennial's Animation - 3D Diploma
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Apply as early as possible in your target intake window. Because admission is rolling and capacity-based, submitting a complete application — transcripts, English score, and documents ready — early in the cycle is the single highest-leverage step, especially for a program Centennial flags as one of its more in-demand Media offerings.
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Confirm the exact current portfolio or supplementary requirement directly with Centennial's Story Arts Centre, since creative/animation programs across institutions commonly weigh a portfolio or sample work alongside academic grades — this is not itemized in Centennial's general program data, so verify it before applying.
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Lock in your English test score well before you plan to apply, so it isn't the one missing document holding up an otherwise-complete file when the program is close to filling.
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Budget for the tuition deposit as soon as you accept an offer; it's non-refundable and required to hold your seat, on top of the CAD $100 application fee.
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If your English score falls short, ask about Centennial's English Language Learning pathway — a conditional-admission bridge program that leads into the diploma once you clear the required level.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
The Animation - 3D diploma is billed at Centennial's diploma/certificate tier of English requirement:
- IELTS Academic: minimum 6.0 overall, with no band below 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 80, with no individual skill below 20
- PTE Academic: 53 minimum; Duolingo English Test: 110 minimum
- Waiver: applicants with a prior credential completed and examined fully in English at an approved institution may be exempt; scores are valid for 2 years
- Conditional admission: Centennial's English Language Learning pathway is available for applicants below the requirement
For Centennial's full English-testing breakdown across diploma, degree, and Graduate Certificate tiers, see the Centennial College guide.
Career Outcomes
Centennial does not publish a program-specific graduation rate or average starting salary for Animation, consistent with its structure as a career-focused polytechnic rather than a research university. What the data does show:
- Centennial's Media and creative-program graduates are concentrated with national retail, media, and marketing agencies, per the college's published outcomes data — a directly relevant cluster for animation graduates pursuing studio, agency, or freelance work
- Centennial's Story Arts Centre gives creative-program students dedicated production facilities distinct from the college's Business- and Engineering-focused campuses
A PGWP note specific to this program: because Animation - 3D is a diploma (a non-degree credential), it falls under IRCC's eligible-field-of-study restriction for study permit applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024 — it only qualifies for the Post-Graduation Work Permit if its specific CIP code appears on IRCC's current eligible list, which as of early 2026 centers on six broad sectors (healthcare and social services, education, trades, agriculture, STEM, and transport). Animation and general arts programs are not among the sectors IRCC's list currently centers on, so applicants should not assume PGWP eligibility for this diploma by default — verify Animation - 3D's exact current status directly against IRCC's official list before enrolling, and weigh that carefully against Centennial's Bachelor's degree programs, which remain PGWP-eligible regardless of field.
FAQ
Does Centennial publish an acceptance rate for Animation? No. Centennial doesn't publish an official percentage-based acceptance rate for this or any program — admission is rolling and capacity-based through OCAS. Media programs are among the offerings Centennial names as particularly in demand among international applicants.
How much does Centennial's Animation - 3D diploma cost? International tuition is CAD $16,164/year, with total estimated cost of attendance (including living expenses) around CAD $31,664/year — roughly CAD $63,000 for the full two-year diploma before scholarships.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? IELTS Academic 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5), or TOEFL iBT 80 (no skill below 20) — Centennial's standard diploma-level minimum.
Is Animation - 3D at Centennial a degree? No. It's a two-year Ontario College Diploma, not a bachelor's degree. Centennial's degree offerings (Information Technology, Public Relations Management) are separate programs with different PGWP implications.
Will this diploma qualify me for a Post-Graduation Work Permit? Not automatically. As a non-degree credential, it only qualifies if its specific CIP code appears on IRCC's current eligible field-of-study list, which centers on healthcare, education, trades, agriculture, STEM, and transport — categories that general arts and animation programs are not typically classified under. Always verify the program's exact current status on IRCC's official list before enrolling.
Is there a pathway if my English score is below the requirement? Yes — Centennial's English Language Learning program is a structured conditional-admission bridge into the diploma once you reach the required proficiency level.