Skip to main content Skip to local navigation

The School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD)

A badge of AMPD that ranked #2 in Ontario and #3 in Canada for Performing Arts.
Arrow

30+

Competitive degree programs

Box

20,000+

Industry leading alumni worldwide

Dollar sign

$10.1M

Research Funding

Check out what our students & alumni have to say

The thing I enjoy about the Design program is that it's super hands-on. The professors, TAs and instructors are amazing and accommodating. It’s a small program, so I know everyone and everyone is really lovely. For students interested in applying, I really encourage you to start creating pieces that represent who you are as an artist and take advantage of events at York.

Ashley Loyst

Third-year Design Student

As I stepped into my first class I was excited to started meeting a ton of international students like me, who traveled from all around the world for this program. I would’ve never imagined that I would be an artist who is developing a play he wrote in the heart of Toronto, but that’s exactly what I’ve been up to recently. And my friends and teachers, are some of my biggest supporters in this process.

Tuna Gümeli 

Alumnus, Theatre

International Alumnus - Türkiye

My time at York and the opportunity to experience a plethora of different theatre classes helped to cultivate respect and understanding about all the hard work that occurs behind the scenes. At AMPD, I had classes about costuming, lighting, and carpentry, and each class taught me new skills and gave me a new appreciation for the people who have made careers out of these skills.

Ellise Roth (BFA ’22)
Actor (Theatre and Film)  

What I like most about the Integrative Arts program is the flexibility and freedom to explore different aspects of the arts in a contemporary way. I knew I wanted to study the arts, but I didn’t want to choose just one stream. This program lets me take classes across departments like Theatre, Visual Arts and Digital Media, which has helped me discover interests I wouldn’t have explored otherwise.

Psalm Domingo
Third-year Integrative Arts Student

My education at AMPD played a vital role in shaping my career. It exposed me to a diverse range of genres and deepened my understanding between music and other art forms. One of my most memorable experiences was participating in the student-run Media Music Concert. It truly nurtured my passion for music in film and television while helping me develop essential skills in arranging and composing. In fact, hearing about this event before attending York was a key factor in my decision to choose this program.

Blair Smith-Herbert (BFA Music ’22)

Long & McQuade, Educational Services

The environment here is incredibly supportive. AMPD gives students access to hands-on tools from sensors and programmable hardware to 3D printing at the Makerspace. The community is welcoming and collaborative, and it’s helped me grow both artistically and technically in ways I never expected.

Seila Bak

Fourth-year Digital Media student

I chose the York MDes program because I saw the benefits of doing a Master's degree within a larger research institution with a multitude of different resources and supports. What I really enjoy about the program is that it is largely self-directed. It is a playground where you are allowed to ruminate on your ideas, explore possibilities, and shape your academic experience based on your interests. Your instructors provide you guidance to put you on the right path but that path is largely constructed by you.

Rupsha M
MDes Candidate in the Graduate Program in Design

My experience in the Acting area has been incredible. The tremendous faculty members I have had the pleasure to learn from continue to foster environments in which students are inspired to develop their most authentic and artistic selves, both independently and collectively.

Isabella Cappiello

Third-year Theatre student

Pursue Your Passion. Find Your Program

A person with headphones works at a sound editing console while another records voiceovers.

Cinema & Media Arts - (BA)
Explore

A photoshoot setup with a central subject, colourful lights, and two individuals holding light stands.

Cinema & Media Arts - Media Arts (BFA)
Explore

A camera operator films two people in a brightly coloured store, with pink and red displays in the background.

Cinema & Media Arts - Production (BFA)
Explore

Four people converse indoors, with a wooden staircase behind. One in a red hoodie explains while others listen.

Cinema & Media Arts - Screenwriting (BFA)
Explore

Two women in a tech setting. One is wearing a virtual reality headset and a VR controller, while the other is focused on a laptop screen.

Creative Technologies (BFA) *
Explore

A group of dancers is performing on stage in coordinated poses.

Dance (BFA)
Explore

Two individuals are examining a book together in a creative space. Both focused on the material.

Design (BDes)
Explore

Two people are collaborating at a table. The man is interacting with a lighted object, while the woman focusing on the object.

Digital Media (BA)
Explore

A motion capture performer in a dynamic pose wearing a motion capture suit with sensors and gloves, inside a high-tech studio with blue lighting and projection screens in the background.

Integrative Arts (BFA)
Explore

A girl is playing the violin.

Music (BFA)
Explore

Two actors are on stage, one in a red costume with a crown-like headpiece holding a staff, the other in a multi-coloured outfit in the background.

Theatre (BA)
Explore

Theatrical performance with actors in dynamic poses under dramatic red and blue stage lighting.

Theatre: Acting & Performance (BFA)
Explore

Theatre rehearsal with students and instructor on stage under bright lights in a modern auditorium.

Theatre: Performance Creation (BFA)
Explore

Theatre technician operating lighting and sound control boards during a live production.

Theatre: Production & Design (BFA)
Explore

A group discussion at an event titled "Habitat 67: Nature Narratives at Canada's Centenary."

Visual Arts - Art History (BA)
Explore

A woman is holding up a drawing of a lion's head decorated with feathers and flowers.

Visual Arts - Studio (BFA)
Explore

A man and a woman are sitting on a bench in a studio with a green background, illuminated by two bright lights. They appear to be engaged in conversation.

Cinema & Media Studies (MA)
Explore

A group of students engaged in a discussion, with one person speaking in front.

Cinema & Media Studies (PhD)
Explore

A classroom scene with a student presenting designs to an audience seated at tables.

Design (MDes/MA)
Explore

A person in a plaid shirt and hat interacts with equipment on a green screen set.

Film (MFA)
Explore

A choir performing on stage, arranged in a semi-circle with a conductor in front. The backdrop features pink and purple lighting effects, and a piano is visible to the left.

Music (MA)
Explore

A musician playing a saxophone in a band performance.

Music (PhD)
Explore

A dramatic dance performance with multiple dancers in a theatrical setting, showcasing expressive movements and costumes.

Theatre, Dance, and Performance (MA)
Explore

A romantic scene featuring a couple embracing on stage, surrounded by dramatic lighting and smoke.

Theatre, Dance, and Performance (PhD)
Explore

A woman sits on a rug, arranging small objects while others watch in the background at an art event.

Visual Art (MFA)
Explore

A group discussion at an event titled "Habitat 67: Nature Narratives at Canada's Centenary."

Art History & Visual Culture (MA)
Explore

A person in a chair experiences a virtual reality simulation with a large curved screen displaying a cityscape.

Digital Media (MA) (MSc) (PhD) 
Explore

* Available exclusively at our Markham Campus

This purple background highlights various roles and attributes of AMPD makers, including artists, designers, thinkers, collaborators, innovators, and experimenters. The image also features two photos of people, likely representing the diverse group of AMPD creators.