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Concordia

Concordia University

Most Concordia programs admit on grades alone, but Fine Arts and Communication applicants must write a letter of intent or application essay. Here is how to do it.

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Application route

Concordia's own online application (not Common App or UCAS)

Written material

None for most programs; letter of intent, application essay, or portfolio for select programs

Admissions test

No SAT or ACT required

Interview

Required only for a few programs (e.g. Dance, Education, Liberal Arts)

What Concordia rewards

Concordia University in Montreal is not part of the US Common App system, and it does not use the UK's UCAS either. You apply through Concordia's own online application at concordia.ca, where you enter your biographical details, academic history, and upload transcripts and proof of English proficiency. For most undergraduate programs, there is no admission essay or personal statement at all: you are admitted largely on your grades.

The catch is that a meaningful group of programs does require written or creative material, and these tend to be the most competitive ones. Fine Arts programs ask for a letter of intent plus a portfolio. Communication Studies and Communication and Cultural Studies require an application essay. Acting, Dance, Music, Journalism, and several Education and Liberal Arts programs add interviews, auditions, or questionnaires. If your target program is on that list, the writing matters a great deal, because it is one of the few places you can separate yourself from a crowd of similar transcripts. This page tells you which programs need what, then coaches the two pieces of writing most applicants will actually face: the letter of intent and the application essay.

01Genuine fit with a specific program. Concordia's extra writing is program-specific, not a general life story. A Fine Arts letter of intent or a Communication application essay is read by faculty in that department who want to see that you understand what their program actually involves and why it suits you. Name the program, its methods, and its concerns, not Concordia in the abstract.
02Evidence over adjectives. Calling yourself creative, passionate, or hard-working proves nothing. What lands is concrete evidence: a project you made, a problem you worked on, a body of work, a specific film or campaign or community issue you engaged with. The portfolio and the essay should point at each other.
03A clear creative or intellectual point of view. For studio Fine Arts especially, faculty are choosing people they want to teach for several years. They reward applicants who can say something specific about what they make and why, rather than students who simply like art in general. Show that you already think like someone working in the field.
04Readiness for a bilingual, urban, hands-on setting. Concordia is a practical, studio-and-internship-heavy university in a bilingual city. Writing that shows you have thought about Montreal, collaboration, or real-world practice reads as more informed than writing that treats Concordia as interchangeable with any other school.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

2 prompts for Concordia, each broken down with annotated examples.

Letter of intent (Fine Arts)Length varies by program; most departments expect roughly 500 words or one page. Always check your program page and stay well under the stated limit.

Fine Arts programs (Studio Art, Film Production, Design, Creative Writing, Photography, and others) require a letter of intent submitted alongside a portfolio. It explains who you are as a maker and why this specific studio program fits your work.

Application essay (Communication Studies)Follow the length stated on your program's additional-requirements page; aim for a focused piece of roughly 500 words and do not pad it.

Communication Studies and Communication and Cultural Studies require an application essay. This is where you show you understand communication and media as a field to study, not just as content you enjoy.

See all 2 prompts and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at Concordia and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Fall (September) entry deadlineMarch 1
Fall entry, US and international applicantsApply no later than February 1 (for immigration processing)
Winter (January) entry deadlineNovember 1
Winter entry, US and international applicantsApply no later than August 1
Application fee$100 CAD, non-refundable

Cost

Sticker price$46,806
Avg net after aid$46,806
Read my essay for Concordia
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How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Concordia weighs most Supplemental essays2 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $46,806/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Concordia interview? Format, tips, and practice The Concordia Reader ProScore your draft against Concordia's exact prompts
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Concordia FAQ

What is Concordia's acceptance rate?

Concordia does not publish a single official acceptance rate. Admission is decided separately for each program, largely on your grades, so selectivity depends heavily on what you apply to. Third-party sources estimate an overall rate between roughly 44% and 78%. Competitive and capped programs (such as Fine Arts studios, Communication Studies, and several Engineering and Business streams) are harder than the headline number suggests, and they are exactly the ones that ask for extra written or portfolio material. At Concordia, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Concordia require?

Concordia requires 2 supplemental essays on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Concordia cost?

Concordia's published sticker price is about $46,806 per year, but the average family pays $46,806 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Concordia require SAT or ACT scores?

Concordia is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores at all, even if you submit them.

When are Concordia's application deadlines?

Concordia's application deadlines are Fall (September) entry deadline March 1; Winter (January) entry deadline November 1; Winter entry, US and international applicants Apply no later than August 1; Application fee $100 CAD, non-refundable. Add Concordia to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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