Red River College / University of Winnipeg
Red River College Polytechnic, in cooperation with the University of Winnipeg, offers a diploma/degree program. The programs are separate from each other - the agreement between the two schools is that the U of W will accept the RRC Polytech Creative Communications diploma as transfer of 48 credit hours towards their 4-year Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication.
You must apply to University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic separately and meet the admission requirements for both the U of W and RRC Polytech’s Creative Communications program. You may start at the U of W without having applied or been accepted to RRC Polytech.
RRC Polytech does not reserve seats for joint degree students. You are advised to apply to the RRC Polytech start date you wish to attend once it is advertised on RRC Polytech’s website at www.rrc.ca/cre The annual application intake closes on April 30. For example, for the Fall 2024 start date, applications will be accepted until April 30, 2024.
No preferential treatment is given to those who have already attended the U of W, or plan to attend the U of W. Enrolling in the joint diploma/degree program is completely optional.
Benefits of the joint diploma/degree program
The joint diploma/degree program offers you the opportunity to get both a four-year BA degree with a major in Communications from the University of Winnipeg, and a two-year Creative Communications Diploma from Red River College Polytechnic. Normally, a 4-year degree requires the completion of 120 credit hours of university course work. This joint program offers you the possibility of receiving the 4-year degree by taking 72 credit hours of course work at the University of Winnipeg, and the remaining 48 credit hours required for the degree in the two-year Creative Communications diploma program at RRC Polytech. It offers you the opportunity to get both a degree and a diploma in Communications at the same time, as well as experience what both university and college have to offer.
Timeframe
It’s recommended (but not required) to attend the U of W first, followed by RRC Polytech. The RRC Polytech Creative
Communications program offers opportunities for work placement and learning up-to-date technology, which can be helpful when looking for work immediately after you graduate. Students can opt to spend two to three years at the University of Winnipeg first, completing the 72 credit hours of required courses, and then take the two-year Creative Communications program at Red River College Polytechnic. Students would then transfer the RRC Polytech Creative Communications diploma to the U of W for 48 credit hours, and graduate from both schools at the same time.
University course guidelines
There are strict guidelines regarding the courses required for the U of W portion of the joint degree program. U of W joint degree students must choose one of four course cluster areas for their communication degree: Human Relations; Marketing & Business; Performance & Production; Politics, Ethics & Culture. It is recommended that applicants make an appointment with an academic advisor at the U of W to discuss their academic plan to ensure they are meeting all requirements of the U of W program. The RRC Polytech Creative Communications diploma program is the same curriculum regardless of whether a student is in the joint degree or not.