COVID-19 Information and Updates

Return to Campus Protocol

NSCAD’s three campuses are open daily from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Before coming to campus, you must complete a NSCAD Confirmation of Vaccination form. This form will require you to:

• submit documentation of full vaccination, or  
• make a declaration that you will not provide vaccination documentation at this time and will undergo COVID-19 testing twice a week. 

Testing Instructions

For those opting for twice-weekly testing, NSCAD is now offering observed, self-administered rapid COVID-19 tests on campus at the Art Bar +Projects (1873 Granville Street). You can now access rapid COVID-19 tests on campus, where you will test yourself in front of a witness. Read our FAQs for details.

For those using testing locations provided by Nova Scotia Health, here is how to submit your required testing results: 

• Your proof of testing should be uploaded to the COVID-19 Testing Form 
• You must perform a test every three days; NSCAD’s preference is Monday and Thursday 
• A screenshot of your rapid or PCR test will be accepted 
• Only rapid and PCR tests will be accepted, self-test kit results are not acceptable for uploading test results
  
• Rapid testing locations can be found here and PCR testing locations can be found here 
• Please only submit your results through the Form. NSCAD will not accept test results through email.  

Frequently Asked Questions

The health and safety of students, staff and faculty, and the public are the first priority for NSCAD University’s decisions and actions throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic.

As the NSCAD community prepares for a safe return to campus in the fall 2021 semester, we remind everyone that our campus operations, course delivery and social activities will look different to meet the requirements of the latest provincial public health directives.

Nova Scotia reopening plan and current restrictions

As measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19 gradually change, everyone must continue to follow public health directives for gathering and social distancing.

Starting June 30, 2021, if you’re travelling from outside Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador) you can enter Nova Scotia. You need to complete the Safe Check-in Form and may need to self-isolate when you arrive in or return to the province. Self-isolation requirements are based on vaccination status and testing.

Please book your appointment for a COVID-19 test by completing the COVID-19 self-assessment. If you need help with transportation to/from you testing appointment, please call 1-844-996-0694.

Update on international travel, testing, quarantine and borders

Depending on specific exemptions for vaccinated travellers, international students planning to travel to Canada to attend classes at a post secondary institution may be required to complete additional testing and quarantine requirements.

• Non-exempt travellers entering Canada at the land border will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine
• Non-exempt air travellers entering Canada will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in the country before exiting the airport, and another toward the end of their 14-day quarantine period.
• Effective August 9, all travellers will no longer need to seek accommodations at a government approved hotel upon their arrival at port of entry for three days as they await their test results. Unvaccinated students will now go directly to their designated learning institute site for quarantining and to await the required test results

Protecting yourself and the NSCAD community

To fight this pandemic and keep each other safe, we must work together using every means at our disposal. With the return to campus, NSCAD requires the use of non-medical masks or face coverings at all times in all campus indoor common spaces and encourages other safety measures, none more important than vaccination.

In addition to completing the NSCAD Confirmation of Vaccination form and wearing a mask as detailed in the Return to Campus Plan, the best way to protect yourself and others is to always practice social distancing and follow these health guidelines:

• wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds using soap and water  or a 60-90% alcohol-based hand hand sanitizer.
• do not touch your eyes/nose/mouth with unwashed hands.
• when you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow, and then wash your hands.
• avoid close contact with people and gatherings larger than provincial directives.
• stay home to avoid spreading the illness to others.

If you are ill, have symptoms of flu like a fever or cough, you and everyone in your household must self-isolate in your home for 14 days

All communications distributed by NSCAD work to support our community and follow direction from government and health authorities. Visit this page regularly for updates on NSCAD’s response to the pandemic.

Since February 10, 2020, NSCAD’s Crisis Management Committee has planned for, and responded to, the pandemic as it evolves, following direction from Nova Scotia Health Authority, the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and Nova Scotia Advanced Education.

Do you have questions? Send them to communications@nscad.ca and we’ll post our response in the FAQs.