School Focus: Nova Scotia Community College
Canadian Print Scholarships (CPISTF) is proud to partner with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), a school that helps students build practical, job ready skills for today’s printing industry. Through CPISTF scholarships, learners in graphic communications can focus on their training, gain confidence in the classroom and shop environment, and move toward meaningful careers in print, packaging, design, and related production fields.
Program Spotlight
NSCC’s Graphic and Print Production diploma is a two year, full time program delivered at the Ivany Campus in Dartmouth. It is the only post secondary program of its kind in Nova Scotia, giving students a local pathway into print production careers that require both technical skill and strong coordination across a project’s lifecycle. You can explore program details here: Graphic and Print Production.
The curriculum emphasizes the technical and logistical side of the industry, guiding students through projects from design through final shipment. Students learn to operate industry standard equipment for offset and digital printing, along with wide format imaging. Training also includes bindery and finishing tasks such as cutting, folding, perfect binding, laminating, and grommet or banner installation. On the prepress side, learners build production ready files using raster, vector, and page layout software, and study preflighting, imposition, color management, and Raster Image Processing (RIP). Business focused courses, including customer service, production planning, estimating and costing, and marketing, round out the skill set expected in busy print environments.
Why This Program Matters
Print production depends on people who can manage details, solve problems quickly, and keep quality consistent from file preparation to finishing. NSCC’s simulated work environment helps students learn how a shop runs, including troubleshooting and producing goods to industry standards. With a mandatory five week field experience and an optional 12 week paid co-op term between Year 1 and Year 2, students get opportunities to apply their skills in real workplaces and better understand the pace and expectations of commercial print, publishing, signage, and vehicle graphics settings.
Scholarships and Student Opportunity
Even with accessible tuition, students can face added costs for books, tools, student fees, and portfolio development. CPISTF scholarships help reduce financial pressure so learners can stay focused on building strong production habits and professional readiness. Support like this can make it easier for students to complete hands on training, take advantage of work integrated learning, and pursue careers across print, packaging, and the broader graphic communications sector.
Looking Ahead
CPISTF is grateful to NSCC for its commitment to developing skilled graduates for the manufacturing segment of the creative economy. Partnerships with schools like NSCC help connect education with industry needs, while reminding students that the print community is invested in their success. We encourage students, educators, and industry supporters to stay connected with CPISTF as we continue strengthening pathways into rewarding print careers.
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Link to Nova Scotia Community College
Link to the Graphic and Print Production program at Nova Scotia Community College
“The mission of Canadian Print Scholarships is to attract the brightest and best students available to the graphic communications industry by providing financial assistance to enroll and continue in a post-secondary management or technical program at an approved institution.”
