Saint Mary's University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Compare Saint Mary's University programs, admissions, costs, residence, student support, and career pathways in one source-reviewed guide. Jump to the decision section you need below.
Reviewed August 15, 2026 · Information checked against official university sources · How we review guides
Overview
Quick Facts
| Location | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
|---|---|
| School Type | Comprehensive teaching and applied-program university |
| Directory Size | Mid-size university |
| Campus Setting | Major-city campus environment |
| Ranking Signal | No QS World 2026 position listed in this guide |
| Program Strengths | Business, Science, Arts, Engineering, Astronomy |
Start with campus and program fit, then verify official admissions, residence, and cost details before building the final application list.
Admissions Planning
Halifax undergraduate admission
Saint Mary's University admission requirements
Canadian high-school applicants are assessed on five required Grade 12 academic courses. Saint Mary's publishes a minimum 70% average across those courses with no required-course mark below 60%, then changes the exact prerequisite pattern by program.
Fall 2027
Fall 2027 cycle status
Saint Mary's important-dates page still covers the 2026–2027 academic year and confirms only two Fall 2027 facts: admission applications for the 2027–2028 academic year open October 1, 2026, and the Entrance Awards and Admissions Scholarships deadline is February 15, 2027. The apply page still states that applications are being accepted for Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 only. No final Fall 2027 domestic or international admission deadline is published.
Saint Mary's has used August 1 domestic and June 15 international deadlines for the September intake, so treat those as the working planning pattern—but verify the apply page once the Fall 2027 cycle is posted.
Saint Mary's University: Important dates for the 2026–2027 academic year · Verified August 15, 2026
University-published counts
Size, age, and academic structure
Saint Mary's publishes that it was founded in Halifax in 1802, is the second largest university in Nova Scotia, and teaches 5,511 undergraduate and graduate students across four faculties—Arts, Science, the Sobey School of Business, and Graduate Studies & Research. It lists 54 unique undergraduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs, 32 graduate programs, an average undergraduate class size of 35, and almost 98% of full-time professors holding a PhD.
Quick Facts also cites a Top 5 placement among primarily undergraduate universities in the Maclean's University Rankings 2025—a third-party ranking Saint Mary's is quoting, not an audited enrolment statistic.
Saint Mary's University: Quick Facts: size, campus, faculties, and community · Verified August 15, 2026
Fall 2025
Fall 2025 enrolment mix
The enrolment page reports Fall 2025 data as provided to the Association of Atlantic Universities and MPHEC: total enrolment 5,511 students from 113 countries, 89% undergraduate, 91% studying full-time, and 61% of all students from Nova Scotia (65% of undergraduates). By faculty the split is Sobey School of Business 34%, Arts 30%, Science 24%, and Graduate Studies and Research 11%. New undergraduates arrive 74% from high school, 18% as transfers, and 8% as mature, readmitted, upgrading, visiting, audit, or open-studies students.
This is the most recent enrolment snapshot Saint Mary's publishes; expect Fall 2026 figures to replace it during the 2026–2027 year.
Saint Mary's University: Enrolment data (Fall 2025, as provided to AAU and MPHEC) · Verified August 15, 2026
Current published statements
How international the student body actually is
Saint Mary's does not publish a single international-student percentage, and its own pages disagree on the country count. The International landing page says more than a quarter of students are international, coming from over 80 countries. The About page says more than 5,500 students from over 117 countries. The Fall 2025 enrolment page—the only statistically sourced figure—says 5,511 students from 113 countries and publishes no international percentage at all.
Use the enrolment page for any figure you rely on, and do not repeat a specific international percentage for Saint Mary's—no first-party page states one.
Saint Mary's University: International at Saint Mary's landing page · Verified August 15, 2026
Fall 2025
The Caribbean presence Saint Mary's actually publishes
The Fall 2025 enrolment table lists the top five citizenships among international students: India 15%, People's Republic of China 11%, Bangladesh 10%, Nigeria 5%, and the Bahamas 5%. The Bahamas is the only Caribbean country in that table, and it is the only Caribbean-specific enrolment figure Saint Mary's publishes.
Saint Mary's publishes no Caribbean-region total, no Jamaican or Trinidadian enrolment count, and no Caribbean alumni figure—do not infer one from the Bahamas row.
Saint Mary's University: Enrolment data (Fall 2025, as provided to AAU and MPHEC) · Verified August 15, 2026
Current campus context
Halifax campus footprint
Saint Mary's describes itself as a modern, secular, metropolitan university in the heart of Halifax in Mi'kma'ki, with a walkable campus contained within one city block and an easy walk to the city centre. Campus facilities named include the Sobeys Inspiration Hub, the Engineering Building, the SMU Art Gallery, and the Burke-Gaffney Observatory.
Saint Mary's University: Quick Facts: size, campus, faculties, and community · Verified August 15, 2026
Required-course average
70% minimum
Across the five required courses; not an offer guarantee.
Required-course floor
60% each
No mark below 60% in the admission-course set.
Fall 2027 opens
October 1, 2026
Final Fall 2027 deadlines are not yet published.
Ontario Grade 12 requirements
| Entry route | Five-course prerequisite set |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts / Environmental Studies | ENG4U plus four additional 4U or 4M courses |
| Bachelor of Commerce | ENG4U; one of MHF4U, MCV4U, or MDM4U; and three additional 4U or 4M courses |
| Bachelor of Science | ENG4U; MHF4U or MCV4U; one 4U science (SBI4U, SCH4U, SPH4U, or ICS4U); and two additional 4U or 4M courses |
| Diploma in Engineering | ENG4U; MHF4U or MCV4U; SCH4U; one Grade 12 science with SPH4U recommended; and one additional 4U or 4M course |
Ontario students apply through Saint Mary's own undergraduate application rather than OUAC. Applicants provide a first and second program choice; if the first is not admissible, the second can be considered.
CXC and CAPE requirements
Saint Mary's publishes a dedicated Caribbean Examinations Council curriculum. You can apply with completed CSEC certificates, CAPE Unit 1 plus predicted CAPE Unit 2 results, or final CAPE Unit 2 certificates. CSEC grades of 1, 2, or 3 and CAPE grades of 1 to 5 are considered, and advanced standing may be assessed for CAPE Unit 2 results of 1, 2, or 3.
| Entry route | Published CSEC/CAPE subject set |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts / Environmental Studies | English plus four other academic subjects at CSEC level or higher |
| Bachelor of Commerce | English, Mathematics, and three other academic subjects at CSEC level or higher |
| Bachelor of Science | English; CSEC Additional Maths or CAPE Mathematics; one science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Computer Programming); and two other academic subjects — a BSc Access route exists for students holding only CSEC Mathematics |
| Diploma in Engineering | English; CSEC Additional Maths or CAPE Mathematics; Chemistry; one Grade 12 science with Physics recommended; and one other academic subject |
Saint Mary's country table records “Test of English: not required” for CSEC and CAPE jurisdictions including Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Belize, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, and Suriname. The Bahamas is assessed on BGCSE results with no English test; Haiti's Baccalauréat route does require one.
Current deadline status
| Intake | Application date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 — international | June 15, 2026 | Published deadline has passed; late files may be reviewed or deferred |
| Fall 2026 — domestic | August 1, 2026 | Current published deadline |
| Winter 2027 — international | October 15, 2026 | Current published deadline |
| Winter 2027 — domestic | December 1, 2026 | Current published deadline |
| Fall 2027 | Applications open October 1, 2026 | Final domestic and international admission deadlines not yet published |
Do not reuse the Fall 2026 deadline for Fall 2027
Saint Mary's has confirmed that the 2027–2028 application cycle opens October 1, 2026 and that entrance-award consideration is due February 15, 2027. It has not yet published the final Fall 2027 domestic and international admission deadlines.
Current requirements
Canadian academic base
Every Canadian provincial curriculum is assessed on five required Grade 12 academic courses with a minimum 70% average and no mark below 60% in those courses. The five-course pattern changes by entry route: Arts and Environmental Studies need senior English plus four academic courses, Commerce adds an approved senior mathematics, Science adds pre-calculus or calculus plus one senior science, and the Diploma in Engineering adds chemistry with physics recommended.
Saint Mary's publishes no program-by-program competitive average—meeting the 70% floor is an eligibility test, not an offer guarantee.
Saint Mary's University: Canadian admission requirements by province or territory · Verified August 15, 2026
Current requirements
Ontario Grade 12 course patterns
Ontario applicants present ENG4U plus four additional 4U or M courses for Arts or Environmental Studies; ENG4U, one of MHF4U, MCV4U, or MDM4U, and three additional 4U or M courses for Commerce; ENG4U, MHF4U or MCV4U, one 4U science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or ICS4U Computer Science), and two additional 4U or M courses for Science; and ENG4U, MHF4U or MCV4U, SCH4U, one Grade 12 science with SPH4U recommended, plus one additional 4U or M course for the Diploma in Engineering.
Saint Mary's University: Canadian admission requirements by province or territory · Verified August 15, 2026
Current requirements
CXC/CAPE route for Caribbean applicants
Saint Mary's publishes a dedicated Caribbean Examinations Council curriculum. Applicants can apply with completed CSEC certificates, CAPE Unit 1 plus predicted CAPE Unit 2 results, or final CAPE Unit 2 certificates. Grades of 1, 2, or 3 in CSEC subjects and 1 to 5 in CAPE subjects are considered, and advanced standing may be assessed for CAPE Unit 2 results of 1, 2, or 3. Science needs CSEC Additional Maths or CAPE Mathematics, with a BSc Access route available for students holding only CSEC Mathematics. Students in or holding an Associate's Degree apply as transfer students on a combination of CSEC, CAPE, and Associate's Degree results.
Saint Mary's University: International admissions: curriculum and country requirements · Verified August 15, 2026
Current requirements
Caribbean country rules and the English-test exemption
The country table lists CSEC results of I, II, or III and/or CAPE results of I to V, with credit for CAPE Unit 2 results of I, II, or III, and 'Test of English: not required' for Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Belize, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, and Suriname. The Bahamas is assessed on BGCSE results, including predicted BGCSE grades of C or better from a school, with no English test required. Bermuda uses its school diploma at a 70% average with no mark below 60%. Haiti is assessed on the Baccalauréat at 10/20 with an English test required.
Saint Mary's University: International admissions: curriculum and country requirements · Verified August 15, 2026
Current fee schedule
Application route, fees, and deposits
Applicants use Saint Mary's own undergraduate application rather than OUAC, choosing a first and second program choice so the second can be considered if the first is not admissible. The application fee is $65 CAD domestic and $100 CAD international and must be paid for the application to be processed. Applications are processed within 2–3 weeks. The published admission confirmation deposit is $500 domestic and $3,000 international.
Saint Mary's University: Apply now: application steps, fees, and current deadlines · Verified August 15, 2026
2026–2027 cycle, latest available
Currently published application deadlines
For September 2026 entry the deadlines are August 1 for domestic applicants and June 15 for international applicants. For January 2027 entry they are December 1 domestic and October 15 international. Applications submitted after these dates are reviewed to see whether a decision can be issued in time; if not, the application is deferred to the next available start date.
The Fall 2026 international deadline of June 15, 2026 has already passed—late files are reviewed or deferred rather than automatically refused.
Saint Mary's University: Apply now: application steps, fees, and current deadlines · Verified August 15, 2026
Current policy
Early admission on Grade 11 evidence
Students who have completed Grade 11 and registered for Grade 12 courses but not yet finished their first Grade 12 semester may qualify for early admission with at least a 70% average in the five required admission courses as determined by the Admissions Office. When a required Grade 12 course is still in progress, the corresponding Grade 11 mark may be used.
Saint Mary's University: Canadian admission requirements by province or territory · Verified August 15, 2026
Current requirements
English-language evidence
Undergraduate minimums are IELTS Academic or IELTS Online Indicator 6.5 with no individual score below 6.0, Cambridge B2 First / C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 176 with no individual score below 169, CAEL 60 with no component below 50, Pearson PTE 58, Duolingo 115 with no sub-score below 95, and Trinity ISE 96 overall with no skill below 90. TOEFL tests taken after January 2026 need a minimum 4.5 listening band with no other band below 4.0; tests taken January 2026 or earlier need 550 paper-based or 83 iBT with no band below 20. Graduation from an English-language secondary school, or three years in a Canadian, British, or American-patterned secondary school taught and examined in English, also satisfies the requirement.
Saint Mary's University: Undergraduate English-language requirements · Verified August 15, 2026
Current status
Saint Mary's own EAP pathway is closed
The Language Centre (TLC) at Saint Mary's is no longer operating, so the university runs no in-house English for Academic Purposes pathway. The current published alternative is completion of university preparatory English at a Languages Canada-accredited school recognised by Saint Mary's: Apex Language and Career College, Atlantic Canada Language Academy, Canadian Language Learning College, Halifax Language Institute of Canada, International Language Institute, International Language Academy of Canada, or Oxford International Career Colleges.
Saint Mary's also states that effective April 30, 2024 it no longer produces IELTS score reports—request a Test Report Form directly through Cambridge instead.
Saint Mary's University: The Language Centre (TLC) closure notice · Verified August 15, 2026
Current policy
IB Diploma admission and credit
The minimum predicted IBDP score for admission to any Saint Mary's program is 24 out of 42 using anticipated or projected grades. A completed IBDP earns a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 42 credit hours, including up to 12 credit hours for a minimum of two points on the IB Core. Individual IB courses are accepted for admission with predicted scores of 3 or higher, credit is awarded for HL or SL final scores of 3 or higher, and non-IBDP applicants can receive a maximum of 30 advanced credit hours. IBDP students presenting English HL or SL at grade 3 or higher meet the English proficiency requirement without a test.
Saint Mary's University: IB admission and recognition policy · Verified August 15, 2026
Application Checklist
| Academic Requirements | Verify prerequisite courses, minimum averages, and program-specific requirements on the official admissions pages. |
|---|---|
| Supplementary Review | Competitive programs may ask for essays, portfolios, interviews, experience profiles, or timed video responses. |
| International Applicants | Plan transcript evaluation, English-language proof if required, study permit timing, and proof-of-funds documentation. |
| Deadlines | Confirm application, document, scholarship, residence, and portfolio deadlines every cycle before submitting. |
| Stellar Coaching Use | Bring your target program, transcript, activities, and draft responses to a coaching session for school-specific planning. |
Programs and Pathways
Saint Mary's programs and engineering pathway
Entry is organized around Arts, Environmental Studies, the Sobey School of Business, Science, and the Diploma in Engineering. Compare both the first credential and the later major, co-op, or transfer decision.
Arts
Humanities, social sciences, languages, economics, psychology, and interdisciplinary study
The broadest direct-entry prerequisite set: English plus four academic courses.
Sobey School of Business
Accounting, computing and information systems, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, global business, human resources, management, and marketing
Requires an approved senior mathematics course; co-op is an internal application after university study.
Science
Biology, chemistry, computing science, environmental science, forensic science, mathematics, physics, psychology, and astronomy
Requires pre-calculus or calculus plus a senior science; major-level co-op GPA rules can be higher than the general CGPA rule.
Engineering
Two-year Diploma in Engineering, SMU Resource Engineering, and linked Dalhousie completion pathways
The diploma supplies the first two years; continuing to a specific BEng route is a separate academic progression decision.
Engineering starts with a two-year diploma
After the Diploma in Engineering, students can pursue Saint Mary's Resource Engineering BEng or seek the final two years of Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Industrial, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering at Dalhousie. Applicants should verify progression and discipline requirements before assuming a later place is automatic.
Current structure
Four faculties and the entry routes underneath them
Undergraduate entry is organised around the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Science, the Sobey School of Business, environmental and sustainability programs, and the Division of Engineering, inside a catalogue of 54 unique undergraduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs. The prerequisite set—Arts, Commerce, Science, Environmental Studies, or the Diploma in Engineering—is what actually changes the required five courses, not the major itself.
Saint Mary's University: Quick Facts: size, campus, faculties, and community · Verified August 15, 2026
Current program
Sobey School of Business: scale, accreditation, and majors
Saint Mary's describes the Sobey School as 'One of Canada's leading business schools' and, on its BComm page, as large enough to be nationally relevant while still personal. The commerce program has existed since 1934, and the school holds both AACSB International and EQUIS accreditation—Saint Mary's states it is the only business school in the region with both. The BComm offers 12 majors (Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business Studies, Global Business Management, Human Resource Management, Management, Management Information Systems & Analytics, Marketing, Sports Business, and Sustainability Management), which Saint Mary's calls the largest number of majors in the region. The Sobey School holds 34% of Fall 2025 enrolment—the largest single faculty.
Saint Mary's does not publish a national size ranking for the Sobey School—use its own 'leading business school' framing rather than claiming it is one of Canada's largest.
Saint Mary's University: Bachelor of Commerce programs and accreditations · Verified August 15, 2026
Current program
Faculty of Arts breadth
Saint Mary's calls itself home to one of Atlantic Canada's largest Arts faculties and lists BA majors including Ancient Studies, Anthropology, Asian Studies, Atlantic Canada Studies, Criminology, Economics, English, Entrepreneurship, French, Geography, Global Development Studies, Health Wellness and Sport in Society, History, Irish Studies, Law and Ethics, Linguistics, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Humanities and Heritage, Social Justice and Community Studies, Sociology, Spanish and Hispanic Culture, and the Study of Religion, alongside the separate Bachelor of Environmental Studies. Arts holds 30% of Fall 2025 enrolment.
Saint Mary's University: Bachelor of Arts programs · Verified August 15, 2026
Current program
Faculty of Science routes
Published BSc routes are Astrophysics, Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science, Computing Science & Business Administration, Earth Science (Geology), Engineering, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology, plus a Pre-Health Sciences Pathway, certificates including forensic sciences, and co-operative education. Saint Mary's highlights research opportunities with professors after first year and Dean's List tutoring. Science holds 24% of Fall 2025 enrolment.
Saint Mary's University: Bachelor of Science programs · Verified August 15, 2026
Current program
Engineering: diploma first, then two destinations
The two-year Diploma in Engineering builds a foundation in engineering mathematics, design, and technical communication. After it, students may complete a Bachelor of Engineering in Resource Engineering at Saint Mary's or continue the final two years of a Bachelor of Engineering at Dalhousie University in Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Industrial, Chemical, or Environmental Engineering. The four-year Resource Engineering degree can also be entered from day one or at Year 3 after the diploma, with program options in Renewable Energy Engineering or Mining Engineering.
Saint Mary's does not publish a guaranteed transfer place at Dalhousie—verify progression and discipline requirements before assuming the second half of the degree is automatic.
Saint Mary's University: Engineering: diploma and Resource Engineering pathways · Verified August 15, 2026
Official Saint Mary's University sources
Saint Mary's University Residence Costs & Halifax Housing
Saint Mary's residence costs and availability
Published 2026–2027 residence fees cover the eight-month academic year and include wireless internet. Meal-plan rules differ between traditional rooms and apartments, and holiday stay-over charges are separate.
| Room example | Meal plan | Eight-month total |
|---|---|---|
| Rice double room | $525 Flex Dollar Plan | $8,800 |
| Rice single room | $525 Flex Dollar Plan | $10,705 |
| Loyola North / Vanier single | 5-Day All Access | $16,510 |
| Loyola North / Vanier super single | 7-Day All Access | $17,150 |
Residence is limited, not a blanket first-year guarantee
New students must accept admission, pay the academic deposit, apply through the housing portal, and then complete the residence agreement and $500 confirmation deposit. Spaces can fill and move to a wait list. Applications for the 2027–2028 academic year open February 1, 2027.
Current stock
Buildings and bed count
Saint Mary's publishes three residences—Vanier, Rice, and Loyola—with 700 beds in total on a campus contained within one city block, and describes the campus as home to North America's tallest solar-integrated residence tower. Room types split into Loyola North and Vanier single and super single rooms, Rice apartments with shared bath and kitchen, and Loyola South and Vanier senior apartments usually assigned to third- and fourth-year, graduate, and over-21 students.
Saint Mary's University: Quick Facts: size, campus, faculties, and community · Verified August 15, 2026
2026–2027
2026–2027 room and meal-plan totals
Published 2026–27 eight-month totals: Rice double room with the $525 Flex Dollar Plan $8,800 (room $8,275); Rice single with the Flex plan $10,705 (room $10,180); Rice super-single with the Flex plan $11,000 (room $10,475); Loyola North or Vanier single with the 5 Day All Access Plan $16,510 and with the 7 Day plan $16,885 (room $9,895); Loyola North or Vanier super single $16,775 on the 5 Day plan and $17,150 on the 7 Day plan (room $10,160). Senior apartment singles run $10,580 to $17,170 depending on bath type and plan. All fees include wireless internet and exclude December–January holiday stay-over charges.
Saint Mary's University: 2026–2027 residence room and meal-plan fees · Verified August 15, 2026
2026–2027
Mandatory meal plans by building
Meal plans are mandatory for all rooms and bed spaces. Loyola North and Vanier residents default to the 7 Day All Access Plan at $6,990 per academic year and may switch to the 5 Day All Access Plan at $6,615 by contacting SMU Dining. Rice apartments and senior apartments carry a mandatory minimum flex-dollar-only plan, defaulting to the $525 Flex Dollar Plan with the option to upgrade to either All Access plan.
The published deadline to downgrade from a default meal plan is September 18, 2026 for the Fall term and January 15, 2027 for the Winter term.
Saint Mary's University: 2026–2027 residence room and meal-plan fees · Verified August 15, 2026
Current policy
No blanket first-year guarantee
Saint Mary's states that each year the university receives more residence applications than there are available beds, and once residences are full students are offered a wait list confirmed by a $500 Residence Confirmation Deposit and a signed Wait-List Agreement, with position set by the date and time both arrive. New students are normally assigned by the date their completed application and deposit are received, though Housing & Residence reserves the right to assign spaces as it deems appropriate. Room assignments for September are normally emailed in late July or early August, and single rooms are limited.
Saint Mary's University: Residence procedures: wait list, deposits, and room assignment · Verified August 15, 2026
Current policy
Residence application steps and money at risk
Students must accept the offer of admission and pay the academic confirmation deposit before the SMU ID activates and the Housing Portal opens, then pay a $50 residence application fee, set preferences, and pay the $500 Residence Confirmation Deposit with the Residence Agreement. The $500 deposit is applied to second-semester residence fees in January; $250 is refunded if the reservation is cancelled in writing by August 1, and nothing is refundable after August 1. Returning students keep seniority only by re-applying before the March 1 Room Priority Deadline and paying the deposit by May 15.
Saint Mary's University: Apply to residence: portal steps, fee, and deposit · Verified August 15, 2026
Fall 2027
Fall 2027 residence rates and dates
Not yet published. The housing calendar currently covers 2026–2027: move-in begins September 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m., residence closes for the holiday break on December 22, 2026, reopens January 2, 2027, and applications for the 2027–2028 academic year open February 1, 2027 through the Housing Portal.
Budget with the labelled 2026–2027 room and meal-plan totals and re-check the fee page after February 1, 2027, when the next housing cycle opens.
Saint Mary's University: Important housing dates for 2026–2027 · Verified August 15, 2026
Halifax campus life and student support
Residence sits inside a campus contained within one city block, an easy walk from downtown Halifax. These are the athletics, society, and international-support facts Saint Mary's publishes itself.
Current campus life
Huskies varsity, club sport, and recreation
Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics fields 13 varsity teams across eight sports. The Homburg Centre adds club activities including cheerleading, golf, karate, field lacrosse, ringette, women's field hockey, and tennis, plus intramurals and SMUfit drop-in fitness, Pilates, and drop-in sport programming open to students, faculty, staff, and the community.
Saint Mary's University: SMUfit Athletics and Recreation · Verified August 15, 2026
Current campus life
Societies, funding pool, and support services
Quick Facts lists 50+ active student societies and clubs, $15.7M available in scholarships, fellowships, and bursaries, $9.3M in philanthropic support, and a global community with more than 60,000 alumni. Saint Mary's states it provides support for learning, accessibility, and mental health with dedicated advising for international, Black, and Indigenous students, delivered through the Student Success Centre, the Fred Smithers Centre for Student Accessibility, the Counselling Centre, and the Student Health Clinic.
Saint Mary's University: Quick Facts: size, campus, faculties, and community · Verified August 15, 2026
Current services
International Student Centre services
The International Student Centre on the third floor of the O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre publishes visa and study permit advising including post-graduate work permit guidance, custodianship for international students under the age of 19, income tax help sessions, pre-arrival and cultural adjustment support, and a free airport pickup service for all new incoming degree international students arriving in Halifax for the first time at the start of the Fall and Winter terms.
Saint Mary's University: International Student Centre Hub and services · Verified August 15, 2026
2026–2027
Getting around and staying covered
The U-Pass bus pass is charged to full-time students at $184.00 for 2026–2027 ($92.00 per term) and is not charged to part-time students; a summer U-Pass costs $92.00 and is automatic for students in two or more May–June courses. International students carry the SMUSA Basic Health plan at $1,497.00 for twelve months unless they hold valid provincial coverage (MSI in Nova Scotia), are on exchange, or are sponsored by their home government or embassy.
Saint Mary's University: Undergraduate tuition and fees (2025–2026 and 2026–2027) · Verified August 15, 2026
Official Saint Mary's University sources
Housing and Location Questions
| Campus Setting | Major-city campus environment |
|---|---|
| Residence | Check residence guarantee rules, first-year room styles, meal plans, deposit deadlines, and off-campus housing pressure. |
| City Fit | Students should compare transit, weather, cost of living, safety, and community feel in Halifax. |
| Commuting | If living off campus, map commute time to classes, labs, placements, and evening activities before committing. |
Tuition, Scholarships, and Aid
Saint Mary's tuition and entrance scholarships
The university publishes per-course rates by faculty, residence category, and international entry year. These are current 2026–2027 course rates, not complete degree or annual totals.
| Student category | Arts | Commerce | Science / Engineering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia Canadian / permanent resident | $791.70 | $917.70 | $892.70 |
| Canadian / permanent resident outside Nova Scotia | $920.00 | $1,046.00 | $1,021.00 |
| International entrant in 2026–2027 | $3,301.00 | $3,301.00 | $3,334.00 |
Ancillary fees, SMUSA fees, U-Pass, medical and dental plans, residence, meal plans, textbooks, co-op fees, and deposits can change the total. Use the official calculator with the actual course load and student category.
Admissions Scholarships
Complete the undergraduate application by February 15 for competitive academic consideration. No separate scholarship form is used for this category.
Entrance Awards
Use the separate awards application for programs considering academics, financial need, community participation, leadership, or extracurricular work. The 2027 deadline is February 15.
International tuition incentives
| Published partnership | Published benefit |
|---|---|
| Nova Scotia International Student Program (NSISP) | Canadian out-of-province tuition rate for the whole undergraduate degree — an estimated saving of more than $50,000 |
| Government of Sint Maarten partnership | $1,000 per 3-credit-hour course for the whole degree — an estimated $40,000 — for Sint Maarten citizens graduating from a Sint Maarten high school in 2025–26 or later |
| CAIS, CIS, United World Colleges, NBISP, PEI-ISP, Munro Academy | $1,000 per 3-credit-hour course for the whole degree — an estimated $40,000 — for graduates of these named school networks |
Sint Maarten is the only Caribbean-jurisdiction partnership Saint Mary's publishes; there is no general Caribbean entrance scholarship. Applicants entering through a tuition reduction program such as NSISP or CAIS are not eligible for Admissions Scholarships.
2026–2027
2026–2027 per-course tuition
Saint Mary's prices tuition per course, and the September 2026–August 2027 table lists Nova Scotia Canadians and permanent residents at $791.70 Arts, $917.70 Commerce, and $892.70 Science & Engineering; out-of-province Canadians and permanent residents at $920.00, $1,046.00, and $1,021.00; and international students starting in 2026–27 at $3,301.00 Arts, $3,301.00 Commerce, and $3,334.00 Science & Engineering. A $500.00 co-op rate appears in the same table for every student category. Nova Scotia residents also receive the NS University Student Bursary of $128.30 per 3-credit-hour course.
Saint Mary's labels all tuition and fees subject to change, and the international rate is banded by entry year—students who started earlier keep a lower published rate.
Saint Mary's University: Undergraduate tuition and fees (2025–2026 and 2026–2027) · Verified August 15, 2026
2026–2027
2026–2027 ancillary, student, and health fees
Full-time ancillary fees total $615.00 for 2026–2027 (Campus Renewal $290, Systems Technology $90, Recreation Facilities Renewal $85, Sport and Recreation $85, Student Services $45, Copyright $20), with a $369.00 part-time total. Student fees add the SMUSA fee of $211.50 and the U-Pass at $184.00 for full-time students. SMUSA health and dental rates are $320.00 extended health and $155.00 dental for twelve months, plus a $1,497.00 twelve-month Basic Health plan charged to international students who cannot show provincial coverage.
Opt-out windows are set by SMUSA—August 15 to September 25 for the Fall term and December 15 to January 25 for the Winter term—and opt-outs are approved only if the plan is unused.
Saint Mary's University: Undergraduate tuition and fees (2025–2026 and 2026–2027) · Verified August 15, 2026
2027–2028
2027–2028 tuition status
Not yet published. The undergraduate tuition page currently shows only the September 2025–August 2026 and September 2026–August 2027 tables, both marked subject to change. Use the official undergraduate costs calculator with the actual course load, faculty, and student category rather than assuming a Fall 2027 figure.
Plan with the labelled 2026–2027 per-course rates and re-check the tuition page before treating any number as a Fall 2027 quote.
Saint Mary's University: Undergraduate tuition and costs calculator · Verified August 15, 2026
Current policy
Admissions Scholarships: competitive, and no published values
Students who submit a complete undergraduate application by February 15 for the September intake are assessed within the applicant candidate pool for competitive Admissions Scholarships based on academic merit, with no separate scholarship form. Saint Mary's publishes no value bands, no qualifying average, and no number of awards for this category. Students applying through a tuition reduction program such as NSISP or CAIS are not eligible for Admissions Scholarships.
Do not quote an Admissions Scholarship amount for Saint Mary's—no first-party page publishes one. Ask Recruitment directly for the current range.
Saint Mary's University: Entrance scholarships, bursaries, and awards · Verified August 15, 2026
2027 entry
Entrance Awards application window
The 2026–2027 important-dates calendar says the Entrance Awards application opens October 15 and is due February 15, 2027. The Scholarships & Awards page still describes the 2026 Entrance Awards Program as open from October 15, 2025 at 9 a.m. until February 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. AST, and states that early or late submissions will not be reviewed.
The awards page has not yet been rolled forward to the 2027 window. Work to the calendar's February 15, 2027 date and confirm with the Recruitment Office before relying on it.
Saint Mary's University: Entrance scholarships, bursaries, and awards · Verified August 15, 2026
Current awards
Named entrance awards with published values
The Sobey National Innovator Scholarships award 10 renewable entrance awards worth $50,000 over four years—$20,000 in year one and $10,000 in each of years two to four—to accepted applicants from across Canada with a 90% or higher admission average or an IB Diploma score of at least 36. Presidential, Presidential International Baccalaureate, and Santamarian Scholarships are open to domestic and international applicants with a 95% admission average or IB 36+, require a 750-word essay, and renew on a 3.70 GPA over 24 credit hours in first year and 30 credit hours thereafter. Other published awards include the Harrison McCain Scholarship/Bursary (80% senior-year average plus demonstrated need, March 1 deadline), the Techsploration Science Award at $2,000 renewable, the Tribe Network Award for Black or Indigenous computing students with a June 1 deadline, and the Nova Scotia High Skills Major Entrance Award at $2,000.
The Sobey National Innovator Scholarships are described for students from across Canada; the Presidential and Santamarian route is the one explicitly open to international applicants.
Saint Mary's University: Entrance scholarships, bursaries, and awards · Verified August 15, 2026
Current incentives
International tuition incentives, including the Caribbean one
Saint Mary's publishes school- and program-linked tuition reductions of $1,000 CAD per 3-credit-hour course for the entire undergraduate degree—an estimated $40,000 saving—for graduates of the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island international student programs, CAIS-accredited schools, CIS member schools, United World Colleges, Munro Academy, and, in the only Caribbean-jurisdiction partnership on the page, international students and citizens of Sint Maarten graduating from a Sint Maarten high school in 2025–26 or later. Nova Scotia International Student Program graduates instead receive the Canadian out-of-province tuition rate for their entire undergraduate degree, an estimated saving of more than $50,000.
There is no general Caribbean scholarship at Saint Mary's. Sint Maarten is the only Caribbean government partnership published, and NSISP or CAIS routes disqualify a student from Admissions Scholarships.
Saint Mary's University: Tuition incentives for international students · Verified August 15, 2026
Official Saint Mary's University sources
Cost Planning
| Tuition | Tuition depends on program, student status, and year. Verify domestic and international tuition on the official fee schedule. |
|---|---|
| Scholarships | Check automatic entrance awards, competitive major awards, faculty scholarships, and international-student awards. |
| Living Costs | Budget for residence or rent, food, books, transit, health insurance, winter clothing, and emergency funds. |
| Proof of Funds | International students should confirm current study-permit financial requirements and school-specific cost estimates. |
Student Life and Support
Fit Signals
| Community | Mid-size university profile: compare class feel, access to professors, student clubs, and how easy it is to build community. |
|---|---|
| Student Supports | Review academic advising, accessibility services, mental health supports, international student services, and writing centres. |
| Clubs and Leadership | Look for discipline clubs, cultural groups, entrepreneurship programs, varsity/intramural sports, and volunteering. |
| First-Year Transition | Ask how orientation, peer mentorship, residence programming, and advising help students settle in. |
Co-op, Research, and Career Outcomes
Saint Mary's co-op entry and work terms
Co-op is available in eligible Arts, Commerce, and Science programs, but it is not automatic direct entry from high school. Students normally apply after completing at least 45 and no more than 69 credit hours and after declaring a major.
| Faculty | Published academic rule |
|---|---|
| Arts | Minimum 2.50 CGPA |
| Sobey School of Business | Minimum 2.50 CGPA at application; minimum 2.70 degree GPA to graduate with co-op distinction |
| Science | Minimum 2.50 CGPA and 3.00 GPA in major courses |
Accepted students are expected to complete three work terms, each about 12 to 16 weeks, alternating with academic study. Admission depends on eligibility, the application process, and available program capacity; it is not guaranteed by admission to the degree.
Current program
Where co-op is available
Co-op options are published for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science, and the Master of Science in Applied Science. Saint Mary's states explicitly that the BComm has no requirement to do a co-op—students choose whether to take a co-op term—and the co-op option is listed alongside the BSc program set. Co-op is an internal application after university study begins, not a direct-entry stream from high school.
Saint Mary's publishes co-op availability by degree rather than by major—check the individual program page before assuming a specific major carries co-op.
Saint Mary's University: Co-op degree options by faculty · Verified August 15, 2026
Current program
Co-op eligibility and GPA rules
Applicants normally complete at least 45 and no more than 69 credit hours before acceptance and must declare a major before official acceptance. Minimum CGPAs are 2.50 for the Bachelor of Arts, 2.50 for the Sobey School of Business with a minimum 2.70 degree GPA to graduate with co-op distinction, and 2.50 plus a 3.0 GPA in major courses for the Bachelor of Science. Transfer students must be enrolled full-time at Saint Mary's and, while they do not need an SMU CGPA to apply, must demonstrate one at the time of acceptance.
Saint Mary's University: Co-operative education: eligibility, phases, and deadlines · Verified August 15, 2026
Current program
Work-term structure and phases
Co-op consists of three four-month paid work terms of approximately 12 to 16 weeks each, alternating with academic terms before graduation. The published process runs in three phases: apply on Career360, attend a resume workshop and submit a resume for review—with international students applying for a work permit at this stage—then acceptance, CGPA review, and credit-hour review roughly four months before the first work term starts.
Saint Mary's University: Co-operative education: eligibility, phases, and deadlines · Verified August 15, 2026
2026–2027, latest available
2026–2027 co-op application windows
Published 2026–2027 application windows are January 19 to February 20, 2026 for a Fall 2026 first work term, May 18 to June 5, 2026 for a Winter 2027 first work term, and September 21 to October 9, 2026 for a Summer 2027 first work term. Applications run through the Co-op module in SMU Career360, and the co-op office currently notes that Summer 2027 applications are coming soon.
These windows sit two to three years after high-school entry for most students—confirm the equivalent dates in the year you reach 45 credit hours.
Saint Mary's University: Co-operative education: eligibility, phases, and deadlines · Verified August 15, 2026
Official Saint Mary's University sources
Career Planning
| Experiential Learning | Check whether your target program offers co-op, internships, clinical placements, practicums, studios, field schools, or research terms. |
|---|---|
| Career Services | Compare job boards, employer partnerships, resume support, interview preparation, and alumni mentoring. |
| Research Access | For graduate-school or professional-school pathways, look for undergraduate research assistant roles and lab access. |
| Outcome Questions | Ask where graduates work or study next, and whether outcomes differ by program, co-op stream, or campus. |
Saint Mary's University applicants need to match the five required courses to Arts, Commerce, Science, Environmental Studies, or Engineering; distinguish the published 70% threshold from an offer guarantee; track the still-unpublished final Fall 2027 deadline; and compare the engineering diploma pathway, tuition, entrance awards, limited residence, co-op entry, and international requirements. This guide keeps those decisions on one canonical, official-source-backed page.
Saint Mary's University admission, tuition, scholarships, residence, engineering, co-op, and international-student questions
Direct answers to Saint Mary's University's five-course admission rules, 70% average, Ontario prerequisites, Fall 2027 deadline status, Arts, Commerce, Science and Engineering routes, tuition, scholarships, residence availability, co-op entry, English tests, and IB requirements.
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison, but official university pages remain the source of truth for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 15, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology
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