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St. Mary's University
Small university

St. Mary's University

Calgary, Alberta

Compare St. 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.

The short answer

  • Fall 2027 Bachelor of Education applications open October 1, 2026. Official documents are due July 31, 2027.
  • Regular high school applicants need a diploma and 65% in five approved 30-level subjects. English 30-1 is required.
  • The BA/BSc plus BEd Single-Entry route needs a 75% average. It does not guarantee BEd admission.
  • 2026–27 domestic undergraduate tuition is $936 per three-credit course. Annual tuition is $9,360, or $10,999.25 with fees.
  • StMU has no on-campus housing. You must find off-campus accommodation yourself.

Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Official university sources · How we review guides

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Overview

Quick Facts

LocationCalgary, Alberta
School TypeSmaller undergraduate-focused environment
Directory SizeSmall university
Campus SettingMajor-city campus environment
Ranking SignalNo QS World 2026 position listed in this guide
Program StrengthsEducation, Science, Arts, Business

Start with campus and program fit. Then check official admissions, residence, and cost details before you build the final application list.

Admissions Planning

Fall 2027 admission planning

Use the confirmed BEd opening without projecting the general cycle

StMU confirms that Fall 2027 BEd applications open October 1, 2026. It also publishes a July 31 official-document date. Its general Fall 2027 application and BEd closing dates are still not published.

Regular high school

65%

Five approved senior subjects, including English 30-1.

Single-Entry

75%

Competitive BA/BSc plus BEd planning route.

Fall 2027 BEd

Opens Oct. 1, 2026

After-degree admission with a 2.5 recent-credit GPA minimum.

Identity and date check

Calgary facts only, and no rolled-forward deadline

This is St. Mary’s University Calgary, not Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. The general application table stops at Spring 2027, so the Fall 2026 closing dates are not reused for Fall 2027.

Admission route audit

RoutePublished requirementBoundary
Alberta high schoolHigh-school diploma and 65% or higher across five approved 30-level subjects, including English Language Arts 30-1Biology, Psychology, Business Transfer and some Liberal Studies concentrations add senior-subject requirements.
Other Canadian high schoolProvince-equivalent senior courses are used to satisfy StMU’s Alberta 30-level patternOntario and other out-of-province applicants must arrange official transcripts and confirm course equivalencies.
Special admission60–64.9% across five approved subjects, or 65% across four including English 30-1, considered case by caseThis probationary route does not apply to the Bachelor of Education.
Flexible Entry Pathway65% across five approved subjects using English 30-2, followed by a three-course Fall probationary bundleA minimum C- in each course and a 2.0 term GPA (grade point average) earns nine credits and progression to Arts and Science. Additional program prerequisites remain.
Post-secondary transferAt least 30 attempted or completed credits uses post-secondary standing; fewer than 30 uses high-school standingApplicants below 2.0 cumulative GPA or previously required to withdraw may receive probationary special admission.
Mature admissionAge 21 by the term start and English 30-1 at 65% or GED 525, for Canadian citizens or permanent residentsScience, Psychology, Business Transfer and certain Liberal Studies concentrations retain subject prerequisites.
International undergraduateAcademic credentials, official translated documents where required, English evidence and the international application processCurrent general IELTS language evidence requires no band below 6.0. BEd has a much higher separate standard.
BA/BSc plus BEd Single-EntryDirect-from-high-school applicants need a 75% admission average and enter a competitive combined planning routeStudents complete the first BA/BSc within five years and are reassessed; Single-Entry does not guarantee BEd admission.
BEd after-degreeRecognized prior degree and 2.5 GPA over the most recently attempted 30 undergraduate credits, plus stream prerequisites and supporting documentsFall 2027 applications open October 1, 2026; Elementary and Secondary streams have different first-degree/course requirements.

Deadline audit

General Fall 2027 BA/BSc, ESR and transfer application

Pending

The live table publishes Fall 2026, Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 but not the general Fall 2027 cycle.

Fall 2027 BEd applications open

October 1, 2026

Confirmed on the live Fall 2027 BEd requirements section.

Fall 2027 BEd application closes

Pending

StMU labels the opening date. It labels the July 31 official-document date. It has not posted the target-cycle closing dates. These are for domestic or international applications.

Fall 2027 BEd official documents

July 31, 2027

The Fall 2027 requirements section states July 31; rolling assessment means waiting may still risk a full cohort.

Winter 2027 Arts, Science, ESR and transfer

December 31 domestic / October 31 international

Confirmed for the January 6, 2027 start.

Spring 2027 Arts, Science, ESR and transfer

April 30 domestic / February 28 international

Confirmed for the May 3, 2027 start.

Spring 2027 MEd Catholic Leadership

March 1 domestic / February 1 international

Confirmed on the live application table for the May 3 start.

Fall 2027 award application

Pending

The live awards page labels July 31 for Fall 2026 and has not opened a Fall 2027 competition.

General Fall 2027 dates are pending

2027 pending · Fall 2027

The live general table publishes Fall 2026, Winter 2027 and Spring 2027 but does not list the Fall 2027 BA/BSc, ESR or transfer cycle.

Recheck the application table before applying; do not carry the Fall 2026 dates forward.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Mary’s University Calgary: Current application dates and ApplyAlberta steps · Verified August 16, 2026

Fall 2027 BEd closing dates are pending

2027 pending · Fall 2027

The target-cycle section confirms the opening and July 31 official-document deadline but does not publish domestic or international application closing dates.

Recheck the BEd row and the forthcoming Fall 2027 handout. Rolling assessment can fill a cohort before the document deadline.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Mary’s University Calgary: Current application dates and ApplyAlberta steps · Verified August 16, 2026

Official admission sources

Programs and Pathways

Program and credential fit

Separate StMU degrees from pathways and professional destinations

StMU owns its listed Arts, Biology, Education and graduate credentials. Transfer, pre-law and health-profession preparation are not StMU programs. The receiving institution's credential is not a StMU program.

Bachelor of Arts

StMU's directory presents eight BA degrees across three- and four-year formats. These include English, History, Liberal Studies, Psychology and Social Justice and Catholic Studies.

Minors supplement four-year BA/BSc study. Courses are available in 35 disciplines. That does not mean every discipline is a StMU major.

Bachelor of Science Biology

This is a 120-credit Biology degree in a liberal-arts setting. It includes hands-on study near Fish Creek Provincial Park. It also includes an independent research capstone.

Medicine, dentistry, nursing and other professional credentials named as career preparation are not StMU degrees.

Psychology

There is a three-year concentration and a four-year major pathway. There is also a competitive Honours application after third year. It includes supervised independent research.

Counselling, clinical psychology and other regulated careers may require graduate or professional education beyond this BA.

Social Justice and Catholic Studies

This is a four-year interdisciplinary BA. You choose a Social Justice or Catholic Studies emphasis. The final year has an experiential course with a community partner.

This is a StMU-owned academic degree. It is rooted in its Catholic intellectual tradition. It is not a credential of a Calgary diocese or another university.

Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility

A business diploma connecting entrepreneurship, civil society and social justice, with work-integrated learning placements.

It is a StMU diploma. It is not the same as the separate Business Transfer pathway. That pathway is used to continue at another institution.

Bachelor of Education after-degree

Two-year Elementary K–6 and Secondary 7–12 streams with 60 credits, cohort delivery and 26 full-time practicum weeks.

Applicants already need a recognized first degree; stream prerequisites and competitive admission apply.

BA/BSc plus BEd Single-Entry

A high-school entry plan for completing a four-year StMU BA or BSc before the two-year BEd sequence.

After the first degree, the student is reassessed. Admission to Single-Entry is not guaranteed final BEd admission.

Master of Education in Catholic Leadership

This is a separate graduate route. It requires a BEd, at least two years of successful teaching experience and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Its Spring-only admission and graduate tuition must not be merged with undergraduate or BEd after-degree facts.

Transfer and pre-professional pathways

Published block transfers include Bow Valley College pathways into General Studies and Medicine Hat College Biology into the StMU BSc.

Pre-law and transfer planning do not make law school a StMU credential. They do not make every receiving-institution program a StMU credential either.

Three declaration checks

  • Single-Entry is a six-year plan with BEd reassessment, not a guaranteed teaching credential from high school.
  • Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility is a diploma; Business Transfer is preparation to continue elsewhere.
  • Biology and pre-law can prepare students for later professional study. But StMU does not award medicine or law degrees.

Official program sources

Residence and Campus Fit

Housing reality

StMU has no on-campus residence

The Registrar keeps a nearby rental and homestay list. But StMU does not own residence. It does not publish room or meal-plan rates. It does not guarantee first-year housing.

On-campus residence

Not offered

The Registrar states explicitly that StMU does not have on-campus housing.

Residence buildings and rates

None published

There are no StMU-owned residence buildings, room rates or institutional meal-plan prices to quote.

Off-campus support

Rental and homestay list

Enrolment Services keeps a list of nearby rental properties or homestay options. External property contacts supply these options.

Housing guarantee

No university housing guarantee

Because StMU does not operate residence, applicants must independently secure off-campus accommodation.

Fall 2027 housing budget

Pending external-market research

StMU does not publish standard rent, deposit, utility or meal figures for off-campus housing. Ask for the current list and check each provider yourself.

Verify every external rental independently

The StMU list is a contact resource. It is not a standard residence contract. Before you pay, confirm rent, deposit, utilities, furnishings, commute, provider identity and lease terms.

Fall 2027 off-campus costs require external verification

2027 pending · Fall 2027

StMU publishes no standard cost for its external housing list. This covers rent, damage deposit, utilities, meal and commute costs.

Request the current list. Verify the provider yourself. Obtain the complete lease cost before you commit.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Mary’s University Calgary: Off-campus rental-list submission form · Verified August 16, 2026

Official housing sources

Housing and Location Questions

Campus SettingMajor-city campus environment
ResidenceCheck residence guarantee rules and first-year room styles. Check meal plans, deposit deadlines, and off-campus housing pressure.
City FitStudents should compare transit, weather, cost of living, safety, and community feel in Calgary.
CommutingIf you live off campus, map your commute time. Map it to classes, labs, placements, and evening activities. Do this before you commit.

Tuition, Scholarships, and Aid

Tuition and awards

Use the published 2026–27 totals without forecasting 2027–28

StMU publishes course, per-credit and annual examples. These are for domestic and international undergraduates. It also publishes a separate BEd schedule. The figures below keep those program boundaries.

Domestic undergraduate tuition

$936 per three-credit course / $9,360 annual tuition

2026–27 Arts and Science rate; mandatory fees bring the published five-course annual example to $10,999.25.

International undergraduate tuition

$2,808 per three-credit course / $28,080 annual tuition

2026–27 Arts and Science rate; mandatory fees bring the published annual example to $29,719.25.

Domestic undergraduate per-credit rate

$312

Three credits × $312 cross-checks to the published $936 course tuition.

International undergraduate per-credit rate

$936

Three credits × $936 cross-checks to the published $2,808 course tuition.

Domestic BEd after-degree

$13,589.25 annual total

2026–27 published total including $11,940 tuition and mandatory listed fees.

International BEd after-degree

$37,469.25 annual total

2026–27 published total including $35,820 tuition and mandatory listed fees.

Application and registration

$100 domestic / $175 international application; $200 deposit

Current non-refundable charges; the registration deposit is applied to first-term tuition and fees.

Fall 2027 / 2027–28 tuition

Pending

StMU had not published the target academic-year rate schedule by August 16, 2026.

Entrance and transfer award snapshot

President’s Entrance Scholarship

$3,000 / $2,000 / $1,000 / $500

Current automatic ladder: 90%+, 85–89.9%, 80–84.9%, and 75–79.9%, with at least nine credits in each Fall and Winter term.

Post-Secondary Transfer Scholarship

$1,000

This is the current one-time award. It is for eligible students with at least 30 transferred credits, a 2.7 cumulative GPA and nine credits per semester.

O’Leary Family Scholarship

Up to $20,000 over four years

This is the current renewable high-school award. It is for eligible baccalaureate entrants. They need at least 80%, leadership and community involvement.

Frank Buckley Entrance Scholarship

$5,000

The current page names Catholic-school, 90%, service and leadership criteria. But it conflicts on whether a reference or application is required.

Gordon Elliott Opportunity Fund Scholarship

$2,000

This award goes automatically to the continuing First Nation, Métis or Inuit student with the highest prior-year GPA. That student must register for a continuing year.

Fall 2026 general award application

July 31, 2026

Latest published cycle for application-based awards; automatic awards use their own rules.

Fall 2027 award cycle

Pending

Current amounts and 2026–27 dates must be rechecked when StMU opens its target-cycle applications.

Official-source conflict

The Frank Buckley entry requires a reference. It says incomplete applications will not be considered, then says no application is required. Ask Awards for written instructions before the deadline.

Frank Buckley application instructions conflict

Official-source conflict · Current published information

The current $5,000 entry says applicants must submit a reference. It says applications without one are not considered, then says no application is required.

Ask Awards for written confirmation of the application and reference process. Do this before the relevant deadline.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Mary’s University Calgary: 2026–27 entrance, transfer, continuing and program awards · Verified August 16, 2026

Official tuition and award sources

Cost Planning

TuitionTuition depends on your program, student status and year. Check domestic and international tuition on the official fee schedule.
ScholarshipsCheck automatic entrance awards, competitive major awards, faculty scholarships, and international-student awards.
Living CostsBudget for residence or rent, food, books and transit. Also budget for health insurance, winter clothing and emergency funds.
Proof of FundsInternational students should confirm current study-permit financial requirements and school-specific cost estimates.

Student Life and Support

Fit Signals

CommunityIt is a small university. Compare class feel, access to professors, student clubs and how easy it is to build community.
Student SupportsReview academic advising, accessibility services, mental health supports, international student services, and writing centres.
Clubs and LeadershipLook for discipline clubs, cultural groups, entrepreneurship programs, varsity/intramural sports, and volunteering.
First-Year TransitionAsk how orientation, peer mentorship, residence programming, and advising help students settle in.

Co-op, Research, and Career Outcomes

Work-integrated and experiential learning

Program-specific WIL, not one universal co-op sequence

Education practica, a current paid Biology internship, research, community field experience and liberal-arts internship courses have different eligibility, hours, academic credit and pay conditions.

No universal co-op sequence published

StMU publishes WIL, internships, practica, community field experience and research. These are program- and course-specific. It does not publish one institution-wide alternating co-op schedule.

BEd practica

Four semesters include practica totalling 26 full-time weeks. They are usually in three schools. A classroom teacher and a university adviser give mentorship.

2026–27 BIOL 480 paid internship

The current posting offers 4 to 6 paid hours weekly for 13 weeks in Fall 2026. It offers the same in Winter 2027. You get credit for it. Only eligible continuing Biology students can take part.

Biology capstone

Each BSc Biology student does an independent research project. A faculty member guides you. You present it at the winter poster conference.

Social Justice and Catholic Studies

The final-year experiential course builds a work-related relationship with a community partner. The course description names at least 120 practical hours.

Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility

The diploma includes WIL placements with industry experts. However, the public page does not promise that the placement is paid. It does not promise one hour count for everyone.

Liberal-arts internships

StMU’s pre-law planning page names course-based internship options in English, History and Interdisciplinary Studies. It also names field experience and capstones.

Psychology Honours research

Four-year Psychology students with high marks can apply after third year. They can do supervised independent thesis research and a public conference.

BEd practica

26 full-time weeks

Four semesters, typically across three schools.

BIOL 480

4–6 paid hours / week

Specific 2026–27 posting; 13 weeks in each term.

SJCS field experience

120+ practical hours

Community-partner capstone experience.

No universal alternating co-op is published

Current published information · Published for this period

StMU's current evidence is WIL, internships, practica, community field experience and research. This evidence is program- and course-specific. It is not one co-op sequence for every student.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Mary’s University Calgary: Student services, advising and WIL navigation · Verified August 16, 2026

Current BIOL 480 internship is paid

Current published information · Published for this period

The 2026–27 posting offers 4–6 paid hours weekly for 13 weeks. This is in each of Fall 2026 and Winter 2027. It is for credit and limited to eligible continuing Biology students.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Mary’s University Calgary: 2026–27 paid BIOL 480 internship posting · Verified August 16, 2026

One paid Biology posting is not a universal pay promise

Current published information · Published for this period

The BIOL 480 posting confirms payment for that specific role and cycle only. It does not establish that every StMU WIL placement is paid.

Applies to: All applicants

St. Mary’s University Calgary: 2026–27 paid BIOL 480 internship posting · Verified August 16, 2026

Official career and WIL sources

Official student-life context

Career Planning

Experiential LearningCheck your target program. Does it offer co-op, internships, clinical placements, practicums, studios, field schools, or research terms?
Career ServicesCompare job boards, employer partnerships, resume support, interview preparation, and alumni mentoring.
Research AccessFor graduate-school or professional-school pathways, look for undergraduate research assistant roles and lab access.
Outcome QuestionsAsk where graduates work or study next, and whether outcomes differ by program, co-op stream, or campus.

St. Mary's University applicants must keep the Calgary institution distinct from Saint Mary's University in Halifax. They must also keep it distinct from the University of Calgary and other similarly named colleges. StMU independently owns its admission, programs, tuition and awards. Fall 2027 BEd applications open October 1, 2026. Official documents are due July 31, 2027. The general undergraduate deadline remains pending. BEd closing dates remain pending. So do 2027–28 tuition and the Fall 2027 award cycle. StMU explicitly has no on-campus housing. Applicants must verify external rentals themselves. Experiential learning is program-specific. It includes Education practica, Biology research and internship, Social Justice community field experience and liberal-arts internships. It is not one universal co-op or paid-placement guarantee.

St. Mary’s University Calgary admission, programs, tuition, scholarships, housing and WIL FAQs

Current answers for Fall 2027 applicants comparing StMU Calgary’s regular, Flexible Entry, transfer, mature, international, Single-Entry and BEd routes, with current costs, awards, no-residence status, program ownership and experiential-learning boundaries kept explicit.

Official Sources and Next Steps

Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison. But official university pages remain the source of truth. They are the source for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.

Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 16, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology

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