Recruitment and Admission Services

Admissions & Recruitment is responsible for the promotion of Saint Mary’s programs and services to prospective students, making undergraduate admissions decisions, and awarding Entrance Scholarships.

Type Telephone Email
Advisor 420-5415 recruitment@smu.ca
Application Status 491-6438 admission.status@smu.ca
Scholarships 420-5415 recruitment@smu.ca
Student loans 420-5582 financial.aid@smu.ca
Residence 420-5598 residence.life@smu.ca

Students seeking program information and/or applications can find complete details at: http://www.smu.ca/futurestudents/welcome

To book a campus tour, please contact us at:  902-420-5682 or email: campustours@smu.ca

Visitors to our campus are advised to park on Robie Street, and enter through the McNally Main Entrance (unless otherwise instructed) where you will be met by a student ambassador.  Please note that Saturday tours may not be as comprehensive as week day tours, as some areas are not accessible.

Campus tours are normally available:

Day Time
Monday 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday 2:30 p.m.
Thursday 1:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Each tour is approximately 60 minutes in length. Participants have the opportunity to visit our classrooms, library, bookstore, residences, athletics facilities and dining halls. One week advance booking is recommended.

Centre for New Students - New School, New People, New Place

As a new student at Saint Mary’s, you may have a lot of questions you need answered.  That’s what the Centre for New Students is for - to help you find answers to your questions.  Located in the main entrance of the McNally Building, the Centre for New Students welcomes new and prospective students.  At the Centre, students can be linked with the appropriate academic department, support services, or given information about what the Saint Mary’s community has to offer.

The Centre for New Students provides:

  • Pre-admission information for high school students interested in full-time or part-time studies.
  • A “home base” information area for all new students once they arrive on campus.
  • Referrals to the appropriate academic, administrative or support services.
  • Assistance for new students in understanding the course selection process and determining their academic timetable.

Students are invited to drop by anytime to chat or to take advantage of the many brochures and other publications designed to help with the transition to university life at Saint Mary’s University.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with the Centre for New Students, please call 902-491-8691 or e-mail us at cns@smu.ca. 

Admissions Information

Students seeking admission to an undergraduate program at Saint Mary’s University can apply online or use a paper application.  Details can be found at www.smu.ca/apply 

Written correspondence should be sent to:

Admissions Office
Saint Mary’s University
923 Robie St.
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3

Telephone: 902-420-5415
Fax: 902-496-8100

  1. Procedures for Admission to Undergraduate Programs
    1. Admission Timelines: There are four admission terms:  September, January, May and July.
      Completed applications are considered on an ongoing basis and students can expect to receive a reply within one to two weeks of receipt of the application and all supporting documents.
      “International” students should apply early enough to obtain their study permit and “Transfer” students must ensure that official transcript(s) arrive in the Admissions Office at least 4 weeks prior to the beginning of the term start date.
    2. Documents: Applicants should ask their high school to submit official transcripts of final grades. Applicants who have completed courses at another post-secondary educational institution must request an official transcript be sent to Saint Mary’s University. Failure to report all institutions attended may result in dismissal from the University.
    3. Former Saint Mary’s University students: Students not enrolled in the previous academic year must re-apply.  If accepted, students will be re-admitted to the program they were previously enrolled in.
  2. Requirements for Admission to Undergraduate Programs
    1. General Considerations
      Possession of the minimum requirements does not establish the right of an applicant to be admitted or readmitted to the University. The University reserves the right to accept or reject any applicant.
    2. Canadian High Schools
      Students are required to have completed Grade 12 level university preparatory English and 4 other university preparatory courses.  The overall average should be at least 70% with no grade below 60%.  Specific program requirements are as follows:
      • Bachelor of Arts
        • English
        • 4 other academic university preparatory courses
      • Bachelor of Environmental Studies
        • English
        • 4 other academic university preparatory courses
      • Bachelor of Commerce
        • English
        • Academic Mathematics
        • 3 other academic university preparatory courses
      • Bachelor of Science
        • English
        • Pre-calculus Mathematics
        • 1 Science
        • 2 other academic university preparatory courses
      • Diploma in Engineering
        • English
        • Pre-calculus Mathematics
        • Chemistry
        • Physics
        • 1 other academic university preparatory course
    3. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
      Students may be admitted if they have completed the IB Diploma with a total score of 24 points and a minimum grade of 3 in required courses.  Specific course requirements are the same as those in 2b above.  
      Students who have scores of 5, 6 or 7 in HL courses are eligible to receive university credit for these courses.  Students with total points of 30 or above may receive 30 credit hours of university credit.
      Students with a combination of IB Diploma courses and regular courses will be considered for admission if they meet the specific course requirements as in 2b above.
    4. Quebec
      In order to be considered for admission, students must complete one year of CEGEP and satisfy the specific subject requirements as noted above in 2b. Credits for students with two years of CEGEP will be assessed separately.
    5. Access Program
      Canadian high school graduates who do not satisfy the normal admission requirements for their chosen program may be eligible for admission to the Access Program.  Students must demonstrate strong potential for success in university studies.  If admitted, students must comply with any additional program requirements as specified by their Dean.  Students should contact the Admissions and Recruitment Office for details on the application process.
    6. American School System
      1. In order to be considered for admission, students must complete Grade 12 with 16 points. Students seeking admission to Arts must have 4 points in English and 12 points in other academic subjects. Students seeking admission to Engineering and Science must have 3 points in mathematics and at least 3 points in science subjects. Students seeking admission to Commerce must have 3 points in mathematics.
      2. Students must arrange to provide the Admissions Office with a high school transcript, and SAT score results.
    7. British Patterned System of Education
      For students studying a British patterned curriculum (i.e. CXC, CAPE, AICE, GCE, GCSE, IGCSE or WASSCE) must meet the following requirements:
      1. Students must pass at least five subjects, two of which must be at the Advanced Level, and satisfy the specific subject requirements in 2b. Students who achieve above average results in a minimum of five subjects will be considered for admission.
      2. Students who receive a final grade of A, B or C in approved GCE A Level examined subjects will be eligible for advanced standing credit, to a maximum of 18 credit hours.  The official examination certificate from one of the examination boards ((AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC and CCEA) must be sent to the Admissions Office.
      3. Students who receive a final grade of I, II or III in approved CAPE Advanced Level examined subjects will be eligible for advanced standing credit, to a maximum of 18 credit hours.
    8. Other Countries
      For countries with education systems other than those above, the general requirements for admission are comparable to those used in the country from which the student is applying.  Course requirements for each program are comparable to those in 2b, except that we will accept a language course in the student’s native language in lieu of English language.
    9. Advanced Placement Examinations
      Students with grades of 3, 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement courses are eligible to receive up to 18 credit hours of university credit.
    10. Transfer Students
      Students who have been enrolled in an academic program at another university are normally required to have achieved a minimum average of C. If admitted, transfer students may receive advanced standing credit hour recognition in conformity with the principles and procedures stated in Academic Regulation 20.  For all courses from non-Canadian post-secondary institutions, detailed course syllabus and/or course outlines descriptions must be submitted before any advanced standing will be evaluated. Failure to report all institutions previously attended will result in dismissal from the University.
    11. Mature Students
      To qualify for admission as a mature student, the applicant must be at least twenty-two years of age and must show, through educational upgrading, work experience or community volunteer work, ability to benefit from university level education. Normally, mature applicants must have been out of school for at least five years.
    12. Language Requirement
      Students whose first language is not English, and who have not attended an English language secondary school, are required to take one of the following standardized English language proficiency tests.
      • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
      • minimum 550 on paper-based
      • minimum iBT 80, with no band below 20
      • International Test of English Language Testing System (IELTS) – minimum 6.5 with no individual score below 6.0
      • CanTEST – minimum 4.5 with no individual score below 4.0
      • Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) – minimum 60 with no individual band below 50
      • University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with grade of A, B or C
      • Pearson PTE score of 58
      • English for Academic Purposes Level 6 administered by the TESL Centre at Saint Mary’s University
      • Student has completed three years in a Canadian secondary school where the language of instruction and examination is English
  3. Procedures for Other Admission Categories
    1. Open Studies Student
      1. Individuals interested in taking one or more courses at the University without being registered in an academic program can seek admission as an open studies student. Such students must meet the stated prerequisites for the course(s) for which they register. Students may take no more than thirty (30) credit hours as open studies students. If open studies students wish to continue to study at Saint Mary’s beyond thirty (30) credit hours, they must formally be admitted to an academic program. Students who are subsequently admitted to academic programs from an open studies status may count the university credit hours that they have earned as open studies students.  All courses attempted at the University will remain a part of the students’ permanent records.
      2. Under special circumstances and with the permission of the appropriate Dean, high school students may be admitted to enroll as open studies students in Saint Mary’s courses for which they have the necessary prerequisites.
      3. Open Studies students must apply through the Admissions Office. A separate application is required for each academic year or summer session(s) in which the student is enrolled with this admission basis.
    2. Upgrading Student
      Students who already hold a degree or professional certificate may enroll in a course(s) to upgrade their qualifications. Students are required to follow normal registration procedures. Such students must meet the stated prerequisites for the course(s) for which they register. For this admission category, a separate application is required for each academic year or summer session. The maximum number of courses in which a student is permitted to register under this admission category is thirty (30) credit hours.  The Dean of the Faculty in which a course(s) is offered may authorize an additional course(s) over this limit.
    3. Auditing
      Students who are interested in auditing a course (see Academic Regulation 2 below) are required to apply for admission. Students are required to follow normal registration procedures and pay regular tuition fees. These students must meet any stated prerequisites for the course(s) for which they register.
    4. Visiting Student on a Letter of Permission
      Students currently enrolled at another institution, who have letters of permission to take courses at Saint Mary’s University for transfer of credit hours to their home institution must apply for admission as a Visiting Student. Students are required to follow normal registration procedures. In addition, these students must file a Letter of Permission with the Admissions Office at Saint Mary’s.  Visiting students from institutions in Halifax will have their grades sent automatically to their home institution.  All other students must formally request transcripts to be sent to their home institution.  This can be done at the Service Centre.  Saint Mary’s shall not be held responsible for meeting the deadlines for submission of grades of other universities.
  4. Graduate Admission
    Admission to a graduate program at the University is covered in the Graduate Academic Calendar.
  5. Scholarship/Bursary Program
    See this link for more information on scholarship and bursary programs:
    http://www.smu.ca/future-students/cs-scholarships-and-awards.html