Mount Saint Vincent University Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

Established in 1873, Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) is a public university situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is committed to fostering inclusion, equality, diversity, and accessibility on campus. The university was established by women to empower women through social justice and social responsibility. In addition to the magnificent campus and its facilities, the university is famous for the MSVU Art Gallery at the Seton Academic Centre. The gallery comprises art portraying women as producers and cultural subjects. The percentage of males to females at the university is 24:76. The university’s athletic team competes in the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association (ACAA). There are several varsity sports for both men and women, including basketball, soccer, cross country, volleyball, etc. In 2019, the women’s volleyball team claimed the title of ACAA for the 8th consecutive year. The average class size at the university is 23, recognized as one of the lowest in Canada, with a student/faculty ratio of 20:1. The university values are academic freedom, accountability, creativity, engagement, professionalism, and respect.

Courses Offered

 

What all courses are available to international students?

 

The university offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, 34 graduate courses, and 8 certificate and diploma programs. At the undergraduate level, it offers only Bachelor of Arts and Bachelors of Science programs with 30 majors and minors options. For graduate students, it has professional and master’s programs in:

Professional Programs	Master’s Programs
Applied Human Nutrition	Applied Human Nutrition
Business Administration	Child and Youth Studies
Child and Youth Studies	Public Relations and Communication
Information Technology	Family Studies and Gerontology
Public Relations	Women & Gender Studies
Tourism and Hospitality	Education

MSVU offers the only four-year bachelor’s degree program in Public Relations in Canada. The Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Study program is the only one of its kind in the Atlantic region. The university has the only freestanding Cultural Studies program in Atlantic Canada. It was also the first university in Canada to establish a program dedicated to Tourism and Hospitality Management.

 

Eligibility & Documents Required

 

What are the eligibility requirements?

 

International applicants need to meet country and course-specific entry requirements. Subject-specific requirements can be found on the respective course pages. Other general requirements include:

 

Undergraduate Admissions

Students are required to have a high school certificate or diploma with an average of 70% in any five best academic subjects during the final year of study and at least 65% in core English subjects or any first language. Indian applicants must have received grades of A, B, or C in their Grade 11 and 12 with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Apart from this, any one of these English exam scores is required as proof of English language proficiency:

English Language Tests	Minimum Score Requirements
IELTS	6.5 or above with no band below 6.0
TOEFL iBT	A score of 86 or higher is required, with no score below 21

 

Graduate Admissions

Students are required to have a four-year bachelor’s degree in the relevant field of study from a recognised university or institution with a B average or a GPA of 3.0. English proficiency can be shown by submitting any one of these scores:

English Language Tests	Minimum Score Requirements
IELTS	7.0 or above with no band below 6.5
TOEFL iBT	A score of 93 is required, with no score below 23

 

What all documents are needed for application?

 

Academic transcripts and graduation certificates from all previous education institutions must be submitted. These documents must be in English and if not, then these need to be translated into English by certified translators. Other supporting documents specified by the university are:

• Passport copy and photographs
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Financial statements
• CV/Resume
• Statement of Intent or SOP
• Application essay
• Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

 

Application & Tuition Fees

 

Is there any application fees?

 

The university charges an application fee of CAD 40 for undergraduate programs and CAD 50 for graduate programs. The application fees are non-refundable.

 

What is the fee structure of courses offered by the university?

 

International undergraduate applicants can expect the following cost of attendance:

Fee Type	Annual Cost (in CAD)
Tuition	16,830–19,951
Student Health Plan	654
Textbooks and Supplies	800–1, 800
Students’ Union Fees	227
Other fees (approx.)	540

International graduate students can expect their tuition fee to amount up to CAD 13,304 for six courses.

The fee varies depending on the course and progressive years. We encourage you to check the university website for the exact fee structure.

 

Scholarships & Financial Aid

 

Is there any scholarship or financial aid available for international students?

 

Every year, MSVU invests more than CAD 3 million in scholarships and bursaries for all students. Domestic or international high school applicants are guaranteed a scholarship they have an average of 80% or higher and if they apply by March, 2025. Applicants are not required to fill any separate form for entrance scholarships as they are automatically considered for this award if they have the required scores.

Apart from this, the Financial Aid Office helps students with bursary applications and budgeting. The university administers three types of bursaries at MSVU — Entrance, In-Course and Student Works. Eligible students will receive the entrance bursary application with their acceptance package. The difference between scholarships and bursaries is that a scholarship is a merit-based award and a bursary is awarded to students with financial needs.

Undergraduate applicants can also avail of these awards:

• Diamond Jubilee Entrance Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to undergraduate students based on their high school scores and records. The amount of scholarship varies based on academic excellence.
• In-Course Scholarships: This scholarship is offered to students based on their coursework at the university. Students are nominated by the faculty members and are required to have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 for this scholarship.

 

Graduate Student Scholarships: International students are eligible for graduate scholarships, such as:

• Entrance Scholarships: Students are automatically considered for entrance scholarships based on their merit and academic scores in high school or previous studies. Students are required to submit an additional application for the scholarship. The scholarships include Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Graduate Scholarships, Harvella Endowed Scholarship, Graduate Women's Studies Scholarship, and Graduate Entrance Scholarship.
• BMO Financial Group Endowed Graduate Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to international students enrolled in the Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Research programs at the university. The scholarship amount varies based on a student's academic excellence and previous study scores.

 

Admission Process

 

When do the admissions start?

 

The university has two intakes – September (Fall) and January (Winter). Undergraduate deadlines for international applicants are

Intake/Semester	Deadlines
Fall	Mid-June
Winter	Early December

 

Graduate programs have course-specific deadlines as per intake. Here are some general timelines for course deadlines:

Intake	Course	Deadlines
Fall	Master of Applied Human Nutrition Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition Master of Arts in Child and Youth Study Master of Arts in Education Master of Education Master of Arts in School Psychology Master of Arts in Family Studies and Gerontology Master of Family Studies and Gerontology Master of Arts in Communication Master of Public Relations Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies	January – February
Winter	Graduate Certificate in Health Communication and Aging Master of Arts in Child and Youth Study Master of Arts in Education Master of Education Master of Arts in Family Studies and Gerontology Master of Public Relations Master of Family Studies and Gerontology	Early November
Summer (July)	PhD in Educational Studies	Mid-November

 

All application requirements must be complete by these deadlines. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the dossier materials are sent within this timeframe in support of the application. Late applications may be considered only if there is space available.

 

What is the application process?

 

International applicants from the region of South Asia i.e. from countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka need to apply via a regional agent of the university. The university does not accept direct applications from students of these countries. Applicants can contact university agents here: india1@msvu.ca. Any applications submitted directly to the university will be rejected.

 

When will I hear from the university after I submit my application?

 

Students will receive a decision within four to six weeks after submitting a complete application.

 

Student Diversity & Preferred Profile

 

What are the chances to get into this university?

 

MSVU has an acceptance rate of 78% making it moderately competitive. Students who meet the eligibility criteria and the minimum English language requirements set by the university have high chance of getting accepted.

 

How many Indian/international students are studying at the university?

 

Generally, MSVU is home to over 4,300 students from more than 50 countries. In 2018, the university enrolled a total of 4,418 students from more than 64 countries. Among this, about 16% were international students, and India was among the top five contributing countries with six students.

 

Part Time Work While Studying

 

Can I work while studying here?

 

International students are allowed to work on campus while studying at the university. Students can work full-time during spring and summer programs. However, during fall and winter programs, students can work part-time only, i.e., a maximum of 12 hours per week. The average hourly pay of on-campus employment is CAD 14 per hour and a 4% vacation pay. The wages are 100%, subsidized by the Financial Aid Bursary budget at MSVU.

Fall and Winter Program (Part-Time): Students can only work part-time for a maximum of 12 hours a week.  They can apply for on-campus jobs during September. The on-campus employment starts from late September to late March.

Spring and Summer Program (Full-time): Students can work full-time during spring and summer programs up to a maximum of 35 hours a week. The on-campus employment starts between May and August.

Off-Campus Employment: Students can work off-campus if they are registered as full-time students at the university and have a valid study permit and Social Insurance Number (SIN). There is no limit on work hours while working off-campus during vacations. However, during the semester, students can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week, i.e., between September and April.

 

Campuses & Accommodation

 

How many colleges and campuses does the university have?

 

MSVU is a single-campus institution in Nova Scotia, Canada that encompasses 40 acres of land with lush green space and classical and modern buildings. The campus includes five academic faculties and other academic resources such as the Seton Academic Centre, E. Margaret Fulton Communications Centre, McCain Centre, Rosaria Student Centre, Evaristus Hall, Assisi Hall, and Seton Annex.

 

 

Is on-campus housing available?

 

MSVU offers on-campus housing to all students in its three fully furnished residences – Assisi Hall, The Birches and Westwood. Living on campus is the most convenient way to be a part of campus life, enjoy the commute to class, and build a social network. With a Metro Transit U-Pass, students can travel around Halifax easily. The annual residence fee, including fall and winter term fees, for 2021-22 are:

Residence	Room Type	Annual Cost (in CAD)
Assisi	Single	5,850
	Super Single	6,683
The Birches	Single	5,850
Westwood Apartment	Single in a two or four-bedroom apartment	7,008
Westwood	Single	6,683

 

Meal Plans & On-Campus Dining

The Rosaria Dining Hall provides a variety of healthy, delicious meal options customized to suit the needs of every student. The continuous all-you-care-to-eat dining experience offers flexibility in meal times as the dining hall is open seven days a week, morning to evening. While residence students are required to purchase a mandatory dining plan, commuter students have the option to purchase voluntary plans. The flex dollars can be used in Rosaria Dining Hall, Seton Café and McCain Café. The meal plan prices for 2021-22 are:

Meal Plan	Accommodation	Annual Cost (in CAD)
Pod 7: 7 Day Plan	Traditional & Apartment Options	4,370
Flex: Declining balance	Apartment Option	985
Flex 80: 80 swipes + $200 flex	Apartment Option	1,245
Flex 80 Plus: 80 swipes + $600 flex	Apartment Option	1,660
Flex 200: 200 swipes + $200 flex	Apartment Option	2,460

 

University Contact Information

 

Whom should I contact in case of any doubts?

 

International students can contact the university at the following address:

Address: Mount Saint Vincent University, 166 Bedford Hwy, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6, Nova Scotia, Canada

Telephone: +1-902-457-6788

Website: www.msvu.ca/