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Thinking about studying at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada?

This lesson will let you know about the International Admissions Requirements at the school so read on and find the answers that apply to you!

Admission Requirements From High School

Saint Mary's University welcomes applications from qualified international students. Please view the country specific admissions requirements below or if your country isn't listed post a message at the bottom of this lesson and we will make sure we get an answer to you!

Saint Mary's University offers conditional admission to academically qualified students who have not studied in English. You may receive admission upon meeting the English Proficiency requirement. Conditional admission can be used to begin your visa and study permit application process for study at Saint Mary's.

British Patterned System of Education

For students studying in a British patterned curriculum, Advanced Level/CAPE/AICE/ GCSE/IGCSE, Ordinary Level, must meet the following program requirements:

Students must pass at least five subjects, two of which must be at the advanced level, and satisfy the specific subject requirements. Students who achieve above average results in a minimum of five ordinary "O" level courses will be considered for admission.

International Baccalaureate (I.B.)

Students who have successfully completed the IB Diploma with a score of 30 or above will be granted 30 credit hours of advanced standing. Clicking this link (PDF file) shows specific I.B. courses that are the equivalent to courses available at Saint Mary's University.

Students who complete Higher Level (HL) Certificates and achieve grades of 5, 6 or 7 are eligible to receive credit hours of advanced standing for each approved course toward their undergraduate degree program.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Students who complete Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and achieve grades of 4 or 5, are eligible to receive advanced standing credit hours for each approved AP course towards their undergraduate degree. Clicking this link (PDF file) shows specific AP courses that are the equivalent to courses available at Saint Mary's University.

Advanced Level (A Level)

Students who achieve a final grade of A, B or C in approved Advanced Level (A Level) courses will be eligible to receive advanced standing credit for each approved A Level course. Clickingthis link (PDF file) shows specific A Level courses that are the equivalent to courses available at Saint Mary's University.

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE)

Students are eligible to receive 6 credit hours of advanced standing for each approved CAPE course, if they achieve grades of I, II, or III . Clicking this link (PDF file) shows specific CAPE courses that are the equivalent to courses available at Saint Mary's University.

Admission Requirements by Country

For specific program requirements, refer to Nova Scotia subject requirements.

View the chart below for more information on specific admission requirements by country.

Country	Admission Consideration with the following	Test of English as a Foreign Language
Antigua	(O) levels - marks of A, B or C CXC - marks of I, II or III (O) & (A) levels - marks of A, B or C CAPE - marks of A, B or C	Not required
Bahamas	Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education BGCSE - with grades of A, B and C CXC/GCE/CAPE - with grades of A,B or C GSCE/IGCSE - with grades of A,B or C	Not required
Bangladesh	Higher Secondary Certificate /Intermediate Certificate - with grades of A, B and C Polytechnic diplomas - with grades of A, B and C	May be required
Barbados	Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate- with grades of A, B or C GCE O & A Levels - with grades of A, B or C	Not required
Bermuda	Bermuda Secondary School Certificate - with grades of A, B and C	Not required
Brazil	Certificado de Conclusao de 2 Grau or Concurso Vestibular - with grades of 6/10	Will be required
British Patterned System of Education	For students studying in a British patterned curriculum, Advanced Level/CAPE/AICE/ GCSE/IGCSE, Ordinary Level, must meet the following program requirements: Students must pass at least five subjects, two of which must be at the advanced level, and satisfy the specific subject requirements. Students who achieve above average results in a minimum of five ordinary "O" level courses will be considered for admission.	Not required if educated in English
China	National Senior High School - Graduation Examination with average of 65%	Will be required
Columbia	Bachillerato (Diploma de Bachiller) - with grades of A,B or C	Will be required
Egypt	General Secondary School Certificate (Thanaweya A'ama) - with overall grade of 70% or higher	Will be required
Ghana	West African Examinations Council Certificate Senior Secondary Certificate Examination	Will be required
Hong Kong	Hong Kong Certificate of Education - with grades of A, B or C	Will be required
India	Higher Secondary School Certificates awarded at XI or XII - with grades of A, B or C	Will be required
Italy	Diploma di Maturita - with grades between 36-60	Will be required
Japan	Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate - with grades of A, B or C or grades of 3 to 5 (max)	Will be required
Korea	Inmungye Kodßng (High School Diploma) - with grades of A, B or C Kodung Academic Upper Secondary School Certificate	Will be required
Kuwait	General Secondary School Certificate - with grades of A,B or C	Will be required
Malaysia	Senior High School Leaving Certificate (Certificate of Unified Examination of Malaysia Independent Chinese Secondary School System (MICSS) - with grades of A1/A2 (distinction) to B3/B4/B5/B6 (credit) Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) - with grades of 1 to 4 (out of 10) or Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Vokesyenal (SPMV) - with grades of 1,2 or 3 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) - with grades of A, B or C	Will be required
Mexico	Secondary School Certificate (Bachillerata) - with grades of A, B or C or 65% or higher or 0-10 with 7 being acceptable	Will be required
Nigeria	Official Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) - with grades of 1, 2, 3 Official West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) - with grades of A1, B2, B3	May be required
Russia	Admission to University level studies from high school Attestato Srednem (Polnom) Obshchem Obrazovanii Grades of 3-5 Admission to University level studies from University Bakalavr: 4 years length Grades of 3-5	Will be required
Saudi Arabia	Tawjihiyya (General Secondary Education Certificate - GSEC) - with grades of A, B or C	Not required if educated in English
St. Lucia	GCSE or IGCSE - O levels - with marks of A, B, or C CXC: - with marks of I,II or III GCE - A levels CAPE	Not required if educated in English
Singapore	Singapore/Cambridge GCE O level: Grade 1-6 Singapore/Cambridge GCE A level:	Will be required
Trinidad and Tobago	GCE Ordinary (O) Levels - with marks of A,B or C CXC - with marks of I, II or III	Not required if educated in English
Taiwan	Senior High School Leaving Certificate - with grades of A, B or C	Will be required
Thailand	Higher Secondary School Certificate (Mathayom Suksa 6-M6) - with grades A, B or C	Will be required
Turkey	Lise Diplomasi - with grades 6-10	Will be required
United Arab Emirates	Secondary School Certificate (Tawjihiyya) - with grades of A, B or C	May be required
Vietnam	Senior High School Leaving Certificate (Tot Nghiep Pho Thong) - with grades of A, B or C	Will be required

Language Requirements

Students whose first language is not English, and who have not attended an English language secondary school, are required to take one of the recognized English language proficiency tests. These tests are administered by the University of Michigan, the College Entrance Examination Board, the University of Cambridge, and Saint Mary's University. The acceptable standards for admission to the University are as follows:

• An average of 4.5 on the CanTEST with no individual score below 3.5
• Successful completion of the highest level of English for Academic purposes program at the TESL Centre, Saint Mary's or
• A minimum score of 550 ( computer based score of 213) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or
• A minimum score of 80 overall iBT TOEFL with at least 20 in each of the four sub-tests: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking or
• A minimum score of 80 on the Michigan examination (MELAB) or
• A minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Admission to a Bachelor's degree program will be offered to academically qualified students whose first language is not English. If you acheive an acceptable standard on a recognized test of English language proficiency, you may register in 15 credit hours per semester (full-time studies).

If your language score falls below the minimum required, but within an approved lower range, admission will be granted to register in 6 or 3 credit hours, provided you are concurrently enrolled in the University Bridging Program (UBP) which is offered in September and January.

A conditional acceptance will be offered to academically qualified students who have not taken (or submitted) a recognized test of English language proficiency. A conditional acceptance can help you gain your study permit.

Teaching English as a Second Language Centre (TESL)

Many students whose first language is not English begin their studies at Saint Mary's in our Intensive English Program. If you are already at an advanced level, the UBP combines 15 hours per week of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) with one or two undergraduate courses. If you are not yet at an advanced level, you may wish to study in our full-time EAP program. Students who successfully complete the highest level of EAP may be admitted to undergraduate programs without writing a language examination.