Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) is a leader in maritime programs. Its Sensing, Engineering and Analytics Technology Access Centre (SEATAC), located at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Dartmouth, complements the college’s ocean and marine industry programs, as well as its applied research efforts. NSCC’s Nautical Institute in Port Hawkesbury offers marine training and funding to support women and Indigenous learners considering sea careers. 

NSCC’s Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) hosts students from around the world. In 2021, a new 27,000-square-foot geospatial analytics innovation hub was unveiled to support research in agriculture, energy and aquaculture.

The college has a diverse roster of diploma and certificate programs, which are divided into five schools: Access, Education and Language; Business and Creative Industries; Health and Human Services; Technology and Environment; and Trades and Transportation. NSCC promotes sustainability-focused learning outcomes in all of its 140-plus programs and intends to become net zero by 2050. NSCC has 13 campuses, three learning centres and an online campus. A new campus on the Sydney waterfront is under construction and scheduled to open in 2024. Suite-style residences are available at the Lawrencetown and Port Hawkesbury campuses, and new residences will open in Pictou and Dartmouth over the next two years.