Université Sainte-Anne

Founded 1890 | Church Point, NS

Sainte-Anne offers a range of degree, diploma and certificate programs and is profiled in both the Maclean’s Universities Guidebook and the Maclean’s Colleges Guide. To learn more about the school’s diploma programs, see the Colleges Guide profile

Sainte-Anne has developed an international reputation as a leader in French and French-immersion studies after serving Nova Scotia’s Acadian and francophone populations for more than a century. Today, it educates students from across Canada and around the world. French is the official language of instruction, but Sainte-Anne also works to instill bilingualism, which helps its students stand out among other Canadian university graduates. “Our students feel like they become part of a family, which results in an excellent rate of retention, and the rate of employment for our students after graduation is very high—over 90 per cent,” says rector Allister Surette.

As for graduates of the bachelor of education or the co-op bachelor of business programs, they can return to Sainte-Anne for tuition-free study if they have not found relevant work within four months of graduation. Sainte-Anne has five campuses throughout Nova Scotia. The main campus in Church Point (Pointe-de-l’Église) is located in the heart of the francophone region of Clare, near the scenic shoreline of St. Marys Bay. A network of hiking trails runs through the woods and along the seashore. Students may choose accommodation from among 10 residences, each with its own style and traditions. Meanwhile, with two biomass furnaces, two 50-kW wind turbines, 275 solar panels and a free electric-vehicle charging station, Sainte-Anne claims to be the greenest campus in Canada.

Standout Programs

• Integrated French Immersion: Students in most programs can pursue their degrees while earning credits taking courses in French as a second language.

• Education: The employment rate for students in this program is nearly 100 per cent. Specializations are available in elementary and high school teaching, as well as French as a first and second language.

• Health Sciences Preparatory Diploma: This two-year program prepares students for a career in the medical field, providing a background in biological sciences, chemistry, math and physics. Grads can apply to medical school or continue their studies in many bachelor of science programs.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$8,344 ($9,627 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: 63.6% | Science: 78.6% | Commerce: 94.3%

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 465 | Part-time: 82

Graduates: Full-time: 5 | Part-time: 28

International Students: First-year: 23%

Male-Female Ratio: 28 to 72

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 260 (first come, first served)

Residence Costs: Double room with meals: $9,908

Single room with meals: $10,398

Apartment-style: $5,692 to $6,125

Cool Courses

• Introduction to Viticulture and Oenology: Students learn about grape growing and winemaking with an emphasis on wine production in cold climates.

• Comics: Students explore the genre, particularly French works aimed primarily at an adult audience.

Student Life on Campus

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