Saint Mary’s University is an excellent place to pursue graduate studies. Choose from 27 diverse PhD and Masters degree programs, offered within a collegial and stimulating intellectual community.

Our award-winning faculty members are renowned experts and prolific researchers. You’ll benefit from the opportunity to work closely with them on original projects in an environment that supports and encourages student research. We are small enough to provide this close interaction and sense of community, yet our resources and facilities are state-of-the-art.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) oversees Saint Mary’s graduate programs and supports the university’s research endeavours. The Faculty offers a wealth of information and resources on graduate studies and research activities within the university.

Application Forms and Requirements

Additional Requirements for Graduate Applications

Applications to our graduate programs must be submitted online and the Application Deadlines vary by program.  Once the online application is completed, you will be required to upload additional documents to the application portal.  For a list of required documents please locate your program below.

Please note: Students whose first language is not English and who have not attended an English language secondary school or have not completed a previous degree totally in English are required to take a standardized English Language Proficiency test.  For more information on our Language Requirements please click here. 

International application process

As an international applicant, you should ensure you give yourself the appropriate amount of time to obtain the necessary permits or VISAs to study in Canada. To view an estimate of processing times for permits/VISAs please visit the Government of Canada Website: Processing times for study permit applications processed by visa offices outside Canada.

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Additional Requirements and Forms

Doctoral Programs

• Ph.D. in Applied Science
• Ph.D. in Astronomy
• Ph.D. in Business Administration
• Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Ph.D. in International Development Studies

Masters Programs

Arts

• Master of Arts in Atlantic Canada Studies
• Master of Arts in Criminology
• Master of Arts in Geography
• Master of Arts in History
• Master of Arts in International Development Studies
• Master of Arts in Philosophy
• Master of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies
• Master of Arts in Women and Gender Studies

Commerce

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Business Administration (CPA Stream)
• Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
• Master of Applied Economics
• Master of Finance
• Master of Management in Co-operatives and Credit Unions
• Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Science

• Master of Science in Applied Psychology (I/O Stream)
• Master of Science in Applied Psychology (Forensic Stream)
• Master of Science in Applied Science
• Master of Science in Astronomy
• Master of Science in Computing and Data Analytics

Research Centres

• Master of Applied Health Services Research

Education

• International Master of Teaching English

Diploma Programs

• Graduate Diploma in Co-operative Management

Visiting/Upgrading Graduate Applicants

• Visiting Graduate Applicant
• Upgrading Graduate Applicant

Apply to Graduate Studies

The University has launched a new application portal and we are currently experiencing some technical issues. Please contact FGSR@smu.ca if you need assistance with the application process.

Application Deadlines
Minimum acceptable IELTS and TOEFL scores

Students applying for Graduate Studies at Saint Mary’s University must submit:

1. An online application form plus the $110 processing fee (non-refundable) (Visiting/upgrading $40 non-refundable application fee).
2. A supplemental form (if required by program).
3. Official proof of English language proficiency (if required).
4. Recommendations: Upon completion of the referee section of your online application, your referees will be sent a secure link in order to provide a reference. Recommendation Forms MUST be sent from the referees professional email address (ie. NOT Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, 163, qq, etc).  Academic references are preferred for research based programs.
5. We will accept uploaded unofficial transcripts for evaluation purposes. Applicants must upload a grading scale/legend with their unofficial transcripts. This gives the program a clear official explanation to assist with interpreting marks/GPA. Successful applicants will be required to submit official final transcripts.
6. Additional documentation required by the program

Most supporting documents can be uploaded to your online application portal with the following exceptions:

Official test scores and official transcripts (when requested) must be sent directly to us in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution in order to be considered official.  Once submitted, these documents become the property of Saint Mary’s University and will not be returned. 

Official documents should be mailed to:

Saint Mary’s University
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)
923 Robie Street
Atrium Building, Suite 210
Halifax, NS, Canada
B3H 3C3

Official transcripts should be submitted as follows:

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS:

Successful candidates will be required to submit official academic transcripts for each post-secondary institution (university/college) you have attended (including exchange, transfer and incomplete credit programs).  The official transcripts must be sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research from the host institution in a sealed university/college envelope bearing an original university seal or stamp or emailed directly from the University Transcript Office to FGSR@smu.ca.  Notarized copies of transcripts will not be accepted.

If an applicant is only provided with one original transcript, we will accept a verified transcript from the issuing institution.  A verified transcript is a copy of the original transcript that the institution has attested to be true.  It must be sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research from the host institution in a sealed university/college envelope bearing an original university seal or stamp or email directly from the University Transcript Office to FGSR@smu.ca. 

If an institution will only release the official transcript/verification to the student, please request that they are sent in a sealed university/college envelope bearing an original university seal or stamp so that you can forward that envelope directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.  Do not open the envelope as that will void the transcript/verification. 

If your transcript is in a language other than English, a notarized translation is required.  In addition to the notarized translation, we also require that an original transcript be sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research from the host institution in a sealed university/college envelope bearing an original university seal or stamp or emailed directly from the University Transcript Office to FGSR@smu.ca. 

Notarized, photocopied, or transcripts in envelopes that have been opened will not be accepted.