Quick facts
Located in the heart of Halifax in Mi'kma'ki, on Canada’s East Coast, Saint Mary’s University is a modern, secular and metropolitan university, the second largest in Nova Scotia. Our campus is marked by iconic buildings, green spaces and fresh ocean air and is an easy walk to the lively city centre.
1802
Saint Mary's was founded in Halifax
Top 5
Primarily undergraduate universities, Maclean’s University Rankings 2025
5,511
Students (undergraduate and graduate)
4
Faculties: Arts, Science, Sobey School of Business, Graduate Studies & Research
Academics
- 54 unique undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs
- 32 graduate degree, diploma and certificate programs
- The average undergraduate class size is 35
- Almost 98% of our full-time professors have their PhD, which is more than any other university in the province
- Home to the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre
Academics
- 54 unique undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs
- 32 graduate degree, diploma and certificate programs
- The average undergraduate class size is 35
- Almost 98% of our full-time professors have their PhD, which is more than any other university in the province
- Home to the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre
Research and Innovation
- Top undergraduate research university in Nova Scotia (Research Infosource Inc., 2024)
- Over $10M in external research funding
- Unique summer research program for undergraduate students
- Five Canada Research Chairs
- Eight Senate-approved research centres and institutes
Our Campus
- Convenient, walkable campus contained within one city block
- New, contemporary research and collaboration spaces on campus, including the Sobeys Inspiration Hub and Engineering Building
- Three residences (Vanier, Rice, Loyola) with 700 beds
- Home to the SMU Art Gallery, the Burke-Gaffney Observatory and North America’s tallest solar-integrated residence tower
Our Campus
- Convenient, walkable campus contained within one city block
- New, contemporary research and collaboration spaces on campus, including the Sobeys Inspiration Hub and Engineering Building
- Three residences (Vanier, Rice, Loyola) with 700 beds
- Home to the SMU Art Gallery, the Burke-Gaffney Observatory and North America’s tallest solar-integrated residence tower
Supportive Community
- $9.3M in philanthropic support from alumni and donors
- $15.7M available in scholarships, fellowships and bursaries
- 50+ active student societies and clubs
- Global community of students, and more than 60,000 alumni from 117 countries
- Support for learning, accessibility and mental health with dedicated advising for international, Black and Indigenous students
Environmental Sustainability
- Fair-trade, energy-efficient campus
- Environmental and sustainability programs offered within our Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and the Sobey School of Business
- Commitment to a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions met in 2022
- STARS Gold rating for sustainability, awarded by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
- Campus community garden provides locally-grown produce
Environmental Sustainability
- Fair-trade, energy-efficient campus
- Environmental and sustainability programs offered within our Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and the Sobey School of Business
- Commitment to a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions met in 2022
- STARS Gold rating for sustainability, awarded by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
- Campus community garden provides locally-grown produce
Athletics and Recreation
- 13 varsity teams plus student clubs and intramural sports
- Outdoor stadium, arena, courts and fitness facilities on campus
Athletics stats for the 2024-2025 academic year:
- 138 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians
- 2 AUS Championships (Women's Basketball and Volleyball)
- 12 AUS Major Award Winners
- 17 AUS All-Stars
- 1 U SPORTS Major Award Winners
We are in Halifax, a thriving city with a population of over half a million people, offering vibrant city life, natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage and fresh, salty air.
Source: Halifax Partnership
Welcome to Halifax We are in Halifax, a thriving city with a population of over half a million people, offering vibrant city life, natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage and fresh, salty air.
Source: Halifax Partnership
Welcome to Halifax*Quick Facts and enrolment data updated in fall 2025