🥗Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS, Canada

A smaller, values-driven Halifax university with a distinctive founding strength in nutrition, family studies and public relations.

About MSVU

Mount Saint Vincent University was founded by the Sisters of Charity as one of the first degree-granting institutions for women in the British Commonwealth, and while fully co-educational for decades, it retains a genuine specialism in applied human nutrition, child and family studies, and public relations that few other Canadian universities offer at this depth. Its compact campus sits near Halifax's Bedford Basin, sharing the city's living costs — below Toronto's or Vancouver's — at a generally more accessible fee band than Halifax's larger universities. It suits students targeting those specific fields who want a smaller, close-knit campus over a big research university's breadth.

Why students choose it

  • A genuinely distinctive, long-established reputation in applied human nutrition and family studies
  • Public relations is an unusually well-developed undergraduate specialism for a university this size
  • Halifax city access at a more accessible fee band than the city's larger universities

🎓 Free application support for MSVU

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to MSVU — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 26

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

<CA$25,000/yr

low tier for Canada — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

campus campus, Halifax, NS

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or MSVU's financial aid office.

Many Canadian universities offer automatic entrance scholarships for international students based on high-school grades — often no separate application needed beyond the standard admission application.

  • University international entrance scholarships: e.g. University of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, UBC's International Major Entrance Scholarship — merit-based, automatically considered for eligible applicants at many universities.
  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: Federally funded, but for doctoral/research study, not undergraduate admission.

Coverage ranges from a one-off award to full tuition for the most competitive automatic scholarships — check each university's international scholarships page for exact criteria.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Applied Human Nutrition

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Child and Youth Study

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Business

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Public Relations

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Education

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Durations are typical for Canada — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes)
Typical deadline
Rolling from October, with most competitive programmes closing mid-January
Note
High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

TOEFL: 80–90 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to MSVU for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

Read the guide →

See where MSVU ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Canada University Shortlist Builder to see whether MSVU is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Canada university that matches.

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MSVU FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to MSVU as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into MSVU?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, MSVU expects around BBB at A Level or 26 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for MSVU's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on MSVU's own admissions page before applying.

How much does MSVU cost for international students?

International tuition at MSVU typically falls in the range (low tier for Canada). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not MSVU's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for MSVU?

MSVU follows Canada's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes), with applications generally due rolling from october, with most competitive programmes closing mid-january. High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance. Always verify the exact date on MSVU's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for MSVU?

Canada universities, including MSVU, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is MSVU known for?

A smaller, values-driven Halifax university with a distinctive founding strength in nutrition, family studies and public relations. Mount Saint Vincent University was founded by the Sisters of Charity as one of the first degree-granting institutions for women in the British Commonwealth, and while fully co-educational for decades, it retains a genuine specialism in applied human nutrition, child and family studies, and public relations that few other Canadian universities offer at this depth. Its compact campus sits near Halifax's Bedford Basin, sharing the city's living costs — below Toronto's or Vancouver's — at a generally more accessible fee band than Halifax's larger universities. It suits students targeting those specific fields who want a smaller, close-knit campus over a big research university's breadth.

Can I apply to MSVU with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — MSVU accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Canada University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against MSVU and every other Canada university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

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