Graduate Admissions
General admission requirements can be found in the Graduate Admissions section of the Graduate Calendar. However, some departments/schools have additional requirements so please check your program of study for more information. The number of students admitted to our graduate programs is limited and possession of the minimum entrance requirements does not ensure admission. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Graduate Studies Officer by emailing gradadmissions@acadiau.ca.
Please read all instructions before beginning the application process. An incomplete package may delay the processing of your application.
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Program
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Admission Application
Deadline |
Teaching Assistantship
Application Deadline |
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February 1
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February 1
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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MSc (Computer Science) Fall/Winter session
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Applications that arrive less than two months
prior to the beginning of a term (Fall or Winter) are unlikely to be processed in time for that given term. |
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MSc (Computer Science) Winter (January) session
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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MEd (Counselling)
starts Intersession only |
February 1
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February 1
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MEd (all other specialties)
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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March 15
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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February 1
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February 1
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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MA (Sociology)
starts Fall/Winter only |
March 1
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February 1
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March 15 (or until all available positions are filled)
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February 1
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Downloadable forms:
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Applicants are responsible for mailing a single package to the Graduate Studies Office. Your package needs to include:
Required documents for all programs
- Admission application form
- Processing fee ($50.00 Canadian)
- Transcripts - Two official documents from every post-secondary institution attended (except Acadia)
- Resumé (a chronology of relevant work experience)
Additional documents for specific programs
- Letter of Intent (only required for MEd applicants)
- Statement of Intent (only for MSc Psychology applicants). For information on what to include in the statement of intent, please see the Psychology section of the Graduate Calendar.
- Departmental Information form (only required for MSc Computer Science applicants)
- Statement of Research Interests (required for all applicants except MEd)
- Two reference letters OR three reference letters required for the MSc Psychology and MA Political Science programs. Letters should be written on institutional letterhead and sent to you in a sealed envelope that is signed across the flap
- Graduate Teaching Assistantship form (only required for MEd applicants)
- GRE results (required for all Psychology and International Chemistry applicants only). International Math and Stats applicants are normally required to submit GREs. If you do not have the GREs at the time of application, please give the date to be written.
- Writing sample (required of applicants to the MA in English, Political Science and Sociology and the Masters in Recreation Management programs only). Minimum of 10 pages. A research essay completed for an upper level undergraduate course is appropriate, but the submitted copy should be free of instructors' marks and comments.
- Official TOEFL/IELTS score if English has not been the language of instruction in your previous academic program. Please note that there are cases that the University will require a TOEFL/IELTS even though your language of instruction was English. We will consider waiving the English test score if you have studied at a University for 3 years or more where English was the medium of instruction.
Pursuing an MA/MSc Degree Part-time
If you are interested in pursuing an MA/MSc degree part-time, please consult with the department/school in question to see if they can accommodate your request.
Additional Information for International Students
Depending upon your country of citizenship, it can take a very long time to get a student visa after you receive an offer of admission - up to six months in some cases. It is recommended that you apply as early as possible before the start date of your program to ensure enough time for visa processing.
Transcripts
All university transcripts need to be original official documents provided to you in sealed envelopes or sent directly to Acadia from the issuing institutions.
If it is not possible for the institution to produce another official transcript, they may make a copy of the original transcript and have them certify that the document is an accurate copy. The certified copy should then be provided to you in a sealed envelope or sent directly to Acadia from the issuing institution.
If your transcript must be translated into English and your institution does not provide translated documents, your transcript can be translated elsewhere and then brought back to your institution to be certified as an accurate copy. The certified translated copy should then be provided to you in a sealed envelope or sent directly to Acadia from the issuing institution.
To view a list of minimum GPA admission requirements for specific International countries (A-Z) click here.
English Proficiency Requirement
ALL applicants must possess adequate knowledge of written and spoken English as a prerequisite to admission. You will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by one of the following forms:
- Successful completion of the equivalent of three years of full-time instruction in an English
language secondary institution as recognized by Acadia University including successful completion of at least two courses in English language and/or literature at the grade 12 (or equivalent) level. These courses must not be ESL (English as Second Language) courses. - If a student's first language is not English, he or she must supply results of an English language proficiency test to be considered for admission. The minimum scores required are:
- IELTS - 6.5
- MELAB - 80
- Cambridge First Certificate in English - aggregate grade of C or better
- TOEFL - 580 paper-based testing or 237 in computer-based testing or 93 in Internet-based testing. Only TOEFL scores sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to Acadia will be accepted. Acadia's number for submission is 0901. Information about TOEFL may be obtained by contacting: Test of English as a Foreign Language, P0 Box 6154, Princeton, New Jersey USA 08541-6154
3. Submission of the official results of the Michigan Test of English Proficiency with a score of
85% or higher.
85% or higher.
Only in exceptional circumstances will the University consider applicants who do not meet one of the requirements listed above.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- As an international student contemplating graduate studies at Acadia University, you should be able to guarantee annual funding of $18,000 before you proceed with a student visa application.
- The Halifax International Airport is 100 kilometres from the Acadia campus. This should be the final destination to which overseas flights are booked.
- Once you have accepted your offer of admission, you should make contact with our. International Student Advisor in the Wong International Centre. Please email: international@acadiau.ca. An orientation program for new international students is held in late August or early September.