Every December, StFX students receive the X-Ring, and graduates wear it for life. The university was founded in 1853 in Antigonish, a small town in northern Nova Scotia, and it is still mostly an undergraduate campus where students live close together. It teaches business, science, nursing, arts and education, and it is also home to the Coady Institute for international development.
Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Official website: stfx.ca
1853
Public, mainly undergraduate university
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
The X-Ring
CA$20,000 – CA$24,000
International students, undergraduate tuition
CA$13,000 – CA$16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on stfx.ca before you apply.
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
Bachelor of Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
Master of Education
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
The X-Ring, given to students in their final year.
Undergraduate teaching with small upper-year classes.
The Coady Institute.
Business graduates join banks, accounting firms and companies in Halifax and Toronto.
Nursing graduates can register and work in Nova Scotia's health system.
Graduates are usually eligible for a post-graduation work permit of up to three years.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Antigonish is a small town where the university is the centre of life. Most first-years live in residence, and the Highland Games each summer are a local fixture.
Halifax is about two and a half hours away by car. Cape Breton's beaches and trails are closer.
Letter of acceptance from St. Francis Xavier University
Nova Scotia provincial attestation letter
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Online IRCC study permit application
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
StFX admits on a rolling basis. International students should apply by around March for September, earlier if they want a residence room and early scholarship consideration.
Undergraduate programmes start in September. Some graduate programmes, such as education, have summer starts.
Study permit, applied for through IRCC. You'll upload the acceptance letter from St. Francis Xavier University, an attestation letter if your programme needs one, proof you can pay tuition and living costs, and then give biometrics.
Business, science, nursing and arts are the usual picks for international students. Entry needs good secondary school grades with relevant subjects and IELTS 6.5.
Yes. StFX gives entrance scholarships to international students with strong grades, awarded at admission. Apply early to be considered.
