Inbound Exchange Students

 How to apply

Step 1: Find Out If You Are Eligible 

Applicants must be nominated by one of StFX's exchange university partners. Interested students are encouraged to find out as much as possible about the academic and social experience students have while studying at StFX. Also, they should research the study options and ask for advice through the International Exchange Office of their home university. 

For information about completing an exchange at StFX: Inbound Exchange Information Sheet 2023-2024.

For information about living and studying in Antigonish: International Student Guidebook.

Step 2: Submit An Application 

The application consists of: 

Nomination email sent directly to the Education Abroad Advisor from the home university's International Exchange Office (typically from the International Exchange Coordinator). 
International Exchange Application Form
A PDF copy of your most recent official university transcript. (If transcripts are not in English an Official English Certified Transcript Translation must be obtained and sent along with the original copy). 
Confirmation of Language Skills Form (along with proof of certification if necessary). 
All exchange applications should be emailed directly to the Education Abroad Advisor by the deadline.  

Call-out box: For study in the fall semester or for a full year, the Education Abroad Advisor must receive nominations from the incoming student's international exchange office by May 1st. Required application documents must then be submitted by the student via email by May 15th. 

For study in the winter semester, the Education Abroad Advisor must receive nominations from the incoming student's international exchange office by October 1st. Required application documents must then be submitted by the student via email by October 15th. 

Step 3: Request Accomodations

Students wishing to reserve a room on campus should indicate this at the bottom of their application form. The student will then be contacted about whether there is residence space on campus.  The earlier StFX receives a residence accommodation request, the more likely a student will be assigned their first choice of type of accommodation. 

Step 4: Receive Your Acceptance Letter 

Once an application has been approved by the StFX Admissions Office, the student will receive a letter of acceptance accompanied by a ‘visa’ form. The ‘visa’ form is needed to apply for a Residence Visa or Study Permit (if required). The acceptance letter is emailed to the email address provided by the student on the application form. Students should be sure to print clearly their information in order to prevent any delays in receiving their acceptance letter.

Preparing for your arrival

Review courses 

Exchange students are able to take courses across multiple departments, with the exception of the Department of Nursing and the Department of Education.  

Students can find all course descriptions here, but need to use the course timetable to determine if the courses they are interested in will be offered in their chosen semester (this is indicated under the TERM tab. Term 1 is Fall semester, Term 2 is Winter semester, and FULL indicates that the course is a full year course. One semester exchange students are not able to take full year courses).  

Obtain your study permit 

Exchange students who are planning to study at StFX for 2 terms (8 months) are required to obtain a study permit. Information on obtaining a study permit can be found at:   

www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp

Arrange your accommodations  

As a StFX exchange student, you have the freedom to choose where you would like to live. 

Living On Campus 

All information about on-campus residence can be found on the StFX University Housing website. You may apply as soon as you have received your official acceptance letter. Please note that students who decide to live on-campus must purchase either a meal plan or declining balance plan (DCB). The DCB functions like a debit card when the student purchases food items on campus. 

For more information on room types, click here

For more information on rates/fees as well as meal plans.

If you have any questions about residence or your application status, please email Nate Taylor - @email

Living Off Campus 

You are not obligated to live on campus during your exchange at StFX. If you prefer to arrange your accommodations independently, please click the button before for a comprehensive list of resources that will help you begin your search.  

Purchase health insurance 

All exchange students are required to purchase medical insurance from the StFX Students’ Union Health Plan. This coverage is 1,305 (CDN) for the year. For more information about the health and dental coverage under this plan, click here.

Arrival in Canada

In preparation for arrival in Canada, exchange students are asked to email the Education Abroad Advisor to register for the International Student Orientation. The orientation aims to provide students who are new to Canada with the information they require to start their time at StFX on the right foot and find success during their studies, and beyond. 

The International Student Arrival and Orientation program includes: 

• Airport welcome (Halifax Stanfield International Airport) 
• Transportation to campus 
• Residence move-in 
• Campus and local tours 
• Introduction to International Student Society and fellow international students 
• Information sessions on living and learning at StFX including: 
  • Health insurance and how to access health care in Nova Scotia 
  • Adapting to the Canadian classroom 
  • Supports and services at StFX 
  • Housing information and life in the town of Antigonish 
  • Immigration and working in Canada information 

Important Dates: 2024 Fall Term

June

• Thu. 13: 2024-2025 Course timetable posted

• Mon. 17: Course Registration of the 2024-2025 academic year begins for continuing students

July

• Mon. 1: Canada Day, offices closed

• Tue. 9: Registration begins for new first-year students

August:

• Mon. 5: Nova Scotia Civic Holiday, offices closed

• Tue. 27/ Wed. 28: Recommended arrival and move in dates for all exchange and international students

• Thu. 29: International Student Orientation

• Fri. 30: Welcome Day 1. Move in day for new students

• Sat. 31: Welcome Day 2. Move in day for new students

September

• Mon. 2: Move-in day for returning students

• Wed. 4: Classes begin

• Sun. 8: Opening Mass at 5pm, University Chapel

• Fri. 13: Last day to change first-term or full-year courses

• Sun. 15: Student Account – First payment due

• Fri. 27: December exam schedule available

• Mon. 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation observance, no classes, offices closed

October

• Tue, 1: Inbound exchange nominations deadline (for Winter 2025 semester inbounds)

• Mon. 14: Thanksgiving Day, Fall Study Break begins, offices closed

• Tue. 15: Inbound exchange application deadline (for Winter 2025 semester inbounds)

• Mon. 21: Classes resume after Fall Study Break

• Mon. 21: Deadline for professors to submit Fall mid-term grades

• Wed. 30: Last day to drop first-term three-credit courses

November

• Mon. 11: Remembrance Day observance, no classes, offices closed

December

• Sun. 1: Fall Convocation

• Tue. 3: Feast Day of St. Francis Xavier, no classes

• Fri. 6: Last day of classes for first term

• Mon. 9 Fall term examinations begin

• Wed. 18: Winter break begins after last exam

• Fri. 20: Professors to submit Fall term grades by 9:00am

• Mon. 23 University closed for holiday break

Important Dates: 2025 Winter Term

January

• Thu. 2: University reopens after Winter break

• Fri. 3: International Student Orientation (TBC)

• Wed. 15: Last day to add Winter term courses or to drop full-year courses

• Wed. 15: Last day to request to audit courses

• Wed. 15: Student Account – Balance due in full

• Fri. 31: April exam schedule available

February

• Mon. 17: Winter Study Break begins

• Mon. 17: Nova Scotia Heritage Day, offices closed

• Mon. 24: Classes resume after study break

• Mon. 24: Deadline for professors to submit Winter mid-term grades

March

• Wed. 5: Last day to drop Winter term three-credit courses

April

• Fri. 4: Last day of classes for Winter term

• Mon. 7: Examinations begin

• Fri. 18: Good Friday, no exams, offices closed

• Mon. 21: Last day of examinations

• Mon. 28: Professors submit final grades for graduating candidates by 9:00am

May:

• Thu. 1: Inbound exchange nominations deadline (for fall 2025 & full-year 2025-2026 inbounds)

• Fri. 2: Spring Convocation list published

• Sun. 4: Spring Convocation

• Mon. 5: Professors submit final grades for continuing students by 9:00am

• Thu. 15: Inbound exchange application deadline (for fall 2025 & full-year 2025-2026 inbounds)

• Thu. 15: Student Account – Spring course fees due

• Mon. 19: Victoria Day, offices closed

Academic Matters

Academic year  

The academic year at StFX is from September to April.  The fall semester ends during the third week of December.  The winter semester begins the first week of January and continues into the third week of April. Other than the Christmas break, there is a week long break in late February. 

Course registration 

Registration for courses offered in fall and winter semesters begins in June.  Courses fill up quickly and after that there is no guarantee that more students will be allowed to join a class.  Exchange students must provide their course choices to the Education Abroad Advisor as early as possible to have the best choice of courses.  Every effort is made to accommodate exchange student choices within the constraints of restricted class sizes, course pre-requisites and course content. 

Exchange students are not restricted to enrolling in courses in a specific academic discipline.  But, without required course pre-requisites, they may not be allowed to register in specific courses.  Senior level seminar courses are usually restricted to graduating degree students. Once a term begins, students have a week during which they can change their course registrations. 

A full course load per semester is 15 credits.  A single semester course is given 3 credits and a full year course is worth 6 credits.  Full year students may have a mix of full year and single semester courses to a maximum of 30 credits. 

Not all courses are offered each year or each semester.  Final course offerings for the upcoming year are posted in mid-June. This is referred to as the Course Timetable. Students sending their applications before June, should use the current Course Timetable to indicate their course preferences. 

Completion of Study  

The Office of Internationalization arranges for academic transcripts to be sent to the exchange student's home university, once the final grades are registered in the StFX system. Should students wish to order additional copies of their transcript, they may do so at the StFX Registrar's Office website.