Nova Scotia, Canada

Located on Canada's scenic east coast, Nova Scotia is North America's premiere seacoast destination with more than 7,400 kilometres of coastline and a rich cultural tradition shaped by the sea. Proximity to the Atlantic ocean means that Nova Scotia's climate is moderated by the Gulf Stream, a body of warm water that flows just off the coast. The weather tends to be milder in Nova Scotia, with winters wet and rainy and summers warm but rarely hot.

Nova Scotia's capital city, Halifax, is the largest city in Atlantic Canada with a population of almost 250,000. Halifax successfully hosted the G-7 conference in 1993 and was recently voted one of Canada "smart cities." The Halifax metropolitan area has a culturally diverse population; people are drawn to the city for its cleanliness, safety and business opportunities.

Deeply rooted in history and academic tradition, Nova Scotia's universities and community colleges are located throughout the province, linked by air, water and ground transportation. In fact, one of Nova Scotia's greatest resources is education - it has more universities and colleges per capita than any other province in Canada. Nova Scotia has 3.5% of Canada's population and 12% of the country's universities, with students from across Canada, the United States and all over the world coming to study there.

All universities in Nova Scotia are government-funded and fully accredited, with graduates continuing their studies at prestigious institutions around the world. International students return the favour, coming to Nova Scotia to study our bachelor, masters and doctoral programs, which feature world-renowned faculty, well-equipped libraries and laboratories, innovative and unique programs, and small professor-student ratios.

Compared to larger centres, classrooms are small - students get the support they need from highly qualified faculty. Classroom and teaching facilities are well-equipped, and there are many program options within institutions and among campuses. Nova Scotia institutions receive public funding, which means that the cost of tuition is low compared to other Western countries. There is the added bonus of a low cost of living in Nova Scotia - international students are able to maintain comfortable lifestyles while they study. In 1998, the United Nations ranked Canada first in an international comparison assessing the various aspects of quality of life. Nova Scotia lives up to its reputation for being both clean and safe. The universities emphasize on-campus security, offering students 24-hour service.

Nova Scotia is on Canada's east coast, and Halifax International Airport has direct flights to many international destinations. Within North America, Halifax is less than a three-hour flight from Toronto or New York.

Internationally recognized degrees are conferred by Nova Scotia's universities at all levels - bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional. The province's community college systems - in English and French - offer a great number and variety of unique programs, which have evolved specifically to produce workforce- ready graduates.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING
English is the medium of instruction at all Nova Scotia universities, except Université Sainte-Anne. Minimum English language standards of proficiency are required for admission to degree programs, with most institutions relying on standardized English tests to determine language competency. Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University and Université Ste-Anne offer formal English as a Second Language (ESL) training and support, but most institutions in Nova Scotia offer English Support Services to international students.
International Student Services

Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions offer a range of support services for international students. Services include pre-arrival information kits, airport pickup, orientation programs, peer support and host-family support services, academic advising, counselling, and cultural and recreational programming. Nova Scotia universities vary in costs charged to international students: total costs typically range from $12,000 CDN to $14,000 CDN per academic year (September to April). Institutions usually require a completed application, any applicable application fees, and official transcripts of your grades. Students may be asked to submit proof of English proficiency; alternatively, U.S. - based applicants may need to submit SAT scores.

Contact:
The Marketing Coordinator
Nova Scotia Higher Education
Department of Education and Culture,
P.O. Box 578,
Halifax, Nova Scotia,
B3J 2S9, CANADA.
Fax: 1-902-424-0643
E-mail: univadmn@gov.ns.ca