At a Glance

Founded in 1838, Acadia University is one of the oldest and most respected liberal arts universities in Canada. Located just a one-hour drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia and its international airport, Acadia is an integral part of the quintessential college town of Wolfville, overlooking the Annapolis Valley and the Bay of Fundy. When you step onto campus you enter a world of opportunity.

Campus

Acadia University’s campus is beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that we often hear this phrase, “I visited campus and fell in love.” Just steps beyond Acadia’s campus you can explore a rich, natural environment that includes the world’s highest tides, vineyards, woodland trails, and farmlands.

Mission Statement

Acadia University provides an unparalleled learning experience through a liberal education model based on personalized attention, expanding the boundaries of knowledge, experiential learning, community engagement, environmental stewardship and global citizenship, and engaged research and innovation delivered by a passionate, dedicated, and nurturing community within a beautiful and historic campus environment.

Academic Programs

By choosing Acadia, you have opportunities to work closely with professors, volunteer in the community, study abroad, enjoy co-op placements, and be engaged in real-world research. Acadia’s four faculties – Arts, Pure and Applied Sciences, Professional Studies, and Theology – offer more than 200 degree combinations in its undergraduate academic programs and graduate programs. Some of our most popular majors are in biology, marketing, English, psychology, environmental studies, and kinesiology.

Academic Calendars

Acadia’s academic calendars are your best source for information about programs, courses, and how to successfully navigate a maze of academic information. We offer two academic calendars per year: a calendar for undergraduate and graduate programs, and the Acadia Divinity College calendar. Academic advisors are also ready to help you select your courses.

Admissions

For general admission, you require Grade 12 (senior secondary), English, and four additional Grade 12 (senior secondary) academic or advanced courses. A minimum 70 per cent average (calculated by Admissions) is required for all programs. Admission to Acadia is competitive. Our Admissions Office received more than 3,400 applications for the Class of 2021. The average entering grade is 86 per cent.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

We believe that an education at Acadia University is one of the most valuable investments our students can make in their future. Each year our Scholarships and Financial Aid Office awards more than $4.5 million in scholarships, scholar-bursaries, awards, and prizes to new and returning students. We are thankful to have alumni and friends who generously support Acadia students.

Housing

Acadia’s 12 residence buildings range from high-rise to heritage and from basic double rooms to deluxe singles in suites. Each residence has a team of residence assistants who build and maintain a sense of community and work with security staff to provide 24/7 campus safety.

Library

Located at the centre of campus, the Vaughan Memorial Library provides many services and specialized collections, which support the teaching and research programs of the University. The library collection of over a million titles in all formats is complemented by numerous electronic services and databases.

Varsity Athletics

We're proud of Acadia's strong varsity athletics program - it's a tradition that dates back to 1875. Acadia holds more conference and national championships than any other university in Atlantic Canada and has the highest percentage of Academic All-Canadians for primarily undergraduate universities in the country. We are a member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and Atlantic University Sport (AUS). When our varsity teams play, our fans gather to carry on Acadia's Stand Up and Cheer tradition!

Varsity Teams: 11
Athletic Clubs: 15

Axemen:
Basketball
Football
Hockey
Soccer
Swimming

Axewomen:
Basketball
Cross-country
Rugby
Soccer
Swimming
Volleyball

Athletic Facilities:
One gymnasium 
Andrew H. McCain Arena
Indoor track
25-metre swimming pool
Fitness centre
Weight training room
Racquetball and squash courts
Aerobics/dance studio
Campus store
Stadium - featuring the same artificial turf used by the New England Patriots
National standard, eight-lane, all-weather track
Sports Hall of Fame
Sports therapy clinic
Snack shop
Practice fields
Tennis courts
Walking and hiking trails
Jogging paths

Alma Mater and Fight Song

The Acadia University alma mater song is set to the tune of "Annie Lisle.” Acadia’s Alma Mater Song is sung at special ceremonies like the University’s matriculation, baccalaureate, and convocation events. The fight song most commonly heard at varsity athletic events and Alumni gatherings is “Stand Up and Cheer.”

Alma Mater Lyrics

Far above the dykes of Fundy,
And its basin blue,
Stands our noble Alma Mater,
Glorious to view.

Lift the chorus, speed it onward,
Sing it loud and free!
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
Acadia, hail to thee!

Far above the busy highway,
And the bustling town,
Reared against the arch of heaven,
Looks she proudly down.

Lift the chorus, speed it onward,
Sing it loud and free!
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater,
Acadia, hail to thee!

Stand Up and Cheer Lyrics

Stand up and cheer

Stand up and cheer for old Acadia!

For today, we raise...The red and blue above the rest,

Our teams are fighting, and they're out to win the fray

We've got the steam! BOOM BOOM!

We've got the team! BOOM BOOM!

For this is old Acadia's day!

  • Student on campus
  • In the stacks
  • Conversation
  • Thinking about the next serve
  • Beautiful campus
  • Working with the faculty

Fast Facts

Founded
1838

Motto
In pulvere vinces - Through effort (dust) we conquer.

President and Vice Chancellor
Dr. Jeff Hennessy ('99)

Chancellor
Bruce Galloway ('68)

Campus size
250 acres (100 hectares)

Full-Time Enrolment (2022)
Undergraduate: 3,612
Graduate: 176

First-year Student Origins (2022)
Eastern Canada: 81%
Central Canada: 8 %
Western Canada: 5 %
International: 6 %

Faculty to Student Ratio
1:15

Average Class Size
31

Clubs and Organizations
70+ student-run opportunities

Degree Programs
More than 200 combinations in:
Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Pure and Applied Science
Faculty of Professional Studies
Theology

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