Arrival and Orientation
Acadia University is excited to welcome all new international students in January 2024.
There will be a free airport welcome desk at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Staff at the welcome desk can help you find services like wifi, food, and currency exchange.
The welcome desk is a collaboration of EduNova, iCent, and Study and Stay in Nova Scotia.
Free Airport Pick-up
The Wong International Centre will offer free airport pick-up to new students arriving for the Winter semester at the following times:
- Thursday, Jan 4: pick-up at 7am, 5pm and 10pm
- Friday, Jan 5: pick-up at 7am, 5pm and 10pm
- Saturday, Jan 6: pick-up at 7am, 5pm and 10pm
You will be greeted by Acadia student leaders at the airport who will direct you to the bus. The bus will transport you to campus and the student leaders will walk you to our 'Welcome Desk' where you will receive your student ID (if you have applied for it) and check you into residence (if applicable).
The student leaders will then walk you to your residence on-campus (if applicable). If you live off-campus, the student leaders can assist you with calling a cab/taxi to take you to your off-campus housing. Please note that you will be responsible for the cab/taxi fee.
If you are arriving outside the pick-up times and would like to wait for the next pick-up time, you are more than welcome to do so. If not, we encourage you to contact World Class Limousine a few days prior to arriving to Nova Scotia. Please note that the cost of using any pick-up service to drop you to Acadia will be at your own cost. The travel time from the Halifax airport to Acadia is approximately 1 hour.
Please let your cab/taxi driver know to drop you off at the Acadia Student Union Building. From there, you will see signs that will direct you to the Welcome Desk located in the Student Union building.
Arrival Form
Please complete the arrival form so we're prepared for your arrival!
Please note international students can arrive as early as January 4th, 2024 if living in residence. If you choose to arrive early, please email residencelife@acadiau.ca.
Move-in day for all students is Jan 6th, 2024.
Travelling to Canada
Before travelling, ensure that you are eligible to enter and that you possess all necessary documentation. To be able to enter Canada as a student, you must meet three requirements:
- You must have a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows you were approved for a study permit, unless you don't need one, and
- You must be attending a designated learning institution. Acadia's DLI # is O19391556792.
For more information on travelling to Canada, please see IRCC’s entering Canada page.
In the event of a discrepancy regarding the information provided on this website, IRCC and Government of Canada take precedent.
Health Insurance
Student VIP, in partnership with the ASU, will be administering the ASU Health, Dental and International Medical Plans starting September 1 if you are arriving for the fall semester or January 1st if you are arriving for the winter semester. Please contact tanya.comeau@acadiau.ca if you have any questions about the health plan.
Students who are arriving at Acadia University before September 1 or January 1 are strongly encouraged to consider purchasing travel insurance to cover any medical expenses you may have in Canada before these dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
You are required to apply online by creating an account with the Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Visit the IRCC website to learn more and to start your study permit application.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to accept applications, but applications are being processed at slower rates. Processing times posted on the IRCC website are based on the normal processing times for an application, and it does not take into account any delays caused by COVID-19. Currently, there are no options to expedite processing of study permit applications. However, IRCC recently announced new measures to prioritize processing of study permit applications.
Most VACs are now operating with limited hours and services. Check the VAC’s website before you go.
For the VACs that are reopening, new health and safety measures are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If your VAC is closed and you need to contact IRCC, using the webform. Do not go to a visa office.
For more information, please visit the Government of Canada's biometric information page and procedures page.
If you decide to defer your program to next term, you should start your study permit and temporary resident visa applications as soon as possible due to delays in processing. Please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for more information.
Choosing to join us does not guarantee your ability to obtain a study permit. If you choose to move forward with your studies without a study permit in place, you are responsible for affiliated tuition fees. Please review Acadia’s financial policies prior to making your decision.
If you cannot provide all the documents required for your study permit application, you must provide a letter of explanation stating why you can’t submit all the required documents. You must also provide a letter of acceptance from the DLI when you apply. For more information regarding this, please visit letter of explanation for any documents that are missing.
As stated by IRCC, International Student Entering Canada must have:
- a valid study permit or a letter of introduction that shows you were approved for a study permit.
- You must be attend a designated learning institution (DLI) with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by its province or territory.
- Proof of enough money to support yourself and any family members travelling with you to Canada
Please review our Travel Documents Checklist for more.
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Important Links
Arrival form
Contact
International Students
Wong International Centre
27 Acadia Street
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6
international@acadiau.ca
902-585-1690