History, Affiliations and Rankings
Mount Saint Vincent University is a famous liberal arts university situated in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Started by the Sisters of Charity as a women’s college in the year 1873 for the advancement of women, MSVU was one of Canada's few colleges for women at the time when women were not allowed to vote. It was in 1966 that the College became Mount Saint Vincent University and today, it educates 4400+ students in an innovative mix of academic programs. A small campus community offering a big city experience, MSVU is dedicated to social responsibility and offers equal access to education to under-served local populations. The university is accredited by professional institutions such as Canadian Dietitians, and university graduates can become registered dietitians. Academically, MSVU is affiliated with Universities Canada, International Association of Universities (IAU), the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and the Canadian University Press (CUP).
Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses
Mount Saint Vincent University is a green campus with modernized buildings, located only a few minutes from downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia's harbor metropolis and capital. The university offers various Bachelor's, and Master's degrees in an array of courses. Over 40 Undergraduate degrees in the Arts, Sciences and professional courses are available to students. Applied Human Nutrition, Business Administration, Child and Youth Studies, Family Studies and Gerontology, Information Technology, Public Relations, Non-profit leadership, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and other professional studies programs are offered. As part of their undergraduate studies, all students can participate in a work placement (practicum, co-op, or internship). The average class size is 23, one of the smallest in the country, which makes lectures interactive, personalized, and engaging.
Accomplishments and Alumni
MSVU has achieved many firsts throughout the years. MSVU was Canada’s first university to have a separate Department for Women’s Studies and it launched the first joint PhD in Educational Studies in collaboration with Acadia and St. Francis Xavier University. It also introduced the first English-taught Public Relations program in Canada. The university is home to various unique research centers and institutes like the Bone Development Laboratory, Milk and Micronutrient Assessment Lab, Food Action Research Centre, and the Nova Scotia Centre for Aging. MSVU has more than 35,000 alumni worldwide. There are some notable people associated with the university, including Barrie Dnn (Canadian Actor), Ryan Cochrane (Olympic Athlete), Iain Rankin (Former Premier of Nova Scotia), and Matt DeCourcey (Canadian Politician).
Student Diversity and Visiting Companies
MSVU was built on the ideas of equity and inclusivity, and these values continue to guide our university today. The University is firmly grounded in the aim of advancement of women, with social responsibility at the core of its principles. More than 4,000 students from 70+ countries worldwide study at MSVU, which has 300+ faculty members. Mount Saint Vincent University has one of its kind Centre for Women in Business to assist women entrepreneurs at the University through “exposure, connection and learning.” Students graduating from MSVU go on to secure employment in the Government of Nova Scotia, Scotia Bank, Government of Canada, IWK Health, RBC, and other regional corporations.
