Admission Requirements
Nova Scotia High School Students
Admission requires the necessary subjects for your program of choice, the appropriate admission average and complete secondary level standing.
1. You need certain high school subjects
All subjects must be at the academic or advanced Grade 12 level. Beyond what is listed for admission, students may still require certain high school subjects for the calculation of the admission average and/or prior to registering in specific university courses.
Direct entry programs
Agriculture and Bioresources
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.S.A.) or
Bachelor of Science in Renewable Resource
Management [B.Sc. (RRM)]
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
Students can be admitted into this college with
one subject deficiency that must be cleared before the second year of study.
Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness (B.Sc.
[Agbus]) or Diploma in Agribusiness (Dipl.Agbus)
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12 or Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12 or Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12
Students can be admitted into this college with
one subject deficiency that must be cleared before the second year of study.
Diploma in Agronomy (Dipl.Agron)
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Mathematics 12 (Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12 also accepted)
Students can be admitted into this college with
one subject deficiency that must be cleared before the second year of study.
Arts and Science
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor
of Science (B.Sc.), Bachelor of
Arts and Science (B.A.Sc.) or
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-Calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
Students can be admitted into
this college with a
mathematics deficiency but
are encouraged to consult the
college upon admission to
plan how to clear the
deficiency
Business
Bachelor of
Commerce
(B.Comm.)
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
Education (Direct Entry)
Home Economics, Industrial Arts,
ITEP, NORTEP, SUNTEP, or Combined Bachelor of Education/
Bachelor of Music in Music
Education [B.Ed/B.Mus. (Mus.Ed)]
- Biology 12* or Advanced Biology 12* or Chemistry 12* or Advanced Chemistry 12* or Physics 12* or Advanced Physics 12* or Geology 12*
- History 12 or Global History 12
- 12-level language* (other than English) or fine art*
- Mathematics 12* or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12* or Advanced Mathematics 12*
*One deficiency among indicated subjects is permitted, but must be cleared before the second year of study.
Engineering
Bachelor of
Engineering (B.E.)
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12
- Advanced Mathematics 12
Apart from meeting the admission average for the college, marks in these subjects need to have a combined average of at least 70%.
Kinesiology
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology [B.Sc. (Kin.)]
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12 or Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
Non direct entry programs
Dentistry
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
|
Education
| Required high school subjects will depend on the university courses you would like to take and the teaching areas in which you would like to specialize. |
Law
| Required high school subjects will depend on the university courses you would like to take. |
Medicine
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
|
Nursing
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
|
Nutrition and Dietetics
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
- Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12 (recommended))
|
Pharmacy
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
- Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12 (recommended)
|
Physical Therapy (master’s program)
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12 (recommended)
|
| Depending on the college you would like to enter to complete your bachelor’s degree, you may require different high school subjects. For example, see kinesiology’s high school requirements for admission. |
Veterinary Medicine
- Biology 12 or Advanced Biology 12
- Chemistry 12 or Advanced Chemistry 12
- Physics 12 or Advanced Physics 12
- Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 or Advanced Mathematics 12
|
University courses
Some high school subjects are required to take specific university courses. You can find high school prerequisites for courses in our direct entry programs in our University Calendar.
2. You need to meet the admission average
High School students
The following are the averages for the 2012/13 academic year.
Applicants who have completed Grade 12 and have pursued less than 18 credit units of university-level study will be considered for admission on the basis of their final Grade 12 marks.
What do these numbers mean? | How is my admission average calculated?
Conditional Admission
A student currently in Grade 11 or 12 will be considered for admission on the basis of final Grade 11 grades or preliminary/projected Grade 12 grades. If the Conditional Admission Average is met, there will be a conditional offer of admission. This offer becomes full admission upon receipt of final and official transcripts from the appropriate issuing authority (usually a Department of Education) which shows that:
- the necessary prerequisites have been completed
- the final admission average to the college of choice has been met
- Grade 12 level standing is achieved
Grade Improvement
For students currently in Grade 12, if it appears that there is a possibility for improvement to a student’s average in the final semester, more complete information, such as mid-term grades for the second semester, will be requested to fairly assess the student’s record.
For applicants refused based on Semester One of Grade 12, if grades improve by the Semester Two midterms, an updated preliminary statement of grades should be submitted by May 1. Students will be reconsidered for admission upon receipt of final transcripts only if the quota for their college of choice has not been filled.
According to these guidelines, we calculate your high school admission average using five subjects that work to your best advantage.
All subjects must be at the academic or advanced Grade 12 level.
| One English: |
One Math: |
- African Heritage Literature 12
- Canadian Literature 12
- English 12
|
- Mathematics 12
- Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12
- Advanced Mathematics 12
|
| A maximum of two natural sciences: |
A maximum of two social sciences or humanities: |
A maximum of one fine or performing art: |
- additional math (from list above)
- Advanced Biology 12
- Advanced Chemistry 12
- Advanced Physics 12
- Biology 12
- Chemistry 12
- Geology 12
- Physics 12
|
- additional English (from list)
- approved second language
- French 12
- Gaelic 12
- German 12
- Latin 12
- Spanish 12
- Economics 12
- Geography 12
- Global Geography 12
- Global History 12
- Law 12
- Political Science 12
|
- Art 12
- Music 12
- Physical Education 12 (kinesiology applicants only)
- approved subject from the NS Ministry of Education list of Family Studies, Technology-Related Education or Business Education subjects (education applicants only)
|
| Program |
Conditional Admission Average Based on Grade 11 Marks |
Conditional Admission Average Based on Grade 12 Marks |
Final Admission Average |
| Agriculture and Bioresources |
75% |
72% |
70% |
| Arts and Science |
75% |
72% |
70%
|
| Business |
83% |
80% |
78%
- If you have a final admission average between 75% and 77.9%, you will be waitlisted, in case we can admit more students.
|
Education (Direct Entry)
- Home Economics
- Industrial Arts
|
Admission is competitive and based upon academic average, an online interview and 35 – 40 hours experience working with children and youth.
View more information.
|
Education (Direct Entry)
- Combined Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Music (Music Education)
- ITEP, NORTEP, SUNTEP
|
75% |
72% |
70%
|
| Engineering |
83% |
80% |
78%
- If you have a final admission average between 75% and 77.9%, you will be waitlisted, in case we can admit more students.
|
| Kinesiology |
Applicants will be waitlisted and ranked according to average. The top 100+ qualified students will be admitted. |
Transfer applicants
The following are the averages for the 2012/13 academic year.
Applicants who have attempted/completed 18 credit units of transferable courses will be considered for admission on the basis of their university marks. Keep in mind that you will still need the required high school subjects for your college or program of choice, as outlined above.
How is my admission average calculated?
For Arts & Science, the admission average will include all courses attempted which are transferable to Arts & Science.
For other direct entry colleges, the transfer admission average will include completed transferable courses.
| Program |
Admission Average |
| Agriculture and Bioresources |
|
|
- Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and Diploma in Agribusiness
|
65% |
- Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Renewable Resource Management and Diploma in Agronomy
|
60% |
| Arts and Science |
60%
|
| Business |
70%
- If you have an admission average between 65% and 69.9%, you will be waitlisted, in case we can admit more students.
|
Education (Direct Entry)
- Home Economics
- Industrial Arts
|
Admission is competitive and based upon an online interview and academic average. |
Education (Direct Entry)
- Combined Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Music (Music Education)
- ITEP, NORTEP, SUNTEP
|
60%
|
| Engineering |
70%
- If you have an admission average between 68.0% and 69.9%, you will be
waitlisted, in case we can admit more students.
|
| Kinesiology |
74%
- If you have an admission average between 65.0% and 73.9%, you will be waitlisted, in case we can admit more students.
|
| Open Studies |
60% |
3. You need secondary-level standing or equivalent
Applicants must have complete secondary level standing or equivalent.
4. You may need to provide proof of English proficiency
The language of instruction at the U of S is English. Applicants whose first language is not English must present evidence of proficiency in English.
You are from a country where English is the official language
If you are from one of the following countries where English is the official language, you typically do not need to provide proof of English proficiency.
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
British Virgin Islands
|
England
Fiji
Ghana
Guyana
Jamaica
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
|
New Zealand
Nigeria
Northern Ireland
Papua New Guinea
Scotland
St.Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
Sierra Leone
Trinidad and Tobago
|
Uganda
United States
US Virgin Islands
Wales
Zambia
Zimbabwe |
You attended a Canadian or U.S. high school
It is sufficient proof of English proficiency if you have at least 2.5 years of full-time attendance at a Canadian or U.S. high school (or at an institution where English is the language of instruction and examination)1 including
- complete secondary-level standing
- successful consecutive completion of English Language Arts subjects in Grades 11 and 12, and
- a final mark of at least 70% in each Grade 12 English Language Arts (A30 and B30 or equivalents).2
1If completion of secondary standing occurred more than five years ago, additional proof of English proficiency may be required.
2Students who have exactly two years of full-time attendance will be considered if they achieve a final mark of at least 80% in each Grade 12 English Language Arts (A30 and B30 or equivalents).
You attended an English-language post-secondary institution
Successful completion of at least 18 credit units of transferable university-level courses where English is the official language of instruction and examination is sufficient proof of proficiency2. The post-secondary institution must declare English to be the primary language of instruction and examination throughout the institution, not just in select departments.
2 If post-secondary study occurred more than five years ago, additional proof of English proficiency may be required.
You completed the English as a Second Language Program at the U of S or the University of Regina
Sufficient proof or proficiency includes successful completion of
- Level UP2: High Advanced Academic English offered by the U of S Language Centre or
- English as a Second Language (ESL 050) program offered by the University of Regina.
You completed an English Proficiency Test
One of the following tests will also be accepted. Test scores must be forwarded by the testing centre directly to International Admissions no later than the deadline for receipt of documents.
| Test |
Minimum Score Required |
TOEFL (institutional TOEFL not accepted)
Test of English as a Foreign Language
|
- Internet Based: 80
With minimum individual scores of
1. Reading: 19
2. Listening: 19
3. Speaking: 18
4. Writing: 18
- Paper Based: 550
|
IELTS (General Training IELTS not accepted)
International English Language Testing System |
|
CanTEST
Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees |
- Listening & Reading: 4.5 Average
- Writing: 4.0
|
CAEL
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment |
|
MELAB
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery |
|
CPE
Cambridge Proficiency in English |
|
Other qualifications
| Courses & Tests |
Grade |
| Advanced Placement (AP) English |
3 or better |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) English A1 or A2 Higher Level |
4 or better |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) English B Higher Level |
5 or better |
| SAT Subject Test in English |
Top 50th percentile |
| GCSE/IGCSE/GCE O-Level English, English Language, or English as a Second Language |
B or better |
| GCE A/AS/AICE Level English or English Language |
C or better |
| HKCEE English Language (Syllabus B) |
C or better |
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