Nova Scotia

General admission requirements:

Admission is based on an evaluation of all approved Grade 11 and 12 courses, with greater emphasis on List A courses 

What do I need?

To apply for admission, you must meet the general and program-specific requirements listed on this page.

Faculty of Applied Sciences  (programs)

Program Grade 11 (required) Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)

Computing Science 1

Software Systems

  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Math 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 (min 70%)
  • One of: Biology 12 (Advanced/Academic), Chemistry 12 (Advanced/Academic) or Physics 12 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Two additional courses from List A or B
  • Calculus 12 (recommended)
  • Science 12
  • Social Studies 12
  • Language Arts 12
  • Language 12
Engineering Science
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 (min 75%)
  • Calculus 12 Recommended (for Spring 2024 admission onwards)
  • Physics 12 (min 75%)(Academic/Advanced)
  • Chemistry 12 (min 75%)(Academic/Advanced)
Mechatronics Systems Engineering
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 (min 70%)
  • Calculus 12 Recommended (for Spring 2024 admission onwards)
  • Physics 12 (min 70%)(Academic/Advanced)
  • Chemistry 12 (min 70%)(Academic/Advanced)
Sustainable Energy Engineering 2
(supplemental application required)
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 (min 70%)
  • Calculus 12 Recommended (for Spring 2024 admission onwards)
  • Physics 12 (min 70%)(Academic/Advanced)
  • Chemistry 12 (min 70%)(Academic/Advanced)

* Students unable to complete the requirements in any one category due to course availability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

1 The SFU-Zhejiang University Computing Science Dual Degree Program is designed to be open to domestic and international students. A supplemental statement of interest is required. Details on program eligibility can be found here. Prospective students from China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, who do not hold Canadian citizenship, need to gain admission via Zhejiang University.

2 Applicants must complete a supplemental application. Further instructions will be provided to applicants directly after their application is received.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences   (programs)

Program Grade 11 (required)
Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)
All programs
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • One of Math 12 or Science 12
  • One of Social Studies 12 or Language Arts 12
  • One of Math 12, Science 12, Social Studies 12 or Language Arts 12
  • One additional course from List A or B
  • Arts Education 12

Students unable to complete the requirements in any one category due to course availability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Beedie School of Business  (programs)

Applicants are required to submit a supplemental application.

Program Grade 11 (required) Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)
All programs
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12: English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12
  • One of: Math 12, Science 12, Social Studies 12 or Language Arts 12
  • Two additional courses from List A or B
  • Language 12

Faculty of Communication, Art & Technology  (programs)

Program Grade 11 (required) Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)
Communication
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12: English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Four of: Math 12, Social Studies 12, Language Arts 12, Science 12 or Language 12 (only 1 Language 12 may be used as List A)
  • Arts Education 12
  • Language 12
Interactive Arts & Technology
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12: English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12 or Calculus 12
  • One Science 12
  • One Social Studies 12
  • One additional: Math 12, Science 12 or Social Studies 12
  • Arts Education 12
  • Language 12

 

Contemporary Arts 1
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Two of: Arts Education 12, Social Studies 12, Language Arts 12, Math 12 or Science 12
  • Two additional courses from List A or B
  • Language 12

1 Applicants are required to submit a supplemental application. Audition, interview or portfolio required. See details.  

Faculty of Education  (programs)

Program Grade 11 (required) Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)
Bachelor of General Studies
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12: English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Two of: Math 12, Science 12, Social Studies 12 or Language Arts 12
  • Two additional courses from List A or B
  • Arts Education 12
  • Language 12

Faculty of Environment  (programs)

Program Grade 11 (required) Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)
Archaeology, Human Geography
(BA)
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12: English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • One of: Math 12 or Science 12
  • One of: Social Studies 12 or Language Arts 12
  • Two additional courses from List A or B
  • Arts Education 12
  • Language 12
Resource and Environmental Management, Global Environmental Systems
(BEnv)
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Two of: Math 12 or Science 12
  • One of: Social Studies 12
  • One additional course from List A or B
  • Arts Education 12
  • Language 12
  • Language Arts 12
Environmental Science, , Physical Geography
(BSc)
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12
  • Two of: Math 12 or Science 12
  • One additional course from List A or B
  • Arts Education 12
  • Language 12
  • Language Arts 12
  • Social Studies 12

 

Faculty of Health Sciences  (programs)

Program Grade 11 (required) Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)
Health Sciences (Bachelor of Arts)
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12: English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Biology 12 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Three of: Math 12, Science 12, Social Studies 12 or Language Arts 12
  • Arts Education 12
  • Language 12

 

Health Sciences (Bachelor of Science)
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11
  • One of Biology 11 (Academic/Advanced), Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced) or Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12: English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Biology 12
  • Chemistry 12
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12
  • One of: Math 12, Science 12, Social Studies 12 or Language Arts 12

Faculty of Science  (programs)

Program Grade 11 (required) Grade 12 List A (required) Grade 12 List B
(approved, non-required)
All programs
  • English 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Math 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Chemistry 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • Physics 11 (Academic/Advanced)
  • English 12 (Academic/Advanced) or African Heritage (min 70%)
  • Mathematics 12 (Academic/Advanced) or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12
  • Two of: Science 12 or Math 12
  • One additional course from List A or B
  • Language 12
  • Language Arts 12
  • Social Studies 12

* Approved courses

Approved course lists are not exhaustive: contact Student Recruitment and Admissions about specific courses not listed.

  • All approved courses must be 2 credits
  • AP and IB courses may be used in place of approved grade 12 courses

ENGLISH 12:

  • Advanced English 12
  • African Heritage 12
  • English 12

MATH 12:

  • Advanced Mathematics 12
  • Calculus 12
  • Mathematics 12
  • Pre-Calculus Mathematics 12

SCIENCE 12:

  • Advanced Biology 12
  • Biology 12
  • Advanced Chemistry 12
  • Chemistry 12
  • Advanced Physics 12
  • Physics 12
  • Food Science 12

SOCIAL STUDIES 12:

  • Advanced Global Geography 12
  • Global Geography 12
  • Advanced Global History 12
  • Global History 12
  • Advanced Global Politics 12
  • Global Politics 12
  • Economics 12
  • Geography 12
  • Geomatics 12
  • Law 12
  • Political Science 12
  • Sociology 12

 

LANGUAGE ARTS 12:

  • Canadian Literature 12

LANGUAGES 12:

  • Core French 12
  • Expérience culturelle 12
  • Français arts lanagiers immersion 12
  • Français intégré 12
  • Gaelic 12
  • German 12
  • Latin 12
  • Spanish 12

ARTS EDUCATION 12:

  • Advanced Music 12
  • Advanced Visual Arts 12
  • Drama 12
  • Music 12
  • Visual Arts 12

ADDITIONAL APPROVED COURSES:

  • Accounting 12
  • Business Management 12
  • Entrepreneurship 12
  • Housing and Design 12
  • Communications Technology 12

 

Additional resources

Advanced placement

Information for students in an AP program, or with AP course credit.

International Baccalaureate 

Information for students in an IB program, or with IB course credit.

Aboriginal Admission Policy

Available admission pathway for students of Aboriginal heritage.

Diverse qualifications 

Admission pathway for students who meet minimum admission standards and have demonstrated commitment or excellence in other endeavours, or who have succeeded in their studies despite difficult circumstances. Learn more about diverse qualifications.