YOUR PASSIONS, YOUR EDUCATION
SMU offers the flexibility and selection to design an education aligned with your goals. Take current student Van Bernard, 2025 recipient of the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, who is attending SMU specifically for our Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Business program. The Bachelor of Commerce program at the Sobey School of Business has also been recently refreshed to include courses in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and operations management.
Along with the BComm in Sports Business, students with an interest in sport can pursue a BA in Health, Wellness, & Sport in Society (HWSS), or customize their education with a certificate in either Sports Business or HWSS to complement an existing major. This commitment to innovation allows SMU students to align their education with their unique interests and career paths.
At the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, students have access to countless mentorship opportunities with local businesses. This allows students like Emma McGill to build flagship businesses like Gluten Free Living while still in school, turning dreams into reality through on-campus resources.
LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Saint Mary’s has been consistently ranked within the top primarily undergraduate universities in Canada, and holds the top spot as the number one primarily undergraduate research university in Nova Scotia.
At SMU, education doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Through co-ops, internships, research opportunities, and leadership roles, our students dive into real-world experiences that shape their careers and make a difference. They graduate with the knowledge, skills, and connections to thrive, ready to leave their mark on the world.
In 2025, for example, dozens of SMU undergraduate students participated in paid summer internships across diverse disciplines, from modelling galaxies to researching the ongoing social impact of Nova Scotia’s mining history. In the fall, the Saint Mary’s Enactus Team won the Enactus World Cup in Thailand, bringing home a prestigious award for the university and putting Canada on the map as a top player in entrepreneurship.
And in the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, students have access to countless opportunities to engage with local businesses to receive mentorship and hands-on experience that nurtures their entrepreneurial mindset.
Under Dr. Danika Van Proosdij, environmental science students travelled to the coast to spearhead sustainable development, leading Atlantic Canada in natural solutions to erosion. In the Faculty of Arts, Anthropology professor Dr. Jonathan Fowler and his students reconnected a community with its history in Beechville, Nova Scotia. By surveying the 19th-century settlement with aerial lidar and GPS, students participated in what Dr. Fowler calls “a kind of soul craft,” uncovering stories hidden in the forest floor.
In the Faculty of Science, Engineering student Sheheryar Khan brought the Enactus Team to world-champion status with his company Alaagi, which makes cutting-edge compostable bioplastics out of marine vegetation. Already gaining the interest of investors, Alaagi is making waves in a competitive industry.
JOIN A SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
It’s no wonder that Saint Mary’s University is recognized as one of Canada’s top 50 research institutions, punching above its weight in research impact. Students graduate ready to make a difference—equipped with the knowledge, skills, and community connections to excel.
The support and community at Saint Mary’s are unique—you feel it as soon as you step on campus. Robust student support, open conversations, and a diverse and inclusive community means students can achieve their goals within a supportive community alongside professors, mentors, and fellow students who believe in them.
