BA Aquatic Resources at St. Francis Xavier University

Programme overview

Aquatic Resources (AQUA) at StFX is an interdisciplinary program combining natural and social science perspectives on marine and freshwater resource issues, and students may complete a BA or a BSc. StFX's Atlantic coastal location supports hands-on research in freshwater and marine systems.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Department: Aquatic Resources | Study mode: full-time | Location: Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada

What you will study

First-year students explore the scientific nature of freshwater and ocean ecosystems and the effects of human use, including climate change, population growth, food production, eutrophication, pollution and sustainability. Topics include water as a unique substance, ecological principles, management practices, governance, rivers, wetlands, ocean resources and biodiversity conservation.

Career pathways

Environmental research and analysis, water resources science, marine biology, aquaculture policy analysis, coastal resource management, fisheries enforcement and analysis, hydrology, conservation planning, species-at-risk biology, Indigenous fisheries; many graduates continue to law, planning, resource and sustainability management, marine and freshwater sciences or archaeology.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Faculty of Arts (BA), Nova Scotia high school applicants: Minimum overall Grade 12 average of 70% with no grade below 65% in each required subject; limited-enrolment programs are competitive and the minimum does not guarantee admission. Required: English 12 (or English 12: African Heritage) and four other university preparatory courses. Requirements for other provinces and countries differ by location. Applicants whose first language is not English normally need proof of English proficiency (for example IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 with no band below 20, Duolingo 115, PTE Academic 60).

Requirements published at faculty level.

Main intake: September (classes begin 2 September 2026; Welcome Days 29-30 August 2026). January intake (classes begin 5 January 2027) for eligible programmes; competitive programmes such as BSc Nursing are not available for January admission. Spring term (May 2027) and Summer term (July 2027) undergraduate studies are also offered.

Domestic applicants: 1 September deadline for September entry (2026 and 2027); 9 December 2026 for January 2027 entry. Applications for September 2027 open 15 September 2026. Bachelor of Education: last date to submit application is 1 December 2026. LPN to BScN: 9 December 2026. Four-year BSc Nursing: 3 March 2027. Spring term (May 2027): 12 April 2027. Summer term (July 2027): June, date to be confirmed. Major scholarship consideration: apply by 1 March 2027.

International applicants: 30 May 2027 deadline for September 2027 entry (later applications reviewed case by case according to visa processing times); 30 September 2026 for January 2027 entry, with confirmation by 30 October 2026. Applications for September are made at apply.stfx.ca.

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