MA/MS in Geography at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Canada is a master's degree in Geography programme. Tuition for international students is CAD 12,284 per year (CAD 5,547 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Geography
Local tuition: CAD 5,547 / year
International tuition: CAD 12,284 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Master of Arts in Geography at Saint Mary's University is described as the only program of its kind in Canada's Maritime provinces, covering advanced study in both human and physical geography. It examines the interaction between nature and society and the processes that shape distinct spaces, places, landscapes, and regions, with student specializations spanning climate change adaptation, urban planning, natural hazards, geomorphometric analysis, and community-based conservation. The program combines graduate coursework with a thesis, and students develop skills in mapping, spatial analysis, and synthesis of geographic data alongside broader research capabilities. Three research centres affiliated with the department are available to support student work, and the program is described as offering dedicated faculty supervision throughout. It suits applicants holding an honours degree in geography or a related field who are interested in applied research and community engagement, and who have identified a research focus compatible with a specific faculty supervisor, since prospective students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors before applying. Graduates are positioned for careers in urban and regional planning, industrial location analysis, marketing, resource development, environmental management, and geomatics, reflecting the program's applied orientation alongside its academic thesis requirement.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Admission normally requires an honours BA or BSc in Geography, an honours degree in a cognate discipline with substantial geography content, or a degree the department judges equivalent, carrying a cumulative average of at least a B; applications are due February 1. Applicants whose first language is not English must sit a standardized English test unless they hold a previous degree completed entirely in English; this programme follows Saint Mary's general graduate-studies language thresholds rather than a programme-specific scale: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 83 with no band below 20 (or 550 paper-based), Duolingo English Test 125 with no sub-score below 105, or Pearson PTE Academic 60 with no sub-score below 50. The programme page does not list a portfolio, interview or work-experience requirement.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Saint Mary's University applies directly, not through a provincial service. For the currently posted cycle, Winter Term 2027 domestic applications close 1 December 2026 and international applications for the same term close 15 October 2026; Entrance Award and Admissions Scholarship consideration requires applying by 15 February 2027. Applications for the following 2027-2028 academic year (Fall 2027 and Winter 2028) opened 1 October 2026, but SMU has not yet published a Fall 2027 closing date for either domestic or international applicants -- the prior cycle's Fall Term domestic deadline was 1 August 2026. Admission is not described as rolling; each term carries a fixed posted deadline, released roughly a year ahead of the term. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
