Saint Mary's University (www.smu.ca) was established in 1802 and received its advanced degree accreditation in 1852. After its founding in 1802 as Canada's oldest Catholic University, Saint Mary's developed into a modern, secular, urban university with more than 7,500 full and part-time students. Saint Mary's has emphasized from its inception excellence in teaching and research.

Saint Mary's offers students a personally and professionally fulfilling university experience in which a commitment to academic excellence in undergraduate and graduate programs and a variety of fieldwork or exchange opportunities all take place in a collegiate atmosphere of individual attention to student needs (student-faculty ratio of 21:1) and faculty support for the advancement of student careers (Saint Mary's has one of the highest percentages of faculty with doctorates of any university in Atlantic Canada). Saint Mary's ranked in the top five categories of  leaders of tomorrow ,  best overall and  most innovative in Canada s Maclean's magazine national survey of Canadian universities. Saint Mary's is known for its vibrant and internationally recognized interdisciplinary programs in areas such as International Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Atlantic Canada Studies, Asian Studies, and Women's Studies.

Saint Mary's has the second-highest level of research funding in Canada for a university of its size, providing leadership in such initiatives as the China/Vietnam project from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Atlantic Canada Environmental Research program in partnership with government and industry. The University has an extensive system of overseas linkages with universities, NGOs and development agencies which provide students with opportunities for research, study, and work experience. The University supports academic excellence with over $1.6 million in scholarships available to students in all areas of study.

Programs at Saint Mary's are attracting some of the best students from both Canada and around the world, all of whom are drawn by the combination of excellent research with outstanding teaching delivered in smaller classes. Saint Mary's is one of the most internationalized universities in Canada, with hundreds of international students on its campus from almost 100 different countries. The University has a very responsive International Students Centre which assists students with all aspects of their stay in Canada.

Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the principal city of the Maritime Region of eastern Canada. The Halifax International Airport has direct links with many of the world's urban centres.