StFX helps you graduate with a professional career already in motion
We know that life after graduation is unpredictable.
That's why, at StFX, you will be part of a process in which rigorous academics are paired with a hands-on curriculum that encourages you to get involved, ask bigger questions, and connect what you learn to the world around you.
Through hands-on experiential learning, co-operative education, and competitive student research opportunities, you will collaborate alongside classmates and faculty to ground your education in both local and global contexts. So when you graduate, you won't be stepping out into the unknown—you'll already know how to navigate the real-world.
If you are ready to challenge yourself academically while discovering new perspectives and sought-after workplace skills, StFX is where you belong.
Service Learning
Pioneered at StFX, service learning blends hands-on opportunities and academic study with community service for a well-rounded approach to the undergraduate experience.
Three forms of Service Learning
Integrate academic learning with community action.
Immersion experiences
Intensive service-learning projects that take place off-campus, and often internationally.
Course-based learning
Courses that feature service-learning assignments, typically in the immediate community.
Student society
An extracurricular society that organizes local service-learning initiatives for all students.
Service Learning
"In focusing on global citizenship and what it means to be an active member of my community, I realized the small impacts and how important they are. Things like exercising my right to vote, or understanding global and communal issues."
Co-operative education
The StFX Co-operative Education program bridges the gap between the classroom and the professional world. You will gain hands-on, work-integrated learning recognized by top employers.
The Co-op advantage
01
Earn while you learn
Secure competitive, full-time salaries to help fund your degree.
02
Global mobility
Work, live, and travel across Canada or even internationally.
03
Expert coaching
Access one-on-one professional career advising and networking strategies.
04
Graduate career-ready
Discover your career goals, build your confidence, and increase your chances of landing a job before graduation.
Co-op Placement
"This co-op term has been transformative for my career path. It gave me practical exposure to enterprise systems, reinforced my technical foundation, and helped me grow significantly in interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability."
Student research
StFX has established a tradition of research and creative works across all faculties. We have millions of dollars in external research funding each year, so you will be able to learn the skills you need to put to work after graduation.
Featured undergraduate research awards
01
Alley Heaps Internship Awards
The Computer Science Department awards undergraduate student internships for students who will collaborate with faculty to conduct research throughout the summer.
02
Irving Oil Research Mentorship
The Irving Oil Research Mentorship awards provide StFX undergraduate students with the opportunity to contribute to the creation of new knowledge and the creative use of existing knowledge.
03
Schwartz Internship Awards
The Gerald Schwartz School of Business Research Internship Awards provide funding for StFX BBA students to carry out a business-related research project under the supervision of a full-time faculty member.
Recent student research projects
Mental Health in Atlantic Canada
When Christopher Richard arrived at StFX, he was apprehensive about taking a required first-year calculus course. Instead of struggling, he discovered a passion for the subject that led to real-world impact.
Showcasing Chemistry on the Global Stage
When undergraduate researchers Ella MacPhee, Makayla Bugden, Scarlett Evans, and Zoe Sturmy travelled to the 68th International Conference on Analytical Sciences and Spectroscopy, they weren't just attending—they were presenting alongside global experts.
Book Censorship in Atlantic Canada
When honours English student Abby Ives ('26) discovered that a novel that shaped her teenage years had been banned in a local school, she turned her surprise into a major research project on book censorship in Atlantic Canada.
In-lab training
Ranking School of Nursing Simulation Lab
With our state-of-the-art simulation labs, students can gain hands-on experience in realistic healthcare scenarios in a controlled environment.
Flux Lab
The Flux Lab is the research hub of Dr. Dave Risk, who employs staff and students in research roles. His work bridges academia and industry by studying gas emissions in oil fields.
Chemistry Lab
From revolutionizing lobster preservation to creating gold nanoparticles, the StFX chemistry lab is where students make real discoveries daily.
Jonathan Deitcher Financial Trading Room
If you study business at StFX, you’ll spend time in the Jonathan Deitcher Financial Trading Room, where you can follow global financial markets in real time and connect classroom learning to what’s happening in the world each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does learning "beyond the classroom" actually look like at StFX?
It means your education isn't limited to lectures and textbooks. Through our distinctive experiential-learning university model, you will apply academic theories directly to real-world scenarios. This includes undertaking faculty-led field research, landing local or international work terms, and participating in community-driven initiatives that challenge you to think critically and act globally.
What makes the Service Learning program at StFX unique?
StFX was the proud pioneer of service learning in Canada. Our dedicated StFX service learning tracks blend structured academic coursework with meaningful, hands-on community service. Instead of just reading about societal, economic, or environmental challenges, you will actively work alongside local or international community partners to help address them.
How do I get involved in community service learning, and will it fit my degree?
We offer multiple pathways tailored to your schedule. You can opt for Course-Based options—where a semester-long project is built right into your syllabus—or apply for our popular Immersion programs, which take place during the spring or winter breaks. These university service-learning programs are highly adaptable and span diverse disciplines in Arts, Science, and Business.
Can undergraduate students actually conduct real scientific research here?
Absolutely. Unlike massive institutions where lab space and grants are reserved almost exclusively for graduate students, StFX prioritizes its undergraduates. You will find premier undergraduate research opportunities Canada has to offer, allowing you to work as a paid summer research fellow, co-author papers with faculty, and operate laboratory equipment as early as your second year.
How does off-campus learning benefit my future career?
Employers and graduate schools look for graduates who have practical, hands-on experience. Engaging in a community service-learning university track or leading a research project teaches you invaluable, transferable skills such as project management, leadership, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication. You graduate with a resume that proves you can execute ideas in the real world.
Ready to become a Xaverian?
You found your spot. Now make your mark at StFX.
Where to next?
Continue learning everything that makes StFX stand out.
