Driving research, leadership, and social innovation across campus
At StFX, you’re encouraged to become more than a student earning a degree. You're invited to take part in work that genuinely matters for our society.
That sense of growth is supported in real, practical ways. Through our Centres of Excellence focused on leadership, research, and training, StFX creates opportunities to enrich your learning, build confidence, and explore how you want to make a difference. These centres help you see how your undergraduate education can reach beyond campus.
StFX has five distinguished Centres of Excellence, each advancing research and sector-specific innovation across politics, leadership, business, international studies, and health.
Brian Mulroney Institute of Government
The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government is one of Canada's preeminent centres for undergraduate education in government, public policy, and leadership. The Institute contributes innovative research and solutions to complex national and global political, economic, and social problems. Its public outreach activities influence and stimulate national and international discourse while its educational programs develop the next generation of Canadian policy leaders.
What StFX students say
"My work at the BMIG saw my professor include me in all kinds of research, including a research trip to the U.S. Naval archives in Washington, D.C. I am so grateful for the interesting job experience and unforgettable opportunity to travel."
"The opportunities through the Mulroney Institute have been fantastic. My professor's expertise are great resources for refining writing and analytical skills, and I'm sure the work carried out will benefit my future studies and career."
Coady International Institute
The Coady Institute supports community development leaders in Canada and around the world through educational programs and partnerships grounded in unique, asset-based, and citizen-led approaches. The Institute equips leaders to address contemporary global challenges and opportunities, and to connect with a network of thousands of graduates and partners working in more than 146 countries.
What Coady students say
"The course created a platform for me to learn both theory and hear practical experiences of startups and successful entrepreenaurs and managers of social Enterprises.
"With a strong focus on social justice, these courses often emphasize peer learning, fostering rich exchanges of knowledge and experience."
Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership
The Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership is dedicated to fostering and funding student leadership initiatives, and to providing opportunities and the resources that will allow tomorrow’s leaders to flourish. At the grand opening of the Centre in 2011, Frank McKenna reminded us that, “the Centre isn't bringing leadership to StFX, it’s bringing a Centre to a university that has a long history of leadership.”
What StFX students say
"Placeholder quote text here. Student enjoyed their leadership development opportunities, workshops, or project grants provided by the McKenna Centre."
"Placeholder quote text here. Student speaks about gaining real-world skills, public speaking confidence, and leading change on campus or in the community."
Gerald Schwartz School of Business
At the Gerald Schwartz School of Business, you can build the skills and confidence to pursue careers across many areas of business. You will learn through hands-on, career-focused programming in modern facilities, guided by engaged faculty who bring current research into the classroom. With a student-focused approach, the School offers Bachelor of Business Administration degrees, multi-credential undergraduate programs, and post-baccalaureate options.
What StFX students say
"I came to StFX with high goals but having the Schwartz National Scholarship allows me to have more confidence to set even higher ones through my career at StFX and my career beyond StFX. With this scholarship, I have the support of both the faculty and the students behind me."
"The business building was the last place we came on the tour. I was with my parents on the tour and we looked up at the building and we were amazed because its gorgeous. And then the classroom sizes are small. So I really loved it."
Victor and Mona Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health
Thanks to a massive $37.4 million investment from the Government of Nova Scotia—the largest single investment ever for the university—StFX will soon be home to an Institute for Innovation in Health. The Institute's areas of study will be health promotion, mental health, and solutions to the root causes of poor health. For StFX researchers and students, it will be a place on campus to unite and explore ways to improve health and wellness in rural Nova Scotia.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the leadership opportunities at StFX unique for undergraduate students?
Unlike universities that reserve elite funding exclusively for graduate students, StFX empowers undergraduates directly. Through premier programs hosted by the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership, students receive grants, workshops, and mentorship to spark real change before graduation.
Can I study public policy and government as an undergraduate?
Absolutely. Through the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government, StFX provides one of the most prestigious public policy undergraduate degrees Canada has to offer. Students gain a deep, interdisciplinary understanding of political science, economics, and history, while studying in a world-class facility dedicated to contemporary public policy issues.
What kind of hands-on experience does the business school offer?
The Gerald Schwartz School of Business is built around an experiential business school undergraduate model. Rather than just learning theory, our students manage real-money investment funds, participate in national case competitions, and complete paid co-op work terms that prepare them directly for corporate and entrepreneurial success.
How does StFX prepare students to make a global or community-based impact?
Through the world-renowned Coady Institute, StFX offers unparalleled community development education programs. Students learn asset-based, community-driven approaches to social justice and economic development, connecting with a global network of leaders and advocates working on the front lines of change.
What opportunities are there for students interested in health research and innovation?
With our newly established, multi-million-dollar Dahdaleh Institute, StFX is a destination for innovation in health research that universities look up to. Undergraduate students can collaborate directly with faculty on cutting-edge research, rural health delivery models, and wellness initiatives that directly impact communities in Atlantic Canada and beyond.
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