St. Stephen’s University is a humanities and social sciences specialised institution, located in the historic town of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. Founded in 1975 as a small-scale institution with a limited batch of students in a rented space, the university has established itself as a premier boutique university with a primary focus on liberal arts education. It is famous for its smaller class sizes, which provide personalised learning and a close-knit community of students from all walks of life. With a unique provincial charter, the university has a special grant for a wide variety of degrees in liberal arts and theology.
St. Stephen’s University received this charter from the Province of New Brunswick in 1998, which marked a major milestone in the university’s academic tradition. This period expanded the university’s recognition as a higher education institution across New Brunswick, Canada. Contrasting with the academic year 1987, when the university faced a hard time and almost shut itself down due to declining enrolment, the year 1998 presented the university with a fulfilling and flourishing period to stand where it is now. St. Stephen’s University courses offer students curricula that develop their critical thinking skills with a socially aware mindset. In 2023, it shifted from providing bachelor’s courses to full integration of graduate (master’s) programs. St. Stephen’s University has a deeply rooted connection with the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) people, operating several of its academic operations on their land, reflecting a culturally and historically rich background in the Canadian education system.
St. Stephen’s University has been at the forefront of liberal arts education, specifically in the humanities and social sciences. While the university does not officially ranks on the top of the global university rankings, some of the major St. Stephen’s University rankings include 14513 globally & 256 among Canadian universities by Webometrics Ranking 2025, followed by 10786 out of 14131 global universities, 2370 out of 2597 institutions in North America, and 101st ranked in Canada. UniRanks shows the university at the 10048th position among the global universities.
Note: The shown rankings are based on the publicly available data, retrieved from the official websites of each aforementioned analytics firm for higher education institutions globally.
Webometrics
141513
EduRank
10786
UniRanks
10048
St. Stephen’s University has a streamlined admission process, handled by the in-house administration. They focus on the academic potential of an applicant, along with the ability to connect with other students as a community experience. As part of the St. Stephen’s University admission process, an international student must submit their academic transcripts with proof of their English language proficiency (IELTS or equivalent). Applicants will be required to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and 2-3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs). Once the application and fee are received by the university, eligible students will receive the confirmation letter with an invitation to attend an interview. Upon successful completion of the interview process, candidates will receive an LOA (Letter of Acceptance), which is important to get the Canadian Study Permit Application.
St. Stephen’s University has a high reputation for helping students to pursue their careers in the non-profit, humanitarian, and religious sectors. Its campus offers a safe and welcoming environment where small class sizes lead to bigger career opportunities for students in their respective fields. The hybrid education model allows students to gain work experience while pursuing their studies. St. Stephen’s University's ROI is higher, particularly within the growing social services sector in the New Brunswick area, where the cost of living is also affordable, leading to respectable work in the fields of peacebuilding and community development.
Note: The range of salaries shown in the below table is based on the existing trends and pay standards of the job market in New Brunswick, Canada, for the aforementioned entry-level positions. These values are subject to change depending on the particular location, degree level, employment type, organisational structure, and other factors related to the opportunity.
| Course | Annual Package |
|---|---|
| NGO Program Coordinator | CAD 45,000 - CAD 52,000 |
| Conflict Resolution Specialist | CAD 48,000 - CAD 55,000 |
| Community Outreach Manager | CAD 42,000 - CAD 48,000 |
| Chaplain/Pastoral Care | CAD 40,000 - CAD 50,000 |
| Social Policy Researcher | CAD 46,000 - CAD 54,000 |
St. Stephen’s University is located in the town of St. Stephen in New Brunswick, Canada. Its main building, Park Hall, is on the main street of the town.
St. Stephen’s University is famous for its smaller class sizes and a liberal arts education. Its academic programs in humanities and social sciences are particularly highly rated.
Yes, St. Stephen's University is accredited by the Province of New Brunswick, which allows the university to grant degrees under the “Degree Granting Act”.
In the context of St. Stephen's University admission requirements, a “Mature Student” refers to an applicant who is more than 30 years of age and does not have a bachelor’s degree for a graduate-level program, but can apply for admission through their portfolio if they have more than 5 years of relevant experience for a graduate degree.
St. Stephen's University has suspended its undergraduate degree programs since 2023, shifting towards providing students with master’s degrees and graduate certificate programs.