Reviewed on Mar 12, 2025(Enrolled 2024)
What Students Say
Likes
- Education quality is good
- Many employment opportunities for graduate students (TA, proctor, etc)
- Smaller classes for a better understanding of the concepts.
Dislikes
- Away from the city.
- There are fewer opportunities for off-campus jobs (unless you can travel to New Minas or Kentville).
- Fewer graduate programs for computer science (only thesis currently).
Course Curriculum
8
- I would say that mine is a research based course so the difficulty is based on the research. Mix of both practical and theoretical, more practical focused.
- Positive aspects would be in research its completely based on my competence and effort, so I get lots of freedom and help from my professor.
- I have to take only few courses so my coursework for 2 semesters would be two 1.5 hour classes each week per course.
- I am a graduate student so I only interact with my professor and her students (4 of us)
- No indian students
Admission Experience
- RIT (USA) - Accepted
UPitt (USA) - Accepted
NJIT (USA) - Rejected
Dal (CAN) - Rejected
Acadia (CAN) - Accepted
Laurentian University (CAN) - Accepted - Out of 5, RIT (USA), UPitt (USA), Laurentian University (CAN) and Acadia (CAN) accepted
- NJIT (USA) and Dal (Can) - Rejected
- I applied late to Dal. The reason for NJIT (USA) was because of low GRE scores.
1. The tuition was relatively cheaper and I had opportunities for TAship/proctorship to fund my education and living expenses. The course work was better and not the same as the one I did in my undergrad.
2. Since my degree was thesis based, I had to reach out to a supervisor and once my supervisor accepted my application, I had to fill out a university application and send my physical transcript.
3. IELTS above 6.5, but the main component is having a supervisor accepting you as a student.
4. I think the decision took a bit longer than expected. Other than that it was alright. - I applied for the winter intake. It took around 4 months in my case. I first sent an email to a faculty member around August 2023 asking if I could apply for the graduate program. The professor asked me to fill out a few forms and send my transcripts so that my readiness could be accessed and after a few days, I was sent the confirmation code and can go ahead with the application. I finished the application and uploaded my test scores and around October 2024 I received the confirmation of acceptance.
Faculty
8
- Since my course is research based I mostly do 1 on 1 with my professor. The general course that I need to do, the ratio is 1:4. The quality is high because the classes are small.
- Teaching methodology is mostly practical and academic based. There is a co-op option for masters (I have enrolled in), which provides us with industry knowledge.
- Yes my first internship was secured through my professor sending a job description in the mail.
- I admire Dr. Sazia Mahfuz, my supervisor, she's extremely patient and understanding and is ready to help even with minor issues. Another professor I admire is Ian Beaton
Campus Life
10
- Only one campus, many blocks.
- There is a gym, swimming pool, library,
- I remember Holi being celebrated and the Chinese New Year. There are a lot of clubs like the writing club, computer science club, etc. Paddy's Day is celebrated as well.
- Football is pretty popular and Hockey. There are various other sports as well like volleyball, swimming, and a very good gymnasium
Part Time Jobs
- Since very few graduate students in Computer Science, all of them pretty much have TAship. RA depends on the professor
- Pay is slightly above minimum wage for TA. RA pay is usually higher.
- Yes there are many on campus jobs available. In the dining hall (get free meals), library assistant, security, others.
- Off campus work is capped at 24 hours currently. There is no restriction on on campus jobs.
- It is not too difficult to get on campus jobs. Off campus is limited because it is a small town.
- Most Indians work minimum wage jobs in New Minas, it's a few kilometers from Acadia University. It is moderately difficult to secure on campus jobs as there is a lot of availability. Graduate students generally get TA job because of very few graduates (at least currently). Indeed is the best place for part time jobs off campus and on campus it would be through university portal and emails.
Placement
8
- Depends on the markets and job availability.
- In Nova Scotia you can expect a starting salary of around 60k - 100k CAD max.
- There are a few job fairs in the university that are not so great. Apply on Indeed and LinkedIn. But it mostly depends on your profile resume and experience.
- ResMed, RBC, and CGI are a few companies that Acadia Graduates get hired. Many of them moved to Ontario.
Accommodation
Off Campus
6
- For my first year I stayed on campus at Crowell Tower (would not recommend), very expensive. Applied on the university residence website. Moved to off campus now.
- 700, everything included (heat, water, utilities etc)
- Finding off campus accommodation is difficult because Wolfville is a small town and high demand from students for off campus.
- DO NOT CONSIDER ON CAMPUS. Only as a last option. Its extremely expensive (food mainly) and the food tastes pathetic.
Exams
- IELTS and TOEFL are accepted. GMAT and GRE are not required.
- CV, SoP, Letter of Recommendation, supervisor acceptance letter. I had to send the original transcript through mail once I was accepted to the program.
- No there was no interview. However, I had to communicate with the graduate supervisor regarding my achievements during my undergrad.
Fees
- The total course fees is 13,747 CAD per year and around 3,200 CAD for every co op term. Hostel was very expensive because the meal plan was compulsory. I took the cheapest option and the cost was 5,700 CAD per term!
- Semester-wise, the course fees increase a bit.
- Now I stay off campus and my rent is 700 CAD with groceries at 300 CAD monthly.
Scholarship
- Yes I received a Graduate Scholarship, eligibility is to have and maintain good grades in your undergrad and when doing a master's. It's based on the university's funding availability.
- 1000 CAD + 2500 CAD as a Teaching Assistant every term
- Yes, they did. The graduate course is generally funded because it is research-based.
- I am not sure about the scholarship for other students.
