Acadia University is a liberal arts university founded in 1838 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Acadia University is located at 15 University Avenue, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 2R6. The 250-acre campus is situated in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Its mission is to provide an unparalleled learning experience through a liberal education model based on personalized attention, experiential learning, community engagement, environmental stewardship, global citizenship, and engaged research and innovation.
Acadia was founded in 1838 by local Baptists who wanted a university that would serve the region without requiring religious tests from faculty or students. The founders first proposed the name "Queen's College" before establishing the institution as Acadia College. It became Acadia University in 1891. In 1966, Dr. Charles B. Huggins became Acadia's first Nobel laureate for his pioneering cancer research. In 1996, Acadia introduced the Acadia Advantage program, issuing every student a laptop computer.
Acadia's four faculties are Arts, Pure and Applied Sciences, Professional Studies, and Theology. Together they offer more than 200 degree combinations across undergraduate and graduate programs. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:15, and the average class size is 31. Admission routes include International Baccalaureate, mature student admission, international students with country-specific secondary credentials, and nursing direct entry and advanced standing.
Acadia's 10 residence buildings range from basic double rooms to deluxe singles suites. The Vaughan Memorial Library holds a collection of over a million titles in all formats. The KC Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens opened in 2002. Facilities include Wheelock Dining Hall, an athletic complex, woodland trails, an organic garden, field stations, a seed and tissue bank, and laboratories such as ALAB and mLAB.
Acadia's teams have earned 10 national championship titles and 112 Atlantic University Sport/Regional Championship titles. On average, 113 students are named Academic All-Canadians each year over the last decade. The Scholarships and Financial Aid Office awards more than $8 million in scholarships, scholar-bursaries, awards, and prizes each year.