Des étudiants jouent de la musique autour d'un feu de camp au bord de la mer au coucher du soleil

By living the language, you will love the language!

Université Sainte-Anne specializes in bringing French immersion students to the next level.

Discover why French Immersion is right for you! Skip to the end and apply now!

There are so many reasons why Université Sainte-Anne is reputed for having the best French Immersion program in Canada!

Since starting our immersion program in 1972, we've honed an expertise in teaching French as a Second Language, from our philosophy of learning-by-living, to the quality of our teaching.

By eating, sleeping, studying, working and playing in French, 24 hours a day, you will gain considerable proficiency and confidence in Canada's other official language.

A map of Nova Scotia showing Church Point in the South-West. In the East, Halifax.

Immersion is the best way to learn French!

There are so many reasons why Université Sainte-Anne is reputed for having the best French Immersion program in Canada!

Since starting our immersion program in 1972, we've honed an expertise in teaching French as a Second Language, from our philosophy of learning-by-living, to the quality of our teaching.

By eating, sleeping, studying, working and playing in French, 24 hours a day, you will gain considerable proficiency and confidence in Canada's other official language.

"Learning French opens doors to a whole new world. I'm not the same person I was when I arrived at Sainte-Anne!"

Sessions

Des étudiants autour d'un feu de camp

5-week Spring Session
(May 12 to June 15, 2024)

University students and adults who wish to perfect their French can benefit from our 5-week French immersion session in the spring. The schedule is very similar to the summer session. Students must be at least 18 years old to enroll.


5-week Summer Session
(June 30 to August 3, 2024)

Students from across Canada, the United States and overseas come to study and have fun during our summer session. A well-trained, professional staff of teachers and counselors ensure a pleasant learning experience.

Activities range from theme nights, excursions and whale-watching expeditions to canoeing and golf - all in French, of course. Students attend two formal classes (6 university credits) in the morning, have a workshop in the afternoon, and activities are planned for the remainder of the day and the weekend. There is no time for boredom and fun is guaranteed! Students must be at least 15 years old to enroll. Many adults participate, too, and are housed in separate residences.


4-week Session for Teachers
( June 30 to July 27, 2024)

This program is specifically designed for teachers who wish to hone their French, renew their skills as instructors, enrich their supply of pedagogical activities, and immerse themselves in a dynamic French atmosphere.

Students participate in an intensive 4-week period of courses. They are led by a team specifically trained in the latest approaches in the instruction of French. Please check with your provincial government for information about bursaries that may be available.

"You make tremendous progress through osmosis. French was in the air!"

A day at Sainte-Anne

Mornings

Students attend two formal classes.


Afternoons

Students participate in mandatory workshops. These include outdoor activities, souvenir album, dance, video, blog, music, etc.

Following the workshops, sports are organized for each residence.


Evenings

Social activities include bands performing on campus, casino night, open-mic night, "café-théâtre", and even our own versions of popular game shows!


Weekends

Look forward to trips to the beach, whale watching, canoeing, trekking, and more!

Activities vary based on weather conditions.

"I was having so much fun, I didn't even realize how much French I was learning!"
Des étudiants explorent la plage au coucher du soleil.

EXPLORE

The EXPLORE bursary is available to Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who are in Grade 11 or 12 or enrolled as full-time post-secondary students in the current academic year.

The program offers bursaries to students wishing to improve their knowledge of French. It covers all tuition fees, room, meals and socio-cultural activities for a 5-week program.

Travel expenses and the $275 enrolment fee are not covered by the bursary and must be paid by students.

Application forms and instructions (Ce lien ouvre dans un nouvel onglet)

Program Details

Accommodations

All students live in residence on campus and eat at the university's cafeteria. A room will be reserved for you in residence upon receipt of your application and deposit. Students are placed in residence according to their age.

The Placement Test

The placement test is a French-language equivalency evaluation given on the first Monday of every session. Don't worry about studying! The results of the test allow us to place you into one of our 8 program levels (from Beginner to Very Advanced), according to your skill.

Certificate

Students who successfully complete the 5-week spring or summer sessions will receive a certificate indicating their completed level of competency in French, and a transcript.

Credits

Students may request that credits for successfully-completed courses be transferred to other universities or high schools. Note: acceptance of credit transfers depends on the receiving institution.

The French-Only Rule

At the official opening of the session, students are asked to sign a pledge agreeing to speak French at all times during the program. As soon as the pledge is signed, the use of French is mandatory at all times. If a student is caught speaking English they will receive a warning. The third warning results in expulsion from the program.

Immersion Fees

How much does the program cost?

Spring/Summer Session Fees
Fee Amount
Registration -
Tuition -
Room -
Board -
Student ID Card -
Total -
{"year": "2024", "carte-etudiante": "12.00", "5week": { "ca": { "ins": "275.00", "room": "570.00", "board": "1338.00", "no": { "tuit": "1942.00", "total": "4137.00" }, "yes": { "tuit": "971.00", "total": "3166.00" } }, "int": { "ins": "275.00", "room": "570.00", "board": "1338.00", "no": { "tuit": "2333.00", "total": "4528.00" }, "yes": { "tuit": "1167.00", "total": "3362.00" } } }, "4week": { "ca": { "ins": "275.00", "room": "456.00", "board": "1070.00", "no": { "tuit": "1554.00", "total": "3367.00" }, "yes": { "tuit": "777.00", "total": "2590.00" } }, "int": { "ins": "275.00", "room": "456.00", "board": "1070.00", "no": { "tuit": "1866.00", "total": "3679.00" }, "yes": { "tuit": "933.00", "total": "2746.00" } } } }

How to apply

You must pay the $275 enrolment fee when submitting your registration.

Canadian Students: Once you've applied, paid your $275 registration fee, and received your acceptance letter, please contact Arlene Comeau, Finance Office, at 902-260-5030 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to pay the rest of your fees with a Visa or MasterCard.

International Students: The enrolment fee must be paid before the application can be submitted. For an online application, only Visa and Mastercard are accepted. If you cannot use one of these cards, please submit your payment before completing the application using either PayMyTuition FR (Available in French Only) or alternatively, GlobalPay FR (Available in French Only). Once your payment has been received, we will send you a unique promotional code that you can use when submitting your application to confirm that you have already paid the enrolment fee.

Register Online
(Payment by credit card only)
  • We accept VISA or MasterCard.
  • If you withdraw at least four weeks before the start of the 4-week or 5-week sessions, $225 of the $275 regsitration fee will be reimbursed to you.
  • Students who leave while the session is in progress will lose the $275 enrolment fee and will be charged for an extra seven days after their date of departure.
  • Applications are processed on a first-received, first-admitted basis. Last-minute applications are considered in the event of cancellations.

Questions?

Email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Call us: 902-260-5095
(toll-free within Canada the U.S. at 1 888-338-8337)