By Katryna Snow, Associate Director of Higher Education Services

A new incentive at Saint Mary’s University in Canada for students at CIS member schools

The CIS membership community consists of over 1560 schools and universities in over 121 countries around the world. An important aspect of the CIS community is the connections made between our schools and universities – solidified by a shared commitment to developing socially responsible global citizens through international education. As member universities seek to enrol young people who have international perspectives and global aspirations, they find these students at CIS member schools.

CIS school members are committed to exploring, understanding, and adopting leading practices in international education. CIS membership is a mark of quality, signaling to the rest of the world that the school shares a commitment to socially responsible leadership.

All CIS member schools adhere to the CIS Code of Ethics and meet core membership standards. When a member school completes CIS International Accreditation, they  benchmark their organizational learning in alignment with international leading practice. CIS International Accreditation supports strategic school improvement through a developmental approach to accreditation where research-informed standards guide schools to strengthen the impact of international education while developing socially responsible leadership.

Universities seeking to diversify their campuses with students who have a global outlook find thousands of internationally-minded students in CIS schools. University members find value in visiting CIS schools and engaging with students in their final year of study, helping to broaden horizons for students on different courses of study and the diversity of higher education options available around the world. Some of our university members also provide incentives for students from CIS schools by offering scholarships, grants or other opportunities.

Saint Mary’s University in Canada provides offer to students at CIS member schools.

Students from CIS member schools who enrol in an undergraduate degree programme can benefit from a tuition reduction programme for international students. We asked Lauren Cullen, Director, Student Recruitment and Enrolment, to tell us more.

“Saint Mary’s University is one of Canada’s top primarily undergraduate universities and, founded in 1802, one of the oldest. Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, our campus is in the heart of a vibrant city known for its coastal friendliness, opportunity and sense of community. Here, we know that everyone is unique, and this individuality is encouraged. We offer flexible programming in Arts, Business and Science, allowing our students to build an education aligned with their passions. Within our Faculty of Science, we offer an Engineering diploma, and we are leaders in the Atlantic region in business education and entrepreneurship.”

Why do they want to enrol students from CIS member schools?

“With approximately 25% of its student population coming from over 115 countries, Saint Mary’s University (SMU) is proud to be a global campus that values diversity and cross-cultural learning. To further our commitment to international education, SMU is pleased to offer a new tuition reduction program for international students who graduate from a Council of International Schools (CIS) member. This initiative reflects our belief in the quality of a CIS education and our desire to welcome students who are prepared to thrive in a globally connected academic environment.”

According to Dan Seneker, Assistant Vice-President Enrolment and University Registrar, the tuition reduction programme “is part of our commitment to supporting high-quality global education and attracting talented students from diverse international backgrounds.”

What exactly does the tuition reduction entail?

Effective September 2025, Saint Mary’s University is offering a tuition reduction of $1,000 CAD per course off the posted international tuition rate for eligible international students. Students typically take 10 courses in an academic year, so this is approximately $10,000 CAD savings per year ($40,000 CAD over four years). Eligible students must have graduated from a CIS member school and enrolled in an undergraduate degree programme at SMU paying international tuition fees. For questions about the tuition reduction, students and counsellors can contact Lauren Cullen at Saint Mary’s University.