Application Process
Guidelines for Letters of Intent
Referees for BEd Candidates
Application Deadline


Competition for admission is keen and enrollment is limited. Minimum academic requirements are often far exceeded by a majority of the applicants and a strong academic record by itself is not enough to ensure acceptance.

Evidence of professional suitability, substantiated by letters of reference, is considered on an equal basis with your academic record. Most students who are admitted to the programme have considerable experience in leadership roles working with young people.

To be considered for admission to the programme, you must satisfy three minimum academic requirements:

1. You must hold a four-year (minimum 120 credit hours) bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or be a candidate for the degree in May.

2. Your academic record must show evidence of above-average ability. Your cumulative grade-point average, calculated on your most recent 60 credit hours attempted, must be at least 3.0 on a scale where 4.3 is the highest mark attainable. (This is roughly equivalent to an average of B or 75 per cent in other grading systems.)

3. You must be eligible for level 5 teacher certification with the New Brunswick Department of Education. This will require a four-year undergraduate degree of 120 credit hours. Applications must have either 30 credit hours as a major in a teachable subject area, or 24 credit hours in one major teachable subject area and 18 credit hours in another teachable subject area. Teachable majors and minors are listed at Required Teachables. They are required for New Brunswick teacher certification eligibility.

Applicants who do not satisfy these minimum requirements are not considered further in the selection process.

Candidates who satisfy these minimum academic requirements will be assessed on the basis of professional suitability and academic preparation. Academic records, letters of intent and reference letters will be reviewed for evidence of academic strength, teaching-related experience, and those qualities likely to contribute to teaching success. Prior to final acceptance, candidates may be interviewed either in person or by telephone.

Please note that an applicant's grade point average must be maintained or acceptance will be revoked.

To strengthen your application, you may consider taking steps to improve both your cumulative grade point average and your experience profile. For example, volunteer experience in schools will strengthen an application. You should also select your referees judiciously. For advice on the application process, contact the St. Thomas University Admissions Office or the Education Department.

Applicants who do not satisfy these minimum requirements are not considered further in the selection process.

Application Process

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Your application to the BEd Programme should be sent to the Admissions Department. The required documents application package must include:

1. a completed application form for admission to the university available at How to Apply
2. a completed BEd Supplementary Application Form
3. a non-refundable application fee of $35
4. a letter of intent and your teaching preference see Guidelines for Letter of Intent
5. three letters of reference which assess your suitability for the teaching profession in terms of personal qualities and your ability to work with young people (referees who can attest directly about your ability to work with children are preferred). Please refer your references (these 3 letters must be signed on the envelopes on back flap sealed as well as sent in application package) to the Referees for Bachelor of Education Candidates.
6. official transcripts of marks from all post-secondary institutions you have attended (if you’re currently enroled in university, please ensure that a transcript of your mid-year grades reaches the admissions office by January 15 and that you make arrangements to have your final transcript of marks forwarded after graduation).  It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure the application is completely submitted on time.

Guidelines for Letter of Intent

Your letter of intent should outline your reasons for applying to the Bachelor of Education. We would like to accept all qualified candidates who are seeking the kind of professional programme we offer, but we cannot. For this reason, it is important that you provide us with enough information to adequately evaluate your application. Your letter of intent is an important factor in the admissions decision-making process, and provides us with the reasons why you should be one of our successful applicants.

Write about your strengths and experiences which you feel will have a positive impact on your potential to be a teacher. Outline your relevant experiences as a learner and a volunteer or teacher. The most valuable experiences would be connected in some way to teaching. Your written communication skills are also an important consideration in your letter.

Your letter of intent should be 800-1000 words in length, word processed and double spaced in a standard font (12 pitch).

Please attach an up to date resume (approximately 1-2 pages) which includes recent education, work and volunteer history.

Referees for Bachelor of Education Candidates

Thank you for agreeing to serve as a referee for an applicant to St. Thomas University’s Bachelor of Education degree programme. Your comments will be considered carefully by our admissions committee. Professional suitability is weighted heavily in our selection process.

Please indicate your affiliation/relationship with the candidate. Were you a supervisor, employer, Mentor, or Professor? It is important to indicate this to us. While a Professor may see academic skills, a supervisor may be able to identify work habits. Your comments on the candidate’s attributes and qualities that will enhance performance as a classroom teacher are of particular interest to us.

Please concentrate on several different aspects of the person: identify his/her skills, attitudes, and growth, as well as his/her contributions to and performance within your organization.

Following is a list of attributes (compiled by the National Association of Colleges and Employers) which is often listed by employers as tools on which to based eventual selection. These are excellent points to address:

• ability to communicate
• self-confidence
• initiative
• energy level
• flexibility
• self knowledge
• goal achievement
• appropriate vocational skills
• intelligence
• willingness to accept responsibility
• leadership
• imagination
• interpersonal skills
• ability to handle conflict
• competitiveness
• direction

A national publication (1991 ACUS Annual) listed the following eight intangibles as important when evaluating teaching candidates:

• empathy
• native intelligence
• divergent, abstract thinking style
• high level of commitment
• the ability to be a self starter
• high energy level
• recognition that excellence is a journey, not a destination
• potential ability to lead

Please note: your letter of reference should be completed on letterhead when possible. In the event that letterhead is not an option, please provide your full contact information (i.e., phone and fax numbers, including appropriate area code, as well as your e-mail address) for reference verification. Please ensure that you identify the candidate by both first and last names, as well as the nature of your association with him/her in your letter. Please be sure to sign and seal your reference letter and you must sign the flap of the envelope. This must be returned to the candidate so s/he can include it in his/her package to be returned to the Admissions Office by January 15.

Application Deadline

The complete application package must be submitted to the Admissions Office by January 15. Please address reference letters to:

Admissions Office
St. Thomas University
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 5G3

For further information, please contact the STU Admissions Office at (506) 452-0532 or email admissions@stu.ca.