New pathway will allow Bermuda College students to complete a Mount Saint Vincent University bachelor’s degree without leaving Bermuda
A new agreement will give Bermuda College students a clear route to complete a bachelor’s degree in tourism and hospitality management, strengthening academic pathways in one of Bermuda’s most important sectors.
The five-year articulation agreement between Bermuda College and Mount Saint Vincent University, in Nova Scotia, Canada, will support delivery of a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management degree in association with the College.
Under the agreement, eligible students in Bermuda College’s Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management programme will be able to transfer up to 25 courses towards the MSVU degree. MSVU is home to one of the longest-standing Tourism and Hospitality Management programmes at a Canadian university.
Students must be enrolled in their final year of the associate degree programme and must successfully graduate from Bermuda College before beginning MSVU courses.
The agreement means students can complete an associate degree at Bermuda College and progress towards a bachelor’s degree from MSVU, with the option to complete the full pathway without leaving Bermuda.
It is part of Bermuda College’s wider network of more than 40 articulation agreements with universities and colleges in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
These partnerships give students flexible and affordable routes from associate degrees into bachelor’s programmes, allowing many to begin their higher education in Bermuda before completing advanced qualifications overseas or through locally supported delivery.
Dr Ali Arouzi, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Bermuda College, said the agreement reflected the College’s role in building practical pathways into careers and supporting national workforce needs.
“I am pleased to share the signing of a new articulation agreement between Bermuda College and Mount Saint Vincent University, focused on advancing education and collaboration in tourism and hospitality,” Dr Arouzi said.
“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to strengthening academic pathways, fostering student and faculty exchange, and supporting applied learning aligned with the evolving needs of the tourism sector.
“Through this partnership, we aim to enhance educational opportunities for our students, create meaningful opportunities for student mobility, and contribute to workforce development and industry innovation.
“We value our collaboration with Mount Saint Vincent University and look forward to the positive impact this agreement will have for our institutions and to the Bermuda community that we serve.”
The new pathway comes at a significant moment for Bermuda’s hospitality industry, with renewed focus on hotel development, visitor experience and the next generation of Bermudian tourism professionals.
It also builds on a long-standing relationship between Bermuda College and MSVU. For more than 35 years, MSVU has offered courses at a distance to students in Bermuda, including through a bachelor’s programme in business administration.
The relationship has extended beyond academic programming. Two former Bermuda premiers hold honorary degrees from MSVU: Dame Jennifer M. Smith, who received an honorary degree in 2000, and Paula A. Cox, who received hers in 2024.
Dr Joël Dickinson, President and Vice-Chancellor of MSVU, said: “Bermuda and Nova Scotia share a deep understanding of the vital role tourism plays in economic growth, and highly skilled professionals are key to the sector’s success. Through our partnership with Bermuda College, we’re building on that shared perspective by providing a supported pathway for the next generation of Bermudian tourism sector leaders to build on their education at home. We deeply value our partnership with Bermuda College and are pleased to be expanding on our commitment to making education accessible.”
As part of the agreement, MSVU will retain responsibility for academic oversight, admissions and degree conferral.
Bermuda College will manage local delivery, student support and administrative processes, including advising, registration coordination and graduation arrangements for students who choose to participate in commencement in Bermuda.
Students will also have the option to attend graduation in Halifax.
The programme is expected to support Bermuda’s wider workforce development priorities by helping students gain advanced academic credentials while remaining connected to the local industry and community.
For more information, contact:
– In Bermuda: Jeremy Deacon, jfdeacon@outlook.com or 534 2205
– In Nova Scotia / Canada: Gillian Batten, Gillian.Batten@msvu.ca or 902-441-0505