St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...

. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.
St. Francis Xavier College was founded as a Roman Catholic educational institution at Arichat, Nova Scotia

Arichat, Nova Scotia

The village of Arichat is one of the oldest communities in Nova Scotia, dating back to the 18th century. It is a district of Richmond County on Isle Madame....

, in 1853. The university was moved from Arichat to its present location in Antigonish in 1855 . On May 7, 1866, St.Francis Xavier College was given university status, becoming St.