Application deadline
8 November 2026
Final application deadline; 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
In-person Program
A-Plus
by Shad Canada
A-Plus blends arts, humanities, business, and STEM through hands-on learning and team design challenges, with a focus on leadership and social change.
Last verified: 9 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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A-Plus at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
Grade 10 or 11; English proficiency
Age range / Year group
Ages 15-17
Location / Region
St. Thomas University, Fredericton, Canada
Cost
$7,875; $12,475
Duration
27 days
Format
In-person
ArtHumanitiesSocial SciencesEntrepreneurshipScienceMathematics
Language: English
Accommodation: University residence included
Meals: Meals and snacks for 27 days
Campus experience: Design projects, sports, events, field trips
Mentor model: 1:8 mentor-to-student ratio
Main output: Design and Entrepreneurship team project
School recognition: Conditional high school credit; SHSM; CAS
A-Plus summary
A-Plus is Shad Canada’s arts, humanities, and social sciences emphasis within STEAM. It connects creative and social questions with business, entrepreneurship, and technical learning.
Students learn through workshops, discussions, simulations, and collaborative design challenges. The experience suits students who want to explore social change while continuing to stretch their STEM understanding.
What is A-Plus?
A-Plus is Shad Canada’s residential STEAM program with a stronger emphasis on arts, humanities, social sciences, business, and entrepreneurship. Hosted at St. Thomas University, it explores how technology, empathy, and systems thinking can help students approach social challenges.
Students combine lectures and workshops with simulations, discussions, debates, and collaborative projects. They tackle the shared Shad Design and Entrepreneurship challenge while developing leadership, creativity, and an understanding of STEM applications.
Why Succeed highlights A-Plus
Its arts and humanities emphasis offers a useful route into STEAM for students motivated by people, communities, and social change.
The shared Design and Entrepreneurship challenge gives interdisciplinary learning a practical team project.
Professors, entrepreneurs, Program Directors, and near-peer tutors connect academic ideas with different professional perspectives.
Included residence, meals, and mentoring make the campus experience easier for families to evaluate as a complete package.
Who is A-Plus for?
Best for
Students drawn to arts, humanities, business, or community leadership who also want to explore STEM through collaborative work.
Not ideal if
You want a single-subject course or need to leave campus for other commitments during the residential session.
Is A-Plus worth it?
A-Plus is worth considering if you want to test how creative, social, and technical ideas work together. Team challenges, mentoring, and campus life offer several ways to explore your interests and practice leadership.
The tradeoff is breadth: this is an interdisciplinary experience rather than sustained study of one subject. Its residential commitment and substantial fee also require family planning, particularly because international applicants cannot receive Shad financial assistance.
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Cost and what is included
$7,875; $12,475; includes Academic program, lectures, seminars, workshops, and labs, On-campus accommodation for 27 days, Meals and snacks for 27 days, Program Director and near-peer mentoring and coaching, Minimum 1:8 mentor-to-student ratio, Design and Entrepreneurship team project, Indigenous Knowledge Learning Opportunities, Enrichment field trips and corporate visits, Social, cultural, sporting, and recreational activities, Leadership and community-building initiatives.
Accommodation
University residence included
Meals
Meals and snacks for 27 days
Provider details
Review the Shad Canada provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
27 days; St. Thomas University, Fredericton, Canada.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does A-Plus need?
Effort level
Moderate application preparation; intensive residential participation.
Best started
Allow four to six weeks before the early or final application deadline.
Main challenge
Choosing specific examples that show curiosity, initiative, reflection, and community contribution.
Typical preparation
Choose two meaningful experiences and identify examples for each reflection question.
Ask your reference early and prepare your most recent report card.
Discuss financial support and the full residential commitment with your parent or guardian.
Draft in your own voice, respect the word limits, and proofread before submitting.
Useful if
You can explain what you learned from experiences beyond academic grades.
What do students do on A-Plus?
You explore social and creative questions alongside STEM through hands-on learning and a team design challenge. Campus life adds recreation, guest speakers, and community activities to the academic experience.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Explore interdisciplinary ideas through lectures, workshops, discussions, and simulations.
- 2
Practice personal, group, and community leadership through collaborative activities.
- 3
Work with a design team to develop a response to a real-world challenge.
- 4
Build and pitch your team’s solution, drawing on mentoring and business perspectives.
- 5
Reflect on your interests and possible future study pathways.
A-Plus dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Programme dates
4-30 July 2027
Applications open
September 2026
The exact opening day is not announced.
Early admission results
First week of December 2026
Financial assistance decisions accompany admission decisions.
Final admission results
First week of February 2027
Financial assistance decisions accompany admission decisions.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 8 November 2026 | Local | Upcoming | Save deadline |
Programme dates | 4-30 July 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Applications open | September 2026 | Local | Past | |
Early admission results | First week of December 2026 | Local | Date not confirmed | |
Final admission results | First week of February 2027 | Local | Date not confirmed |
Eligibility and requirements
Currently completing Grade 10 or 11.
Quebec applicants: Secondary IV or V.
Proficient in spoken and written English.
Commit to attending the entire residential program.
Domestic and international applicants may apply.
No school nomination or fixed academic cutoff is required.
How much does A-Plus cost?
Domestic program fee
$7,875 — CAD; includes the residential academic experience.
Funding or discounts
- International program fee: $12,475 — CAD; includes the residential academic experience.
- Application fee: Free
- Deposit: $750 — CAD; paid after an offer, with the balance in two installments.
- Fee assistance: Full or partial support — Domestic applicants can request income-based assistance.
- Scholarships: Full or partial support — Entrance and partner awards have individual eligibility criteria.
What's included
Academic program, lectures, seminars, workshops, and labs, On-campus accommodation for 27 days, Meals and snacks for 27 days, Program Director and near-peer mentoring and coaching, Minimum 1:8 mentor-to-student ratio, Design and Entrepreneurship team project, Indigenous Knowledge Learning Opportunities, Enrichment field trips and corporate visits, Social, cultural, sporting, and recreational activities, Leadership and community-building initiatives
How to apply to A-Plus
- 1
Create an account in the official Shad 2027 application portal.
- 2
Complete your profile and indicate your interest in A-Plus.
- 3
Describe two meaningful experiences, interests, or accomplishments.
- 4
Answer four reflection questions using 100-250 words per response.
- 5
Upload your most recent report card and provide your reference’s name and email.
- 6
Request financial support through the application if eligible, completing any scholarship essay.
- 7
Proofread, save your work, and submit your completed application.
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What does A-Plus cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Arts, humanities, and social sciences
Explore how creative and social disciplines can contribute to positive change.
Leadership and social innovation
Practice personal, group, and community leadership through human-centered problem solving.
Equity, ethics, and sustainability
Examine inclusion, sustainability, and the social implications of emerging technologies.
Design and entrepreneurship
Collaborate on a real-world challenge and develop a team solution.
STEM exploration
Strengthen understanding and application of sciences, mathematics, and technology.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on A-Plus?
A typical day during the program.
Lectures and workshops
Interactive sessions introduce academic ideas and practical approaches.
Collaborative projects
Students work together on group projects.
Sports and recreation
Team sports and active recreation support movement and connection.
Speakers and group events
Networking, guest speakers, and community activities extend learning beyond classes.
Who teaches on A-Plus?
Students engage with postsecondary professors, researchers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Program Directors and near-peer tutors provide mentoring and coaching throughout the residential experience.
Live-in programs include a minimum 1:8 mentor-to-student ratio.
Where do students stay on A-Plus?
Residential plan
- University residence: Live on campus at St. Thomas University for the full 27-day experience.
- Meals and snacks: The program fee includes meals and snacks for 27 days.
- Staff and mentoring: Program Directors and near-peer tutors provide support, and staff follow Shad’s code of conduct.
- Campus community: Social events, sports, recreation, and field trips complement academic learning.
Contact Shad early to discuss accessibility or other accommodation needs before accepting an offer.
What happens after A-Plus?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Explore postsecondary pathways through interdisciplinary study and campus life.
Develop a team design and entrepreneurship project.
Join Shad’s network of more than 27,000 alumni.
Access alumni postsecondary scholarship and application-fee-waiver opportunities.
Potentially count participation toward high school credit, SHSM, or IB CAS.
School recognition and alumni awards have their own eligibility requirements.
Where does A-Plus take place?
A-Plus takes place at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Students live on campus, combining university residence life with academic learning and community activities.
Travel to and from campus is additional to the program fee.
A-Plus FAQs
A-Plus gives greater emphasis to arts, humanities, social sciences, business, and entrepreneurship. It retains STEM exploration and the shared Design and Entrepreneurship challenge.
Yes. Sciences, mathematics, and technology remain part of A-Plus, helping students strengthen their understanding and explore applications beyond their main interests.
It includes the academic program, accommodation, meals and snacks, mentorship, activities, and field trips. Travel to and from campus and personal expenses are additional.
No. Participants must commit to attending the entire residential program.
Domestic applicants may request fee assistance and apply for scholarships through the Shad application. International applicants are ineligible for Shad financial assistance and scholarships.
Shad expects academic excellence but has no fixed cutoff average. A school nomination is not required.
Yes. Contact Shad early to discuss disability-related or other accommodation needs before accepting an offer; staff work with students and families to identify appropriate support.
Shad can count toward high school credit in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. It may also qualify toward Ontario SHSM experiences and IB CAS requirements.
Alternatives to A-Plus
Compare A-Plus with programs that emphasize humanities, leadership, or business.
Alternatives to A-Plus
An in-person summer program centered on humanities
Humanities
Deadline: Not announced
From $8850
15-17
In-person
Best for
Students prioritizing humanities over a broader STEAM mix
A leadership summer course in Oxford
Social Sciences
Deadline: Not announced
From £5495
13-24
Oxford
In-person
Best for
Students placing leadership development first
Explore how Italian companies achieve global excellence
Business & Economics
Deadline: Not announced
From €5050
15-18
Milan
In-person
Best for
Students prioritizing business and management
Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- Shad 2027 Application
- Campuses - Shad Canada
- Application Summary - Shad Canada
- FAQs
- Support - Shad Canada
- Scholarships - Shad Canada
- Participate
- Programs
- Apply
- Live-in_schedule_pdf
- Shad_2027_Trifold_Digital
- Curriculum & program outline
- A-Plus
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 9 Oct 2026)
Official program information reviewed
Application deadlines checked
School-grade eligibility reviewed
Domestic and international fees checked
Residential inclusions verified
Funding restrictions reviewed
Illustrative schedule distinguished
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
A-Plus
by Shad Canada
Applications open
May qualify for the £300 Succeed Programme Award.
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