Dalhousie University
- Last Updated on: July 23, 2025 by
- Sridhar Kongara
Founded in 1818, Dalhousie University is one of the three oldest and leading universities in Canada, based in Nova Scotia. With over 21,000 students from 115 countries, Dalhousie offers a vibrant and cosmopolitan cross-section. It unites strength in research with a commitment to national and international leadership in teaching and research training across three campuses in Nova Scotia – Halifax, Truro and Yarmouth.
Courses Offered
** Fees mentioned here are approximate and are per year, Unless specified otherwise
Why Choose Dalhousie University
Academic Excellence Across Disciplines: Dalhousie offers more than 300 programs across 13 faculties, such as Engineering, Medicine, Law, Computer Science, Arts, and Agriculture. Furthermore, the educational environment promotes independent analytic thought, creative experimental design and personal technical skills that contribute to the making of student leaders in future academia or industry.
Internationally Diverse Community: The students at Dalhousie come from all over the world hence this cultural diversity encourages students to learn the world from a global point of view. Immigrating advising, help with cultural adjustment, and academic support prepare international students for their new life in Canada.
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Strong Research and Innovation Focus: The university distributes more than $250 million a year in research dollars and has been the site of jobs creating ventures in health care, climate change, ocean sciences and artificial intelligence. Dal’s applied research groups and partnerships are generating practical solutions and job ready discoveries.
Accessible and Supportive Learning: Dalhousie is also a staunch advocate of universal and affordable education. It ensures that all students have access to academic support, financial aid and mental health support.
Strategic East Coast Location: It is a small, primarily undergraduate institution located in Nova Scotia, a maritime province; the university has both urban and rural campuses. Halifax provides city life and coastline beauty, Truro a small town, agricultural town learning environment.
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Campus Facilities at Dalhousie University
Modern Academic Infrastructure: The school’s classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces are cutting edge. The faculties are self-sufficiently located in different buildings in the latest equipment. Buildings such as the Steele Ocean Sciences Building and the Life Sciences Research Institute would house high-level research.
Extensive Libraries and Learning Resources: Dalhousie has several libraries including the Killam Memorial Library (which has around 2.3 million books, over 11 000 journals, and more than 300 databases across all academic disciplines). There are study areas, study rooms, and 24/7 electronic access to information to help you succeed academically.
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Specialized Research Facilities: Research Laboratories and innovation centres are located on all campuses. Students have the opportunity, whether in advanced labs or on research centres in the depths of the ocean, to immerse themselves in projects that could have some influence and to interact with faculty and industrial partners.
Athletics and Fitness Centres: Facilities Dal plex (main gym in Halifax) and Lungile Athletic Centre in Truro are free. Amenities include pools, health clubs, exercise rooms and intramural sports. There are nationalist competitive sports teams that represent Dalhousie.
Residence and Dining Services: Residences There are over 2,600 spots for students to live in a Dalhousie residence, and with meal plans and dining halls (in many cases) they provide a wide range of healthy food options. It is a single and has suite style to suite style rooms and residence life halls that help build strong, on-campus communities.
Student Services Offered by Dalhousie University
Academic Support & Advising: Its Student Success Centres offer academic advising, writing support, tutoring and workshops. Academic advisors do what they can to assist with course selection, study tips, graduation requirements.
Career and Leadership Development: Student Success service offers job fairs, resume help, interview prep and leadership programs. Students are exposed to voluntary and peer mentor placements in the community to enhance employability.
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Support for Diverse Communities: Dalhousie provides tailored support to Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ2SIA+ and international students. Advisors and cultural celebrations and inclusion groups offer a culture of respect and diversity on campus.
Safety and Respect Initiatives: Student Community Creates a safe and welcoming student community also includes policies against harassment and discrimination.
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Student Life at Dalhousie University
Clubs and Societies: There are more than 300 student-run organizations, which means plenty of outlets for students to pursue interests in the arts, technology, politics and gaming. These businesses contribute to the campus social and leadership culture.
Residence Life and Social Activities: Residence Halls typically sponsor programs like movie nights, trivia, cultural nights, and community dinners. LPAs contribute to safe and accepting living spaces.
Volunteering and Community Engagement: Dalhousie emphasizes civic responsibility. Students volunteer with local NGOs and campus drives, as well as supporting events such as Community Day, a project held every year in Truro.
Arts, Culture, and Events: The university also hosts concerts, lectures, gallery exhibitions, and theatre. A thriving arts community in Halifax offers an array of cultural activities to participate in.
Outdoor and Recreational Life: The university is near the coast, where students can hike, kayak and go to the beach. Groups like Dal Outdoors lead regular outings, and athletics facilities offer spaces to fulfil fitness goals year-round.
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Study Campus (Halifax): It is the main campus hosting the faculties of Arts, Science, Management and Computer Science. It’s where the Killam Library and Dal plex gym are located, as well as beautiful green spaces such as Study Quad.
Carleton Campus (Halifax): Carleton Campus is home to staff and students from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and features simulation laboratories, clinics, and health research demonstration spaces. It is affiliated with the area hospitals.
Sexton Campus (Halifax): This city centre campus is home to the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. It includes design studios, innovation spaces, and the IDEA Building, which supports startups and project-based learning.
Agricultural Campus (Truro): The only Atlantic university to offer agricultural courses at the university level, animal science and agri-business are also offered at the Truro campus. It comprises greenhouses, barns and experimental fields.
Yarmouth & Saint John Satellites: Dalhousie also delivers programs in Yarmouth and Saint John with flexible learning offered in nursing and health programs. At these sites, you receive local-community support related to your area.
Scholarships Offered by Dalhousie University
Dalhousie Entrance Awards: The bursaries range from $500 to $10,000. and to students who are entering university at the high school level. Academic achievement, leadership, and participation in extracurricular activities are just some of the criteria.
Killam Predoctoral Scholarships: The value of this award is CAD 42,000 per annum for a duration of two years and is to support excellent full-time PhD students. Candidates will be assessed based on their academic performance, research potential, and references.
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Richard and Melda Murray African Nova Scotian Awards: This is an award of CAD 5,000 for African Nova Scotian students who have demonstrated community involvement and financial need. The bursary requires full-time attendance at Dalhousie.
International Student Entrance Awards: Available for new International undergraduate students, the scholarship is worth between CAD 2,000 – CAD 6,000. Candidates must demonstrate academic achievement and submit a statement of self.
Schulich Scholarships (Engineering): The scholarships that go into Engineering are in the $ 100k range over four yrs. Recognition is given for scholastic attainment, leadership participation and community service.
Internship and Placement at Dalhousie University
Co-operative Education Programs: Dalhousie offers Co-op in programs like Engineering, Business, Computer Science and other fields. Students can gain hands-on work experience, and industry contacts, in these paid work terms before they graduate.
Industry Collaborations: The university has connections with both local development and international companies, where students are given chance to intern on domains like technology, agriculture, health sciences and environment research etc.
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Career Fairs and Networking Events: Multiple career fairs are available to choose from each year for our students to explore employment opportunities and meet with future employers. They also provide employer panels, mock interviews and resume critiques.
Research Internships: Students will have access to faculty mentored research and can apply for summer research fellowship (with support). They are excellent opportunities for academic and technical development prior to graduate study or industry.
Alumni Mentorship & Job Portals: The Dalhousie alumni grant excellent opportunities for more approaches for the current students to avail career support and networking. On the Dalhousie Career Services site, you will find field-relevant internships and part-time and graduate positions.
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Entry Requirements at Dalhousie University
Undergraduate Admissions: High school diploma with specified courses and GPA (depends on the program) is necessary. You’ll need an English language IELTS level 6.5 overall (level 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking).
Postgraduate Admissions: They require you to have an undergraduate four-year degree with a good GPA. Some programs required GRE/GMAT scores, a proposal, research or work experience. Language requirements match undergraduate criteria.
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Application Deadlines: Entry deadlines vary but are roughly between February 15 and April 1, depending on program. Foreign students must apply early to allow for visa and paperwork.
Special Pathways and Transfers: Credit for previous post-secondary studies Dalhousie awards transfer credit for previous university studies and has established articulation agreements with colleges across Canada and internationally. Non-traditional students can also apply for pathway and bridging courses.
Documentation and Fees: Applicants will receive copy of their transcripts, a proficiency score in the language of instruction, letters of reference (if requested) and application statement. Application fee CA $70-115 (depends on the level of study).
Ranking & Awards at Dalhousie University
National and Global Recognition: Dalhousie is consistently ranked among the Top 12’s in Canadian universities. It is ranked as 88th in the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings worldwide (both in 2025).
Sustainability Leadership: The Gold Rating of the university in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) and work on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Research Excellence: As one of Canada’s leading U15 research-intensive universities, Dalhousie boasts more than 90 national award winners for innovation and discovery; and 15 per cent of the university community are international students. Dalhousie’s facilities include Canada’s only medical and dental schools, as well as Halifax’s only performance wave-tank facility, the Ocean Tracking Network and most recently, an AI initiative.
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Distinguished Alumni and Scholars: There are 94 Rhodes Scholars who have graduated from Dalhousie and today, alumni are making an impact in governments, businesses, the health-care sector, the education sector, and creative arts across the world. The achievements reflect the superior quality of instruction and guidance provided at the university.
Community and Inclusion Awards: The university has received numerous awards for inclusiveness for its Indigenous education, African Nova Scotian engagement, and LGBTQ+ inclusion in campus life and curriculum.
Acceptance Rate: Since admission is not very selective, the admission process has a moderate level of difficulty. That figure demonstrates a well-designed admissions policy that enrolls students from differing academic and cultural experiences without compromising on academic excellence. International students complete an international application that emphasizes not only rigorous academic backgrounds but the importance of English — essential qualities to the admissions process.
- The rate of admission may vary between different departments and faculties. Professions like Medicine, Dentistry and Law have a lower ratio of seat availability to the number of applications. Art, Science and Agriculture Programs.
- This low selectivity allows for those students who are less competitive than their comparisons elsewhere, but who were able enough, to obtain the best of Canadian education. It also ensures that the students who are admitted are well-prepared for the academic rigor and research orientation that is characteristic of Dalhousie.
- Not necessarily, as graduate admissions are generally much more competitive and often have a GPA cutoff to be considered for admittance, higher scores on the GRE, and often one or more other exams.
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