🎓 Dalhousie University – Nova Scotia, Canada

Dalhousie University – Nova Scotia, Canada

Dalhousie University is a major research university in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an extensive Master's and PhD system. The university is particularly strong in health sciences, medicine, ocean/marine research, computer science, engineering, science, management, agriculture, and social sciences.

Master's and PhD

Dalhousie offers thesis-based, thesis-option, and non-thesis/professional Master's degrees, along with many PhD programs. When comparing programs, clients must carefully review the fee structure, as the university uses both program-based tuition and course-based tuition.

International Tuition 2026–2027

For Master's programs, the additional international tuition fee differs significantly between thesis and non-thesis tracks:

• Full-time thesis/thesis-option: additional international tuition fee of approximately CAD 8,079/year.
• Full-time non-thesis: additional international tuition fee of approximately CAD 24,685/year.

These amounts are international differential fees and are added to the base tuition and other program-related fees. Therefore, it is necessary to use the calculator/fee schedule of the specific program to calculate the total.

PhD – Key Point

Dalhousie confirms that PhD students are not charged the international tuition fee. However, program tuition and mandatory fees still apply. For example, the 2026–27 fee schedule shows that the estimated total for an international PhD varies by faculty.

Admission

• Bachelor's/Master's degree relevant to the program.
• GPA and prerequisites as required by the department.
• English proficiency, if applicable.
• References, statement, CV, and research proposal, depending on the field.
• Research Master's/PhD programs require identifying a suitable supervisor or research area.

Funding

As a research-intensive university, Dalhousie offers various graduate scholarships, assistantships, faculty/supervisor funding, and external awards. For PhD or thesis-based Master's students, the funding package is a crucial factor to compare alongside tuition.

Strengths

• Major research university in Atlantic Canada.
• Specialized strengths in ocean sciences, health, medicine, engineering, agriculture, and computer science.
• PhD students are exempt from the international tuition differential.
• Halifax has the largest university and job ecosystem in Atlantic Canada.

Considerations

• Non-thesis Master's programs have a relatively high international differential fee.
• Rental costs in Halifax have increased significantly in recent years.
• It is necessary to calculate total tuition rather than just looking at the international fee.

Who is this suitable for?

Suitable for candidates who wish to study at a strong research university, especially if they are pursuing a thesis-based Master's or PhD and have an interest in Atlantic Canada.

Source: Dalhousie University – Graduate Program Tuition and 2026–2027 Master/PhD Fee Schedules.

KeyApply assists with evaluating programs, supervisors, funding, admission, obtaining Letters of Acceptance (LOA), and study permits.

Official and Updated Sources

Cross-referenced on October 7, 2026. Official university tuition information and policies. Fees depend on the program, intake term, and international student status; mandatory fees and living expenses must be added. The tuition tag only supports relative comparison. Scholarships, exemptions, or TA/RA positions must be confirmed in writing according to specific conditions.