Dalhousie University

About Dalhousie University

Established in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1818, Dalhousie University has been delivering meaningful and innovative teaching and research for over 200 years. Currently one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, with a top 15 ranking in both the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World University Rankings, the university’s academic faculties strive to expand understanding through teaching and research excellence.

Dalhousie University’s students come from all over Canada and around the world, representing over 115 nationalities, drawn by the unique, collaborative, and interactive environment that supports students, researchers, and staff to achieve excellence. Students can choose from over 4,000 courses and 300 degree programs, offered across 13 faculties. The university also boasts a student to faculty ratio of 16:1, one of the lowest student-faculty ratios in Canada.

Research at Dalhousie University is high-impact and fosters a deep sense of social responsibility that inspires the university’s diverse community to make an impact in Nova Scotia, across Canada, and on the world stage. Rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the university’s groundbreaking research attracts thought leaders who arrive at the university to make discoveries that will contribute to a better future for the planet. Research at the university attracts over CAD 270 million in external research funding every year.

Dalhousie University is located on Canada’s breathtaking East Coast and has its campuses in the bustling oceanside city of Halifax. This offers students plenty of outdoor recreational options, in addition to the opportunities for extracurricular engagement offered by the 250-plus clubs and societies on campus.

Graduate outcomes

Dalhousie University has exceptional graduate outcomes and works hard to prepare its students for future career success in both industry and academia. Its more than 165,000 alumni are a vast and demographically diverse group doing incredible things in their professions and communities in over 150 countries worldwide.

As one of the top 15 research-intensive universities in Canada, Dalhousie brings students together with researchers and industry professionals to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions with real-world social and economic value. The university administers more than CAD 270 million in research funding each year, up over 35 per cent since 2021, and has 56 Canada Research Chairs, which is more than any other university in Atlantic Canada. Dalhousie researchers collaborate and publish with colleagues in nearly 200 countries and hold formal international research partnership agreements with more than 60 institutions around the world.

Many Dalhousie graduates progress to become leaders in specialist fields following their participation in experiential learning opportunities at the university. Dalhousie has connections with leading firms and startups operating in a variety of sectors. With more than 2,800 work terms available, students have plenty of ways to secure hands-on experience with industry professionals, develop transferable skills, and build connections. Almost 90 per cent of Dalhousie students benefit from work-integrated and experiential learning each year, both in Nova Scotia’s growing industries and further afield.

Students at Dalhousie also benefit from the career services provided by the university. Dalhousie has an experienced team of career advisors and counsellors who offer advice, coaching, and guidance on planning for future professional success. The university provides a wealth of online resources to help graduates find the perfect job, offering access to exclusive career development opportunities and job postings.

What's new

Dalhousie partners with top Indian research institutes to develop a new innovation campus

Following an announcement in Mumbai at an event attended by Canada’s Prime Minister, Dalhousie is proud to be one of four U15 universities partnering with IIT Tirupati and IISER Tirupati to develop an innovation campus that connects research, talent, and industry in ways that support shared prosperity in both Canada and India.

The collaboration is bolstered by a CAD 520,000 investment under the Government of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Scholarships & Fellowships for Canadians. The investment will enable more than 30 Dalhousie faculty, graduate students and research personnel to build in-person research partnerships with leading institutions across the Indo-Pacific region over the next two years.

Dalhousie opens the Oulton-Stanish Centre, a new home for sport, wellness, and community

In March 2026, Dalhousie officially opened the Oulton-Stanish Centre, a 60,000-square-foot facility featuring an NHL-size ice rink, event space, and an expanded home for the Dalhousie Physiotherapy Clinic. The centre serves as an on-campus wellness hub for students, faculty, staff, and the greater Halifax community that supports varsity competition, training, and recreational programming.

Dalhousie leads Lab2Market, Canada’s national network for innovation and entrepreneurship skills training

Dalhousie was recently awarded a CAD 32 million Lab2Market grant from the Government of Canada. The grant establishes the university as the national headquarters of Lab2Market, an innovative commercialization and entrepreneurship skills training program projected to expand to over 50 universities, colleges, and research hospitals across Canada. Through Lab2Market, Dalhousie students benefit from unique opportunities to commercialize their research and launch new companies.