2. Graduate Programs

Programs of study at Dalhousie University are offered in a variety of research and professional fields at the certificate, diploma, Master’s, and Doctoral levels.

Graduate certificates and diplomas offer a focused area of study and consist of a specific grouping of courses. Some graduate certificates may also recognize successful completion of seminars, summer schools, workshops, or other forms of professional development.

Master’s programs are usually structured in one of three ways: (1) courses plus a thesis; (2) courses plus a graduate project; or (3) courses only. Some programs also have a work or internship component in addition to coursework and thesis/project requirements. This usually adds to the time necessary for completion.

A Doctoral degree normally consists of a thesis, courses, and examinations where most of the work is dedicated to independent research.

2.1 Program Administration

Graduate programs at Dalhousie are administered at the Faculty, academic unit, and program levels.

The graduate coordinator (or equivalent) of each program acts as the principal liaison between the unit/program and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

2.2 Fee Structures

Graduate degree programs are based either on a program fee structure or a per-course fee structure.

The fee schedule can be found on the Student Accounts website.

2.2.1 Per-Course Fee Degrees

Per-course fee degrees typically require students to pay fees according to the number of credit hours they register for within a given term. All such degrees have a minimum number of credit hours required to be completed for graduation. Students completing a thesis within a per-course fee degree who have completed all other course work will typically be charged a continuing program fee each term for the remainder of their programs.

2.2.2 Program Fee Degrees

Program fee degrees typically require students to pay a set tuition in each term regardless of the number of credit hours of registration. In these degrees, there is a required minimum number of terms over which a full-time program fee must be paid, referred to as the program fee duration.

Master’s students will pay full program fees for the program fee duration, after which a reduced continuing fee will apply. Master's students who complete their degree programs on an accelerated schedule are still required to pay the full program fees that would otherwise be charged over the program fee duration.

For Master’s students completing their degrees on a part-time basis, three terms of part-time fees are typically considered equivalent to one term of full-time fees for the program fee duration.

Doctoral students are required to pay full program fees if they are pursuing their program in a full-time capacity or part-time program fees if in a part-time capacity and for the duration of their studies. The fee depends on the program of study. There is no transition to a reduced continuing fee.

Courses taken while enrolled in a program fee degree, that are not required for the degree program or do not appear in the Graduate Student Information System (GSIS) program requirements, will be subject to additional fees.

2.2.3 Combined Degree Programs

Master's students registering in combined degrees (e.g., MI/JD) are required to submit a Combined Degrees Form to each program administrator as soon as they have been accepted into both programs. Once approved, tuition for combined degrees will be retroactively charged for all appropriate terms.

2.2.4 Concurrent Degree Programs

Students who have been approved for concurrent enrollment in multiple programs are required to maintain continuous registration in both and are responsible for the fees of each respective program. Concurrent enrollment must be approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (See Section 5.6).

2.2.5 Joint Doctoral Programs

Dalhousie's Joint Doctoral programs enable PhD student exchange through a jointly supervised and awarded degree. Joint Doctoral programs are established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the participating Doctoral program at Dalhousie and the partner institution (see Senate Policy for Joint Doctoral Degrees with Partner Universities).

Students must apply to and be admitted in the Doctoral programs at both universities, meeting all of the standard admission requirements for each. Students must maintain continuous enrollment while participating in the Joint PhD program, with specific registration requirements depending on whether they are in residence at Dalhousie or at the partner institution in a given academic term (see Joint and Combined Degrees).

2.2.6 International Tuition Fees

Most students who do not hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency are required to pay an additional international tuition fee (the amount being determined by the University) in addition to regular tuition fees. Exceptions include Doctoral students, students on formal exchange agreements, and students enrolled in select programs.

Per-course fee programs assess an international fee based on credit hours of registration. International students enrolled full-time (9 credit hours or more within a term) are required to pay the full-time international tuition fee in that term. International students enrolled in less than 9 credit hours within a given term will be charged a pro-rated international tuition fee based on the actual credit hours of registration.

Program fee programs assess an international tuition fee on a per term basis for a minimum number of years in accordance with the following schedule.

Full-time Master's student (except Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)	2 years (or equivalent)
Full-time Master's/MD student Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery	4 years
Part-time Master's student	6 years

2.3 Program Residency Requirements

The program residency requirement refers to the time a student is expected to be physically on-campus while completing their degree.

Some Master's programs may have minimum residency requirements. Please consult the academic unit for more information on specific programs.

Doctoral students are normally required to be on campus for at least four terms in the first two years of their programs unless: they are enrolled in a joint PhD program with another university; the program is approved for remote completion; or an exemption is approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

2.4 Program List

Academic units in the Faculty of Graduate Studies offer programs leading to the following degrees and diplomas with the noted fee structure and program fee duration/credit hours. The standard program duration is the time required to complete the degree based on the program’s structure, and this will be reflected on both admission and degree confirmation letters.

2.4.1 Program Fee Degrees and Diplomas

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Standard program duration: 5 years or longer
Program fee duration: Full-time fees throughout the program

Master of Applied Computer Science (MACSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Applied Science (MASc)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Arts (MA)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Arts (MA) in Economics (non-thesis)
Standard program duration: 12 months
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Business Administration – Corporate Residency (MBA)
Standard program duration: 23 months or longer
Program fee duration: 2 years

Master of Computer Science (MCSc)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Development Economics (MDE) (thesis)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Development Economics (MDE) (non-thesis)
Standard program duration: 12 months
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Digital Innovation (MDI)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 16 months

Master of Engineering (MEng) (Internetworking see section 2.4.2 below)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Program fee duration: 2 years

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 2 years

Master of Health Administration (MHA)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 16 months

Master of Laws (LLM)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Marine Management (MMM)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Nursing – Professional and Nurse Practitioner (MN)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Nursing – Mental Health and Addictions (MN)
Standard program duration: 20 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Periodontics (MPERIO)
Standard program duration: 3 years or longer
Program fee duration: 3 years

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Program fee duration: 2 years

Master of Science (MSc)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Audiology (MSc)
Standard program duration: 3 years or longer
Program fee duration: 3 years

Master of Science in Business (MSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Clinical Vision Science (MSc)
Standard program duration: 3 years or longer
Program fee duration: 2 years

Master of Science in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (MSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Engineering Mathematics (MSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Food Science (MSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Human Communication Disorders (MSc)
Standard program duration: 3 years or longer
Program fee duration: 3 years

Master of Science in Kinesiology (MSc)
Standard program durati–on: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Medical Neuroscience (MSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Occupational Science (MSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy – Entry Level Program (MSc)
Standard program duration: 22 months or longer
Program fee duration: 2 years

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy  Post Professional (MSc)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Program fee duration: 1 year

Master of Science in Physiotherapy – Entry to Practice (MSc)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Program fee duration: 28 months

Master of Science in Physiotherapy and Master of Science in Rehabilitation Research (MScPT/MScRRPT)
Standard program duration: 40 months
Program fee duration: 40 months

Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology (MSc)
Standard program duration: 3 years or longer
Program fee duration: 3 years

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (MD/MSc)
Standard program duration: 5 years or longer
Program fee duration: 5 years

Master's and Juris Doctor (MBA/JD, MHA/JD, MI/JD, MPA/JD) Combined Degree
Standard program duration: 4 years or longer
Program fee duration: 4 years

Graduate Diploma in Orthoptics and Ophthalmic Medical Technology (OOMT)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Required credit hours: 2 years

2.4.2 Per-Course Fee Degrees and Diplomas

Master of Architecture (MArch)
Standard program duration: 20 months or longer
Required credit hours: 63

Master of Business Administration – Career Advance (MBA)
Standard program duration: N/A
Required credit hours: 42

Master of Engineering, Only Internetworking (MEng)
Standard program duration: 20 months or longer
Required credit hours: 50

Master of Information (MI)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Required credit hours: 48

Master of Information Management (MIM)
Standard program duration: N/A
Required credit hours: 36

Master of Journalism (MJ)
Standard program duration: BJ Entry: 16 months or longer, Non-BJ Entry: 20 months or longer
Required credit hours: 27-33 (BJ), 48-54 (Non-BJ)

Master of Planning (MPlan)
Standard program duration: 20 months or longer
Required credit hours: 60

Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Required credit hours: 54

Master of Public Administration Management (MPAM)
Standard program duration: N/A
Required credit hours: 39

Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MREM)
Standard program duration: 16 months or longer
Required credit hours: 36

Master of Social Work (MSW)
Standard program duration: BSW Entry: 12 months, Non-BSW entry: 16 months or longer
Required credit hours: 30 (BSW), 54 (Non-BSW)

Master of Information and Master of Public Administration (MI/MPA) Combined Degree
Standard program duration: 3 years or longer
Required credit hours: 81

Master of Information and Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MI/MREM) Combined Degree
Standard program duration: 2 years or longer
Required credit hours: 63

Graduate Diploma in Information Management (GDIM)
Standard program duration: 12 months
Required credit hours: 24

Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (GDPA)
Standard program duration: 8 months
Required credit hours: 27

Graduate Diploma in Public Administration Management (GDPA(M))
Standard program duration: 8 months
Required credit hours: 21

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