Doctor of Dental Surgery Program Admissions

Admission

The Faculty of Dentistry accepts up to 46 qualified candidates into the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program each year, including up to 32 domestic candidates and 14 international candidates. 

For domestic seats, preference is given to permanent residents of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, but applications from well-qualified applicants from other provinces may also be considered. Applicants are selected on a competitive basis, with applicants required to meet minimum academic (GPA, DAT) and non-academic requirements (interview process, resume, and others as required). 

The breakdown for seats based on residency for the Doctor of Dental Surgery is as follows:

Pool	Seat Quota
New Brunswick	5 seats
Nova Scotia	25 seats
Prince Edward Island	2 seats
Out-of-Maritime Provinces	There is no domestic seat allocation for out-of-Maritime province (OOM) applicants. If we have unfilled seats within the Maritime province pools, well-qualified OOM may also be considered.
International	14 seats

Equitable Admissions Policy
The Faculty of Dentistry is committed to increasing the number of qualified dentists who belong to African Nova Scotian communities and Indigenous peoples of the Atlantic region communities. Applicants from these groups who have completed the entrance requirements by May 1 of the year of expected entry, have achieved a B+ grade in the academic factors considered by the Admissions Committee, and a passing score on other admissions criteria considered by the Admissions Committee, will be admitted to the DDS program.

Applicants must self-identify and complete the required sections of the online application form to be considered as an indigenous applicant of Atlantic Communities or a member of the historic African Nova Scotian community.

Academic Requirements: 
A university degree is not required for admission to the Faculty of Dentistry.  A minimum of 60 credit hours of pre-requisite courses is required.

Students are encouraged to attain a bachelor’s degree before seeking admission to the Faculty of Dentistry, particularly if there is any intention of proceeding to graduate specialty programs in dentistry or associated sciences. 

The following are the minimum academic requirements for admission to the Doctor of Dental Surgery program: 

Minimum Academic Requirements: 
1. Prerequisite courses:
    Completion of all prerequisite courses at an accredited university before May 1, 2027 (see Prerequisite Courses below).  
    a. Provide proof of registration for fall/winter courses in the application package. 
    b. Final transcripts for winter courses must be received by May 1, 2027. 
   
2. GPA: 
    a. Last 60 credit hours:   Minimum A- average (3.7 on a 4.3 scale or 80%) in the last 60 credit hours of study
    b. Higher sciences courses:  Minimum A- average (3.7 on a 4.3 scale or 80%) in their higher sciences courses (biochemistry, microbiology, and human physiology). 

3. Course load: 
   a. A minimum of 12 credit hours per term for at least six academic terms.  
   b. Applicants with a full course load of 15 credit hours per term for at least four academic terms will be considered more competitive.  

4. Online courses:
   a. Last 60 credit hours:  A maximum of 21 credit hours can be completed through online/distance learning
   b. Overall: A maximum of 1/3 of the total credit hours can be completed through onine/distance learning.  

5. Only classes completed within 10 years of the application deadline will be considered.

Candidates who have not met these minimum requirements will not be considered for admission.  Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.  The number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available positions. Unfortunately, not every qualified applicant will be offered admission. 

Prerequisite Courses:   
Completion of the following courses by May 1 of the year of expected entry to the Faculty of Dentistry is required.:

Prerequisite		Dalhousie Courses
Introductory Biology (at least six credit hours with lab)		BIOL 1010 & BIOL 1011 or BIOL 1020 & BIOL 1021
Introductory Chemistry  (at least six credit hours with lab)		CHEM 1011 & CHEM 1012 or CHEM 1021 & CHEM 1022 or CHMA 1000 & CHMA 1001
Introductory Physics (at least six credit hours with lab)		PHYC 1190 & PHYC 1290 or PHYC 1310 & PHYC 1320 or PHYS 1002 & PHYS 1003
Organic Chemistry (at least six credit hours with lab)		CHEM 2401 & CHEM 2402
Human Physiology (at least six credit hours)		PHYL 1011 & PHYL 1012, or PHYL 1001 & PHYL 1002 (online) or PHYL 2041 & PHYL 2044 or
Introductory Microbiology (at least three credit hours)		MICI 2100
Introductory Biochemistry (at least three credit hours)		BIOC 2300
Writing requirement (at least six credit hours) Any English course(s) or any course requiring a significant amount of written work that is evaluated for composition, structure, spelling, grammar, etc., as indicated in the course outline (must be approved by the Admissions Committee).		Dalhousie's first-year English courses that meet the partial writing requirement are: ENGL 1030, ENGL 1005, ENGL 1015, ENGL 1025, ENGL 1040, ENGL 1050, ENGL 1060, and ENGL 1100.  Note courses ending in -1 (i.e., ENGL 1051) do not fulfill the writing requirement.
Humanities and/or Social Science (at least 12 credit hours)		Courses in the following disciplines can be counted toward the Humanities and/or Social Science requirement: Arabic; Black and African diaspora studies; Canadian studies; Chinese (Mandarin); cinema and media studies; classics; comparative religion; contemporary studies; creative writing; early modern studies; economics, English; European studies; French; gender and women’s studies; German; Greek; history; history of science and technology; human geography; indigenous studies; international development studies; Italian studies; Latin;   law, justice and society; music; performance studies; philosophy; political science; psychology; religious studies; Russian; sociology and social anthropology; sustainability; Spanish; and theatre.
Electives (at least six credit hours)

*a combination of two one-term academic courses in the same discipline is considered equivalent to one full-year academic course. 

Courses taken under a specific subject area are NOT guaranteed to transfer as the same subject area. Course evaluations will be completed after the application is made and all required documents are submitted. Please use our Transfer Credit Equivalency Table to find the equivalent courses offered at other institutions.

A listing of some approved courses to fulfill admission requirements can be found on the Faculty of Dentistry website: www.dal.ca/dds-admissions. Courses must have been completed within a reasonable time period prior to admission. Credit may be given for correspondence or distance education courses that are offered by a university as credit courses. Such courses must have their content, sequence, format and testing well defined.

Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) 
The DDS Admissions Committee uses DAT scores as a criterion when evaluating student qualifications. 

• Canadian residents must complete the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test unless they are not living in Canada: www.cda-adc.ca/dat
• International candidates can write the DAT administered by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) or the American Dental Association (ADA):  www.ada.org/
• DAT Results are valid for a period of three years. For the 2027 intake, DAT tests must be written on or after October 1, 2023. 
• DAT writing deadline: August 31, 2026
• Deadline for receipt of DAT scores by Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry: October 1, 2026

The Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS), Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) and Reading Comprehension Test (RCT) component scores will be reviewed, and the following minimum scores must be achieved in one DAT attempt:

Component	CDA/30	ADA /600
PAT	17	360
RCT	17	340
SNS	17	380

Most successful applicants have scores of 20 or better on each component. 
Applicants may take the DAT an unlimited number of times, but the minimum scores outlined in the table above must be met or exceeded in one attempt. 

Candidates who have not met these minimum requirements will not be considered for admission. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applications not meeting minimum requirements will not be fully assessed.

Non-Academic Requirements
Supplemental information for non-academic activities must be completed within your Dalhousie online application before October 1, 2026, including the following:

• Dental Job Shadowing hours
• Contact information of two References/verifiers 
• Current CV/resume
• Work and volunteer experience
• Group activities
• Accomplishments

Dental Job Shadowing
Applicants are strongly encouraged to spend time in one or more dental offices to learn about the dental profession. Although dental shadowing is not required for admissions, we would recommend candidates job shadow for at least 30 hours to gain a better understanding of the profession. 

References/Verifiers
Applicants are required to provide contact information for two references. Reference letters are not required. Applicants must include the referees’ contact information on their online application. At least one reference must be provided by a university instructor who has taught the applicant. Other references must be from non-relatives with whom the applicant has worked or volunteered. References may also be given by community members who know the applicant.

Interview Process
A completed application meeting minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee an interview. Typically, applicants with the highest university grades are selected for interview, though other factors may be considered. Interviews are conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry by a team of interviewers using a structured interview format.

Selection
Applicants with the best academic record have the greatest chance of admission. Nonetheless, the Admissions Committee can and does make significant use of other academic and non-academic factors in deciding which applicants are admitted (e.g. Dental Aptitude Test, interview performance, references, and other admissions criteria considered by the Admissions Committee).

Class Profile
For the information of potential applicants, the following is provided showing the characteristics of the applicants and the entering class of 2025/2026.

• Number of applicants: approximately 500
• Number enrolled:  45 
• Age of Students: Range: 21~42, Mean: 24
• Residence:
• NS:23
• NL:  1
• PEI: 1
• International:20
• DAT
• Mean DAT-Reading Comprehension - 20;
• Mean DAT-PAT - 20; Mean DAT-Science total- 20;
• Mean DAT-Manual Dexterity Test - n/a
• Mean University GPA
• Average of Last 60 credit hours- 4.1/4.3
• Higher sciences average - 4.1/4.3

Place of Residence of Students

The number of students admitted in any one year is limited by the availability of physical facilities.

Preference is given to residents of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, but applications from well-qualified applicants from other provinces and countries may be considered. 

Definition: A “Nova Scotia Student” means a student who satisfies at least one of the following eligibility criteria:
(i) the student has a student loan from the Government of Nova Scotia;
(ii) the student entered university immediately after graduating from a high school located in Nova Scotia;
(iii) the student resided in Nova Scotia for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the first day of the first month in which their first classes at the University begin (excluding time spent as a full-time student); or
(iv) the student is a dependent child of a parent or guardian that has resided in Nova Scotia for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the first day of the first month in which the student’s first classes at the University begin, but does not include an International Student, a Domestic Out of Province Student, or a student in receipt of student loan assistance from another province or territory.

Proof of Residency Required:
Applicants must submit appropriate documentation to verify eligibility, including:
• Official school transcripts (if claiming the schooling requirement),
• Government-issued ID showing provincial address, and
• Additional documents (e.g., tax forms, leases, employment letters) as requested by admissions to verify residency duration and purpose.

Application Procedure

The Faculty of Dentistry application form must be submitted by October 1. Applications from all students, including those who have attended Dalhousie or King's must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee that is not applicable to tuition fees. A new application form must be submitted each year in which an application is made.

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

Step 2: Submit an online application at www.dal.ca/apply on or before October 1, 2026

• Applications must be submitted through the Dalhousie online application portal at www.dal.ca/apply.
• American Association of Dental Schools Application Services (AADSAS): Applicants who have submitted dental school applications through AADSAS must also submit a separate Dalhousie application on or before October 1, 2026. 

Step 3: Pay the non-refundable Dalhousie application fee by on or before October 1, 2026.

• Application fee payments not received by the October 1, 2026 deadline will result in cancellation of the application. This deadline is firm, and no exceptions will be made.

Step 4: Submit supporting documents through the online application portal on or before October 1, 2026

• Official DAT scores: The official DAT scores must be sent to the Dalhousie Dentistry Admissions Office by CDA or ADA.
• Contact information of two references/verifiers
• Current resume/CV
• One official transcript* from each college/university attended
• Personal statement/letter of intent
• Additional documentation (If applicable) 
• Supplemental statements/proof for Equitable Admissions
• Proof of Residency for residents of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
• Name change certificate
• WES Report Course-by-Course Evaluation report must be sent directly by World Education Services to Dalhousie

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED OR REVIEWED. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all application requirements are received by the DDS application deadlines.

*Official transcripts

• Must be sent directly from the issuing institution.
• Issuing institution forwards official interim or final transcripts to Registrar’s office by mail or secure web/email portal
• Dalhousie University students or alumni: Transcripts can be downloaded from Banner; do not send official Dalhousie University transcripts
• Deadline: October 1, 2026

Official Interim Transcripts, if requested

• Submitted upon completion of all credits
• Show completed coursework to date, and fall/winter course registrations 

Official Final Transcripts, if requested

•  Show all completed coursework and grades

A. Mail/courier:

Registrar's Office, Dalhousie University
Henry Hicks Academic Admin Building, Room 130
6299 South Street
PO Box 15000, Halifax, N.S., B3H 4R2

B. Email:
* Applicants can have their schools submit official transcripts by email to admissions.documents@dal.ca.

C. Platform/portal services
MyCreds/MesCertif, My eQuals or Digitary CORE applicants:
* Share digital documents by selecting the 2nd Share option “Send my documents to a Registered Organization” and then select "Dalhousie University-Undergraduate and Professional programs or University of King’s College" in the Recipient field. Helpful videos are available for first-time users on the MyCreds Site.

Dalhousie University considers an applicant's failure to disclose all their previous academic experience an academic offence that could lead to subsequent dismissal from the University.  Applicants must ensure that all successful or unsuccessful university attendance is indicated on the application form. 

Step 5 Interview 
Competitive applicants will be required to participate in an admissions interview. Approximately 90 applicants are invited for interview each year. Interview selection is primarily determined by GPAs and DAT scores. 

Interviews for the 2026/2027 application cycle will be held in person at the Faculty of Dentistry. 

Our interview process is designed to assess personal qualities such as integrity, communication skills and conscientiousness. It is a structured interview (all applicants are asked the same type of questions) and will be conducted by a panel of two to four faculty and/or staff members. The purpose of this interview is to allow us to get to know you a little better and also allows an opportunity for you to determine whether Dalhousie would be a good fit for you.

• International seats: Interview invitations for international applicants will typically be sent out by email in November and December. Interviews will be conducted between November and January. 
• Canadian seats: Interview invitations for Canadian applicants will be sent out by email in January or February. Interviews will be conducted between March and April. 

Step 6: Decision Letters
Applicants will be informed of the status of their application via email once file assessments and Admissions Committee decisions have been completed. An email notification will include a link to log in to a Notice of Unsuccessful Application: Applicants who were not successful in gaining admission or who were placed on the waitlist but were not selected will receive a notice of unsuccessful application.
Admissions decisions are based on various admissions requirements (GPA, DAT, interview results and other requirements). 

Acceptance
Letters of acceptance will be sent following review of applications and interview scores. Following receipt of acceptance letters to the Faculty of Dentistry, applicants must submit a non-refundable tuition deposit before the specified date. This tuition deposit amount is credited toward tuition fees if the student registers, but is not refundable if the student withdraws. 

All accepted applicants must comply with the Faculty of Dentistry's immunization and CPR regulations as a condition of acceptance.  Applicants are required to complete the Dalhousie University Immunization Record form and an approved CPR-HCP (Health Care Provider) course by June 30.

Waitlist
Waitlist movement is dependent on applicants' decisions to accept or reject admissions offers. Waitlisted candidates may be notified of an admissions offer by email at any time during the spring and summer months until the first week of class (early September).  The Admissions Office will not release a candidate’s ranking on the waitlist under any circumstances. 

Notice of Unsuccessful Application
Unsuccessful applicants will receive an email of the final decision at the end of the admission cycle. Applicants who are interested in reapplying for the following academic year are advised to review the admission requirements and complete a new application form, submitting it along with the application fee by the application deadline.

Important application dates for international seat applicants

July 15, 2026	Dalhousie DDS Application Open
October 1, 2026	*Deadline for DDS application through Dalhouise and AADSAS portals *Deadline for submission of DAT scores and supporting documents *All available Official transcript(s) due *WES report due for applicants outside Canada and US
November 2026 –January 2027	Interviews for international seats
January 15, 2027	If requested, fall/updated official transcripts due
February 2027	Conditional Letters of Acceptance sent for International seats
May 1, 2027	Final official transcript(s) due for applicants receiving conditional letters of acceptance and being waitlisted
June 30	Deadline for accepted students to submit Immunization Record forms and CPR-HCP certificates.

Important application dates for Canadian seat applicants

July 15, 2026	Dalhousie DOctober 1, 2026DS Application Open
October 1, 2026	*Deadline for DDS application through Dalhouise and AADSAS portals *Deadline for submission of DAT scores and supporting documents *All available Official transcript(s) due *WES report due for applicants outside Canada and US
January 15, 2027	Fall term updated official transcripts due
March 2027	Interviews for Canadian students
March ~ April 2027	Conditional Letters of Acceptance sent for Canadian seats
May 1, 2027	Final official transcript(s) due for interviewed candidates
June 30, 2027	Deadline for accepted students to submit Immunization Record forms and CPR-HCP certificates.

Non-refundable Application fee:

Dalhousie Students (Students who have completed or are in progress to complete 48 credit hours or more at Dalhousie)	$100
Other Canadian Students	$125
International Students	$150

Transfer Students

We do not accept any advanced standing or transfer students from other Doctor of Dental Surgery Programs. All applicants admitted to the Doctor of Dental Surgery Program must complete all years of the program at Dalhousie University.

An application will not be considered if the applicant has been required to withdraw from studies at any other university dental or medical program at the request of the Faculty of that institution, unless the application is supported by a recommendation from the Dean of that program.

Health Requirements

General Regulations

The programs in the Faculty of Dentistry involves students interacting with patients in a health care environment, and places students in a position of special trust with patients. Therefore, certain Faculty regulations must be adhered to by all students, including but not limited to requirements for TB testing, immunization and CPR, criminal records and child abuse registry checks, clinic attire and clinical asepsis protocols. All requirements are outlined in the student Clinical Policy and Academic Policy manuals, provided to students at the beginning of each academic year.

CPR Requirements:

Students accepted to the program must have a current CPR – HCP (Health Care Provider) or equivalent course that includes BLS and use of a bag-valve-mask for all ages, team dynamics and use of an AED by June 30 of the year of entry.

Immunization Requirements:

Acceptance into the Faculty of Dentistry clinical programs is conditional upon receipt of evidence of complete immunization as follows:

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis (Td/Tdap)
• Polio
• Measles (Rubeola)
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Hepatitis B (including post-immunization antibody titres and HBsAg)
• Varicella 
• 2-step Mantoux (TB) testing

See Immunization/CPR Requirements for Applicants with details about meeting specific requirements.

If post-HB vaccination antibody titre results have not been completed or results indicate “non-immune” at the time of acceptance, the applicant must, at a minimum, provide blood results for the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen by June 30 of the year of entry.

Applicants whose immunization results indicate that they are HBsAg positive or who have a viral load >10³ IU/mL (5 x 10³ GE/mL) will not be accepted into any of the clinical programs. Dalhousie University will reassess eligibility for admission should the applicant’s status change.

Students who do not acquire immunity from the HB vaccination series or who refuse the HB vaccine are susceptible to acquiring Hepatitis B. Applicants in this category will not be denied admission based on these criteria. However, after admission, any student becoming HBsAg positive or whose viral load exceeds 10³ IU/mL (5 x 10³ GE/mL) during their studies will be removed from patient care activities. Such modification of the clinical program may prevent a student from meeting progress and promotion requirements.

Students whose viral load is greater than 10³ IU/mL (5 x 10³ GE/mL), have an ethical obligation to report their status to the Associate Dean, Clinics, Associate Dean, Students and/or Associate Dean, Academics of the Faculty of Dentistry. The student will then be referred to the ad-hoc Committee on Bloodborne Pathogens.

The cost of all immunizations and blood tests is the responsibility of the student/applicant.

Annual influenza and Covid-19 immunization is recommended for all students during each year of study.

A full explanation of the process to meet the health requirements for the dental programs at Dalhousie can be found in the following memo: 

Immunization/CPR Requirements for Applicants

The admissions procedures may be amended without notice by the Faculty of Dentistry.

Criminal Records Check and Other Screening Documentation

The Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University does not require a Criminal Records Check or other screening procedure (e.g. Child Abuse Registry Check, Vulnerable Sector Screen) as a condition of admission into its programs. However, students should be aware that such record checks or other screening procedures may be required by facilities (schools, community clinics, armed forces, etc.) outside the University used for clinical placements, or experiences related to an academic class assignment. It is the student’s responsibility to have such procedures completed. The cost of the documentation completion is the responsibility of the student.

Such facilities may refuse to accept students on the basis of information contained in the record check or other screening procedure. If the student is unable to complete a clinical requirement due to a failure to meet the record check or screening requirements of the facility or if the student is refused access to the facility on the basis of the information provided, such a student may fail the class, and as a result may not be eligible for progress and promotion.

Note that facility requirements may change from time to time and are beyond the control of the University.

Details on the requirements for such documentation and the deadlines for submission of documentation in a timely manner are provided to students by the Faculty of Dentistry after registration in the program.

Students should also be aware that some professional regulatory bodies may require a satisfactory records check/screening procedure as a condition of professional licensure.

Assessment of Applicants with an International Educational Background

The Faculty of Dentistry will consider applications to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree program from individuals who have received their former university education outside the Canadian educational system. Such applicants will be assessed on an individual basis and may be required to fulfill specific criteria, including but not confined to those outlined below:

1. If the applicant's first language is not English, they must complete an English language proficiency test such as:
• IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 (no lower than 6.0 in each band); or
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with an overall score of 90 (no lower than 20 in each band); or
• Duolingo English Test with an overall score of 120 (subscores: 95); or
• Michigan English Test (formerly MELAB) score of 55; or
• CAEL/CAEL online score of 70; or
• Pearson Test of English - Academic with an overall score of 61 (communicative skills scores: 50); or
• Cambridge English Assessment C1: Advanced / C2: Proficiency with overall score of 180.
• Oxford English Language Level Test (Oxford ELLT): Overall 7; no individual component lower than 6 
2. Complete an approved Dental Aptitude Test (CDA or ADA).
3. Meet all admission requirements and must provide a course-by-course World Education Services (WES) evaluation report (document-by-document evaluation will not be considered)before October 15, 2026.  Applicants are required to provide a WES courses-by-course report if they took one or more prerequisite classes outside of Canada or the US education system, or if any of the last 60 credit hours were completed outside of Canada or the US. In keeping with Dalhousie University Policy (Section 15 of the Undergraduate Calendar), we will only consider classes completed within 10 years of the application deadline for prerequisite requirements and the last 60 credits.  

Changes to Admissions Requirements 

Admissions requirements and processes are reviewed regularly by the DDS Admissions Committee, and the admissions requirements from previous years may not be applicable.  The admissions procedures may be amended without notice by the Faculty of Dentistry.

Please consult our website at www.dal.ca/dds-admissions for up-to-date information.