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.  Some certificates may be available only to students enrolled in specific graduate programs.

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.

Only courses approved as part of the academic requirements for the program fee degree are included in the tuition.  Registration in course(s) that are not part of the approved degree requirements will result in 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 Faculty of Graduate Studies uses several terms to describe time commitments for each program

Program Residency:

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.

Full-time Fee Duration:

For program-fee based offerings, the Full-time Fee Duration is the minimum length of time a student must be enrolled as a full-time student to meet thier fee requirements.  If a student completes their degree early, they will be required to pay any outstanding fees remaining within the Full-time Fee Duration period.

Standard Duration:

The standard duration is the actual number of expected terms/months of registration (with or without scheduled breaks) that a student is expected to register if they are progressing through a program at the expected pace. This is established based on the program structure and is used internally within Dalhousie for benchmarking and resource planning purposes.

Degree Length:

This is the official degree length that will be included on degree completion letters, websites and other outward facing communications. The Degree Length is expressed as the number of years (or range of years). For programs with standard durations below 2 years, the degree length is defined based on the equivalency to undergraduate degree lengths with a comparable number of registration terms.

Degree lengths for standard durations common to Dalhousie graduate programs are determined as follows:

Degree Length	Standard Duration
1 Year	8 to 12 months
2 Years	16 to 24 months
2.5 Years	28 months
3 Years	32 to 36 months
3.5 Years	40 months
4 to 6 Years	44 months or more

PhD completion times vary significantly.  Irrespective of the PhD program, the degree length will be reported as a range: 4 to 6 years.  Some combined or dual degree offerings may have official degree lengths between 4 and 6 years and will usually be determined by adding the individual degree lengths of each degree.

Degrees completed on a part-time basis will normally be reported as part-time, with completion times expressed as a range based on what is supported by program scheduling (e.g. Degree Length: 2 to 7 years on a part-time basis).

2.4 Program List

Academic units in the Faculty of Graduate Studies offer programs leading to the following degrees and diplomas. Academic program requirements, tuition requirements, standard duration and degree length are described in the calendar entry for each program.

2.4.1 Program Fee Degrees and Diplomas

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Applied Computer Science (MACSc)
Master of Applied Science (MASc)
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Business Administration – Corporate Residency (MBA)
Master of Computer Science (MCSc)
Master of Development Economics (MDE)
Master of Digital Innovation (MDI)
Master of Engineering (MEng) (except Internetworking see section 2.4.2 below)
Master of Environmental Studies (MES)
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
Master of Laws (LLM)
Master of Marine Management (MMM)
Master of Nursing (MN)
Master of Periodontics (MPERIO)
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
Master of Planning Studies (MPS)
Master of Science (MSc)
Graduate Diploma in Orthoptics and Ophthalmic Medical Technology (OOMT)
Master's and Juris Doctor (MBA/JD, MHA/JD, MI/JD, MPA/JD) Combined Programs

2.4.2 Per-Course Fee Degrees and Diplomas

Master of Architecture (MArch)
Master of Business Administration – Career Advance (MBA)
Master of Engineering, Internetworking (MEng)
Master of Information (MI)
Master of Information Management (MIM)
Master of Journalism (MJ)
Master of Planning (MPlan)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Master of Public Administration Management (MPAM)
Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MREM)
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Graduate Diploma in Information Management (GDIM)
Graduate Diploma in Public Administration (GDPA)
Graduate Diploma in Public Administration Management (GDPA(M))
Master of Information and Master of Public Administration (MI/MPA) Combined Programs
Master of Information and Master of Resource and Environmental Management (MI/MREM) Combined Programs