Money Matters

International Tuition Guarantee

 

DALHOUSIE’S NEW INTERNATIONAL TUITION GUARANTEE

If you are an international student (not a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident) entering an undergraduate program in the Faculties of Agriculture, Arts & Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Management or Science for Fall 2023 or later, you will be part of Dalhousie’s new International Student Tuition Guarantee.

Students in these programs will pay a fixed tuition price each year and tuition will not increase or decrease over the duration of the guarantee. This means stable, predictable annual tuition fees over the course of the program.

  • Dalhousie’s International Tuition Guarantee applies to the Faculties in the table below which house the majority of Dalhousie’s international undergraduate students.
  • This list of Faculties applies as of the 2024-25 academic year; programs in other Faculties may be added to the tuition guarantee in the future.
Faculty Undergraduate Guaranteed International Tuition (2024-25)*
Faculty of Agriculture $27,507
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences $33,814
Faculty of Computer Science $37,100
Faculty of Engineering $43,248
Faculty of Management $37,418
Faculty of Science $33,814

* Please note:

  • Incidental fees will be subject to change each year. These include the student service fee, the facilities renewal fee, the Dalhousie Student Union fee, and other specialized course-specific fees, such as auxiliary fees etc.
  • Dalhousie’s International Tuition Guarantee does not include co-operative education fees – if you enter a co-op program, additional fees will apply.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The following information is intended to help guide students in decision making and is subject to change. Exceptions may apply. For further questions, please contact student.accounts@dal.ca.

Please refer to the following definitions referenced below:

  • Assessed: indicates the calculated/estimated amount of tuition and fees required to be paid.
  • Charged: the assessed tuition fees that will be applied to a student account.
  • Payment: the amount applied to the account after Dalhousie receives funds.
  • Transfer Credits: the recognition of previously completed coursework from another post-secondary institution or higher-level secondary curriculum, through the granting of credits at Dalhousie. This results in fewer credits being required for completion of the selected faculty program.

Does Dalhousie’s international tuition guarantee apply to all international students?

Dalhousie’s International Tuition Guarantee will apply to new international undergraduate students beginning their studies in Fall 2023 or later in most programs across the following Faculties:

  • Agriculture
  • Arts & Social Sciences
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Management
  • Science

Please refer to Dalhousie’s fee calculator for estimates.

When will I receive my tuition guarantee?

This information will be included in your offer of admission letter. Please refer to Dalhousie’s fee calculator for estimates.

How is my tuition calculated?

Your tuition will be calculated using a program-based model. This means you will receive an annual and total program tuition guarantee, subject to the standard program length, plus 1-year.

How will my tuition be charged over my program?

Tuition is assessed twice per year and aligns with Fall and Winter term due dates. For students in a standard program, 50% of the annual tuition is charged in the fall term, and 50% in the winter term. Some exceptions may apply.

Here is an example using the Faculty of Science:

PROGRAM LENGTH

+ 1 year

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

YEAR 5

$31,900

(+ fees)

$31,900

(+ fees)

$31,900

(+ fees)

$31,900

(+ fees)

 

 

 

 

 120 credit hours attempted and earned

 

How will tuition be calculated if I register for the spring or summer term?

Your tuition will be charged at 1/4 of your annual tuition guarantee for spring and summer terms.

I am in a co-op program or work integrated learning, when do I pay these fees?

Co-op/work integrated learning fees are not included as part of the guaranteed price and are assessed when the work term is taken.

How long is my tuition guarantee good for?

Your tuition fee is guaranteed for the standard length of the program, plus one year. For example, for 4-year programs, the guarantee extends for five years. Please note that exceptions may apply, and more specific information is included in your offer of admission letter.

What if I take longer than the standard length of time to complete my degree/diploma?

The tuition guarantee remains intact for your standard program length, plus 1-year. If you take longer than the standard program length plus 1-year and/or exceed the maximum number of credit attempts, you may be subject to the new fee rates at the time that you exceed your guarantee period.

What if I need to take more than the required number of credits to complete my program?

Additional credit attempts beyond the minimum required for your program are not included within the tuition guarantee and will be assessed with additional fees.

What happens if I take a leave of absence or have a lapse of registration during my program, will my current guarantee still apply or am I required to apply for a new guarantee?

Generally, a leave of absence or lapse of registration during 1 term would not impact your guarantee if your program requirements can be completed within the guarantee period (standard length of the program, plus one year).

Here is an example:

PROGRAM LENGTH

+ 1 year

YEAR 1

YEAR 2

YEAR 3

YEAR 4

YEAR 5

$31,900

(+ fees)

Leave of absence/lapse in registration. No credits earned.

$31,900

(+ fees)

$31,900

(+ fees)

$31,900

(+ fees)

 

 

 

 

 

 120 credit hours attempted and earned

 

Longer absences may affect the tuition guarantee and may need to be reviewed/approved by your program's Faculty. Please contact your Faculty directly for information about leave of absence procedures for your program.

What happens if I change Faculties/programs during my degree?

Students who are a part of the international tuition guarantee, wishing to change their degree program are required to apply to their new program before being granted admission. This applies to students who are seeking to transfer to a different degree program within the same faculty. If your application for the new program is approved, you will receive a new admission offer, which will also come with a new tuition guarantee specific to the program. In certain cases, this change may involve moving from a program that is not covered by the tuition guarantee to a program where the guarantee applies.

Why are some Faculty’s fees higher than others?

Dalhousie strives to keep tuition rates competitive with other Canadian universities while reflecting the high quality of the programs we offer. Some programs are more costly to deliver than others due to materials, supplies, and facilities. Demand, earning potential, and other market forces also influence program fees across the country.

Can I receive transfer credit for other post-secondary programs?

At the time of admission, the standard program guarantee is applied. If transfer credits are granted, updated tuition guarantees may be issued at a later date. You can find more information about transfer credits here.

I am student entering directly from high school with transfer credits from Advanced Placement (AP), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), French Baccalauréat, International Baccalaureate (IB) and/or General Certificate of Education (GCE). When and how will these be assessed?

Students entering directly from high school with transfer credits from one of the higher-level curriculums listed above will have their tuition adjusted based on the number of eligible transfer credits. At the time of admission, the standard program guarantee is applied with a note indicating the total does not include consideration of transfer credits and will be adjusted accordingly. Students will receive an updated tuition guarantee after the add/drop deadline of their first semester.

To receive transfer credits, students must submit a request. Visit dal.ca/transfercredits for more information.

Can I audit courses if I am part of the tuition guarantee?

Yes, you are able to audit courses and, will be charged 50% of the published tuition.

I started at Dalhousie before September 2023, If I change my major or degree, will I be impacted by the International Tuition Guarantee?

International Students who have enrolled prior to the start of the International Tuition Guarantee in September who decide to change their major or degree, will not be able to benefit from international tuition guarantee, but rather be subject to annual International Tuition changes approved by the Board of Governors. This includes international students who are international Academically Dismissed, international students who are returning to Dalhousie from a lapse in study and international students who may have been on probation. International students in these circumstances are subject to review by the Registrar’s Office for readmission.