What the tuition guarantee means
- You pay a set tuition amount per year
- Your tuition will not increase or decrease during your guarantee period
- Tuition is charged in Canadian dollars (CAD)
- You pay half in the fall term and half in the winter term
Eligible faculties and tuition
Guaranteed tuition for 2026-2027
The International Tuition Guarantee currently applies to the following faculties:
- All amounts listed are in CAD
- Amounts listed are tuition only. See exclusions.
Faculty of Agriculture
$30,906
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
$37,992
Faculty of Computer Science
$41,688
Faculty of Engineering
$48,594
Faculty of Management
$42,042
Faculty of Science
$37,992
For more details, view the International Tuition Guarantee Schedule [PDF - 314 KB].
Why is tuition for some faculties higher than others?
Tuition is set to stay competitive with other Canadian universities and reflect the quality of your program. Costs can vary by program depending on things like specialized facilities, materials, and demand.
What's included
How your tuition is calculated
- Your tuition is based on a program model, not per course.
- You receive a total program cost
- This is divided into annual payments
- Tuition is charged:
- 50% in fall
- 50% in winter
Your guarantee applies to the standard program length, plus one additional year.
International tuition guarantee account review
Adjustments are ideally determined prior to your final term as a result of an academic and financial account review. The review compares approved and awarded courses towards your degree, and factors in, your academic record to date; including credit attempts, such as, but not limited to:
- failed
- late drops
- incompletes
- repeated courses
- approved transfer credits that apply to your degree
- other registration changes that deems a course to be an attempt.
This academic review is then compared to your tuition guarantee payments to date, the degree cost and identifies what is still outstanding, or needs to be credited to the account for future terms, or possible refunds.
Students who accelerate their studies remain responsible for the full program cost. Students who exceed the established time limit for their degree - generally one year beyond the standard degree completion time - will incur additional tuition fees for courses taken outside the guarantee period.
Note: The academic and financial review applies only to international tuition and does not include incidental or auxiliary fees. Final eligibility is subject to your academic record and successful completion of program requirements.
Changes to your program
If your situation changes, here’s how your tuition may be affected:
You will need to pay additional tuition for credits beyond your program requirements.
You will pay additional tuition for the repeated course.
Your guarantee covers your program length + 1 year. After that, new tuition rates may apply.
- You will pay 25% of your annual tuition for that term
- This is in addition to fall and winter tuition
Audited courses are charged at 50% of the tuition rate.
A short break (one term) usually does not affect your guarantee, as long as you can still finish within the guarantee period.
Example:
A student takes a break in the second year of their program. Their tuition guarantee is $31,900.
- Year 1: $31,900 + fees
- Year 2: Leave of absence/lapse in registration. No credits earned.
- Year 3: $31,900 + fees
- Year 4: $31,900 + fees
- Year 5: $31,900 + fees
Total credit hours attempted and earned = 120 credit hours.
Because this student did not exceed the number of years or credits in their tuition guarantee, the break in their program did not impact their tuition.
Longer breaks may affect your tuition and may require review by your faculty. Please contact your faculty directly for more information.
If you change your program or faculty:
- You must apply and be admitted to the new program
- You will receive a new tuition guarantee based on that program (if it is eligible).
If you started your studies before the International Tuition Guarantee (September 2023), the guarantee does not apply—even if you change your program or return to Dalhousie later.
Instead, your tuition will follow the standard yearly rates approved by the Board of Governors. This applies if you’ve taken a break from your studies, were on probation, or were academically dismissed. In these situations, your return is reviewed by the Registrar’s Office.
To estimate your fees, see the undergraduate program tuition schedule.
Transfer credits
Transfer credits recognize previous post-secondary study and can reduce the number of courses you need to complete.
- Your initial offer will include a standard tuition guarantee
- Your tuition may be adjusted later once credits are confirmed
