How to Apply

Official academic transcripts and degree certificates (if degree conferral not stated on transcripts) are required for each post-secondary institution attended. Transcripts can arrive as either the official hard copy or secured, password protected e-transcripts. Please see below for definitions.

Hard copy transcripts

At least one hard copy original, official transcript showing degree completion and conferral will be required from all applicants who are applying to Dalhousie University. These final transcripts are to be sent directly from the degree issuing institution(s) to the department you are applying to and need to arrive in sealed university envelopes. If you are applying to a graduate program and your degree is not yet complete, you will be required to send another transcript to Dalhousie University once your degree is awarded.

Important transcript details:

• In the event applicants can only get one original transcript and degree certificate, we will accept verified/attested transcripts/degree certificates from the issuing university. Verified transcripts are photocopies of the original transcripts that the university has attested (stamped/embossed with university seal) to be true. All verified transcripts must arrive in sealed envelopes from the issuing university.
• Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript.
• Photocopied transcripts or those printed from a university website are not permitted.
• Notarized copies of transcripts are not permitted.
• Degree and graduation certificates must be included if the transcript does not indicate the type of degree and date granted.
• Transcripts are to be sent directly from the degree granting institution(s) to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, in sealed envelopes.
• All hard copy transcripts received as part of an application for admission must be received in sealed envelopes.
• Transcripts submitted with applications become the property of Dalhousie University, are subject to verification, are not available for copying and will not be returned to the applicant.
• Official transcripts are NOT REQUIRED for any courses or degrees you have completed at Dalhousie University.

Electronic official transcripts

The Faculty of Graduate Studies will also accept Electronic Official Transcripts (e-Transcripts). To be considered official, the e-transcripts need to be:

• Secured - password-protected document.
• Digitally signed and certified PDF documents.
• Sent directly to Dalhousie by the university, or university appointed e-Transcript delivery service.
• The degree issuing university’s official website must list the service that will be delivering the e-Transcript.
• We will not accept transcripts attached as PDFs from a university email address, unless it is password-protected.

e-Transcripts can be emailed to graduate.studies@dal.ca

Two letters of reference are required for admission into a graduate degree. These letters are normally required to be from academics familiar with the applicant, but may be replaced with relevant professional references in some course-based professional master's programs. If accepted, professional references can be submitted according to the following schedule:

1. For applicants who completed their undergraduate (or related graduate) degree within the past 3 years: two academic references.
2. For applicants who completed their undergraduate (or related graduate) degree 3 to 5 years ago: a) one academic reference and one relevant professional reference, or b) two academic references.
3. For applicants who completed their undergraduate (or related graduate) degree more than 5 years ago: a) two relevant professional references or, b) one academic reference and one relevant professional reference, or c) two academic references.

Please note that professional reference letters must be submitted in hard copy.

Reference letters provided in confidence to Dalhousie University for purposes of determining a candidate's suitability for admission to an academic program, receipt of an honour or award, or evaluating the applicant's research projects and materials will be kept confidential. This confidential reference may be used internally by Dalhousie University for the purposes of considering the applicant for institutional, provincial and federal awards or scholarships.

Reference letters can be submitted either through the electronic reference system in the online application or by paper reference letter.

E-reference submission

If using the e-reference system, make sure to have the email addresses of your referees ready to list when completing the online application. Dalhousie University will only accept university, teaching hospital, and government email addresses (i.e. not Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, or business addresses). Please allow 5 business days for your referee(s) to be contacted by our system. Please note that you cannot edit, add, or omit references if using the e-reference system. If you made an error in the submission of an email address, please contact eref@dal.ca.

Hard copy reference letters

If you are submitting a paper reference letter, it must be in a sealed, stamped envelope which is endorsed across the back seal by the referee and mailed to the address indicated on the paper reference form [PDF-277kb]. To assist your reference, you may consider providing a stamped envelope, addressed to the department to which you are applying, and have them mail the letter directly. If the reference is given to the student directly, do not open the envelope.

Some programs may require additional references.

Other supplementary documentation, such as English language proficiency scores, GMAT, GRE, CV, statement of intent, statement of research interests, portfolio, etc. as required by your department.

Please check with your department to determine if additional documents are required.

If you plan to self-fund your studies, please include an original teller-stamped or equivalent bank statement showing that you have sufficient funds for your full program fees (fee calculator) plus $1200 per month for the full term of your studies.

Each program will list their faculty, and give information about each faculty member’s research and publications on their websites. Go to the list of Dalhousie programs, select the program you are interested in, then choose Faculty or Department Members to see prospective supervisors.

Once you’ve found one or two potential supervisors, read a few of their publications to make sure you are interested in their research and that they have the right expertise for the project or subject area you plan to do you thesis work on.

If your prospective supervisor looks like a good fit for your research interest, then the simplest way forward is to send a clear and concise email directly to the potential supervisor.