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Dalhousie Summer Academy

Your summer. Your future. Just the right next step.

The Dalhousie Summer Academy is a three-week pre-university experience for motivated high school students from Canada and around the world.


Explore academic interests, build future-ready skills, and experience life at one of Canada’s leading research universities while discovering the energy and opportunity of Halifax.

Program details The academic experience Dates, fees and what's included
A professor talks to a group of students gathered around a table with their laptops open.

Program details

Whether you’re preparing for university, exploring possible programs, or looking to challenge yourself in a supportive academic environment, the summer academy offers a focused, engaging introduction to university learning and campus life.

The program schedule includes a balanced day of activities that supports learning, exploration, and personal growth and opportunities to build friendships with students from across Canada and the world.

9:30am –12:30pm  Morning academic sessions
12:30pm –1:30pm  Lunch
1:30pm –4:30pm   Afternoon academic sessions

To get started, you’ll choose one of the two streams where you’ll learn about different aspects of the English language. You will choose between two streams: global competency skills or English for university studies.

Group of students sitting around a table with open books.

Stream one: global competency skills

In this option, you can expect to strengthen your intercultural awareness, apply critical thinking to real-world scenarios, and improve your communication skills in diverse, globally connected environments.

Student with long, dark hair sitting in classroom.

Stream two: English for university studies

Develop the academic reading, writing, speaking, and research skills required for success in university-level study across disciplines. Learn practical tools to help you in your first-year university courses across all disciplines. 

Young woman at laptop

Discover Dalhousie and Halifax

Founded in 1818, Dalhousie University is one of Canada’s oldest and most globally connected universities. Students learn in a welcoming, research-intensive environment and become part of a community that spans more than 120 countries.

Located on Canada’s east coast, Halifax offers a safe, student-friendly city with access to culture, innovation, and nature—an ideal setting for learning, exploration, and connection.

Explore the vibrancy of Halifax
student on the halifax ferry facing toward downtown Halifax

The academic experience

Once you’ve chosen your stream, all students of the summer academy will participate in three academic experiences led by instructors, professors and current students in three of Dalhousie’s faculties.

Faculty of Computer Science
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Management

Faculty of Computer Science

Build solutions. Solve problems. See where computer science can take you.

A woman wearing a virtual reality headset gesturing as if to grab something

Spend a week exploring how code shapes the world from intelligent systems to secure networks and human-centered design.

Dive into real-world computer science through an immersive, project-based, collaborative experience.

  • An intensive, week-long introduction to computer science in action
  • Hands-on activities across key areas like AI, Cybersecurity, Software Development, Human-Computer Interaction and more
  • Sessions and panels with current students on studying Computer Science at Dalhousie

  • Practical exposure to multiple computer science disciplines
  • A clearer understanding of how computer science applies across industries
  • Confidence exploring open-ended technical problems
  • Insight into the skills computer scientists use to drive innovation and solve complex challenges

Faculty of Engineering

Build it. Test it. Bring your ideas to life.

A student wearing a pink hoodie and black baseball cap adjust dials on a blue box.

Spend a week designing, fabricating, and building a software-controlled machine—from concept to creation.

Dive into real-world engineering through an immersive, project-based, collaborative experience.

  • An intensive, week-long engineering design challenge
  • Hands-on lab techniques used by professional engineers
  • Team-based problem-solving in a fast-paced environment
  • Sessions and panels with current students on what sets Dalhousie Engineering apart

  • Real, hands-on engineering experience
  • Confidence tackling open-ended design challenges
  • Insight into how engineers innovate to solve global challenges

Faculty of Management

Build ideas. Solve challenges. See where management can take you.

workshop setting

Spend a week discovering how ideas become real-world impact.

Explore the essential building blocks of business and leadership.

  • Sessions on entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, accounting, and more
  • Dialogue with industry leaders and Dalhousie experts
  • Real-world case-based problem solving

  • Broad exposure to core business concepts
  • Practical leadership, teamwork, and communication skills

Upcoming Dates, Fees and what's included

Dates

Dalhousie will be offering two cohorts for the Dalhousie Summer Academy (DSA) in 2026: 

  • June 8 - 26, 2026
  • July 20 - August 7, 2026

Fee and what's included

You can participate in the summer academy as an on-residence participant by staying on campus or as an off-campus participant and travelling in to campus each day.

The on-residence fee is $5,200 CAD*
  • Tuition for all academic sessions
  • Learning materials
  • WiFi across campus
  • Access to Dalhousie’s Virtual Learning Environment
  • Residence accommodation
  • Three meals per day
  • Airport pickup and drop-off
  • Two city bus tickets per day
  • Health insurance (international students only; domestic opt-out)
  • Accommodation & meals for one school chaperone per 10 students
  • One-to-two weekday socio-cultural activities
  • Two weekend excursions

*Not included: international travel, personal expenses, incidental costs. Price is subject to change.

The off-residence fee is $3,000 CAD*
  • Tuition for all academic sessions
  • Learning materials
  • Wi-Fi access across campus
  • Access to Dalhousie’s Virtual Learning Environment
  • Lunch in the residence meal hall
  • One to two weekday socio-cultural activities
  • Two weekend excursions

*Price is subject to change. 

Ready to apply?

All participants in the summer academy earn a certificate of completion from Dalhousie University. Take the next step toward your future. If you have any questions, contact us at els@dal.ca

Apply now