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Dalhousie University

Dalhousie Medical School

(Last updated on July 14, 2025)

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GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Campus – Total of 164 students
    • Dalhousie Medicine Nova Scotia (DMNS) in Halifax – 94 students
      • For NS, PEI and OOP Applicants (Indigenous/Black applicant stream) + Kuwait and MMTP Applicants
    • Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB) in Saint John – 40 students
      • For NB Applicants
    • Dalhousie Medicine Nova Scotia Cape Breton Medical Campus (DMNS-CBMC) in Sydney – 30 students
      • For Indigenous, Black learners pathway, Rural NS applicants
      • 5 years return of service agreement is required to be signed to practice in rural NS community and a commitment to Family medicine
  • Numbers (2023-2024 Cycle):
    • Total number of Applicants: 1816 Applicants
    • Total number of Interview Invites: 300-400 Applicants
    • Total number of Admissions: 150 Applicants
  • Program length: Four year

Application Overview

In Province (IP) StatusNova Scotia (NS), New Brunswick (NB) & Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Minimum GPA Required3.3/4.0 (IP) & None (Special streams)
GPA Calculation OptionsAdjusted GPA – Most recent 60 credits
Required Course LoadNo required course load – However, full time load strongly encouraged
Minimum Credits RequiredBaccalaureate Degree with 90-120 credits
Pre-requisite CoursesNo required courses
CASPerRequired (Competitive)
MCATRequired (Competitive)
Interview FormatMMI
ReferencesNot required
PathwaysIndigenous Admissions Pathway
Black Learners Admissions Pathway
Rural Applicant Pathway
Widening Accessibility Stream
Military Medical Training Program
Kuwaiti & Saudi Sponsored Positions
Combined (MD/MSc & MD/PhD)
International StudentsNot considered

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

GPA: Dalhousie university uses 4.0 scale. To convert your grades, use the OMSAS Grade conversion chart. For detailed how-to for calculating your GPA, please see this post.

  • Dalhousie university calculates adjusted GPA (AGPA) for all applicants. If you are an undergraduate applicant or have completed an undergraduate degree, the most recent 60 credits of graded courses will be used in the calculation.
  • If you are a graduate student, up to 15 credits from graduate studies will be used as part of the most recent 60 credits.
  • Spring and summer courses are eligible for GPA calculation as long as it contributes to the degree requirements.

Minimum GPA:

  • Minimum GPA required to apply is 3.3/4.0 for IP applicants. The average GPA of admitted students for 2023-2024 cycle was 3.8/4.0.
  • Applicants applying through the Indigenous Admissions Pathway or Black Learners Admissions Pathway do not have any minimum GPA requirements.

Required Course Load:

  • Although there is no required course load, Dalhousie university strongly encourages applicants to maintain a full academic course load with a minimum GPA.

Minimum Credits Required:

  • Dalhousie requires applicants to have obtained a Bachelor’s degree before admission with a minimum of 90-120 credits.

Pre-requisite Courses

  • There are no mandatory pre-requisite courses to apply to Dalhousie university.

ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS

MCAT

  • Dalhousie university uses MCAT competitively in their assessment. Minimum MCAT score requirement differs based on applicants’ IP/OOP status and GPA. Please visit this page to check your MCAT requirement based on your application pathway and GPA. The average MCAT for admitted students in 2023-2024 cycle was 505.

CASPer

  • Dalhousie university uses CASPer competitively in their assessment. There is no minimum threshold for CASPer for applicants to be eligible.

RESIDENCE

Dalhousie has allocated seats for residents of NS, NB and PEI in their respective campus. At this time, Dalhousie has announced that OOP spots will only be available for those applying through Indigenous or Black stream. To be considered as IP, applicant must meet one of the following categories:

  • Within 12 years of the date of application, the applicant completed 4 years of junior high or high school between grade 7-12 in the provinces
  • At the time of application and for at least the immediate 6 prior years, the permanent address of the applicant is in the same provinces for the purposes of attending school or for employment
  • At the time of application and for at least the immediate 3 prior years, the permanent address of the applicant is in the same province while not attending a post-secondary institution on either part-time or full-time basis, in person or virtually

EXTRACURRICULARS

Dalhousie has two-part application. Applicants will have access to section 2 of the application only after they have submitted the section 1. The first section of the application is regarding demographics and general information, whereas the second section goes more into details about the applicant.

  • In section 2, applicants will be asked to answer short answer questions and supplementary forms specific to applicable admissions pathways.

Dalhousie’s selection criteria for applicants are as followed:

  • For Interview Invites: 50% GPA + 25% MCAT + 25% CASPer
  • For Admissions: (0-15 points) GPA + (0-10 points) MCAT + (0-30 points) Supplement and Essay + (0-40 points) Interview + (0-5 points) Discretionary
    • Discretionary refers to outstanding qualities and preparedness

INTERVIEW

Dalhousie university conducts MMI style interview for selected applicants. There is no official information on whether it is conducted virtually or in-person, but based on the popular forums, it is presumably held online synchronously.

Dalhousie’s MMI consists of 10 station, which lasts 8 minutes. There is a two minute break between each station where applicants can read prompts and prepare a response. At each station, applicants will be assessed by a single rater, whether it be question-based or role-play scenarios. In role-play station, applicants will be observed by the rater and interact with an actor. Some questions may involve more than one interviewee, who are both observed by a single rater.

REFERENCES

Dalhousie university does not require applicants to provide any reference.

PATHWAYS/SPECIAL STREAMS

Indigenous Admissions Pathway: To be considered for this pathway, applicants must self-identify and provide a certified copy for the proof of Indigenous ancestry. Indigenous applicants must still meet the same eligibility criteria as general stream applicants, with the exception of minimum GPA or MCAT.

  • Indigenous applicants will also be asked to respond to short answer questions and supplemental information.
  • Indigenous applicants with substantial connection to an Indigenous community in the Maritimes will be given priority under this pathway. However, Indigenous applicants with substantial connection to other Indigenous communities across Canada will still be considered.

Black Learners Admissions: Applicants applying through Black Learners Admissions stream must still meet the same eligibility criteria as general stream applicants. The exception to this requirement is that there is no minimum score required for GPA or MCAT. Applicants must self-identify and answer supplemental information in the application.

  • The supplemental question is a 250-500 word statement for applicants to describe how their identification with and connection to Black ancestry and community impacted their educational path and goals.
  • Black applicants with substantial connection to historic African Nova Scotian community or other Black communities in Maritime provinces will be prioritized. However, Dalhousie university encourages all applicants with connection to Black heritage to apply.

Rural Applicant: To be eligible, applicants must be a Nova Scotia resident and offers will prioritize qualified Nova Scotia applicants with lived experience in rural Nova Scotia. Applicants who have completed supplemental information and who have indicated DMNS-Cape Breton site as preferred site will be prioritized. Applicants must meet all minimum eligibility criteria as general stream applicants.

Widening Accessibility Stream: This stream is for applicants who are from underrepresented populations or for those who encountered significant barriers in their education. Applicants must still meet the same minimum eligibility criteria as IP general stream applicants.

Military Medical Training Program: Applicants applying through this pathway must still meet the same minimum eligibility criteria as general stream applicants. Successful applicants who receive offers will require confirmation from Department of National Defence that they have secured funding under this program.

Kuwaiti & Saudi Sponsored Positions: Dalhousie university is in partnership with State of Kuwait and the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in allocating limited number of seats for the applicants applying through this stream. Applicants must still meet the same minimum eligibility criteria as IP general stream applicants.

Combined Degree (MD/MSc & MD/PhD)

HELPFUL LINKS

  • Dalhousie university Admissions Site: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/core-units/admissions.html
  • Admissions Statistics: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/core-units/admissions/about/class-profile.html
  • Application process: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/core-units/admissions/application-process.html
  • Pathways: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/core-units/admissions/education-equity.html

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