Dalhousie Medicine Undergraduate: Admissions 2027-2028

Dalhousie UniversityMedicine UndergraduateHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada2027-2028 cycle

Dalhousie's four-year MD program teaches across Halifax, Cape Breton and Saint John. The school currently lists 169 admissions positions, allocated by residency and pathway. Applicants complete Casper; general-pool MCAT eligibility depends on both section scores and a GPA-linked total. International students are not eligible.

Program: Undergraduate Medicine
Credential: MD
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Casper: Required
Interview: Multiple mini interview (MMI)
Seats: 169 positions currently listed for the MD program
Length: Four years

Casper Requirement for Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate

Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate requires Casper for the 2027-2028 cycle.

Languages: English
Applicant ID to enter: 9-digit Dalhousie Application Reference Number from the Section 1 application status portal

Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.

Casper must be completed in the application cycle in which you apply; scores from an earlier cycle cannot be reused. Government-issued photo ID is also needed to register.

Casper format

Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.

Practice with Bright Doctor's Casper Question Bank, featuring 100+ scenarios and 300+ expert responses.

Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate Application Deadlines 2027-2028

Apply through: Dalhousie Medicine online application portal (Section 1 and Section 2)
Application fee: $70 CAD application processing fee

Apply through Dalhousie's two-section portal. Dates and deadlines for the next application cycle have not been published.

Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate Admissions Statistics

Period: Class entering 2025 (Class of 2029)

Seats / class size: 169 positions currently listed for the MD program
Applicants: 1,207
Admitted: 177 students in the entering class
Average GPA: 3.9/4.0
Average test score: MCAT 505
Average age: 25; range 21-38
Class composition: 109 females, 64 males, 1 Two-Spirit student

Applications come from across Canada.

Eligibility Requirements for Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate

Degree / credits: Complete, or be completing before the MD program begins, a 90-120-credit-hour bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. An offer is conditional on completion of an in-progress undergraduate or graduate degree before entry.
Residency: Places are allocated by residency. The 6 Other Canadian places are restricted to applicants in the Indigenous Admissions Pathway and/or Black Learners Admissions Pathway; there is no general out-of-province pool.
Citizenship: Applicants must be Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents at the application deadline. International students are not eligible.

Admission pathways

Indigenous applicants: Special pathway; contact admissions for details.
Equity-deserving groups: Special pathway; contact admissions for details.

Provide transcripts for all postsecondary coursework.

Other requirements

Residency verification: Submit the mandatory residency verification form.
Transcripts: Upload unofficial transcripts for postsecondary study in Section 2; interview invitees must provide official transcripts by the deadline communicated to them. A course-by-course WES assessment may be required for exchange or non-Canadian study.
Activity verifiers: Provide verifiers for supplemental activities; unverified activities may adversely affect the application.

Selection Factors Dalhousie University Considers

Prerequisites

Course	Requirement
Indigenous Admissions Pathway without an MCAT score	conditional Science majors need at least two full-course equivalents in arts, social sciences and/or humanities; arts, social-science or humanities majors need at least two full-course equivalents in science.

GPA

How it is calculated: Use the 60 most recent graded credit hours of an eligible bachelor's degree, or up to 15 graded graduate credit hours plus recent bachelor's credits to total 60. Eligible courses must contribute to the degree; pass/fail courses are excluded. Dalhousie uses the OMSAS conversion table and rounds GPA to the nearest tenth.
Minimum: 3.3/4.0 for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI residents; no minimum in the Indigenous or Black Learners admissions pathways

Focus on consistent performance in upper-year science courses.

Admissions tests

MCAT (required): Required for the general pool; minimum 123 in each section and a total minimum tied to GPA (499 at 3.3 through 492 at 4.0). Optional in the Indigenous Admissions Pathway. Black Learners and Rural pathways require a score but have no eligibility threshold. Scores are valid for five years.

Experience and volunteer hours

Competitive candidates demonstrate leadership and healthcare exposure.

Supplementary application

Section 2 requires short-answer questions and supplemental information, course and grade entry, and unofficial transcripts. Other Canadian applicants submit a 250-word statement explaining their choice of Dalhousie. Pathway-specific documents may apply; the Widening Accessibility Stream personal-context questionnaire is optional.

How applicants are ranked

Interview selection uses an eligible applicant's pre-interview score: 50% GPA, 25% MCAT and 25% Casper; the Other Canadian pool is also assessed on its reasons for choosing Dalhousie. Final application scoring is 15 GPA + 10 MCAT + 30 supplemental/essay + 40 interview + up to 5 discretionary points, subject to pathway criteria.

Interview Format at Dalhousie University

Format: Multiple mini interview (MMI)

The interview is a 10-station multiple mini-interview assessing personal qualities; scientific knowledge is not assessed.

Who is invited: Approximately 300-400 applicants are invited each year, following eligibility and pre-interview assessment.
When: Dates for the next application cycle have not been published.

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Curriculum at Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate

Program length: Four years
Structure: Med 1 and Med 2 are pre-clerkship; Med 3 and Med 4 comprise clerkships at teaching sites across the Maritimes.
Campuses: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Medical Campus, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick

The curriculum includes lectures, labs, tutorials, clinical learning and a longitudinal Research in Medicine program.

Campus and facilities

Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Faculty of Medicine anchors the Health Sciences Campus, with modern simulation labs and the Centre for Excellence in Simulation. Clinical training occurs at the QEII Health Sciences Centre and regional hospitals. Student life is in a coastal city known for its vibrant community and work-life balance.

Tuition and Funding at Dalhousie University

Consult Dalhousie's current MD tuition and fee schedule for the academic year in which you enrol; tuition and fees are subject to change.

What Applicants Are Saying

Matriculated students describe a supportive culture where the extra cost of an additional undergraduate year—often viewed as minor compared to medical school tuition—pays off in stronger preparation. Applicants report positive panel-interview experiences, with the SDN Interview Experience Score reflecting strong impressions of fairness and engagement. Matriculants note robust support for research and community health initiatives.

Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.

How to Prepare Your Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate Application

Check residency and pathway eligibility before applying.
Calculate your GPA using Dalhousie's eligible 60-credit method.
Check the MCAT section and GPA-linked total requirements for your pathway.
Use your nine-digit application reference number when registering for Casper.
Prepare supplemental answers and contact your activity verifiers.
Practise for a multiple mini-interview rather than a panel interview.
Check Dalhousie's deadlines page for next-cycle dates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dalhousie University Medicine Undergraduate

What is the minimum GPA for Dalhousie Medicine Undergraduate?

The general Maritime-resident minimum is 3.3/4.0. There is no minimum GPA for applicants qualifying under the Indigenous or Black Learners admissions pathways.

Is MCAT required for Dalhousie University Medicine?

The MCAT is required in the general pool, with at least 123 per section and a GPA-linked total minimum. It is optional in the Indigenous Admissions Pathway; other pathway rules differ.

What Casper dates work for Dalhousie Medicine?

Dalhousie has not published Casper sittings for the next application cycle. Register using your nine-digit Dalhousie Application Reference Number when dates become available.

Does Dalhousie Medicine require interviews?

Yes. Dalhousie uses a 10-station multiple mini-interview, not a panel interview.

What is the acceptance rate for Dalhousie Medicine Undergraduate?

Dalhousie does not publish an acceptance rate. Its published class statistics report 1,207 applications and 177 students in the entering class; its current admissions page lists 169 positions.

Are supplementary essays required for Dalhousie Medicine?

Yes. Section 2 includes mandatory short answers and supplemental information; Other Canadian applicants also submit a 250-word statement.

How much is tuition at Dalhousie University Medicine?

Consult Dalhousie's MD tuition and fee schedule for the academic year in which you enrol; fees may change.

Can international students apply to Dalhousie Medicine Undergraduate?

No. MD applicants must be Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents at the application deadline.

Sources

Last updated: September 26, 2026