Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine is the medical school for the Maritimes, with 169 seats split between Nova Scotia (Halifax and Cape Breton), New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island[1]. It no longer has general out-of-province seats, its deadline (July 31) is the earliest in Canada, and its MCAT minimum slides with your GPA[1][4]. In 2024, 30.0% of Maritime applicants got an offer[1].
Dalhousie medical school requirements at a glance
| Program | 4-year MD in English: 87 Nova Scotia seats in Halifax, 30 at the Cape Breton campus (Sydney), 40 New Brunswick seats in Saint John, 6 PEI seats and 6 for other Canadians in the Indigenous or Black Learners pathways.[1] |
|---|---|
| Degree | A 90–120 credit-hour bachelor’s degree in any field, completed or in progress.[1] |
| Minimum GPA | 3.3 out of 4.0.[1] |
| MCAT | Required. The minimum total depends on your GPA (492 with a 4.0, rising as GPA falls), and every section needs at least 123.[4] |
| Casper | Required; used only to choose interviewees, with a minimum score.[1] |
| Interview | Virtual MMI; about 300–400 invited each year.[1] |
| Deadlines | Section 1: July 31, 2026. Section 2: September 3, 2026. Fee $70.[1] |
| Offers | March–April 2027 by email and the student portal; $500 deposit.[1] |
| First-year tuition | $26,783.[1] |
How Dalhousie chooses who to interview
Because interview space is limited, Dalhousie ranks eligible applicants with a pre-interview score[1]:
Final selection is based on your overall file score and Admissions Committee approval[1]. Applicants in the Other Canadian pool are also judged on their compelling reasons for choosing Dalhousie[1].
The MCAT sliding scale
| Casper required | MCAT required | How the MCAT is used |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Sliding scale with GPA (from 492); 25% of the interview score |
| C/P | CARS | B/B | P/S | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum to apply | 123 | 123 | 123 | 123 |
C/P = Chemical and Physical Foundations, CARS = Critical Analysis and Reasoning, B/B = Biological and Biochemical Foundations, P/S = Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations. Each section is scored 118–132.
Dalhousie does not have one MCAT cutoff. The minimum total depends on your GPA: with a 4.0 you need 492, and the requirement rises as your GPA falls (for example, 494 at 3.8)[4]. Every section also needs at least 123, and any lower section score makes you ineligible regardless of your total[4]. The MCAT is optional in the Indigenous Admissions Pathway, which has prerequisite courses instead[4]. The Class of 2029 averaged 505[2].
Dalhousie: average MCAT of admitted students
Total MCAT score (472–528).
No published figure for missing years (2024).
Preparing for the MCAT? The Princeton Review is one long-standing prep option, and our guide to MCAT sections explains what each score means.
GPA
| Minimum to apply (in-province) | Average admitted |
|---|---|
| 3.3 | 3.9 (Class of 2029) |
The minimum GPA is 3.3[1]. The Class of 2029 (started 2025) averaged 3.9, the same as the Class of 2027[2][2]. GPA is half of the interview score, so it matters a great deal here.
Dalhousie: average GPA of admitted students
On a 4.0 scale.
| Entering year | Dalhousie average GPA | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.90 | [2] |
| 2025 | 3.90 | [2] |
No published figure for missing years (2024).
Seats by province
| Group | Seats (2027) |
|---|---|
| Nova Scotia, Halifax campus | 87 |
| Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Medical Campus | 30 |
| New Brunswick, Saint John campus | 40 |
| Prince Edward Island (Halifax) | 6 |
| Other Canadians, Indigenous or Black Learners pathways | 6 |
There are no longer general out-of-province positions[1]. The Class of 2029 included 9 non-Maritime students[2].
The Dalhousie MMI
| Interview format | Applicants interviewed | Entering class size |
|---|---|---|
| MMI (virtual) | About 300–400 | 169 |
Dalhousie uses a virtual MMI, with about 300–400 applicants invited each year[1]. Casper results are used only to decide who is interviewed[1].
The MMI is a 10-station circuit that tests communication, critical thinking and problem solving. Interview invitations go out in early to mid November[5]. Your personal statements and supplemental answers are part of the non-academic requirements, alongside Casper and the MMI[6].
Key dates for 2027 entry
- June 15, 2026Application opens[1]
- July 31, 2026Section 1 deadline[1]
- September 3, 2026Section 2 deadline[1]
- Fall–winter 2026–27Virtual MMI
- March–April 2027Offers[1]
For 2028 entry, expect the application to open in mid-June 2027 with Section 1 due at the end of July 2027.
Tuition
First-year tuition is $26,783, one of the highest in Canada[1].
Dalhousie admission statistics and trends
Dalhousie received 1,782 applications for the Class of 2027 and 1,207 for the Class of 2029, as general out-of-province seats were phased out (645 of the 2029 applicants were still non-Maritime)[2][2]. Maritime applicants’ chance of an offer rose to 30.0% in 2024[1].
Dalhousie: share of applicants who got an offer
Success rate by where applicants live. Source: AFMC applicant statistics.
Dalhousie: applicants, offers and first-year students (AFMC)
Offers include declined and deferred offers. Source: AFMC applicant statistics.
Dalhousie: applications received, 2005–2025
Applications reported to AFMC by entering year.
| Entering year | Applications (AFMC) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 562 | [3] |
| 2006 | 667 | [3] |
| 2007 | 777 | [3] |
| 2008 | 692 | [3] |
| 2009 | 795 | [3] |
| 2010 | 877 | [3] |
| 2011 | 748 | [3] |
| 2012 | 909 | [3] |
| 2013 | 942 | [3] |
| 2014 | 1,016 | [3] |
| 2015 | 1,181 | [3] |
| 2016 | 1,167 | [3] |
| 2017 | 1,069 | [3] |
| 2018 | 961 | [3] |
| 2019 | 1,085 | [3] |
| 2020 | 1,365 | [3] |
| 2021 | 1,763 | [3] |
| 2022 | 2,082 | [3] |
| 2023 | 1,745 | [3] |
| 2024 | 1,813 | [3] |
| 2025 | 1,766 | [3] |
AFMC counts may differ slightly from the school’s own counts.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA do you need for Dalhousie medicine?
At least 3.3; the Class of 2029 averaged 3.9.[2]
What MCAT do you need for Dalhousie?
It depends on your GPA: 492 total with a 4.0 GPA, higher if your GPA is lower, and at least 123 in every section.[4]
Can out-of-province students apply to Dalhousie medicine?
Only through the Indigenous or Black Learners pathways (6 seats); there are no general out-of-province seats.[1]
When is the Dalhousie medicine deadline?
Section 1 was due July 31, 2026 and Section 2 on September 3, 2026, for 2027 entry.[1]
Does Dalhousie require Casper?
Yes; it is used to select interviewees.[1]
Sources
- AFMC: Admission Requirements of Canadian Faculties of Medicine (PDF)
- Dalhousie Medicine: admission statistics
- AFMC: Canadian Medical Education Statistics
- Dalhousie Medicine: MCAT requirement
- Dalhousie Medicine: interview
- Dalhousie Medicine: admission requirements
Figures were checked against these sources on November 4, 2026. Schools change their rules every cycle, so confirm on the official site before you apply.