Dalhousie University International Scholarships 2026–2027 in Canada

Scholarship Details

Introduction

Dalhousie University offers a range of scholarships, bursaries and research awards for international graduate students pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in Canada.

The opportunities listed by the university include research scholarships worth up to CAD $42,000 per year, tuition-fee awards, financial-need bursaries and grants for research travel or international study. Some awards are available when students enter a programme, while others are reserved for students already enrolled at Dalhousie.

The university offers more than 90 master’s programmes and 45 PhD programmes. Its Faculty of Graduate Studies administers or lists funding from the university, government bodies and external partners.

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Important: This is a collection of funding opportunities, not one scholarship with a single application deadline. Each award has its own eligibility rules, value and application process. Some awards are restricted to particular nationalities or student groups, and many are available only to students already enrolled at Dalhousie.

Scholarship Details

• Host institution: Dalhousie University
• Study destination: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Study levels: Master’s and doctoral (PhD)
• Eligible applicants: International graduate students, depending on the individual award
• Funding types: Scholarships, bursaries, tuition support and research or travel grants
• Award values: From CAD $500 one-time travel grants to research awards of CAD $42,000 per year
• Funding duration: Depends on the award, ranging from one-time payments to several years
• Application deadlines: Vary by scholarship

Benefits and Available Funding

Dalhousie’s international graduate funding directory lists the following opportunities. The amounts and durations below reflect the university’s published summary; individual award pages should be checked for the full conditions and application instructions.

1. Scholarships and Research Awards

$42,000

per year

Killam Predoctoral Scholarship Level 2 (Doctoral)

Doctoral scholarship open to Canadian and international students, with funding for up to three years. The directory lists it as an entrance or in-program award.

$40,000

per year

Abdul Majid Bader Graduate Scholarship

Supports thesis-based master’s and doctoral students for up to two years. It is open to international students, with Iranian students preferred, and may be available at entry or during a programme.

$35,000

per year

Dalhousie Research Excellence Scholarship

An entrance scholarship for doctoral students, open to Canadian and international applicants, with funding for up to four years.

$21,000

per year

The Vitamin Scholarship

Doctoral funding for Canadian and international students, available as an entrance or in-program award for up to two years.

$20,000

one year

Dalhousie 1-Year Master’s Scholarship / Master’s Research Scholarship

Supports full-time, thesis-based master’s students. The award may be available to Canadian and international students entering or already enrolled in an eligible programme. The university lists CAD $20,000 for one year.

Tuition

fee value

The President’s Awards

Doctoral awards open to Canadian and international students. The published directory lists the value as equivalent to tuition fees for up to two years.

Other scholarships and awards

• A.S. Mowat Prize: CAD $1,500, one-time; for master’s students, including international students. The directory lists February 1 as the deadline.
• Chinese Scholarship Council – PhD Scholarship: Entrance scholarship for international doctoral students, with support for up to four years. Check the award page for the specific funding arrangement and eligibility.
• Dr. Edgar Z. Friedenberg Award: Doctoral in-program award for Canadian and international students, with a minimum value of CAD $750. The directory lists December 13 at 4 p.m.
• Glendon Chase McCormick Scholarship: For master’s and doctoral students; the directory lists at least two awards of CAD $4,000 each, with a December 13 at 4 p.m. deadline.
• Harold A. Robertson Scholarship: CAD $5,000, one-time; in-program funding for master’s or doctoral students, including international students. The directory lists October 31 at 4 p.m.
• Killam International Research Award: CAD $6,000, one-time in-program award for doctoral Killam Scholars.
• Mitacs Globalink Research Award: CAD $6,000, one-time in-program award for eligible master’s or doctoral students, including international students.
• Olivia Lewis and Michael Lonardo Graduate Scholarship: CAD $4,000 for eligible master’s or doctoral students; the directory lists August 14 at 11:59 p.m.
• Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements: CAD $6,000, one-time; specifically for holders of eligible Tri-Agency Canadian Graduate Scholarships.
• Travel Grant: CAD $500, one-time; for eligible thesis-based master’s or doctoral students, including international students.

2. Bursaries and Financial-Need Support

These opportunities may help eligible graduate students manage financial challenges while studying at Dalhousie.

The John and Lena Graham Commonwealth Bursary is specifically for international graduate students who are residents of Commonwealth countries other than Canada and demonstrate financial need. The university’s award page lists four bursaries of CAD $1,000 each.

The Woman Life Freedom Scholarship is intended for eligible Iranian students in their first year of a master’s or PhD programme who identify as a woman and/or another equity-deserving gender identity.

Important deadline note: The directory and individual award pages can display different dates. For example, the John and Lena Graham Commonwealth Bursary page gives November 15, while the directory lists October 31. Always follow the deadline shown on the specific award page and confirm it before applying.

3. Additional Funding Opportunities

Dalhousie also lists the following awards for eligible groups:

• African Nova Scotian Graduate Scholarship: CAD $15,000 per year for up to two years; for eligible Canadian students.
• James Robinson Johnston Graduate Entrance Scholarship for African Canadians: CAD $15,000–$19,000 per year for two to three years; for eligible Canadian applicants.
• Indigenous Graduate Scholarship: CAD $15,000 per year for up to two years; for eligible Canadian students.
• Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship – Master’s: CAD $10,000 per year for up to two years; available to eligible Canadian and international students.
• Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral: CAD $15,000 per year for up to four years; available to eligible Canadian and international students.

These awards appear in Dalhousie’s wider funding directory. Applicants should check the individual award pages to establish the current application route, programme restrictions and any additional eligibility conditions.

Eligibility Requirements

There is no single eligibility rule covering every scholarship in the directory. Requirements depend on the specific award, but applicants should generally establish the following:

• Admission or enrolment: Many awards require admission to or current enrolment in an eligible Dalhousie graduate programme.
• Degree level: Some awards are restricted to thesis-based master’s programmes, while others are for doctoral students or both.
• International status: The award must accept international students. Some opportunities are restricted to particular nationalities or groups.
• Academic merit: Competitive scholarships may consider academic performance, research ability and other achievements.
• Financial need: Bursaries may require evidence of financial need.
• Research eligibility: Research awards may require a thesis-based programme, a supervisor, or participation in a particular scholarship scheme.
• Award-specific requirements: Some awards have restrictions based on citizenship, research area, gender identity, previous funding or current year of study.

For example, the Abdul Majid Bader Graduate Scholarship prefers Iranian students, while the John and Lena Graham Commonwealth Bursary is for eligible Commonwealth residents outside Canada who demonstrate financial need. The Woman Life Freedom Scholarship has its own nationality and identity requirements.

Required Documents

The documents required depend on the award. Applicants should check the relevant award page and programme admission instructions. Depending on the scholarship, they may need:

• Academic transcripts and degree certificates.
• Proof of admission or enrolment at Dalhousie University.
• Research proposal or details of the intended research project.
• Supervisor or departmental nomination, where required.
• Evidence of financial need for bursaries.
• Proof of citizenship or other eligibility status for restricted awards.
• Additional application forms or supporting documents requested by the relevant department or scholarship administrator.

This is a general preparation list, not a claim that every document is required for every award.

How to Apply

• Choose a suitable graduate programme. Explore Dalhousie’s master’s and doctoral programmes and check their admission requirements.
• Open the international funding directory. Visit the official scholarship page below and identify awards matching your degree level, nationality and circumstances.
• Read the individual award page. Confirm the exact value, deadline, eligibility criteria and whether the award is for new applicants or current students.
• Contact your department or potential supervisor. Some research scholarships are administered at faculty level or require departmental nomination. Ask about available funding early.
• Prepare the required documents. Follow the instructions for the particular award rather than assuming every scholarship uses the same form.
• Submit the relevant application. Some awards use an online application, while others are administered through a department, supervisor or university scholarship process.
• Check deadlines carefully. Some awards have fixed dates, and others may have separate processes or deadlines. Allow enough time to complete both programme admission and scholarship requirements.

Dalhousie’s Faculty of Graduate Studies also provides a scholarship liaison contact for students who need help navigating the funding process: fgs.slo@dal.ca.

Application Deadlines

The deadlines below are those displayed in the university’s directory; they are not one common deadline for all awards.

• October 31 at 4 p.m.: BHASHA Bursary, Dr. Paul Anthony & Thelma Johnstone Bursary, Harold A. Robertson Scholarship, John and Lena Graham Commonwealth Bursary (directory listing), Ken Saunders Bursary and Woman Life Freedom Scholarship.
• November 15 at 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Time: John and Lena Graham Commonwealth Bursary, according to its individual award page.
• December 13 at 4 p.m.: Dr. Edgar Z. Friedenberg Award and Glendon Chase McCormick Scholarship.
• February 1: A.S. Mowat Prize.
• August 14 at 11:59 p.m.: Olivia Lewis and Michael Lonardo Graduate Scholarship.

The page does not show a specific deadline for every scholarship. Some awards are managed through departments or separate scholarship processes, so applicants should consult the individual award page for the latest instructions.

Official Application Links

• International scholarships directory: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/gradstudies/finance-your-studies/scholarships-bursaries/international-scholarships.html
• All graduate scholarships and bursaries: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/gradstudies/finance-your-studies/scholarships-bursaries.html
• Master’s scholarships and bursaries: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/gradstudies/finance-your-studies/scholarships-bursaries/masters-scholarships.html
• Funding and financial support: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/gradstudies/finance-your-studies.html
• Scholarship liaison email: fgs.slo@dal.ca

Conclusion

Dalhousie University offers a broad range of graduate funding opportunities for international students in Canada, including research scholarships worth up to CAD $42,000 per year, tuition-fee awards, bursaries and research travel grants.

The most important step is to identify the award that matches your degree level, research interests and eligibility. Some awards are open to international students broadly, while others are restricted to particular nationalities or students already enrolled at Dalhousie.

Start with the official directory and check each award’s individual page before applying, especially because deadlines and eligibility conditions differ across the programme.