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Dentistry Admissions
School Statistics

Dalhousie University

Admissions Statistics and Requirements for Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry

Background Information

  • Location: Halifax, NS
  • Institution Type: Public
  • Campus Setting: Urban
  • Dental Doctoral Degree: Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
  • Mission Statement: To promote oral health as an integral component of overall health through outstanding experiential and evidence-based learning and patient treatment, grounded in a culture of care for the diverse communities we serve, and driven by innovation, impactful research, and strong interpersonal collaboration.
  • Year Opened: 1908
  • Number of Months to Earn Degree: 48
  • Campus Housing Available: Yes
  • Class Size: 44
  • Term Type: Semester

Combined degrees offered:

B.A./B.S
M.B.A
M.P.H
M.S
Ph.D.
Other Degrees

International Dental Graduate Programs:

Traditional Predoctoral Program for IDGs
Advanced Standing Program for IDGs
Yes
Yes

Admissions Statistics: (2025 Applicant and Entering Class Data)

  • Mean Age of First-Time, First-Year Enrollees: 23

Class Breakdown by Residency:

Number of Enrollees
Percentage of Incoming Class
In-province
20
47.62%
Out of Province
6
14.29%
Indigenous
16
38.10%

Academic Averages for Acceptance:

DAT Academic Average
DAT Natural Sciences
DAT Reading Comprehension
DAT Perceptual
Higher Science GPA
Last 60 credit hours GPA
Not Reported
20
20
20
4.0/4.3
4.0/4.3

Prerequisites

Preferred
Strongly Preferred
Required
Baccalaureate is:

Required Coursework:

Required Course
Course Length
Required Lab
Biology
1 year/ 2 semesters
General Chemistry
1 year/ 2 semesters
Organic Chemistry
1 year/ 2 semesters
Physics
1 year/ 2 semesters
Biochemistry
Half year/ 1 semester
Microbiology
Half year/ 1 semester
Human Physiology
1 year/ 2 semesters
Writing/Composition
1 year/ 2 semesters
Humanities/Social Sciences
2 years/ 4 semesters
  • Recommended courses include: None reported
  • Applicants need to achieve a minimum A- average (3.7 on a 4.3 scale or 80%) in the last 60 credit hours of study AND in their higher sciences courses (biochemistry, microbiology, and human physiology).
  • To be considered for admission, all prerequisites MUST be complete before May 1 of the year of expected entry to the year of expected entry to the Faculty of Dentistry.

Community College Coursework and Advanced Placement Credit:

Prerequisites
Electives
AP Credit Accepted
Yes
Yes
Community College Coursework Accepted
Yes (requires approval)
Yes (requires approval)

Maximum number of Community College Credit Hours:

  •  N/A

Required Shadowing Hours:

  • Not required, but strongly encouraged.

Letters of Recommendation: 

  • Applicants invited for an interview are required to provide two letters of reference. At least one must be from a university instructor who has taught the applicant and the other must be a non-relative with whom the applicant has worked or volunteered. References may also be given by community members who know the applicant. 

Dental Admissions Test Requirements:

Mandatory DAT
U.S. DAT Accepted?
Applicants Evaluated Before Official DAT Submission?
DAT Score Considered
Yes
Yes, but those living in Canada must submit the CDAT
No
Highest score (within the last 3 years)

Supplemental Information:

Mandatory Casper
Participation in ADEA AADSAS
Required Supplemental Application
Supplemental Application Fee
No
Yes
No
Yes, $100 CAD for Dalhousie students, $125 CAD for other Canadian students, $150 CAD for international students.

Interview Format

  • It is a structured, in-person interview where all applicants are asked the same type of questions. It will be conducted by two dentists in March or April and will take about 40 minutes. The interview is designed to assess personal qualities, such as integrity, communication skills, and conscientiousness.

Finances

Financial Estimations for students starting Fall 2025:

Year
Domestic Tuition (CAD)
International Tuition (CAD)
Additional Fees (CAD)
Estimated Living Expenses (CAD)
D1
$30,737.00
$61,521.30
$28,294.49
$14,000.00
D2
$30,737.00
$61,521.30
$24,591.49
$14,000.00
D3
$30,737.00
$61,521.30
$22,523.49
$14,000.00
D4
$30,737.00
$61,521.30
$14,838.49
$14,000.00

University Offerings

1. Academic Offerings 

  • Pre-Dental Opportunitie
    • Undergraduate Research Scholarship Awards (ILA scholarships)
  • Research
    • Diverse research topics including basic sciences, biomaterials, clinical research, community and population health, and professional development
    • The Summer Research Program allows dental students to participate in 8-10 week research projects under faculty mentorship

2. Clinical Experiences

  • Clinical Curriculum Overview
    • D1: Clinical patient treatment begins along with a focus on biological and behavioral sciences as applicable to dentistry. 
    • D2-D4: Basic science courses continue and advance in level along with continued emphasis on clinical patient care.
      • D3-D4 students regularly provide comprehensive patient care
  • Postdoctoral and Residency Programs
    • Postdoctoral and Residency programs:
      • General Practice Residency 
      • Paediatric General Practice Residency
    • Graduate programs:
      • Master of Periodontics 
      • Doctor of Medicine/Master of Science Oral Maxillofacial Surgery program (6 years) 
      • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Internship (1 year)
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