Offered by Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, BA/BS in International Development Studies is a bachelor's degree in Development Studies programme. The programme runs for 4 years. Tuition for international students is CAD 37,992 per year (CAD 9,030 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Bachelor's Degree
Field:Development Studies
Duration: 4 years
Local tuition: CAD 9,030 / year
International tuition: CAD 37,992 / year
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
International Development Studies is offered as a Bachelor of Arts at Dalhousie's Halifax campus, with September and January entry and Honours, Major, or Minor options. The curriculum examines global challenges such as poverty, inequality, migration, climate change, conflict, human rights, and health through courses including Global Justice and Development, Development Practice, Development and Activism, and Global Health in the 21st Century, along with a Contemporary Issues in Gender and Development course; the Honours option culminates in a thesis. Experiential learning is built into the program through internships, volunteer placements, community-based research projects, and study-abroad opportunities, and students can apply for a paid work-integrated learning semester through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences WIL Pilot Program. Admission requires study of a language such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Italian, or Russian. The program suits students interested in global affairs who are considering careers or further study in international organizations, NGOs, government, policy, education, or journalism.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:70.00 / %
Admission Requirements: Minimum overall average of 70% in five Grade 12 academic courses: Academic English 12 plus four additional academic subjects. Students enter with delayed declaration, choosing the major after completing about 30 credit hours of foundational coursework, and must study an additional language alongside English (options include French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Italian or Russian).
Application Details
Start Date:September and January
Application Deadline:Dalhousie's live Dates and Deadlines page still shows the September 2026 entry cycle as of mid-September 2026, not the 2027 cycle. For that cycle, Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science (Medical Sciences) and Bachelor of Social Work close February 15, 2026; the Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (Architecture) closes March 1, 2026; and the Health Sciences post-diploma option closes June 15, 2026. All other undergraduate programmes are considered on a rolling, space-available basis for both domestic and international applicants, with no separate international closing date published; May 15, 2026 is only the deposit and English-proficiency deadline, not an application deadline. Dalhousie has not yet published September 2027 entry dates. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
