Dalhousie University offers MA/MS in Leisure Studies, a master's degree in Tourism & Leisure programme in Halifax, Canada. The programme runs for 16 months, delivered on campus.
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Tourism & Leisure
Duration: 16 months
Delivery: On Campus
We have no tuition fees on record for this programme yet.
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Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Master of Arts in Leisure Studies is a thesis-based graduate degree delivered in person from Dalhousie's Halifax campus, offered full-time or part-time over a minimum of 16 months, with no coursework-only stream described. Students conduct independent, original research on a question of personal interest under the guidance of a faculty supervisor, with the program's overall focus centred on the relationship between leisure and health. Admission requires meeting the Faculty of Graduate Studies' general requirements along with program-specific standards that emphasize research capability and academic preparation for graduate study; international applicants follow a separate admission pathway. Graduates are positioned for research-oriented careers spanning recreation, sport, fitness, the arts, community organizations, government, health care, and academia, including roles in provincial government, facility management, research, and college or university instruction. The program suits students interested in studying leisure as it relates to health and well-being, particularly those aiming for research careers or further academic work in recreation-related fields, and applicants can direct questions to the program's graduate coordinator.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.50 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: Dalhousie's MA in Leisure Studies, offered through the School of Health and Human Performance, requires a four-year bachelor's degree from a recognized university, with a sufficient academic background in recreation, leisure studies or a related field; a program with a thesis component typically expects an honours degree, though exceptions are made for applicants who can show independent research capacity. The School sets a program-specific minimum admission GPA of 3.5 in the last 60 credit hours, above the Faculty of Graduate Studies' general 3.0 minimum. Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the School's English-language standard: TOEFL iBT 92, IELTS Academic 7, CAEL 70 (no band below 60), or Pearson PTE Academic 65 overall (nothing below 54); the requirement is waived for a degree completed where English is the language of instruction in an English-speaking country.
Application Details
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.
