MA/MS in Planning is a master's degree in Urban Planning programme taught at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. Tuition for international students is CAD 665 per credit (CAD 396 per credit for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Urban Planning
Local tuition: CAD 396 / credit
International tuition: CAD 665 / credit
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Master of Planning is a graduate program at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Architecture and Planning, recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners. It prepares students to address urban challenges such as population growth, urbanization, and sustainability through a curriculum built on experiential learning. Projects are completed in cooperation with community groups, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners, combining classroom study with real-world planning situations in a collaborative setting. An optional co-op program allows students to gain integrated professional work experience during their studies. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the program suits students seeking careers as community or urban planners, as well as those interested in policy development, land use planning, and sustainable city design. It is intended for graduate-level applicants who have completed prior undergraduate study and want formal, accredited training that leads to professional planning practice. Graduates work across municipal, provincial, and private-sector planning roles, reflecting rising demand for planners equipped to manage growth and urbanization pressures in Canadian and international contexts.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Applicants must submit at least two letters of reference (academic or professional, depending on time since degree completion), a writing sample such as a course report or first-authored work, a statement of intent (maximum two pages), a resume/CV, and transcripts. Non-native English speakers need a TOEFL iBT score of 92, an IELTS score of 7, MELAB 85, CAEL 70 (no band below 60), CanTest 4.5 (no band below 4.0), or PTE Academic 65 overall (nothing below 54). Deadlines: early admission January 15 (decision by January 31), international students March 1 (decision by March 15), domestic students April 15 (decision by April 30). The program begins in the Fall term.
Application Details
Start Date:Fall term
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.
