What Students Say
Likes
- First thing I liked about my university was that it has a great co-op program and carreer opportunities.
- Second thing is that it has practical and project-based learning.
- Third thing I liked was diverse specializations & certificates.
Dislikes
- First thing I disliked is that Dalhouie has large class sizes which leads to less professor interaction to per student.
- Second thing is that sometimes I feel that the sometimes the grading is more dependent on the test and labs which includes attendance.
- Third, because the rooms are large so sometimes students face hard to time to read from the board, although some classrooms has screens for it.
Course Curriculum
10
- The academic pattern of my course at Dalhousie University is quite well rounded.
- The level of difficulty in the curriculum can be said to range from moderate to challenging. The curriculum includes aspects of both theoretical and practical knowledge. The foundational subjects include a more theoretical form of education.
- This enables the students to gain a solid grasp of concepts in fields like algorithms and computing. As the course progresses, the emphasis shifts towards the more practical aspects of programming in the form of assignments and projects.
- One of the most positive aspects of this course is its relevance to the current industry. Many courses provide hands-on programming assignments, group activities, and assignments that simulate a real world setting. This is highly helpful in bridging the divide that exists between course academics and industry academics.
- Another positive element is the availability of academic facilities, which include labs, libraries, and internet-based education tools to support academics.
- On the negative side, I would point out that sometimes the workload gets extremely heavy during midterms and final examination times, particularly when project deadlines overlap each other.
- Time management here is extremely crucial. Classes are usually scheduled between two to four classes on a daily basis, depending on the semester.
- Classes are usually distributed throughout the day, between 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, giving students time for self studies, part time employment, or involvement in other activities.
- The average size of each class differs depending on its type. Foundational courses contain greater numbers of students.Elective classes comprise smaller numbers of students.
- The average size for any given class is between 50 to 80 students.
- The batch is quite diverse. All of the students enrolled here come from different nationalities and disciplines. There are also Indian nationals enrolled in my class. They form part of the international populating community. However, there is cultural diversity among the batch.
- On the whole, the academic atmosphere at Dalhousie University promotes independent thinking and learning.
Admission Experience
- I chose Dalhousie University because it had better co-op program than the other universities.
- The admission process was not that much hard, after accepting the offer, I was asked to submitt few documents and signing the offer letter, and after accepting the offer letter I was asked to submit a token of 200 dollars to confirm my seat. And then I got the access to university's student portal.
- The eligibily criteria for my university is IELTS with minimum of 6.5 bands in it, and minimum of 70 percent of grades in higher school. My admission process was pretty much simple, they were very helpful and informative during the admission process, there were no challenges I faced.
- I have applied for Dalhousie University for the Winter session. One of the reasons I chose the Winter session is the timing of completing my previous education. My higher secondary education was finished during the summer session, and after completing the education, I started exploring the universities and organizing the documents required for the session.
- As the sessions of Summer and Fall were over, the Winter session was the most suitable option for me.
- Another crucial reason why I chose to go to the Winter intake is that I had time to fulfill certain important requirements, which include the collection of academic documents, preparation of the results of English language proficiency tests, and preparation of financial paperwork.
- Since I knew that I had time to apply to the University during the Winter intake, I managed to apply with all the necessary documents to facilitate smooth initiation into higher education. The processes involved in getting admission at Dalhousie University went relatively smoothly and were not too lengthy.
- After I had applied to the university using its official application webpage, my application went through evaluation by the admissions committee.
- This is the point where the university checked whether I met all the requirements for undertaking the program. I did not have to go through any interview processes since the evaluation of my admission was merely done on documentation.
- After my application got approved, I obtained an offer letter from Dalhousie University. After going through the details of the offer letter carefully and meeting all the required conditions, I accepted the letter.
- Since I accepted the offer letter, it took me a month to fulfill all the remaining procedures to be an official student of Dalhousie University. This includes processes like verification of payment of fees, student information, and verification of student enrollment at Dalhousie University. In total, the process from application entry to becoming an official student was very efficient and well organized.
- The Winter intake has proven to be a well timed and strategic decision for me, resulting in a smooth transition from finishing my previous education to commencing studies at Dalhousie University without an extended break.
Faculty
10
- The teaching staff within my class at Dalhousie University are qualified, informed, and accommodating. The ratio of teaching staff to students within the class is well managed, particularly within tutorial classes, laboratory classes, and high levels of advancement.
- While the number of students within some of the educational classes may be high, the manageable groups enable greater interaction between students and academic staff. The ratio of students to staff within my class at Dalhousie University affects the quality of education positively.
- The teaching method adopted by lecturers comprises a combination of lectures, presentations, practical sessions, assignments, and projects. This has been effective enough that lecturers incorporate practical examples of theoretical concepts taught in class.
- This has made teaching more interesting. The study programs are always well-organized, and extra study material has also been made available through online portals. The teaching method and study programs are also effective enough to provide training for a job, which comprises both technical skills in addition to problem-solving skills that are required in a job.
- Faculty members, as well as academic advisors, can also offer information regarding part time and full time job opportunities, although this could be offered through various means of career advice, recommendation, research, or steering the students towards the respective career facilities offered by the university, although not direct hiring.
- Professors can be easily approached for guidance by students who seek their assistance or show interest in career development.
- There are several faculty members whom I look up to, especially the ones who are passionate about teaching and make it a point to go beyond teaching to ensure that the students understand the subject matter. It is their willingness to go beyond teaching to serve the students by either holding office hours or guiding them with their assignments that sets them apart from others.
- In conclusion, it can be safely said that the faculty of Dalhousie University has an important role to play in ensuring that students achievequality education.
Campus Life
10
- My experience at Dalhousie University has been very interesting and rewarding, both in terms of academic and social environments.
- On the whole, it can be said that Dalhousie University has different campuses, most of which are situated in the vicinity of Halifax in the province of Nova Scotia. These campuses in Halifax comprise the Studley Campus, Carleton Campus, Sexton Campus, and the Agricultural Campus in Truro.
- The university offers excellent facilities on the campus that can help in the development of the academic and personal lives of the students.
- There are excellent library facilities with modern resources in the form of physical and digital materials.
- There are sports facilities in the form of gymnasiums or recreation centers or sports grounds. There are health facilities in the form of health advice and counseling.
- There are also several events, festivals, and student-run activities held on the Dalhousie Campus. These include orientation events, cultural festivals, academic conferences, and student fairs.
- There are also several student-run organizations, such as cultural, technology-based, athletic, and volunteer-oriented, to name a few.
- These activity groups allow students to network, develop their leadership, and explore areas of personal interest beyond academics. Extracurricular activities form an important aspect of life at Dalhousie University.
- Students can take part in sports activities, culture-related events, musical activities, debate forums, and student politics. It is a unique aspect of student activities where many opportunities are available for collaboration and creativity among students.
- Overall, Dalhousie University provides a balanced experience for its students, encompassing quality academic facilities combined with diverse extra-curricular activities for the overall development of the students.
Part Time Jobs
- At Dalhousie University, there are many opportunities for students to get part-time jobs. However, not many students get to enjoy these opportunities. As is usually the case, these types of jobs have limited positions.To get any of these positions, students must have excellent performance in academics or have developed good relations with professors.The positions include that of Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), or Departmental Assistant (DA), ranked among the best opportunities for students to get part-time jobs.The average salary for TA, RA, and DA is in the vicinity of 17 Canadian dollars per year.However, there may be a slight difference depending on the department.
- This job also helps in getting academic as well as professional experience. Other than TA and RA work, there are many other part-time work opportunities that students can avail of on-campus.Some of the most prominent ones include the following: Library Assistant, IT Support, Desk Support, Lecture Recording Captioners, Student Services Assistants, and Event Staff. The pay rate for such jobs is on an average of 16 to 18 Canadian dollars an hour.
- According to Canadian regulations, an overseas student can work no more than 20 hours in a week during the academic year.However, during the break periods, overseas students can work full time.
- Getting an on-campus employment opportunity is not extremely easy nor difficult. In most cases, applicants must apply via the university’s employment website, upload their resumes, and go through an interview process. In general, while jobs on campus are competitive, motivated students who constantly look for jobs, have well-prepared applications, and are proactive have an equal chance of being employed.
- Indian students at Dalhousie University vary in their preferences for part-time work. No particular workplace can be assumed to bring together all the Indian students, given individual schedules, comfort levels, and other skills.Some students prefer on-campus jobs because they are more flexible with class schedules and reduce commuting time.Others choose off-campus jobs for better availability and sometimes longer working hours. Off-campus, many Indian students are employed in retail stores, grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, fast-food outlets, warehouses, and customer service roles.
- These job opportunities are easily found, and most of them do not require any Canadian work experience. On average, a student earns anywhere from 16 to 18 Canadian dollars per hour, depending on the nature of the job and who their employer is.
- Currently, finding a part-time job is slightly more challenging compared to the previous years due to high competition and scarcity of available positions. With persistence, patience, and networking, students are able to seize opportunities.Strong working ethic, flexibility of working hours, and being able to accept an entry-level position contribute significantly to success.
- The general process for applying to part-time jobs involves searching for job postings on online job portals, company websites, or university career pages. Students make and submit resumes, sometimes along with cover letters.Referrals from friends, seniors, or community members are also quite useful. If shortlisted, students are invited for interviews, which may be in-person or online. Once selected, they complete the documentation and begin work.
Placement
10
- After completion of the Computer Science course at Dalhousie University, students can pursue full-time job opportunities; however, their results are mostly dependent on their performance.
- With general observation, around 70-80% of students are able to get a job within a period of six months after graduation. The average salary range for new graduates generally varies based on the position, location, and company.
- For students seeking entry-level positions as a Software Developer, Junior Programmer, Data Analyst, IT Support Specialist, or QA Analyst, they can expect a competitive salary range in the Canadian job market.
- Students are hired by employers through a number of ways, such as internships, coop programs, networking, referrals, employment Web sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, to name a few, or employment services offered by educational institutions.
- Though it should be noted that students at Dalhousie University don’t have career placements guaranteed to them, they have excellent career services. The experience of placements for batchmates is not uniform.
- Some get placed at small or mid-sized companies, startups, or local tech firms, while others get to larger companies based on their expertise and experience. There is no single prominent firm that is dominating placements, but a whole array of companies belonging to various categories.
- With regards to how a person becomes successful after graduation, being employed is not dependent much on a certain corporation or a certain placement system but rather a lot on other things.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I chose to live off-campus during my period at Dalhousie University. I preferred to live off-campus mostly because I value the flexibility, autonomy, and cost effectiveness that comes with it compared to residency in the dormitories offered by the campus.
- Living off-campus also presented me with the chance to be familiar with the city as well as take control of my daily life.
- I managed to find my accommodations through my contacts. Before arriving in Halifax, I had contacts that I had identified and who were actual residents of Halifax and were aware of their housing situation. I had asked for their assistance in finding a good and safe place where I could stay. With their help and contacts, I managed to get my accommodations without having to use real estate firms or online websites that I do not know. This was made easier through my contacts that I had in Halifax and which prevented scams that sometimes target international students.
- The monthly rent charges for my housing are affordable and fit into my budget. The rent covers basic facilities such as provision of a furnished room, access to a common kitchen, toilet, and common areas. The electricity costs, heating, and internet services are either covered by rent or paid for on a shared basis with very minimal charges.
- The housing is ideal for student life as it is safe and favorably conducive.
- One of the difficulties I faced in searching for my accommodation is the limited options, mainly during peak periods where many students are looking for accommodation at the same time. Secondly, it was necessary for me to ensure the accommodation was situated near the campus and public transport. Thirdly, for an international student, it might be difficult to judge the standard of accommodation without viewing it yourself, hence why it was beneficial for me to have some local connections.
- Recommending from my past experience, I would say that it is always advisable for students to begin looking for housing options well in time, especially from reliable sources.
- Networking with seniors, alumni, or those already residing in the city can prove valuable. It is always essential to verify the terms of rental, facilities provided, and accessibility to the campus before entering into any agreement.
- My residence is situated at a convenient distance from Dalhousie University so that traveling daily is easy. It is a general preference of most Indian students to stay in neighboring residential areas or on prominent routes of public transport so that traveling costs and time are minimized.
Exams
- Dalhousie University follows a structured and transparent admission process based on the academic qualifications and necessary supporting documents of the candidate.
- Among the most basic requirements, proof of proficiency in English is required, for this IELTS is required.
- I have been asked to take the IELTS test. Dalhousie University recognizes IELTS as official proof of proficiency in English, and attaining the minimum required score is compulsory to prove that one can study in an English speaking academic setting.
- The IELTS test result represents an important point in the admission decision since it confirms that the student will be able to understand lectures, be actively involved in class discussions, and undertake the academic workload. Apart from the English language test, certain documents had to be submitted for admission.
- One of the most important documents was the Letter of Interest, popularly known as the Statement of Purpose. The letter explained my academic background, career goals, and interest in the Computer Science program and reasons why I decided on Dalhousie University. This document will help the selection committee understand the motivation behind applying and how the program will relate to the future plans of the student.
- Other important documents included my IELTS certificate, academic transcripts from previous education, and identity documents in the form of a passport. There were also financial documents that needed to be provided as evidence that I could support myself through my time in school. These would consist of banking related documents to show the adequacy of funds that would enable me to pay tuition fees and sustenance.
- Combined, these served to not only further validate my academic background but to provide evidence of financial stability, too. I did not have to appear for an interview for admission.
- My application was reviewed solely based on the documents submitted, academic records, and English language proficiency test results. The lack of an interview made the process rather simple and completely based on documentation.
- The final admission decision was provided via email after careful consideration. Overall, the admission process to Dalhousie University was systematic and fair, directed at academic readiness, language proficiency, and proper documentation to ensure students are well prepared to study.
Fees
- The cost structure of my academic program is based on a semester by semester basis. Currently, I am in Computer Science program at Dalhousie University, it is a four year Bachelors degree and it has total of eight semesters. So, the tuition fee for each semester is around 15,000 Canadian dollars.
- These charges include the total academic fee for the semester, incuding all the required charges related to the program. The fee includes tuition, usage of the university facilities, as well as all the required charges by the institution. However, there are no additional charges related to residence because it is not included, so I have rented by myself whose rent is around 350 dollars.
- In eight semisters for the total duration of this program, the total tuition fee is about 120,000 Canadian dollars.The semester-based tuition fee plan helps students manage their tuition fees more effectively, as they are required to pay at the start of each semester.
- The tuition fee plan is not based on the credit concept for payment but is constant for every semester, whatever might be the number of courses enrolled for every semester as long as it is full time.
- Apart from the tuition, I also have to pay other expenses every month. These includes rent payments, transportation costs, and other personal expenses. On average, my total expenses every month are approximately 250 Canadian dollars plus the housing rent which is 350 dollars.
- This calculation takes into consideration a very frugal lifestyle. I keep my rent expenses low owing to joint living. Moreover, I use either transportation or walk which keeps my transport costs very low.
- My other expenses would include food, mobile phone bills, and personal expenses. So, my financial plan remains semesters based for tuition fees and monthly expenses. As I maintain a modest lifestyle and budget accordingly, I have been managing to manage my expenses for education with my other expenses while pursuing my objectives at Dalhousie University.
Scholarship
- I did not receive any scholarship for my course.
- I do not think that there is any scholarship available. But yes if you maintain good academic record for two semesters straight then you receive a deduction of 500 dollars from the fees of 2 semesters, it is the Student Academic Award.
- Many students receive this scholarship who keep their academic record good.
