GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

Current Graduate Students

General Information

Graduate Student Funding

Detailed Admission Requirements

Information for Non-Canadian Students

Application Procedures

Graduate Classes

Faculty of Graduate Studies

General Information

THE DALHOUSIE PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT is among the most active philosophy departments in Canada.  We specialize in the analytic philosophical tradition, and offer opportunity for study in a wide variety of fields in that area, including: Ethics & Metaethics, Bioethics, Epistemology, Feminist Theory, Philosophy of Mind and Language, Logic, Philosophy of Biology. 

OUR GRADUATE PROGRAMMES are small and selective. There are typically six to ten MA students and four to six PhD students here. Graduate students receive individual attention, and courses of study can be developed suited to individual interests. The atmosphere is unusually friendly, stimulating and supportive. There is a great deal of faculty/student contact, not only in classes and weekly colloquia, but also informally.  Our doctoral programme concentrates on developing well-rounded philosophers with specialist depth, who are confident presenters of their work and who are also experienced teachers.  We expect all graduate students to participate in undergraduate instruction through Assistantships and/or Instructorships.

WHERE WE ARE LOCATED Halifax, Nova Scotia is a great place for students. Click here for an excerpt from a newspaper article about this.

THE PhD PROGRAMME is for students with an MA in philosophy.  Requirements may vary according to individual needs, but include several classes, comprehensive exams and a thesis.

All students who are admitted to this programme must show evidence of outstanding ability in philosophy, have applied for external funding (such as a SSHRCC or Killam fellowship), have a record of achievement that makes it reasonably likely that they will receive such funding, and have satisfactorily completed their MA by the time they begin their doctoral programme.

THE MA PROGRAMMES The One-Year MA Programme is for students with the four-year Canadian honours BA in philosophy (or the equivalent). Students take three classes during each of the fall and winter terms, and write a thesis during the summer term following classes. The two-year MA is for students with an honours degree (or the equivalent) in a related field (but with substantial philosophy training). Click HERE for more detailed information about admissions requirements.

Here's a partial list of the universities whose PhD programmes have accepted our Master's students during the past few years

SPECIAL PROGRAMMES:

• A part-time MA over a longer period for fully-qualified MA students
• A two-year MA for students with an honours degree (or the equivalent) in a related field.
• Special Student Status: for those who want to take some graduate courses, but not in a degree programme.

GRADUATE CLASSES offered change from year to year. For a list of classes, and information (if available) about which will be offered, click here.

GRADUATE STUDENT FUNDING:

• Full-time MA students not receiving other funding normally receive a fellowship/teaching assistantship ($18,000 minus tuition in 2009-2010). Approximately 20% of our MA students have won a Killam Fellowship instead ($20,000 minus tuition in 2009-2010). Canadian applicants to the MA programme are strongly encouraged to apply for funding from SSHRCC.
• PhD students are normally funded by the Canadian SSHRCC Fellowship, or by the Dalhousie Killam Fellowship ($25,000 minus tuition in 2009-2010). All Canadian applicants to the PhD programme are expected to have applied for funding from SSHRCC.

MORE ABOUT US:

• Click here for a list of recent MA and PhD thesis topics.
• Click here for list of faculty and information about them.
• Click here for a listing of talks given at our famous Friday afternoon colloquium series.
• Click here for information on the distinguished Austin and Hempel Lecture Series.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES: click here

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED to have all application documents in by January 15, for consideration for admission with financial support for the following September. THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE for receipt is January 31.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact Dr. Michael Hymers, the Graduate Coordinator in the Department:

• Snailmail: Department of Philosophy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia          B3H 4P9.
• E-mail michael.hymers@dal.ca
• FAX: (902) 494-3518
• Voice telephone: (902) 494-3338

CLICK HERE to go to the web page of the Dalhousie Faculty of Graduate Studies, to download application forms, see general regulations for graduate students, etc.

Talk to a current graduate student for inside information about what it's like being a grad student here.  Send an email: michael.hymers@dal.ca ; tell us what general or particular information you'd like to know, and we'll get you in touch.