10 first-year seats to be added to Dalhousie University’s medical program

A doctor is seen in this file photo. (Pexels)

There will soon be more seats available for students in Nova Scotia studying to become doctors.

Five more first-year seats will be reserved this fall for students in the doctor of medicine program at Halifax’s Dalhousie University.

There will be total of 99 first-year seats in the Dalhousie medical program with the addition of the new seats.

Meanwhile, there will be 30 first-year seats at the Cape Breton medical campus in Sydney, which will begin welcoming students this fall.

Five additional first-year seats will be added at Dalhousie in 2026-27.

The province says it is spending more than $2.2 million for the 10 additional seats.

“Dalhousie Medical School proudly trains skilled physicians who deliver high-quality, sustainable health care in Nova Scotia. I am very pleased government is making this significant investment in undergraduate medical education and continuing to create more pathways for Nova Scotians choosing medicine as a career,” said Dr. David Anderson, Dalhousie’s dean of Medicine, in a provincial news release.

The new president of Doctors Nova Scotia adds the investment is great news for both Nova Scotians and physicians.

“We look forward to welcoming and mentoring these new medical students into the system and increasing access to family medicine and specialist care for Nova Scotians,” said Dr. Shelly McNeil.

The province says of all the medical seats for entry this year, 114 are reserved for Nova Scotia students, six for Prince Edward Island residents and nine are for people from outside the Maritimes. If any of the designated seats are empty, priority will be given to Nova Scotians.

Admissions for Nova Scotian residents in undergraduate health programs will be prioritized starting next year.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page