School of Planning

Faculty of Architecture and Planning

Application Requirements

The following instruction applies to the MPS admission application for 2026-2027 school year (enrolment for Fall term).Ìý

Admission to the thesis-based Master of Planning Studies (MPS) program requires that applicants secure a faculty supervisor within the School of Planning prior to submitting their application. Prospective students are encouraged to review faculty members’ research areas to identify alignment with their own interests and to initiate contact to discuss potential supervision.

Please note that MPS positions are typically contingent upon the availability of faculty research funding.

Once a faculty member has formally agreed to supervise your thesis, you may proceed with the application process outlined below. These instructions apply to admission for the 2026–2027 academic year (Fall term enrolment). Admission may also be available for the Winter and Summer terms, specifically for the MPS program.

Your application package should include the following:

1

  • You will complete the online form and pay the application fee

2

A minimum of two letters of reference

Ìý

You can submit your references as follows (±«Óãtv's online reference system recognizes only university email addresses):

  • If your reference is from an academic institution that ±«Óãtv's online system does not recognize, have the referee submit a free-form letter with original signature by email toÌýplangrad@dal.ca.

  • If your reference is from an academic institution that ±«Óãtv's online system recognizes, use the .Ìý

  • If your reference is from professional experience, the referee should submit a free-form letter with original signature as a PDF by email to plangrad@dal.ca. The referee must use an institutional email address (not Hotmail, gmail, etc.).

3

 One original transcript from eachÌýpost-secondary institution that you have attended (stating degree conferral if that has occurred). If your transcripts are from other institutions (please note, paper transcripts are no longer required):
  • All transcripts should be sent via electronic file transfer OR uploaded directly to theÌý

4

 A research statement of intentÌý
  • Your research statement of intent should be sent via electronic file transfer OR uploaded directly to the

5

A resumé/CV
  • Upload via the

6

A sample of your writingÌý

Ìý
Examples of writing samples could include:
  • A brief report/course assignment paper, or excerpt from a long report/course assignment paper – should be first-authored.

  • Upload via the

7

Proof of English language proficiency as requiredÌý
  • Upload a verifiable ELS test results from an English test centre as a PDF document via the

  • Applicants must request their testing centre to make their results available to ±«Óãtv University so that the Faculty of Graduate Studies can contact the test centre for verification of the results.Ìý
Accepted English tests and minimum accepted scores are the following:
  • Internet-based TOEFL (Academic iBT): 92
  • MELAB: 85
  • IELTS: 7
  • CanTest: 4.5 with no band score lower than 4.0
  • CAEL: 70 with no band score lower than 60
  • ±«Óãtv College of Continuing Education (CCE): A-
  • Pearson English Test PTE Academic: overall score of 65 and nothing below 54

If, for any reason, you cannot send your application materials via email please use the following address to mail all documentation to ±«Óãtv's School of Planning:Ìý

±«Óãtv University School of Planning
O'Brien Hall, RM 603
5217 Morris St
Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2
CANADA

Things to Note

±«Óãtv University adheres to Canadian policies regarding financial obligations for International students. Please outline in your online application your means of funding your studies.

If you are in your fourth year of an undergraduate program, you are permitted to send the transcript with the grades pertaining to last year's Fall term post January 15th.Ìý

If you are an applicant who has been in the workforce for a while, you are permitted to include letters of reference from your workplace. However, at least one of the reference letters should be from the academic institution that you obtained your previous degree.

International students whose previous degree program was conducted in English may have proof of their English proficiency be exempted. Please see thisÌýpageÌýto determine if you are eligible for exemption.