More seats to open in Dalhousie’s doctor of medicine program

The provincial government has announced that millions of dollars will go toward opening more first-year seats in Dalhousie University‘s Doctor of Medicine program.

The province says five seats will open this fall, with another five opening in 2026-27, at a cost to the government of $2.2 million.

“Our government is investing to train more doctors so Nova Scotians can get the care they need,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Advanced Education. “Through investments in our post-secondary partners, we are training the doctors we need today and for tomorrow.”

The additional seats mean there will be 99 first-year seats at Dalhousie’s Halifax campus and 30 at the Cape Breton medical campus.

Those seats include 114 reserved for Nova Scotia students for entry in 2025, with the rest designated for six people from PEI and nine from outside the Maritimes. Nova Scotians would be given priority for any unfilled seats, government says.

“This is great news for Nova Scotians and for physicians,” said Dr. Shelly McNeil, President of Doctors Nova Scotia. “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.”