- 21 Nov, 2024: Latest THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings from THE Times Higher Education, UK. Dalhousie University in position #129.
- 11 Nov, 2024: Latest GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking (Business Administration) from ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. 19 universities from Halifax appear in this ranking.
- 10 Oct, 2024: MacLeans University Rankings: Medical Doctoral (Medicine and Related Studies) updated with Dalhousie University in position 7.
- 10 Oct, 2024: Rogers Digital Media published most recent results of MacLeans University Rankings: Primarily Undergraduate. Includes 2 universities from Halifax.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a smallish, laid back city known as much for its heat waves as for its snowstorms. Besides unpredictable weather, Halifax offers many of the conveniences and comforts of a larger city without all the stress of large crowds and congestion that normally accompany them.
The locals like to spend their free time in the city’s numerous museums, cinemas, or Chocolate Lake beach which is just a five minute drive from the Downtown core.
With affordable housing, a good cost of living compared to other Canadian cities, and reasonably good possibilities of picking up a part-time job to help students with their expenses, as well as a number of reputable universities to choose from, Halifax could be an excellent candidate for the prospective student who will be fending for themselves for the first time.
Rankings of universities in Halifax, Canada 2025

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THE World University Rankings
[Published 09 October, 2024] |
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QS World University Rankings
[Published 04 June, 2024] |
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Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024] |
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Show 19 more rankings of Dalhousie University and subject specific rankings for 9 subjects |

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Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024] |
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Nature Index: Research Leaders Academic Sector
[Published 15 June, 2024] |
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CWUR Center for World University Rankings
[Published 13 May, 2024] |
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Show 6 more rankings of Saint Mary's University and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects |

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Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024] |
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Nature Index: Research Leaders Academic Sector
[Published 15 June, 2024] |
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MacLeans University Rankings: Primarily Undergraduate
[Published 10 October, 2024] |
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Show 1 more rankings of Mount Saint Vincent University |

NSCAD University, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 12 July, 2024] |

University of King's College

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Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 12 July, 2024] |

Calderdale College

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Highest subject rankings of universities in Halifax
Student Opinions About Studying in Halifax
”Even though I’m not a fan of the public transport here at all, getting around is quite comfortable since you can usually just walk to your destinations, which has the unexpected benefit of keeping you in shape, and you see more of the city.”
“As a student at Dalhousie, I was able to find off campus housing in the Downtown area with a couple of friends. I would definitely advise others to look at a few different places before you decide, because you can really find a good deal if you’re patient.”
“It can be hard to make friends with the Halifax locals as someone not from the city, because they will always see you as an outsider, but they are almost always friendly and willing to talk with you, at least.”
Halifax Key Facts for International Students
PROS
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The average price for a comfortable 3-bedroom apartment located right in the heart of the downtown area is around C$2,200. This is considerably more affordable than living in the downtown area of other, bigger Canadian cities.
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The city has a small and accessible distribution, so many people simply walk or cycle to get around, taking advantage of the city's extensive bike lanes.
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Domestic and international students report being able to find part-time jobs in the retail sector, bookstores, or even on their university campus itself.
CONS
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Halifax has some of the highest tax rates in the country. Although this is compensated by lower living costs, many express that even so they feel the impact on their salaries.
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The public transport system is slow and unreliable, but the city does participate in the U-Pass transit discount program.
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Many describe Halifax locals as polite, but also that it can be tricky to make friends here. Newcomers are recommended to jump into lots of social opportunities at the beginning to make sure you are getting to know people.
5 out of 6 Universities in Halifax Ranked in at least one ranking
24 Different Rankings list Universities in Halifax (18 institution and 6 subject rankings)
10 Global Rankings rank Universities in Halifax Among TOP 200
Population: 440000
Time: GMT -4
District/province: Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality
* 100 = prices in London
- Living costs without accommodation 93* (7% cheaper than London)
- All costs including accommodation 68* (32% cheaper than London)
- Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 92* (8% cheaper than London)
- Average Big Mac price 7.70 C$
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- Residential voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
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- Residential voltage: 120 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz
Map with location of universities in Halifax



Student Life in Halifax.
Useful related pages
FAQ
Ranking publishers
4icu
- Universities:
- 600
- Published:
- 07 February, 2024
British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK
- Universities:
- 14087
- Published:
- 04 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:
Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%
- Universities:
- 1001
- Published:
- 23 September, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:
Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%
- Universities:
- 2097
- Published:
- 05 December, 2023
CWUR Center for World University Rankings
- Universities:
- 8000
- Published:
- 13 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:
Research Performance: 40%
- Research Output: 10%
- High-Quality Publications: 10%
- Influence: 10%
- Citations: 10%
Quality of Education: 25%
Alumni Employment: 25%
Quality of Faculty: 10%
Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands
- Universities:
- 6635
- Published:
- 03 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:
Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity
NTU ranking
- Universities:
- 4217
- Published:
- 01 September, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:
Research Productivity: 25%
- # Articles last 11 years: 10%
- # Articles current year: 15%
Research Impact: 35%
- # Citations last 11 years: 15%
- # Citations last 2 years: 10%
- Average # citations last 11 years: 10%
Research Excellence: 40%
- H-index last 2 years: 10%
- # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
- # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%
Nature Index
- Universities:
- 14636
- Published:
- 15 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index: Research Leaders Academic Sector:
Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)
RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)
- Universities:
- 5104
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:
Teaching: 40%
- Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- World Teaching Reputation: 8%
Research: 40%
- Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
- Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
- Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- World Research Reputation: 8%
International Diversity: 10%
- International Faculty: 2%
- International Students: 2%
- International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
- Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
- International Level: 2%
Financial Sustainability: 10%
- Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
- Institutional Income per Student: 2%
- Papers per Research Income: 2%
- Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
- Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%
- Universities:
- 3212
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:
Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%
- Universities:
- 4083
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:
Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%
RUY
- Universities:
- 200
- Published:
- 07 December, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Research Infosource: Canada's Top 50 Research Universities:
Total Sponsored Research Income 20% Research Intensity per Faculty 20% Total Number of Publications 20% Publication Intensity 20% Publication Impact 10% Research Intensity per Graduate Student 10%
- Universities:
- 48
- Published:
- 07 December, 2023
Rogers Digital Media
- Universities:
- 97
- Published:
- 10 October, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -MacLeans University Rankings: Primarily Undergraduate:
Students 28% Faculty 24% Resources 20% Reputation 15% Student support 13%
Scimago Institutions
- Universities:
- 21682
- Published:
- 06 March, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:
Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy
- Universities:
- 14016
- Published:
- 15 August, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:
Quality of Education 10%
- Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%
Quality of Faculty 40%
- Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
- Highly Cited Researchers 20%
Research Output 40%
- Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
- Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%
Per Capita Performance 10%
StuDocu
- Universities:
- 757
- Published:
- 30 January, 2023
THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 16324
- Published:
- 09 October, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:
30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)
- Reputation survey: 15%
- Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
- Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
- Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
- Institutional income: 2.25%
30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)
- Reputation survey: 18%
- Research income: 6%
- Research productivity: 6%
30% Citations (Research Influence)
7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)
- Proportion of international students: 2.5%
- Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
- International collaboration: 2.5%
2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"
- Universities:
- 4744
- Published:
- 27 March, 2024
- Universities:
- 6078
- Published:
- 12 June, 2024
- Universities:
- 749
- Published:
- 21 November, 2024
Urap
- Universities:
- 12002
- Published:
- 19 December, 2023
Us News
- Universities:
- 7278
- Published:
- 24 June, 2024
Webometrics
- Universities:
- 72001
- Published:
- 12 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:
Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%
Ranking publishers
4icu
- Universities:
- 600
- Published:
- 07 February, 2024
British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK
- Universities:
- 14087
- Published:
- 04 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:
Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%
- Universities:
- 1001
- Published:
- 23 September, 2021
- Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:
Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%
- Universities:
- 2097
- Published:
- 05 December, 2023
CWUR Center for World University Rankings
- Universities:
- 8000
- Published:
- 13 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:
Research Performance: 40%
- Research Output: 10%
- High-Quality Publications: 10%
- Influence: 10%
- Citations: 10%
Quality of Education: 25%
Alumni Employment: 25%
Quality of Faculty: 10%
Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands
- Universities:
- 6635
- Published:
- 03 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:
Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity
NTU ranking
- Universities:
- 4217
- Published:
- 01 September, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:
Research Productivity: 25%
- # Articles last 11 years: 10%
- # Articles current year: 15%
Research Impact: 35%
- # Citations last 11 years: 15%
- # Citations last 2 years: 10%
- Average # citations last 11 years: 10%
Research Excellence: 40%
- H-index last 2 years: 10%
- # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
- # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%
Nature Index
- Universities:
- 14636
- Published:
- 15 June, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index: Research Leaders Academic Sector:
Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)
RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)
- Universities:
- 5104
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:
Teaching: 40%
- Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
- Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
- World Teaching Reputation: 8%
Research: 40%
- Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
- Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
- Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
- World Research Reputation: 8%
International Diversity: 10%
- International Faculty: 2%
- International Students: 2%
- International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
- Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
- International Level: 2%
Financial Sustainability: 10%
- Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
- Institutional Income per Student: 2%
- Papers per Research Income: 2%
- Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
- Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%
- Universities:
- 3212
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:
Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%
- Universities:
- 4083
- Published:
- 30 May, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:
Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%
RUY
- Universities:
- 200
- Published:
- 07 December, 2023
- Criteria used in ranking -Research Infosource: Canada's Top 50 Research Universities:
Total Sponsored Research Income 20% Research Intensity per Faculty 20% Total Number of Publications 20% Publication Intensity 20% Publication Impact 10% Research Intensity per Graduate Student 10%
- Universities:
- 48
- Published:
- 07 December, 2023
Rogers Digital Media
- Universities:
- 97
- Published:
- 10 October, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -MacLeans University Rankings: Primarily Undergraduate:
Students 28% Faculty 24% Resources 20% Reputation 15% Student support 13%
Scimago Institutions
- Universities:
- 21682
- Published:
- 06 March, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:
Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy
- Universities:
- 14016
- Published:
- 15 August, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:
Quality of Education 10%
- Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%
Quality of Faculty 40%
- Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
- Highly Cited Researchers 20%
Research Output 40%
- Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
- Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%
Per Capita Performance 10%
StuDocu
- Universities:
- 757
- Published:
- 30 January, 2023
THE Times Higher Education, UK
- Universities:
- 16324
- Published:
- 09 October, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:
30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)
- Reputation survey: 15%
- Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
- Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
- Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
- Institutional income: 2.25%
30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)
- Reputation survey: 18%
- Research income: 6%
- Research productivity: 6%
30% Citations (Research Influence)
7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)
- Proportion of international students: 2.5%
- Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
- International collaboration: 2.5%
2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"
- Universities:
- 4744
- Published:
- 27 March, 2024
- Universities:
- 6078
- Published:
- 12 June, 2024
- Universities:
- 749
- Published:
- 21 November, 2024
Urap
- Universities:
- 12002
- Published:
- 19 December, 2023
Us News
- Universities:
- 7278
- Published:
- 24 June, 2024
Webometrics
- Universities:
- 72001
- Published:
- 12 July, 2024
- Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:
Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%