Viewbook
The University of King’s College sits on unceded Mi’kmaw territory, subject to the Peace and Friendship Treaties that are the basis for peaceful coexistence and good relations among all who live in Mi’kma’ki.
The University of King’s College recognizes the histories, contributions and legacies of the African Nova Scotian people who have been here for over 400 years.
Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the University of King’s College is best known for its humanities and journalism programs, as well as its science and music degrees.
At King’s, our interdisciplinary approach to learning centres on conversations among people, disciplines and ideas—creating a community that values curiosity and the power of different perspectives.
Whether you begin with our renowned Foundation Year Program or create your own first-year experience, King’s will help you gain the skills you need to succeed as you customize your degree and determine your path.
At King’s, learning takes place in a diverse community where students from around the world share their points of view. Whatever your background or lived experience, you’re welcome in our vibrant campus community.
King’s is dedicated to creating an accessible and supportive environment for Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQIA+ and international students.
Our growing partnership with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia and PREP Academy helps create opportunities for African Nova Scotian and Black students, while our commitment to the work of Reconciliation creates an environment where Indigenous students, staff and faculty can thrive. Our Mi’kmaw Advisory Circle (Mawaknutma’tnej) brings together the leadership of King’s with Mi’kmaw students, graduates and faculty, along with Mi’kmaw leaders and wisdom keepers from around Mi’kma’ki, to help ensure students can see a bright future at King’s.
With scholarships specifically for African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw students as well as Black and Indigenous students in Canada, King’s offers meaningful opportunities that match every student’s interests and career goals while preparing them for a successful, impactful and exceptional future.
Learn more about our commitment to students
Student societies are inclusive and welcoming—you can even create your own!
One of Canada’s most respected journalism programs
95% of alumni would choose King’s again1
King‘s journalism students intern with newsrooms, publications and other employers across Canada and abroad that need quick-thinking, capable writers and content producers
King’s graduates go on to careers in law, medicine, business, science, communications and more! Rhodes Scholars in the past 8 years
3
Up to 56 renewable academic scholarships for varsity athletes
$ 96%
85% of first-year students receive a financial award from King’s
Foundation Year Program students are provisionally pre-admitted into the University of Calgary Faculty of Law
Over 300 degree combinations available courtesy of the King’s and Dalhousie association
of alumni say their education is a good fit for their current position1
Blue Devils varsity teams qualified for 7 ACAA Championships and 2 National Championships in 2024-25
Welcome to our viewbook—and to King’s!
King’s has the academic programs, faculty and the students to create an exceptional learning experience that’s fueled by the power of different perspectives. On our gorgeous campus, you will find one-of-a-kind academic programs, small classes, the best professors you will ever have and staff totally dedicated to your success and well-being. Our campus pairs these strengths with a unique partnership: you will benefit from the best of King’s connected community while enjoying all the possibilities Dalhousie University has to offer.
Our students live, learn and have fun together—in class cohorts, tutorial groups, residences, student societies and more—contributing to a community built on dialogue, discovery and shared experience. King’s stands out for its academic excellence and a campus culture committed to respect, accessibility, inclusion and ongoing contributions to Reconciliation. Here, you will develop your talent for connecting your insights, knowledge, creativity and empathy with those of others to achieve shared goals and build community. You will discover what matters most to you, where you want your education to take you and the difference you can make.
We can’t wait to be part of your journey.
Bill Lahey President, Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Law
Nestled into the corner of Dalhousie University’s campus in Halifax, King’s is surrounded on three sides by Dalhousie and on the fourth side by a beautiful, treed neighbourhood where many upper-year King’s students live.
Surrounded by a community with worldclass resources at hand, the unique experience offered by the King’s/Dalhousie association offers the best possible education for a changing world. Period.
Experience the benefits of a smaller university while also getting access to the expansive opportunities offered by one of Canada’s leading research universities, Dalhousie. You’ll find it all on one historic campus in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Students in arts, music and science can customize their degrees and hone their skills and knowledge through courses offered at both King’s and Dalhousie. They will graduate with a joint degree that carries marks of distinction from each university. Students in King’s
School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing will have the option to add minors or pair journalism with a second honours subject through the association.
In addition to the supports and services available at King’s, you will have access to the facilities and services offered by Dalhousie.
Together, the two universities give you the ability to design your degree and inform your future. You’ll move fluidly between King’s and Dalhousie throughout your education, seamlessly building your personalized academic experience that draws on the strengths of both universities.
However you choose to make an impact on the world, the King’s/Dalhousie association helps you find and nurture your interests and goals to prepare yourself for an exceptional future as a talented, knowledgeable and engaged citizen.
ukings.ca/dal-kings
Halifax is a mid-sized city on Canada’s East Coast that offers many of the benefits of life in a big city with the community feeling of a small town. Located against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean with easy access to hiking, surfing, sailing and snowboarding, Halifax is known for its quality of life. As the cultural and economic heart of Atlantic Canada, Halifax balances the activity of a vibrant city with a commitment to the environment. This balance is evident in everything from downtown bike lanes to city-wide composting and the numerous parks and green spaces woven into the heart of the city. The King’s campus is situated centrally within Halifax, meaning that many of these destinations are within walking distance or easily accessible by city bus. Like King’s, Halifax is simultaneously historic and modern—an old city that is continually renewed through welcoming new perspectives, new cultures and new ways of doing things. It’s part of what attracts the approximately 34,000 postsecondary students who live and study here.
Halifax offers the urban advantages of abundant coffee shops, a rich food culture, fitness centres and yoga studios, music venues and nightlife. All of this is set in a landscape uniquely shaped by the surrounding ocean and the city’s natural beauty. Point Pleasant Park, a 75-hectare wooded waterfront park, is a short bike ride from King’s and offers miles of trails and accessible paths. Along with an award-winning public library that overlooks the downtown and Halifax Harbour, Halifax offers surf shacks and oceanside beer gardens, with marinas added for good measure.
Nova Scotia is known for its rugged natural beauty and the easygoing and welcoming vibe of its people. Within Halifax itself, many places offer a quick escape to nature. A short drive outside the city brings you to red cliffs, vineyards, Atlantic surf, Nova Scotia’s longest white-sand beach, the world’s highest tides, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site and many other parks and protected wilderness areas. The beauty of King’s reflects the beauty of Nova Scotia.
Explore what Halifax has to offer:
ukings.ca/halifax
King’s recognizes and respects the leadership of the Mi’kmaq in protecting the land, the water and all of nature and seeks to follow their example, teachings and the treaties in how we live, work and play as residents of Mi’kma’ki.
The specialized approach that distinguishes King’s, along with the scope and diversity of programs at Dalhousie, offer educational depth and breadth unrivaled at other small universities.
Whether you begin with the renowned Foundation Year Program or create your own first-year experience, King’s will help you gain the skills you need to succeed as you customize your degree to reflect your individual interests and determine your path.
From your first day in classes to graduation day, you will be supported by the King’s community through it all, strengthened in residence and life on and off the Quad.
You’ll learn from, and with, university leaders in teaching and research at both King’s and Dalhousie, and will graduate better able to live (and enjoy) the life of the mind, having strengthened your rational and critical faculties. You’ll expand your power of imagination with skills and professional qualifications, and have the confidence and insatiable curiosity that underpin accomplishment in a broad range of careers.
ukings.ca/dal-kings
FIRST YEAR:
FOUNDATION YEAR PROGRAM VS. STANDARD FIRST YEAR
King’s FYP First Year
Standard First Year +
(Arts, Journalism, Music) (Science) or
1or 2 additional courses (per semester)
10 separate courses (5 per semester)
Second Year Second Year
• From second year through graduation, take classes at both King’s and Dalhousie in what is commonly called your “upper years”.
• Combine King’s programs and Dalhousie’s programs within the College of Arts & Science.
• Mix and match your interests with subject areas to customize your degree.
• Graduate with a degree in Arts (BA), Science (BSc), Music (BMus) or Journalism (BJ(Hons)) or combine two subjects to get a double major or combined honours.
• Explore all possibilities available to you following graduation, including further education or careers in medicine, business, law, writing and publishing, politics and more.
From your first day on King’s campus, you’ll begin developing skills today’s employers value most, like thinking critically, writing persuasively, communicating clearly, solving problems creatively and leading with empathy and integrity.
At King’s, experiential learning (EL) is rooted in the belief that all learning matters. In classrooms, workplaces or communities, we help you connect your education to your future goals. Our approach to EL programming is guided by four key priorities that help students:
•Develop a strong foundation of transferable skills through academic study and inquiry.
•Gain early exposure to professional environments through paid on- and off-campus opportunities where you’ll learn by doing.
•Build meaningful connections with alumni to explore career possibilities and grow professional networks.
•Recognize and articulate the value of their education in terms of in-demand skills employers and graduate programs desire.
These priorities shape a range of programming initiatives that connect your education with real-world experience, such as:
•Undergraduate research assistantships with faculty.
•Work-integrated learning for journalism students through relevant internships with credit courses.
•Summer internships and employment in areas like content creation, media, policy analysis, community development, digital innovation, theatre, non-profit work, health research and more.
At King’s, your education is not confined to the classroom. Whether you’re leading a student initiative, supporting research or working in the community, you’ll apply what you learn in ways that matter.
Our graduates thrive in journalism, law, education, public policy, the arts, business and more—because the world doesn’t just need specialists, it also needs big thinking, expansive leadership and broad-based communication.
ukings.ca/experiential-learning
What happens to King’s students after they graduate and leave the King’s Quad? What do they do for a living? Where do they work? Thanks to King’s alumni who completed a survey administered by the Academica Group, we have data that paints a pretty clear picture: our graduates enter the job market with skills like critical thinking and strong oral and written communication expertise that set them up for success.
Read about alumni experiences by career or degree:
ukings.ca/stories
King’s programs integrate themes and ideas that interconnect subjects, helping you recognize how your studies provide authentic connections to real life.
Begin any degree with the Foundation Year Program (FYP) or through a general option for Arts (BA) or Science (BSc). Once you’ve completed first year, you‘ll plan your pathway in second year and beyond—choosing from a variety of program and course options, including King’s specialized honours programs and courses from the School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing.
King’s and Dalhousie share a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and a Faculty of Science in the College of Arts & Science, giving you a rich diversity of program offerings. Because we are academically intertwined, you’ll get an intensive honours college experience alongside courses from a researchintensive university.
ukings.ca/programs
Degree: A degree is a course of study leading to an academic credential, for example, a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Honours: An honours degree allows you to develop extensive knowledge in a particular field of study. Honours differs from a major program in that honours programs have higher academic standards, and there is an additional honours project component that is completed in your final year. You can choose to study a single honours subject or, if you have equal interest in two areas of study, you can pursue a combined honours degree.
Major: A major provides a general education in a focused field of study, e.g., a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English. You can choose to study a single major or, if you have equal interest in two areas of study, you can pursue a double major.
Minor: A minor provides an education in a focused field of study but with fewer overall credit hours than a major, double major or honours. You may be interested in adding a minor to your degree if you prefer a greater focus than simply taking a wide range of electives. For example, a student could pursue a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in psychology and a minor in Contemporary Studies.
Elective: An elective is a course, outside of your main department or program requirements, that you get to choose and that will form part of the credit towards your degree as a whole.
Certificate: A separate credential for courses taken in a specific subject area, with their own specific requirements. Most certificate programs are taken concurrently in your undergraduate degree, with your credit hours counting towards both your certificate and your chosen area of study in your degree program.
The Foundation Year Program (FYP) at King’s is an integrated firstyear experience. It helps students choose and excel in their area of study in second, third, fourth year and beyond.
At the heart of King’s is the belief that education can be genuinely transformative. FYP is an “odyssey”: a journey through the past that gives you insight into the present. Its goal is to help you better understand our contemporary world and your experiences and purpose within it by learning in a community and in conversation with others. Here, your perspective grows as you immerse yourself in big ideas while learning to develop a productive critical distance from them.
In FYP, most days you attend a lecture with the entire first-year class. You then break into small discussion groups (called “tutorials”) led by faculty (your “tutors”) with between 10 and 15 other students to discuss the books you’re reading. Your tutors are passionate scholars and skillful discussion leaders who will support you as you develop your own perspective.
The curriculum brings together many provocative, important and influential works. It moves forward chronologically from the ancient to the contemporary world, exposing you to fundamental works in philosophy, history, literature, drama and the natural and social sciences that shaped, and were shaped by, the period of their emergence.
We live in a challenging and complex world. FYP takes you on a journey where you’ll learn to confront and respond thoughtfully to contradictions and uncertainty, giving you the tools you need to clarify your thoughts and navigate your future.
ukings.ca/fyp
1
FYP is integrated and brings structure to your academic year
• Offers the advantage of taking three or four classes as a unified and integrated package, eliminating the strain of managing a complicated timetable and calendar of deadlines
• Four-fifths of an arts, journalism or music student’s first year and three-fifths of a science student’s first year
• FYP supports a rigorous and rewarding student experience of reading, writing, thought and discussion
2
FYP is built on books, questions and community
• Encourages personal reflections like: What is it to be alive in a community and make sense of a world in a period of extreme uncertainty?
• Books read together and timeless, yet timely questions raised together
• Meditate on perspectives from times and circumstances that are radically different from, but deeply connected with, our own
FYP is delivered with care and attention
3 FYP cultivates invaluable, lifelong communication skills
• Unique team teaching and tutorstudent engagement with the curriculum build a community of scholars and questioners
• Welcomes and encourages each student as a particular individual with complex, personalized supports
• Faculty provide constructive conversations and feedback
• Develop superb writing, speaking and study skills
• FYP students emerge with deeper and more focused thinking that makes them uniquely capable to face a rapidly changing world 4
Interested in law school? Foundation Year Program students are provisionally pre-admitted into the University of Calgary Faculty of Law.
Every year, feedback from students who just completed the Foundation Year Program influences the new book list and curriculum. This ensures the program is continually adapting and diversifying its offerings.
FYP faculty members and your fellow students will bring these readings to life for you through lectures and tutorials. Sample selections from last year’s reading list include:
Section one
The Epic of Gilgamesh
The Odyssey, Homer Analects, Confucius
Republic, Plato
Section two
Confessions, Saint Augustine Lais, Marie de France
Hayy ibn Yaqdhan, Abu Bakr Ibn Tufayl
The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri
Section three
On the Dignity of Man, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli
The Devastation of the Indies, Bartolomé de las Casas
The Winter’s Tale, William Shakespeare
Explore a unique approach to your first year
Section four
Meditations on First Philosophy, René Descartes
The Principia, Isaac Newton
Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery, Quobna Ottobah Cugoano Emma, Jane Austen
Section five
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft
The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
The Descent of Man, Charles Darwin
The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. Du Bois
Notes from Underground, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Section six
The Waste Land, T.S. Eliot Passing, Nella Larsen
The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon
Final Report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
You’ll write papers on the previous weeks’ readings approximately every two weeks.
You’ll take oral exams in December and April in which you’ll use your burgeoning oral communication skills to answer questions and strengthen and expand an understanding of what you’ve read.
SCHOOL OF JOURNALIS M, WRITING & PUBLISHING
Your first year at King’s pairs a strong interdisciplinary framework in the Foundation Year Program (FYP) with an examination of journalism’s important role in society in the Foundations of Journalism courses.
Get a theoretical and practical introduction to journalism:
•Learn how to find and evaluate news knowledgeably and critically
•Make observations, ask intelligent and ethical questions and tell stories about people and the world they live in
The Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) program offers a perfect combination of academic studies and practical skills to prepare you for multiple careers in which you write, produce multimedia content, think critically and work quickly and productively.
You can build the journalism degree that’s right for you, combining your King’s courses with the vast offerings at Dalhousie. Refer to the arts subjects listed on page 29 and the science subjects on page 32 to see what options are available to you. You can earn a combined honours degree, take a minor or select your own array of arts and science courses to customize exactly the degree you want.
ukings.ca/journalism
King’s has one of Canada’s top journalism programs, and it’s the only university in Atlantic Canada offering degrees in the discipline. You aren’t just a journalism student at King’s; you’re part of a working team, breaking news and publishing stories. You become someone who understands the power of perspective and who can think clearly, discerning fact from opinion, ambiguity or falsehood. You develop these skills in a supportive and collaborative environment, receiving oneon-one mentoring from King’s faculty members while benefiting from the vast resources available at Dalhousie.
Discover your storytelling voice in text, audio, video and online, so you can spur positive change in your world, whether it’s your city, province or beyond. At King’s, you’ll learn to hold
power to account, fight disinformation and make sense of challenging global issues and emerging technologies, many involving artificial intelligence.
Find and communicate accurate, factual information to tell the stories of people and their diverse communities. You’ll develop strong writing skills, do meaningful research and capture compelling audio and video. Along the way, you’ll master industry-standard tools, learn how to edit audio and video, explore journalism ethics and law and gain a rich education so you can thrive in a complex world. You can enter your best work in the school’s journalism awards, as part of Big Day, where the best work across all journalism programs is recognized by faculty and students as part of our schoolwide celebration of excellence.
Beginning in 2026—through a combination of scholarships, financial awards and tuition waivers—King’s will fully cover the cost of tuition for up to three African Nova Scotian students each academic year who are studying in one of the university’s programs in journalism. This initiative helps to ensure that King’s is a welcoming place for African Nova Scotian and Black students, faculty and staff.
You can pursue a minor in Journalism Studies to complement studies in another program.
Through a combination of required courses and journalism electives, you’ll learn about storytelling based on factual evidence, reporting, journalistic style, interviewing and copy editing.
You’ll learn how to gather information and craft that information into a compelling story while gaining communication and research skills that transfer easily into multiple fields.
Even if your goal isn’t a career in news, the skills you’ll learn at King’s will serve you well in any field in which you need good research, writing and the ability to meet deadlines while producing top work, such as podcasting, multimedia work, government and public administration, NGOs and non-profits. Some students use their journalism degree as a pathway to further studies in law, communications and similar disciplines.
If you take Foundation Year Program (FYP) Journalism, you’ll have FYP lectures four days a week alongside the Foundations of Journalism courses.
1
2 & 3 YEAR
Students who begin with FYP will take a journey through the past, gaining the historical and culturally informed context that helps them focus more deeply on specific topics in upper years and later in their career.
The Foundations of Journalism courses, paired with FYP, make for a first year that is both theoretical and hands-on—you learn how to critically read, listen to and watch the news, as well as the basics of reporting and writing.
4
In these years, witness the present in courses that expand your journalism skill set and explore challenges such as law and ethics.
Fourth year prepares you for life after journalism school, with more opportunities to publish in The Signal, our online publication. Through focused workshops, you’ll perfect the art of short- and long-form storytelling across different platforms. You’ll complete your degree with an internship where you apply what you’ve learned and make valuable industry connections.
King’s is a leader in Indigenous journalism education.
To help amplify Mi’kmaw voices and perspectives in the industry, King’s covers full tuition for up to three Mi’kmaw students each academic year who are studying in one of the university’s programs in journalism, through a combination of scholarships, financial awards and tuition waivers.
In second year, journalism students take a course about the history of Indigenous peoples, the treaties and colonial structures such as the Indian Act.
Delivered in collaboration with Eskasoni First Nation in Cape Breton, N.S., Reporting in Mi’kma’ki is an elective course taught partly in the community and teaches students what it means to report Indigenous stories ethically.
“It’s really geared toward allowing the students to learn, allowing the community to share stories that they want told and to shine a light on aspects and voices in the community, on the ground.”
Trina Roache, Assistant Professor of Journalism ukings.ca/mikmaw-journalism
The Signal is the School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing’s own online news and features site. Students produce award-winning written, video and audio content, including a current affairs podcast. You’ll start publishing in The Signal in second year. The Signal also publishes stories from the fourth-year workshops, which produce daily news content, long-form writing, video documentaries, podcasts, investigative stories and more.
•Hone your ability to produce professional-quality stories in a realistic working environment.
•Work collaboratively with faculty to learn what it’s like to be a working journalist, meeting tight deadlines. You’ll develop the professional skills and instincts that will serve you well in news careers and in a wide range of fields that also need these skills.
•Student work published in The Signal has won many regional and national awards.
For many students, a highlight of their fourth year is the month-long internship with a journalism outlet or in a related field. You’ll have:
•an opportunity to put your skills to use while working with industry professionals
•a valuable opportunity to begin building professional networks
•the possibility of securing employment with the employer after graduation
Interning students have worked for newsrooms such as the Canadian Press, CBC, The Globe and Mail, the National Post, Elle magazine and Sportsnet, as well as at smaller outlets, including alt-weeklies and video production houses, and in related fields, such as publishing.
While most students complete their internships in Canada, some have held internships abroad, including in New York, London, Chile and Beirut.
An arts degree teaches you to express thoughtful, informed and constructive arguments based on an understanding of complex ideas, theories and histories. At King’s and Dalhousie, your classroom learning can be supplemented with opportunities to broaden your perspective as you gain knowledge and experience, such as through experiential learning options, on-campus jobs, field courses and community service-learning placements and projects.
If you take Foundation Year Program (FYP) Arts, you’ll have FYP lectures four days a week and one additional course at King’s or Dalhousie.
These subjects can be pursued as part of your degree:
•American Studies
•Arabic
•Black & African Diaspora Studies
•Canadian Studies
•Chinese Studies (Mandarin)
•Cinema & Media Studies
•Classics
•Contemporary Studies K
•Creative Writing
•Early Modern Studies K
•English
•Economics
•Environment, Sustainability & Society C
•European Studies
•French
•Gender & Women’s Studies
•German
•Health Studies
•History
•History of Science and Technology K
•Indigenous Studies
•International Development Studies
•Italian Studies
•Law, Justice & Society
•Medieval Studies
•Middle East Studies
•Music
•Philosophy
•Popular Culture Studies
•Political Science
•Psychology
•Religious Studies
•Security Studies
•Sociology & Social Anthropology
•Spanish & Latin
American Studies
•Theatre
There are more subjects available to students in a Bachelor of Arts that are housed in the Faculty of Science, such as psychology and economics.
(K = offered at King’s; C = co-op available)
Visual literacy is the ability to interpret works of art and other forms of visual media both as formal structures and in relation to social, political and cultural contexts. In today’s digital, image-based world, the importance of developing visual literacy is increasingly recognized. The Certificate in Art History and Visual Culture is designed to help students in the arts, social sciences and sciences cultivate visual literacy through solid training in visual analysis, art history methodologies, research and communication. ukings.ca/art-history
Learning from Indigenous scholars, you’ll benefit from the perspectives and insights of instructors who have both lived and studied the topics under discussion. You will leave the program with a deeper understanding of Indigenous issues in political, social and economic contexts. These issues are of increasing importance as Canada moves forward with Reconciliation with Indigenous people, and you’ll be prepared to engage in respectful and knowledgeable ways. dal.ca/indigenousstudies
Medical humanities is a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary field that explores the complex relationships between medicine, health, society and culture across a range of times and places. The Certificate in Medical Humanities will allow you to explore how global human societies have constructed and engaged with health, wellness, medicine, illness, healing and the body in the past, and how to deepen comprehension of these concepts in the future. ukings.ca/medical-humanities
The minor in Black and African Diaspora Studies is a program that explores the rich history of African-Canadian society and culture, as considered from both a historical and a contemporary perspective. dal.ca/blackstudies
There are additional certificates you can complete alongside your major/minor(s) as a King’s student, including certificates in: Science Leadership and Communication, Dance and Movement, Geographic Information Science and Heritage Studies, among others.
If your passion lies in the natural sciences, technology or mathematics, but you also want to understand how these subjects relate to deeper questions about humanity, King’s Bachelor of Science degree offers the unique ability to study these subjects in a richer context.
Beginning with the Foundation Year Program (FYP), you’ll build an intellectual foundation from the great thinkers who have shaped our understanding of humanity’s place in the natural world and what it means for us to know that world and change it through our actions—for better or worse. Now more than ever, writing persuasively and thinking critically across disciplines is a highly valued set of skills that STEM students will need upon graduation.
If you take FYP Science, you’ll have FYP lectures three days a week and take two courses—typically a math and a science—at Dalhousie.
You can specialize in these subjects by pursuing a major, minor or honours in:
•Actuarial Science
•Biochemistry & Molecular Biology C
•Biology C
•Chemistry C
•Earth Sciences C
•Economics C
•Environmental Science C
•Environment, Sustainability & Society C
•Marine Biology C
•Mathematics C
•Microbiology & Immunology C
•Neuroscience
•Ocean Sciences
•Physics C
•Psychology
•Statistics C
You can also take any arts subject (including journalism) as a minor or secondary subject (including Contemporary Studies, Early Modern Studies and History of Science and Technology) within a double major or a combined honours degree.
(C = co-op available)
Learn about the Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP): ukings.ca/science/disp
If you take FYP Music, you’ll have FYP lectures four days a week and one additional music course at Dalhousie.
With careful planning, there are concentrations open to Bachelor of Music students, including:
• Composition
• Musicology
• Performance
• Popular Musics
There are many instruments you can specialize in, including:
• Bassoon
• Cello
• Clarinet
• Double bass
• Flute
• French horn
• Guitar
• Harp
• Oboe
• Organ Music students find that beginning their degree with the Foundation Year Program (FYP) helps situate the music they are studying and performing within different eras. Additionally, music permeates all aspects of collegiate life, whether in the form of academic study, our Chapel Choir, the more casual King’s Chorus (visit page 45) or through many planned or impromptu concerts in the Quad, Wardroom or Chapel.
• Percussion
• Piano
• Saxophone
• Trombone
• Trumpet
• Tuba
• Viola
• Violin
• Voice
You can incorporate various arts, social sciences or science courses into your music degree, including those offered on King’s campus, such as:
• Contemporary Studies
• Early Modern Studies
• History of Science and Technology
• Journalism
In addition to the Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) on pages 22–28, King’s offers three humanities-based, interdisciplinary combined honours programs. Like the Foundation Year Program, these programs are cohortstructured, immersive and engaging. They are designed to be taken with another honours program at Dalhousie.
Whether you pursue a combined honours degree, a minor or a certificate, or electives in these programs, you’ll continue studying with the same community of faculty and peers you met in your first year.
You’ll take the same core courses as a cohort of students pursuing the same degree as you, and you’ll delve deeply into your chosen interdisciplinary field with intriguing elective courses.
HOST explores the cultural and philosophical contexts of scientific knowledge and the role of science and technology in shaping human history—from ancient times to our present moment—a time when we are acutely aware of how our relationship with the environment and with our ever-expanding technologies will define our collective futures.
The contemporary era is marked by continuous transformation, which generates not only new challenges but also new possibilities. CSP engages with the ideas, thinkers and movements that have contributed to new understandings of the world in which we live, work and play.
Many of the fundamental ideas about the world were shaped centuries ago. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, thinkers and artists built some of the intellectual and cultural foundations of the modern world. EMSP will allow you to explore these ideas and notions that shape who we are today and our place in the universe.
Two optional electives within King’s combined honours programs are delivered as month-long field courses. Each summer, you will have the opportunity to take an elective in either Berlin or Florence and to connect your learning with the living intellectual and cultural histories of those cities. In addition to these King’s courses, you can explore more than 50 study abroad opportunities through Dalhousie University.
ukings.ca/field-courses
Berlin
Bring history to bear on the present by learning in Berlin—a city that is both burdened by the past and alive to the future—with daily seminars, site visits and museum tours.
Florence
Unravel the art, literature, philosophy and politics of early modern Italy (1280–1580) while visiting Florence’s churches, palaces and museums.
Residence is more than just a convenient place to live. It immerses you in the King’s experience: a true living and learning community. This is especially true for first-year students studying in the Foundation Year Program.
Residence life is often structured around students’ academic life, encouraging you to think about and discuss the ideas from the texts you’re reading with classmates and friends. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom.
Joining you in residence are King’s Dons and Junior Dons, upperyear students or young professionals who can offer emotional and peer support, mentorship and social engagement to foster a connected experience. They create a welcoming place to live where you will feel like you belong.
ukings.ca/residence
If you’re an academically minded student–athlete, you’ll discover the support you need to excel in both school and sports at King’s.
The University of King’s College Blue Devils are part of the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) and boast almost 40 championships at the ACAA and national levels. With varsity athletic programs in men’s and women’s basketball, rugby and soccer, women’s volleyball and co-ed badminton, you’re never far from someone who wants to help you succeed. King’s friendly Athletics Department, head coaches and assistant coaches will welcome you into the Blue Devils family and help you organize your time so you can be part of a team and stay on top of your studies.
King’s offers a variety of scholarships including the Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Scholarships for Varsity Athletes. Up to 14 renewable $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually to incoming students of the Foundation Year Program who also play varsity sports.
Highlights of UKC Athletics Achievements in the 2024–25 season:
•44 Academic Excellence Awards
•23 Conference All-Stars
•8 CCAA Academic All-Canadians
•Men’s Soccer ACAA Silver Medalists and CCAA National contenders
•ACAA Badminton Champions
•Women’s Rugby 7s Champions
•Rugby Nova Scotia Men’s 15s runner up
Additionally, all students can enjoy the use of King’s gymnasium, weight room, fitness/cardio room and dance/yoga space. Your fees also include access to facilities and programs at both King’s and Dalhousie, including Dalplex (Dalhousie’s main fitness complex). ukings.ca/athletics
Together, King’s and Dalhousie will support you with access to all services available at both universities.
King’s offers:
•Academic advising
•Dedicated writing support for Foundation Year Program and journalism students
•Mental health supports, including social work, peer support and Healthy Minds Nova Scotia e-mental health tools
•Access to sexual health and safety services
•Supports for equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and academic accommodations
•Community gathering space and support for Mi’kmaw and Indigenous students
Dalhousie offers:
•Bissett Student Success Centre
•Black Student Advising Centre
•Multi-faith services
•Indigenous Student Centre, including the Elders-in-Residence program
•International Centre
•Student Health and Wellness Centre with a team of doctors, nurses, counsellors and allied health professionals
•Student Accessibility Centre for students requiring accommodations
•2SLGBTQ+ Advisor
King’s Community Supports team includes:
•Accessibility Officer
•Indigenous Student Support and Outreach Coordinator
•Equity Officer
•Sexual Health and Safety Officer
•Student Support Advisor (Social Worker)
•Dean of Students
•Assistant Dean of Residence Life
Explore our student supports
Whether you’re interested in dance, gaming, cooking, biking or something in between, King’s has a wide variety of clubs, societies and organizations you can join, including:
•King’s Students’ Union
•King’s Theatrical Society
•Contemporary Studies Society
•Early Modern Studies Society
•History of Science and Technology Society
•Day Students’ Society
•UKing’s Literary Society
•King’s Dance Collective
•Loaded Ladle
•Zine Society
•King’s P.R.I.D.E. Society
•Racialized Students’ Collective
•The Watch (student-published magazine)
•Sodales: The Dalhousie and King’s College Debating Society
•Dal/King’s Bike Society
•The Wordsmiths
•Table Top RPG Society
King’s also has a dedicated performance space called “The Pit”, a malleable black box theatre that holds up to 200 seats and is recognized as one of Halifax’s liveliest performance venues.
Dalhousie has many societies that welcome King’s students, and the King’s Students’ Union (KSU) can help you start a new group if nothing exists already.
To find a complete list of clubs and organizations you can enjoy, visit ukings.ca/groups-societies
King’s campus was designed around a central quadrangle known as the Quad. It’s surrounded by residences, college buildings, lecture halls, seminar rooms, the gymnasium and the library—with plenty of green space in between.
The Quad provides the backdrop as you explore new perspectives and develop lifelong friendships. In the fall, you can see the King’s Theatrical Society present Classics in the Quad—the performance of a piece of Greek theatre—and in winter, it’s the perfect backdrop to holiday events that bring students, faculty and staff together. Warm spring days might find you sitting under a tree with friends to study or playing frisbee after class.
The Dining Services team in Prince Hall is committed to providing you with great meal options for a variety of dietary needs. Its staff form a core part of the vibrant and bustling King’s community, welcoming students who live on- and off-campus.
Day students, or those living off-campus, will receive the full King’s welcome and be integrated into our community through its many events, activities, supports and services. Deep care and attention are extended to every student at King’s, no matter where they live.
The President is a pillar of college life, and he lives on campus with his family. You’ll be invited into the President’s Lodge for meals, receptions, lectures, poetry and music.
From events that have been passed on for generations to those that have been created more recently, King’s traditions are an opportunity for you to acknowledge our history while contributing to our vibrant future. As a King’s student, you can take part in several beloved university traditions, both on- and off-campus, such as:
Every year, first-year students clad in academic gowns mark the beginning of their life as members of the King’s scholarly community by signing the college’s register, otherwise known as the matricula.
Put on academic gowns and process into the dining hall with peers to hear Latin grace, a guest speaker and enjoy dinner with friends.
As end-of-year exam time approaches, King’s students take a brief moment to release some tension by having a water balloon fight in the Quad!
Join the King’s President each year for a skating party at the Oval on the Halifax Commons, where students and friends alike are welcome. Afterward, you can head back to the President’s Lodge for hot drinks and snacks.
Every year the President hosts a hike for first-year students in a wilderness area near the city, followed by a picnic lunch. Whether you live locally or have made Halifax your new home, this is the perfect opportunity to discover the stunning landscapes and natural beauty within Nova Scotia.
Although King’s is a secular university, it is also home to a vibrant chapel community. The King’s College Chapel is a place for worship but also for quiet reflection, meditation, reading, practicing a musical instrument or events, like concerts and open mics. All services and activities the Chapel offers are open to people of any faith or none, including opportunities to explore religious thought, retreats, community outreach, social justice and volunteer opportunities.
The Chapel also hosts a variety of hikes, weekend retreats and other outdoor excursions that give you an opportunity to see the Nova Scotia/Mi’kma’ki countryside at its best. kingschapel.ca
The King’s College Chapel Choir is a chamber choir that performs a variety of challenging repertoire at services in the King’s Chapel twice weekly. As a member of the Chapel Choir, you will be part of a vibrant community in the Chapel and at King’s. In addition to the regular weekly schedule, you will also have opportunities to perform in concerts, take part in audio/visual recordings and tour locally and further afield. Choral and organ scholarships are offered to those who pass an audition.
kingschapel.ca/music
The King’s Chorus is a choral society composed of students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members. It is open to anyone who is interested in singing and includes members with a wide array of musical knowledge and talent from beginner to expert. The Chorus performs large-scale choral masterworks in concert, including a balance of secular works. As a member of the King’s Chorus, you’ll rehearse once a week and perform one concert at the end of each term.
kingschorus.com
Mark your calendar!
Applying to King’s? Don’t miss these important dates and deadlines.
OCTOBER 15
•Applications open
•Residence applications open
MARCH 1
• Admission application deadline for general entrance award consideration
• Major award application deadline
•Official first semester/ mid-year high school grades/transcripts due
•Foundation Year Program and Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) early application deadline
APRIL 1
• International application deadline
•Residence application and corresponding $50 application fee is due to be guaranteed residence for first-year students only
ukings.ca/important-dates
•Entrance scholarships announced
MAY 15
•Deadline to accept offer of admission by paying your admission/ enrolment deposit
•Scholarship offer acceptance deadline
JUNE
Early June
•First-year course registration opens
Late June
•FYP reading list posted
•Official final grades/ transcripts due
•Residence rooms assigned
JULY
Mid-July
•Orientation week information sent out
•Submit your photo for your DalCard
SEPTEMBER
•Orientation
•Residences open
•Classes begin
•Varsity athletic games kick-off
Admission to programs at King’s is competitive, and meeting the minimum average does not guarantee admission. Visit ukings.ca/admission-requirements for program-specific course requirements.
1 For a complete list of math courses that fulfil this requirement, see ukings.ca/admission-requirements
2 Theatre (Acting) and music applicants are required to submit additional supplemental materials as part of their admission application.
3 Science applicants interested in the Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP) are required to submit additional supplemental materials as part of their admission application. In addition to meeting the BSc admission requirements, applicants must have grade 12 chemistry and grade 12 biology and/or physics is recommended.
A university education is a strong predictor of future success, and your time as a student can be among the most rewarding years of your life. To ensure that King’s degrees are more financially accessible, an extensive range of scholarships, awards, bursaries and financial assistance is available.
ukings.ca/financial-aid
From government student loan options and scholarships to bursaries and tuition waivers, there are multiple ways to make your education at King’s financially accessible, no matter what stage of postsecondary education you are preparing to enter.
Apply for September admission by submitting an admissions application and official first semester/mid-year grades by March 1 to automatically be considered for an entrance award.
Minimum
1 Based on 2024-25 academic year, subject to change.
2 Renewable factor—please see ukings.ca/renewable for more details.
To be considered for one of King’s major entrance awards, you must submit an admission application, official first semester/mid-year grades, major entrance award application and an original essay (topic to be determined and posted at ukings.ca/scholarships) by March 1.
Dr. Carrie Best Scholarship
Gordon Earle Scholarship
Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Scholarships for Varsity Athletes
$5,000
2 3
$5,000 Carrie and Ralph Wright Memorial Scholarship
2 3
$9,000 Sobey Family Scholarship
Starnes Award
D. Hamilton Award
2 $17,000 $11,000
2
$2,020 King’s Theatrical Society Award
1 Based on 2024-25 academic year, subject to change.
2 Renewable factor—please see ukings.ca/renewable for more details.
3 For Foundation Year Program (FYP) students.
4 For FYP students from Nova Scotia—the amount is estimated based on first-year tuition and incidental fees. ukings.ca/scholarships
Did you know… …King’s offers scholarships specifically for African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw students and for Black and Indigenous students in Canada?
Bursary/tuition waiver Structure
Joyce Family Foundation Bursary
Tuition Waiver for Former Youth-in-Care
Mi’kmaw Journalism Initiative
African Nova Scotian Journalism Initiative
Nova Scotia International Student Program (NSISP)
International Mobility Award
Urgent Need Bursary
International Student Bursary
Contribution to tuition, renewable up to four years for two selected students
Full tuition, renewable up to four years for selected students
Full tuition, renewable up to four years for three selected students
Full tuition, renewable up to four years for three selected students
Domestic tuition, renewable up to four years for selected students
One-time tuition discount of $10,000, non-renewable
Awarded during the year, on a case-by-case basis
Awarded during the year, on a case-by-case basis
King’s offers non-repayable bursaries every year toward your unmet financial needs. Students at King’s struggling with anticipated or unforeseen financial difficulty are encouraged to email awards@ukings.ca to learn about the help that is available.
For more information about Canadian or American Student Loans, please visit ukings.ca/student-loans
African Nova Scotian students entering the Foundation Year Program at King’s are encouraged to apply for the Gordon Earle Scholarship, valued at $24,000 (a $6,000 award renewable for up to three years). Students must be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) or Bachelor of Music degree and meet the scholarship criteria.
The Dr. Carrie Best Scholarship is open to African Canadian students and Indigenous students in Canada enrolling in a four-year Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Music degree at King’s. This scholarship is valued at $20,000 (a $5,000 initial award renewable for up to three years).
African Canadian students—and African Nova Scotians in particular—are invited to apply for the Sylvia D. Hamilton Award. The awards are open to all degree streams at King’s with a preference for students in journalism. Named in honour of the retired King’s journalism professor, five Sylvia D. Hamilton Awards will be given out annually. The awards are valued at $2,020 in honour of Hamilton’s retirement year, and each award is renewable over the usual length of the recipient’s degree.
The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary is the largest renewable bursary at King’s, available to two full-time undergraduate students per year. It’s valued at $20,000 ($5,000 per year) to each recipient who remains eligible to study, exhibits a continued financial need and is committed to working with a mentor throughout their undergraduate career. Priority will be given to students from the Maritimes.
Fall and winter term (in Canadian dollars)
Tuition shown is for academic year 2025-26 and can also be found at: ukings.ca/finances
Canadian students:
Tuition/incidental fees *1 & 2
$11,237
Books and supplies 3 $1,060
Residence (lodging, meal plan, deposits) 4 $13,535
International students:
Learn more about tuition and financial awards for international students at ukings.ca/international-finances
* Tuition freeze for all domestic students in effect for two years.
1 Based on courses in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Foundation Year Arts Program + elective). Fees vary by program.
2 Nova Scotia students are eligible for a $1,283 bursary from the Province of Nova Scotia. Bursary amount is based on a full course load.
3 Based on Foundation Year Program and one additional fullyear course.
4 Based on a double room in Alexandra Hall and a 7-Day AllDay Meal Plan.
Did you know…
… 85% of first-year students receive some form of financial support (scholarships, bursaries or both) from King’s?
See how King’s can help offset the cost of your tuition
View upcoming events and register now!
Typically held each October and February, this in-person event gives you the chance to experience a lecture, student panel, campus tour, lunch in our meal hall and learn about our programs. We also host a virtual Open House in the fall, so if you can’t attend in person, you can still connect with King’s.
King’s representatives and faculty members visit major cities in Canada to share information about the living and learning community. Be sure to check the King’s website for more information.
In-person
Experience what life at King’s could be like and meet current students, talk to an admissions expert and explore the campus!
Online
Can’t make it to Halifax? Take a virtual tour! Navigate the beauty and history of the campus, view our residences, academic buildings, vibrant student and community spaces, gymnasium, library and more—all from the comfort of your own device, anytime, anywhere.
Apply to King’s!
1. Learn about programs and events
Visit ukings.ca/future-students to find out more about programs, student life, student supports, campus tours and upcoming events.
2. Review admission requirements
Admission to any program involves meeting specific subject requirements and a minimum academic average. Visit pages 46–48 for more information on important admission dates and requirements.
3. Review admission dates and deadlines
Visit ukings.ca/important-dates to review the important dates for your application.
4. Apply for admission and submit supporting documents
Complete and submit the online application and $65 undergraduate application fee at ukings.ca/apply.
5. Explore financial award opportunities
Visit pages 50-53 or ukings.ca/finances to learn how to make your education at King’s financially accessible.
6. Apply for residence
After you receive an offer of admission, pay your nonrefundable admission (enrolment) deposit, activate your university accounts and submit your online residence application and its corresponding $50 application fee at ukings.ca/residence to join our residence community. If you have questions about on-campus living, please email residence@ukings.ca.
