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Information for New Students

Truro Students

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The basics

Getting from the airport to Dal

Making a budget

It's a good idea to create a budget for managing your money while you're in university. You'll need a plan to finance your tuition, but you also have to factor in additional expenses, including costs for books and supplies, insurance, travel, phone, food, personal items, etc.

Dal has put together a few budgeting tips for students and also has a very useful online budget tool. (Start with the fee calculator and click help me create a budget based on this estimate.)

The entire Money Matters website has a lot of great financial information about budgeting, cash flow, and funding sources like bursaries and scholarships.

Eating on campus

Did you know that the Chartwells Food Service has their own Chef’s Garden on campus to provide fresh food for Agricultural Campus students? 

Meal Plans

Meal plans are available to both on- and off-campus students. The main dining hall is located in Jenkins Hall; with the Cox Cafe located in the second floor of the Cox building. 

Residence students are automatically enrolled for a meal plan as part of their room acceptance process.

Off-campus students can purchase meal plans at any time and have a wide variety of meal plan options to choose from. 

Familiarize yourself with campus buildings

To familiarize yourself with all of the buildings on your campus, visit the Campus Maps page and select the Agricultural Campus. 

To get an ever better look you can also book a tour of any campus at any time (Monday–Saturday, excluding holidays). Orientation activities will get you more familiar with the campus, but it never hurts to get a tour of where you will be spending your next few years! 

You can authorize your parents to have access to your financial information

Account information is private and confidential, however, students can authorize a third party (i.e. parents or sponsors) to discuss your account in detail with our service representatives. Please send a written request (accepted only from your ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøemail account) to student.accounts@dal.ca which includes your name, BOO# as well as the names and relationships to you. 

Note: You are still responsible to review your account and ensure payments are made. 

Connecting to Wi-Fi

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøoffers wireless Internet on all of our campuses. To provide full service, we've set up wireless zones in all public areas, and you can use any type of wireless device to access the network. You just need your NetID. For more information about setting up wireless, .

If you are living in residence, specific wireless network information will be provided on move-in day.

Parking on campus

The Agricultural Campus does not require a parking permit. Vehicles do not need to be registered. For those from the AC who travel to Halifax Campus please use short term parking through the HotSpot app. Details can be found on Dalhousie's Parking site.

ATMs on campus

There is one ATM on campus located on the lower level of Cox Institute. Major banks, including TD, Scotiabank, CIBC, and RBC are all located within 15 minutes from campus. 

DalSAFE Campus Alerts (text messaging)

DalSAFE Campus Alerts allow you to get important updates from the University via text message. We recommend you sign up for this program to get updates on:

  • Significant campus closures (e.g. severe weather, utility outage, etc.)
  • Campus hazards (e.g. spill, fire, accident, etc.)
  • Other unpredictable events

To subscribe to this service, visit the DalSAFE Campus Alerts website and follow the on-screen instructions.

DalSAFE

The DalSAFE app gives you quick and easy access to Security Services, interactive maps, campus notices, parking info, and many other campus safety-related resources.

Accessing Student Services on campus

As a Dal student you have access to a wide range of services from academic advising and gym facilities to career advising and health services, and everything in between. To learn more about student services, drop by or call the AC Student Success Centre:

Dairy Building
11 Sipu Awti (formerly 11 River Road)
Truro, NS B2N 5E3

Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri: 8:30am–4:30pm
Wed: 10am–4:30pm

Phone: 902-893-6672

Getting ready for the classroom

Important academic terms

You'll begin to hear new terms as you start your Dal experience. It's a good idea to make sure you know what they mean! Take some time to review these important academic terms. 

Meet with an academic advisor

Academic advisors can help you with a variety of tasks—from defining your career goals and choosing courses, to problem-solving if you're struggling with your course load or personal emergencies. 

It's important to meet with an advisor in your first year to plan out your next three or four (or five). By having an academic plan you'll be less stressed about sequence, pre-requisites, and taking the right electives. 

Visit the Advising webpage to learn more about the Academic Advising team, services, and booking an appointment.

Get your course materials/textbooks (new)

To find out what textbooks you need for your classes you can on the Dal Bookstore website or, on the first day of classes, your professor will include all required textbooks on the syllabus. 

The Agricultural Campus bookstore is located in Cox Institute. They even have extended during peak weeks (the first weeks of classes). 

Get Microsoft Office for free

Dalhousie’s association with Microsoft gives you access to Office 365 ProPlus for free!

What exactly does this mean?

As a Dal student you can download Office on up to five desktop or laptop computers. If you’re working on a PC you get all the Office 2013 apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher, Lync, and InfoPath. If you use an Apple computer, you get Office for Mac 2011: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

How do I get it?

It’s incredibly easy to get your copy:

  1. Log in to  using your NetID and password
  2. Click on the gear icon in the top right hand corner and choose "Office 365 Settings"
  3. Click "software" in the left-hand menu
  4. Click "desktop setup" in the left-hand menu
  5. Start your download!

You can also download Office Mobile on up to two mobile devices (Android and iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch) using the "phone & tablet" option under Software.

If you have any questions about your free copy of Office 365 ProPlus, or are having trouble installing it, please visit the .

Find the perfect study spot

In addition to study desks and quiet spaces, each library at Dal has a Learning Commons. Check out the locations, types, and technology available (to print those assignments) on the . 

Dal also offers tours of all its libraries. To request a tour, visit the for the appropriate contact information.

In addition to the libraries, you can also study in the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøAgricultural Students' Association Lounge in the Student Learning Commons (SLC) in the MacRae library 

Students with disabilities

Student Services at Dalhousie's Agricultural Campus is the centre of expertise for student accessibility and accommodation. Visit their website to learn more about their services. 

Use the libraries

The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Libraries are here to support your academic success. We encourage all students to take advantage of the wide range of services available, whether you are at one of our physical locations or using the  resources.

And don’t forget: Your DalCard is also your library card!

For more information on what’s available to you at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøLibraries, visit .

Dal also offers tours of all its libraries so you can learn from the experts themselves. To request a tour, visit the . 

Get your textbooks (used)

The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøBookstores carry used books purchased through the . Books are shelved alongside the new books with a sticker to indicate they’re used. 

Keep an eye out for workshops

Nervous about moving from a classroom to a lecture hall? Dal has a program called Studying for Success that will improve your note-taking, multiple choice strategies, time management skills, and more.

In addition to the Student Success program, Career Services and Academic Advising will often have workshops around campus. 

Residence students

Find out who your roommate is

If you and your roommate have both given the Residence Office permission to release your name and email address, you'll be able to contact each other when you receive your room assignment. 

To learn more about room assignments, visit the Residence website.

Your new address

While living in residence at Dal, your family and friends may want to send you packages. The correct way to write your address is:    

Your name
Your room number
Res hall name
Res hall address
PO Box 550
Truro, Nova Scotia, B2N 5E3

Laundry on campus

Truro residence students pay a flat fee of $35/ semester for laundry so no need for pocket change! All you need to bring is high efficiency detergent. Laundry machines are located in the lower level of each residence building.  

Checking in

When you arrive on campus, the first thing you will do is check into residence. The residence teams will make this process a smooth one! 

What to bring to campus

If you're wondering if you can bring candles, extension cords, or your favourite pets to campus, you'll have to leave them at home. For a full list of what to bring and what to leave at home, check the list on the Residence website!

Travel plans

The final exam schedule will be posted in early October/February. We recommend that you don't book any travel arrangements prior to knowing your exam schedule. Visit dal.ca/exams for more information. 

Residence students: You're required to leave residence within 24 hours of completing your final exam.

Off-campus students

Searching for housing

You can begin by going to the off-campus living website. There you will find a number of websites that allow you to search for housing in Truro/Bible Hill. 

We recommend:

1. Browsing through the listings and select at least 5 places.

2. Contact the landlord to let them know you are interested and the dates you are arriving in Truro.

3. Try to set up a viewing. We recommend arriving in late August and staying in temporary accommodations while you go apartment viewing to allow you to see the places in person. 

4. Once you are sure you like a place, payment goes directly to the landlord. You should speak to the landlord to find out what are the acceptable forms of payment (postdated cheques, direct deposit, etc). 

 

Renting terms & responsibilities

It can be very confusing to find housing and understand housing terms and responsibilities, especially if you are a first-time renter or not from the area. The best way to help and protect yourself is to educate yourself. A number of off-campus housing resources are available to read on the Off-Campus Housing website.

Moving resources

Whether you're moving to a new area of Truro/Bible Hill or from another province or country, the Moving Resources page offers a list of storage companies, moving companies, supply companies, and second-hand furniture options.

Off-campus student space

A great place to hang out is the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøAgricultural Students’ Association (DASA) Lounge in the Student Learning Commons in the MacRae Library. It's a great place to relax between classes, grab a coffee and heat up your lunch, chat with the DASA executive, check out events and activities, or just take a break on one of our comfy couches! The DASA lounge is also available to be booked in the evenings and is a great spot for group projects and meetings. 

International Students

Local groceries

There are various grocery stores, offering a wide range of food products located in both Truro and Bible Hill. 

  •  (closest for walking!)

Canadian holidays

There are a number of public holidays observed in Canada:

  • New Year's Day: Jan. 1
  • (Dal only): first Friday of February
  • : third Monday in February
  • Good Friday: two days before Easter Sunday
  • Easter Monday: the day after Easter Sunday
  • : Monday following May 25
  • : July 1
  • Natal Day in Nova Scotia: first Monday in August
  • Labour Day: first Monday in September
  • Thanksgiving Day: second Monday of October
  • Remembrance Day: November 11
  • Christmas Day: December 25
  • Boxing Day: December 26 

Getting a driver's license in Nova Scotia

As an international student, you can apply for . You will be required to pass a written test and a road test before receiving your driver’s license. It is also mandatory to hold an insurance policy on the vehicle you are driving. 

Reminder: We drive on the right-hand side of the road. 

Important

  • The use of seat belts is mandatory for all car passengers. 
  • It is against the law in Nova Scotia to use a hand-held cellular phone, or text messaging device, while driving. Under this law, you may only drive and talk on a mobile phone by using the hands- free function. 

Get to know the International Student Advisor (ISA) on campus!

Our International Student Advisor is an integral part of the Student Services team and is here to help with your transition to Dalhousie! To contact the International Student Advisor please email: ssdalac@dal.ca

Additional things to pack

We highly recommend the following items:

Item

Why this is important

Passport
  • You will need this to travel between airports.  It also holds your Temporary Resident Visa (if you are a citizen of a country who needs a visa to enter Canada)

Study Permit Approval letter
  • This letter should have been issued prior to your arrival. 
  • You must show this letter to immigration authorities at the first Canadian airport you land in.  They will take the letter and give you an official study permit in return. 
  • This study permit should authorize you to work off-campus for 20 hours a week. 

Government Identification (ID)
  • In Canada you will often be asked to show government ID (to get a cell phone, set up a bank account, etc). 
  • Bring along a driver’s license, voter registration card, social security card, or any other document that includes your photo and birthdate. 
  • If you have one, bring a driver’s license from your home country if you plan to drive in Canada.  Once you arrive you can have it translated OR you can use an official translation service in your home country.  This will facilitate your transfer to a Canadian license.  It will save you money.
  • Make sure the ID is valid (hasn’t expired)!

Original Police Report
  • In order to work in certain areas, attend conferences and participate in special research projects you will be asked to provide security clearance. 
  • Security clearance is a document from the police department of your country that states whether or not you have been arrested or charged.  This document is often referred to as a police report. 
  • We highly recommend that you apply for a police report and bring it with you to Canada, so that you can easily provide this report whenever you need to. It can be very difficult to get this report if you are already in Canada.

A waterproof winter coat
  • In Truro, snow can melt into water very easily so we recommend a winter coat that is warm on the inside and waterproof on the outside. 

Raincoat
  • During winter, Truro gets a mix of snow and rain so a raincoat is just as important as a winter coat. 
  • We do not recommend umbrellas because Truro is very windy.

Original Education Qualifications (degrees, diplomas, certificates, etc) and if you are married a marriage/wedding certificate.
  • You may be asked to show your qualifications for jobs, or more study opportunities, so it is a good idea to bring these documents with you.
  • Bring every degree you have obtained since secondary (high) school! 
  • If your document is written in a language besides French or English, you will need to have it translated. 

Medical Files (books, cards, any document detailing your medical history)
  • You may be asked to show this if you need to see a doctor in Canada.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøAdmission letter
  • You will need this as it helps with setting up bank accounts, and purchasing cell phones and cell phone plans.

Cultural clothing
  • You may have to attend official receptions and dinner parties.  It is a good idea to wear traditional clothing from your home country.

Personal items that hold sentimental value
  • These will prevent you from being homesick and it’s always nice to bring a bit of home with you.

Clothing items
  • You are coming right at the start of winter so be sure to bring sweaters, long pants, and warm socks!  If these items are not available in your home country you can purchase them once you arrive in Canada.
  • Do not attempt to bring jackets, bulky sweaters because it can cost a lot of money and may not be suitable for the winter specific to Truro.

Cell/Mobile phone (unlocked)
  • It can save you money if you want to use a cell phone service while you are in Canada

Getting involved

Clubs and societies for everyone

The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøAgricultural Students Association (DASA) has a wide variety of clubs and societies. There really is something for everyone! Examples of clubs and societies include The Pre-Vet Society, Agrology Club, Judging Club and everything in between. During Orientation activities, DASA will hold a club and society fair to introduce you to all of the clubs available and if you would like to start a new club we welcome new club applications! Drop by the DASA lounge in the Student Learning Commons (SLC) in the MacRae Library to find out more! 

Intramural sports leagues

are designed for the recreational athlete - basketball, soccer, and more.  Intramurals serves as an excellent tool for enjoying time with friends and assist with promoting a healthy lifestyle.  Each month you will have the opportunity to compete against other houses for house points and position your house for the annual House Cup Sport Marathon in March. 

 

Volunteer in the community

It's never too early to begin building your resume and start differentiating yourself from your graduating class. 

Check out the Student Advancement In Leadership (SAIL) program where you will develop skills in areas such as career exploration, personal growth, communication and leadership development.

Don't forget to get your experience on record by creating your Co-Curricular Record (CCR). Your CCR complements your academic transcript by recording your experience and achievements outside the classroom. It's a great testament to your character for potential employers or professional schools.

Aggies at Night

Aggies at Night is a student-run group that leads late night, alcohol-free, on-campus activities (and some other events off campus). They're fun, free/low cost, and take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It's a great opportunity to socialize, make new friends, and be active.Schedules will be posted on the bulletin board inside Jenkins Hall and in residence Facebook groups.

Get a job

Whether it's to pay for tuition or just to have some spending money while you're on campus, getting a job is something you might be considering. Drop by the Career Advising Centre in the Dairy Building for information on career planning, agricultural specific information, job search techniques, and more.

Student job postings can also be found on the .

Varsity athletics

The varsity teams represent students at the Agricultural Campus in badminton, basketball, women's rugby, soccer, women's volleyball, woodsmen, equestrian, cross country, and golf.  Varsity teams will hold meetings in early September and welcome all students to attend! 

Looking for even more ways to get involved?

Taking care of yourself

Your gym membership is already paid for

Your full-time ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøstudent fees include access to our fitness facilities. The Langille Athletic Centre offers a cardio room, weight room, double gymnasium, and racquetball and squash courts. 

Contact Health Services to see a Registered Nurse or Doctor

Health Services has two Registered Nurses available Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and an doctor available for scheduled appointments on Mondays. 

Book an appointment

Phone: 902-893-6600
Email: healthac@dal.ca
In person: Health Services, Dairy Building, next to Cumming Hall

Learn more about health services on the Agricultural Campus. 

Mental health on campus

Dal has many in-person services and supports, online resources, and workshops to help you foster and maintain your mental health. You can find them all at dal.ca/mentalhealth.

Peer Health Educators

RESPECT (Real Energy Supporting Peer Education on Current Topics) works collaboratively with Health Services at DAL-AC to create a healthy campus environment, by promoting and educating their peers to adopt health enhancing behaviours and attitudes.

The RESPECT office is located in the Dairy Building. If you are interested in getting involved with the RESPECT team, drop in during office hours which are posted on the door of the RESPECT office or email RESPECT@dal.ca

Nighttime safety

 

The SAFEWalk service is a service to help you get home within campus boundaries. Any student or who wants an officer to walk with them to or from any building on campus can call 902-893-4190. 

For quick and easy access to SAFEwalk, security services, interactive maps, parking info, campus notices and more, download the free DalSAFE mobile app.

 

Know your rights and responsibilities

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøhas a number of policies and supports on campus to ensure that your rights and responsibilities are met and supported throughout your university experience. From appealing grades, to hazing, to issues with consent, to problems with your landlord, Dal can support you. 

For more information, visit the Student Rights & Responsibilities site. Here you can also learn more about the Human Rights, Equity and Harassment Office, and the Student Conduct Office.