Dalhousie University is a public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, and a fourth in Bible Hill. It offers more than 4,000 courses and 180 degree programs in twelve undergraduate, graduate, and professional faculties. It is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada.

The 2015-2016 Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed Dalhousie 201–250th in the world.

The 2014 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 235th. According to the 2014 Academic Ranking of World Universities rankings, the university ranked 201–300 in the world and 8–17th in Canada.

In terms of national rankings, Maclean's ranked Dalhousie 7th in their 2014 Medical Doctoral university rankings.[65] Dalhousie was ranked in spite of having opted out—along with several other universities in Canada—of participating in Maclean's graduate survey since 2006.

A number of Dalhousie's individual programs and faculties have gained accolades nationally and internationally. In Maclean's 2013 common law school rankings, the Schulich School of Law placed 6th in Canada.

In the QS rankings of law programs, the university placed 51–100 in the world. The Rowe School of Business was named the most innovative business school in Canada by European CEO Magazine on 17 November 2010.

Dalhousie University is a member of the U15, a group that represents 15 of Canada’s most research-intensive universities. Out of 50 universities in Canada, Research Infosource ranked Dalhousie University the 16th most research-intensive for 2011, with a sponsored research income of $125.147 million, averaging $124,500 per faculty member.

In 2003 and 2004, The Scientist placed Dalhousie among the top five places in the world outside the United States for postdoctoral work and conducting scientific research.

In 2007 Dalhousie topped the list of The Scientist’s “Best Places to Work in Academia”. The annual list divides research and academic institutions into American and international lists; Dalhousie University ranked first in the international category.

According to a survey conducted by The Scientist, Dalhousie was the best non-commercial scientific institute in which to work in Canada.

In terms of research performance, High Impact Universities 2010 ranked it 239th out of 500 universities, and 12th in Canada. It was ranked 194th out of 500 universities and 12th in the country for research performance in the fields of medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, and health sciences.

The Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT) ranked it 279th in the world and 12th in Canada for its 2011 scientific paper's performances. HEEACT had also ranked Dalhousie 86th in the world and fourth nationally for research performance in geoscience in its 2010 rankings.

Awards
• Canadian Business magazine ranks Corporate Residency MBA as the country’s second-best value for money MBA.

• Corporate Residency MBA ranked at #20 overall (from a universe of 101 programs) against the 2014 Corporate Knights Global 100 Sustainable MBAs Ranking.
• MBA Roundtable Innovator Award 2012: Corporate Residency MBA was among the finalists in the inaugural year of the MBA Roundtable Innovator Award Program, which was designed to recognize and promote educational initiatives that advance innovation in MBA education, and acknowledge the institutions that are driving change in the field.
• The Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers recognized Management Career Services team with its Excellence in Innovation Award for Student Engagement in 2011.

• Global Business Education Award: The Dalhousie Faculty of Management received an award from European CEO Magazine for being the “Most Innovative Business School in Canada” in 2010 and 2011.