PR-33-2025

26 March 2025 – The Philippine Department of Science and Technology signed, via Zoom, an agreement with Halifax-based Dalhousie University to establish a Graduate Scholarship Program (GSP). Signed by DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. and Dr. Balakrishnan Prithiviraj, Associate Vice President, Global Relations of Dalhousie University, the agreement aims to create mechanisms for doctoral students from the Philippines to study and conduct research at Dalhousie University with support provided jointly through DOST and Dalhousie scholarships. 

The signing was witnessed by Post’s Deputy Head of Mission Myca Fischer, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman, Executive Director Mike McMurray of the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, Province of Nova Scotia, and other officials of DOST, Dalhousie University, and the Canadian Embassy.

Under the GSP, DOST will provide scholarships for up to 10 PhD students from the Philippines annually, covering full domestic tuition, living allowances, round-trip airfare, dissertation allowances, and health insurance. Dalhousie will offer program support such as matching scholars with advisors, facilitating laboratory access, and providing domestic tuition rates.  Priority PhD programs include health and medicine, computer science, engineering, physics and atmospheric science, animal science, plant science, smart agriculture, and oceanography, marine biology, aquaculture, and marine management.  

Dalhousie University is the 3rd Canadian university tapped by DOST for its GSP, following similar agreements with the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta.  

In welcoming the agreement, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, Maria Andrelita S. Austria, conveyed her strong belief that Filipino scholars would greatly benefit from the world-class education and state-of-the-art facilities at Dalhousie University. She emphasized, "By investing in its scientists, the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to enhancing the nation's ability to foster knowledge and innovation, driving real-world solutions that address the needs of our people." -END