A 21-year-old Dalhousie University engineering student is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a railing gave way on a balcony and she fell off.

Halifax Regional Police say the incident happened on Sept. 10, just before midnight at a building on the 1200 block of Queen Street.

CBC News has learned the building is the Mary Queen of Scots Inn.

A student was holding a get together at her second-floor apartment with three other people, said Halifax Regional Police. The woman who fell was a guest.

"The female who ended up falling off the balcony just leaned against the railing and it gave way," said Const. Dianne Woodworth.

Alcohol not believed to be a factor

Police say the woman remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured.

They are investigating and don't believe alcohol was a factor. They also don't believe there was criminal negligence on the part of the property owner.

Municipal compliance officers are also investigating. Tiffany Chase, a city spokesperson, would not elaborate on the scope of the investigation.

Chase said balconies are inspected when a building permit is sought — which happens during construction or renovation — to ensure the balcony is up to code.

Word spreading on campus

After that, it's up to landlords or property owners to ensure their balcony is safe and maintained.

Word about the woman's fall has spread at Dalhousie University, where she is a third-year engineering student.

Sara Jaber, a classmate, said the situation is awful.

"She was in critical condition. She got her spinal surgery, I think it was. And she was waiting for her brain to swell down," she said.

Unclear when balcony was last inspected

Moore Executive Suites owns the property. Company founder Tim Moore said his thoughts are with the family and added this was simply an accident.

When asked about the last time the balcony was inspected, he said he didn't know.

The property was purchased by the company three years ago.

Amina Abawajy, the Dalhousie Student Union's vice-president of academic and external, said it may be time for Halifax to consider "licensing landlords" to trigger regular inspections.

That's something the city of Toronto is considering.