Program
Applications are accepted year round. Students may begin in September or January each year.
| Program | Expected Length | Project and/or thesis | Course based |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Sc. | 2 years | ||
| Ph.D. | 4 years |
The College of Pharmacy and Nutrition offers master’s (M.Sc.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degree programs in pharmaceutical sciences, and in advanced clinical and community practice. Graduate students in our College are presented with the extraordinary opportunity of creating new knowledge, advancing the field of pharmacy and becoming agents of change in improving health quality locally, nationally and internationally.
There is a wide range of potential specializations available. Current faculty areas of expertise include drug and vaccine delivery, medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, bio‐technology, molecular biology, nanotechnology, pharmacokinetics, clinical pharmacy, pharmacy education, pharmacoeconomics and pharmaco‐ epidemiology. The college is involved in the Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program as well.
Please note that for most graduate study in the clinical pharmacy area, students must be eligible for licensure as a Pharmacist in Saskatchewan.
Research supervisors
Applicants must be accepted by a faculty supervisor before beginning a formal application. Applicants must contact faculty who have research topics that align with their interests. Please be aware that our faculty receive numerous emails from prospective students every week so you may not receive a response if you are not selected.
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Pharmacokinetics, Drug Metabolism, Drug Discovery, Natural Products, Ontogeny of Systemic Clearance, Drug and Nutrient Transporters | |
| Drug delivery; nanotechnology; pharmaceutics | |
| Adherence, Pharmacist interventions, Drug utilization, Health Outcomes | |
| Immuno and radiation therapy of cancer and infection, radioprotectors for astronauts and cancer patients | |
| Patient assessments of quality; pharmacy practice | |
| Pharmaceutical analysis; analytical spectrometry; targeted metabolomics; biomarker discovery | |
| Multiple sclerosis, pharmacoepidemiology | |
| Absorption and health effects of Prairie fruits | |
| Nanotechnology, PLGA Nanoparticles, Cancer Vaccines, Targeted Cancer Therapy | |
| Mental health, addictions concurrent disorders, pharmacy practice, knowledge translation | |
| Pharmacy practice, medication management services, primary care, chronic pain management | |
| Xenobiotic metabolism of naturally occurring phenols; reactive intermediates; radiochemistry; biological chemistry probe design | |
| Molecular pharmacology, G-Protein-coupled receptors, cannabinoids, neurogeneration, drug discovery | |
| Solid organ transplantation, adverse effects of immunosuppression, medication adherence, patient education and interprofessional education | |
| Diabetes, pharmacy practice | |
| Organizational theory, behaviour, and structure, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, management of/in community pharmacies, marketing, | |
| Analytical mass spectrometry, untargeted metabolomics, ion mobility-mass spectrometry instrument development, veterinary drug residues, polyphenols | |
| Target prioritization, Mechanisms and Pathways, Breast cancer | |
| Self-medication; factors influencing patient counseling; patient education | |
| Cancer Genomics; Synthetic Lethality and the selective killing of cancer cells; Genome instability; shRNA and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technologies; | |
| Advanced drug delivery systems, physical pharmacy, nanomedicine, lipid-based drug delivery, preclinical drug development | |
| Protein crystallography, PCP biodegradation pathway, sphingolipid metabolic pathway, cancer genetics, and antimicrobial agents |
Tuition and funding
Funding
Admission to the graduate program does not imply financial support. Obtaining scholarship funding is very competitive. A limited number of University Graduate Scholarships (UGS) are available each year. Graduate Teaching Fellowships (GTF) and Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) may also be available.
National granting councils (e.g. CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) and a number of other private or publicly funded agencies and organizations offer merit based fellowships and scholarships. Faculty members who hold research grants or external contracts may be in a position to offer Research Assistantships to their graduate students. Other potential sources of funding include endowment awards, varying in conditions and values.
Graduate students at USask can receive funding from a variety of sources to support their graduate education.
Tuition
Thesis or project-based master's program
Graduate students in a thesis or project-based program pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program.
| Term | Canadian students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| September 1 - December 31, 2024 | ||
| January 1 - April 30, 2025 | ||
| May 1 - August 31, 2025 | ||
| Total per academic year |
Doctoral program
Doctoral students pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program. Both international and domestic Ph.D. students pay the same rate.
| Term | |
|---|---|
| January 1 - April 30, 2025 | $1,726.00 CAD |
| May 1 - August 31, 2025 | $1,726.00 CAD |
| September 1 - December 31, 2024 | $1,726.00 CAD |
| Total per academic year | $5,178.00 CAD |
Student fees
In addition to tuition above, students also pay fees for programs like health and dental insurance, a bus pass, and other campus services. The amount you need to pay depends on if you are taking classes full time or part time, and if you are on campus or not. The table below assumes you are on campus full-time.
| Fall 2024 | Winter 2025 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student fees | $504.45 CAD | $666.08 CAD | $35.00 CAD | $35.00 CAD |
Tuition information is accurate for the current academic year and does not include student fees. For detailed tuition and fees information, visit the official tuition website.
Admission requirements
- Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English
- A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. 60 credit units)
- A four-year honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognized college or university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study
- Evidence of ability to pursue advanced study and research
- Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English
- Master’s degree, or equivalent, from a recognized university in a relevant academic discipline
- A cumulative weighted average of at least a 75% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. coursework required in master’s program)
- Evidence of the ability to pursue advanced study and research
Application process
Find a supervisor
Using the list above, find a potential supervisor, read about the work they are currently doing and their past publications. If you think you'd like to work with them, contact them and describe your research interests and past academic experience. If they are accepting students, they will instruct you to begin a formal application.
Submit an online application
Before beginning your online application, be sure that you have carefully reviewed all program information and admission requirements on this page.
During the application, you'll be asked for:
- Personal information such as your name, address, etc.
- Contact information of your three referees
- For your letters of recommendation, two of your referees must be academic contacts, and the third may be academic or professional
- Your complete academic history from all previous post-secondary institutions
The application takes about 30 minutes to complete. You may save your application and return to it later.
At the end of the application, you will need to pay a non-refundable $120 application fee. Your application will not be processed until payment is received.
Submit required documents
Once you've submitted your online application, you will have access to upload your required documents, and provide the contact information for your references. To do this, go to the "Supplemental Items & Documents" tab in your application, and upload the documents outlined below.
Preliminary Statement of Marks
- Once you have submitted your application for admission and paid the application fee, you will be required to upload unofficial PDF copies of your academic transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended. This requirement will appear as Preliminary Statement of Marks or Additional Prelim. Statement under admission requirements on your Application Summary when you check your application status.
- The uploaded transcript can be an unofficial copy of the transcript issued by the university or college, and must include a grading key/legend.
- All pages of a transcript must be uploaded as a single PDF document.
- Uploaded transcripts will be considered unofficial or preliminary. Official copies of your transcripts will be required only for applicants offered admission. This requirement will appear as Post-secondary Transcript under admission requirements on your Application Summary when you check your application status.
Post-secondary Transcripts
If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to have your official post-secondary transcripts sent (by mail in a sealed envelope directly from the institution) to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them.
College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Room 116 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK CANADA S7N 5C9
- Transcripts usually indicate the institution’s name, grading scheme (typically on back of transcript), your name, course names, numbers, credits, and the grades you have received. Depending on the country or institution, some features may not be available.
- Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
- If you are a current University of Saskatchewan student completing your undergraduate program then a letter of completion of degree requirements will be required from your college.
Proof of English language proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English.
For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:
- It is your responsibility to have completed an official and approved test with the appropriate score before the application deadline.
- Tests are valid for 24 months after the testing date and must be valid at the beginning of the student's first term of registration in the graduate program.
- Applicants will be required to upload a PDF copy of any required language test score. Uploaded test scores will be considered unofficial or preliminary.
If you receive an Offer of Admission you may be required to have your official language test scores sent to the address below. Please do not send official documents until we request them.
College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Room 116 Thorvaldson Building - 110 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK CANADA S7N 5C9
In addition to the above official documents, please upload the following documents:
- Curriculum vitae or resume: including publications, familiarity with research equipment, research-related experience and other relevant information
Contact
College of Pharmacy & Nutrition
2A20.1 Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Avenue
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5
Graduate Administrator
Simone Downer
Email: grad-pharmacy-nutrition@usask.ca
Graduate Chair
Roy Dobson
- College of Pharmacy & Nutrition
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements