Program
January 15th is the deadline to apply if you wish to begin the program in September.
| Program | Expected Length | Project and/or thesis | Course based |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Sc. | 2 years | ||
| Ph.D. | 4 years |
Use advanced theoretical and empirical methods in applied economics to study real world problems in the field of agriculture and food. Our department's areas of specialization are:
- Natural resource economics
- Environmental sustainability and evaluation
- International trade policy
- Supply chain management
- Public policy and regulation
- Farm business management
- Economics of technological change
- Rural development
- Agri‐food marketing
- Food safety and quality
- Agricultural production economics
Research Facilities
USask is home to many specialized research facilities to help you with your project. The Canadian Rural Economy Research lab uses state of the art GIS packages to study rural Canada. The Social Sciences Research Laboratories provide access to shared research infrastructure and technical support while enabling community engaged research.
Our Community
Our department has a strong relationship with our provincial government and other academic units on campus such as the Global Institutes for Water and Food Security, the Indigenous Land Management Institute, and the Sustainable Beef Systems Research Group. These relationships will connect you and your research with others in related fields.
We also have a strong tie to the National Aboriginal Land Managers Association and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. These relationships allow us to partner with Indigenous peoples locally and across the country.
Research supervisors
It is not necessary to find a potential supervisor before you begin an application. The list below though may be helpful to learn about the research interests of our faculty.
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Kenneth Belcher | Ecosystem goods and services; Natural resource and environmental policy; Land conservation; Wildlife and biodiversity conservation |
| Richard Gray | Genomics and agricultural innovation; Agricultural and environmental policy; Grain marketing and transportation |
| Hayley Hesseln | Environmental Economics, Forestry economics, Resource economics |
| Jill Hobbs | Supply chains, Consumer behaviour, Food policy |
| Sabine Liebenehm | Development economics, Behavioral and experimental economics, Social networks, Poverty and vulnerability analysis, Socioeconomic impact assessment |
| Patrick Lloyd-Smith | Environmental and resource economics, Non-market valuation, Water resources, Consumer behaviour, Ecosystem services |
| Eric Micheels | Farm and agribusiness management, Agribusiness marketing, Entrepreneurship, Agricultural finance |
| David Natcher | Economic anthropology, Water, energy and food (WEF) security, Arctic sustainable development, Indigenous natural resource management |
| James Nolan | Transportation economics and policy, Regulatory economics, Computational economics, Experimental economics |
| Tristan Skolrud | Agri-environmental policy, applied microeconomics, farm-level decision making, agricultural finance |
| Peter Slade | Adoption of novel foods, Social economics |
| Stuart Smyth | GM crops, regulation, sustainability |
| Nicholas Tyack | Economics of genetic resources and biodiversity, Agricultural innovation, Environmental and development economics, Experimental economics |
Tuition and funding
Funding
All students accepted will receive financial support from their supervisor's research funds. When contacting faculty about research projects, ask about funding available.
All students registered in thesis-based graduate programs within departments in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources receive a minimum level of funding at the beginning of their programs. Students are also eligible to receive other funding (e.g. scholarships and employment) in addition to these levels.
The minimum funding levels are as follows:
* This is a college-level minimum duration and annual funding level. The department-specific minimum levels may be greater than these. Consult the department websites available here.
Any questions about the minimum levels of funding and durations can be directed to danielle.baron@usask.ca.
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, 2023 | ||
| January 1 - April 30, 2024 | ||
| May 1 - August 31, 2024 | ||
| 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 PhD students pay the same rate.
| Term | |
|---|---|
| January 1 - April 30, 2024 | $1,644.00 CAD |
| May 1 - August 31, 2024 | $1,644.00 CAD |
| September 1 - December 31, 2023 | $1,644.00 CAD |
| Total per academic year | $4,932.00 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 2023 | Winter 2024 | Spring 2024 | Summer 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student fees | $497.88 CAD | $659.51 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
- background training including training in mathematics, statistics, economic theory, and econometrics
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Submission of the GRE is recommended for all applicants. Applicants who have not earned a degree from Canada or the USA are required to submit a GRE.
- 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 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. coursework required in master's program)
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Submission of the GRE is recommended for all applicants. Applicants who have not earned a degree from Canada or the USA are required to submit a GRE.
Application process
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.
For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:
- It is your responsibility to have completed a relevant 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:
- A statement/letter of intent outlining your research interests
- A curriculum vitae or resume
- Your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
Contact
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Rm 3D34 - 51 Campus Drive
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8
Graduate Chair
Peter Slade
Email: peter.slade@usask.ca
Graduate Administrator
Email: are.gradprogram@usask.ca
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements