Program
The Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan spans the breadth of biomedically relevant research, from molecular genetics and cellular neuroscience to microanatomical imaging and pharmacology and prepares you for lifelong careers in basic or clinical biomedical sciences.
Why choose USask?
- Access world-class facilities, including Canada’s only synchrotron.
- Work alongside leading researchers in diverse biomedical fields.
- Join collaborative research groups and interdisciplinary teams.
- Prepare for careers in academic, clinical, and industry settings.
Quick facts
-
Expected Length Thesis-based Course-based M.Sc. 2 years Ph.D. 4 years - Degree requirements
- Class delivery in-person
- Supervisor approval recommended before applying
- Deadlines and admission details below
Groundbreakers in Biomedical Science
Driving breakthroughs from molecular genetics to advanced imaging and pharmacology that transform health and medicine. You’ll explore the foundations of life, uncover mechanisms of disease, and contribute to research that shapes clinical practice and improves lives worldwide.
Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology M.Sc. and Ph.D. research areas
Our faculty members lead research across a wide spectrum of biomedical science, including:
- Classical anatomical sciences
- Medical imaging anatomy
- Neurobiology and neurochemistry
- Cellular and developmental biology
- Molecular biology and cancer
- Cardiovascular and endocrine pharmacology
- Clinical pharmacology
- Neuropharmacology and psychopharmacology
Research is supported by specialized facilities such as the Canadian Light Source (Canada’s only synchrotron), Cameco MS Neuroscience Research Centre and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) enabling cutting-edge discoveries and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Research supervisors
Before applying, we recommend contacting a potential supervisor whose research areas align with your interests. Share your academic background and research goals. If they are accepting students, they will instruct you to begin a formal application.
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Inflammation, inflammasome assembly, Hyperinflammatory Pulmonary Diseases, Cystic Fibrosis, Molecular Biophysics, Quantitative analyses, Cell Biology | |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
| Neuromodulators, glial cells, and neurodegeneration | |
| Physical anthropology, primate biology and evolution | |
| Diabetes Mellitus, Neuropathy, Oxidative Stress, Electrophysiology | |
| Adenosine receptor signaling in brain diseases, biology of breast and brain cancer | |
| Physics of contrast mechanisms such as diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI); Diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI); Soft tissue contrast characterization; X-ray optics research; Synchrotron and conventional imaging systems | |
| Asthma | |
| Cardiac development, Congenital heart defects, Inherited cardiac arrhythmia, Developmental genetics, Cardiac function, Ca2+ signaling | |
| Bone aging, adaptation and disease 3D Imaging Synchrotron Science | |
| Endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, diabetes, preventive strategies against hyperfructosemia, oxidative stress | |
| Skeletal development, evolution and regeneration; Use of cutting edge techniques in molecular genetics; Synchrotron imaging; 3D bioprinted tissue engineering; Comparative transcriptomics | |
| Osmoregulation, Ca2+ channels | |
| Molecular mechanisms that determine cancer invasiveness and metastasis | |
| Animal behaviour; Biorobotics; Insect; Neuroethology; Neurophysiology; Neuroscience | |
| Behavioural neuroscience, psychiatric illness, stress, brain | |
| Cystic fibrosis, Synchrotron, Airway disease, Fluid transport | |
| Cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery; Synchrotron imaging | |
| Identifing effective fracture prevention strategies for children and older adults; The role of physical activity on bone strength | |
| Nerve-tumor interface, Nerve regeneration, Cancer biology, Self-renewing resident macrophage in the nervous system | |
| Gene Therapy for Long Term Myocardial Protection, Hypertension, Atherosclerosis, Oxidative stress, Hyperhomoysteinemia | |
| Multiple Sclerosis, Neuroinflammation, Neurological Disorders, Neurodegeneration, RNA Binding Proteins, RNA Metabolism | |
| The role of intracellular signaling molecules in leukocyte recruitment and transendothelial migration | |
| Integrin-mediated signaling in placental development. Role of small stress proteins in uterine muscle function during pregnancy. | |
| Developmental Origins of Health and Disease; Indigenous Health and Wellness; Behavioural Neuroscience | |
| Enzyme inducers on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, Medical and Dental Anatomy curriculum designing, steroid effect on different organs | |
| Neurochemistry and molecular biology, early life determinants as risk factors for Alzheimer disease, clinical depression | |
| Neuroscience, Pain, Nociception, Animal welfare | |
| Orthotics; Neuroprosthetics; Instrumentation for assessing neurological recovery; Neurophysiological effects of sports training and relationship to rehabilitation | |
| Health sciences | |
| Target prioritization, Mechanisms and Pathways, Breast cancer | |
| Oxidative stress, heart injury, pharmaco-proteomics, Novel intracellular function of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in heart injury | |
| Clinical trials and basic research in the field of immunosuppression and inflammation | |
| General Respirology, Sleep Medicine, | |
| Excitotoxicity-induced neuronal apoptosis, Lipid Neurobiology, Designing bioactive short peptides | |
| Nerve Injury and Repair Mechanisms , Role of Neurotrophic Molecules | |
| Radiological examinations of mummies | |
| Cancer Genomics; Synthetic Lethality and the selective killing of cancer cells; Genome instability; shRNA and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technologies; | |
| Immunometabolism, Obesity, Lipid metabolism, Diabetes, and Stress biology | |
| Lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, gastrointestinal physiology, pathophysiology of metabolic disorders (obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome) |
Tuition and funding
Funding
Research supervisors are responsible for assisting students with obtaining funding during their program. This may come from scholarships, teaching assistantships, or from the supervisors' own research grants. When you speak with potential supervisors about the research you would like to do, ask about funding opportunities.
Graduate students at USask can receive funding from a variety of sources to support their graduate education.
Tuition and fees
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, 2025 | ||
| January 1 - April 30, 2026 | ||
| May 1 - August 31, 2026 | ||
| Total per academic year |
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 2025 | Winter 2026 | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student fees | $578.45 CAD | $804.73 CAD | $36.75 CAD | $36.75 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.
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 | |
|---|---|
| September 1 - December 31, 2025 | $1,812.00 CAD |
| January 1 - April 30, 2026 | $1,812.00 CAD |
| May 1 - August 31, 2026 | $1,812.00 CAD |
| Total per academic year | $5,436.00 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 2025 | Winter 2026 | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student fees | $578.45 CAD | $804.73 CAD | $36.75 CAD | $36.75 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
- Demonstrated ability for independent thought, 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 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. coursework required in master’s program)
- Demonstrated ability for independent thought, advanced study, and research
Application process and deadlines
Deadlines and important dates
There is no set deadline for applying to this program, but you will need to find a supervisor before beginning your application.
Submit an online application
Please ensure that you have received specific approval to apply to this program from a research supervisor before submitting your application.
International Students - Master’s and doctoral students applying for a study permit do not need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma students, as well as Visiting Research students studying over six months, still need a PAL. Review federal international study permit policies before you apply.
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 application fee: $125 for domestic students and $145 for international students. 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.
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.
- Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
- Your curriculum vitae or resume should be a one or two page concise summary of your skills, experience and education.
- A curriculum vitae or resume is essentially your full academic and professional profile. It should include a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honours, affiliations and other details.
- Applicants will be required to upload a PDF copy of their curriculum vitae or resume.
For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:
- Completing a relevant test with the appropriate score is required 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.
Contact
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
GA20, Health Sciences Building
107 Wiggins Rd
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5
Graduate Programs Administrator
Email: app.grad@usask.ca
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements