Program
Applications are currently being accepted for the upcoming Spring (May) term. The deadline for international students to apply by is November 30th. The deadline for domestic students is January 31st. All applications must be submitted prior to the deadline and be marked "Complete" to be considered. All Incomplete applications will be declined. Your application will be marked as 'Complete' once all required supplemental items, excluding English Test Results, and all 3 letters of recommendation are received. Outcomes will be communicated to applicants approximately two months after the deadline.
| Program | Expected Length | Project and/or thesis | Course based |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Sc. | 2 years | ||
| Ph.D. | 4 years | ||
| M.Eng. | 2 years |
Our university is located in Saskatchewan, a province known for its agricultural production and advanced research in agro-biological science and engineering. In this program you'll be able to study and conduct research in:
- Agriculture machinery design
- Sensors and instrumentation for agriculture and biological systems
- Agricultural building environments
- Soil and water management
- Cold-regions hydrology
- Postharvest and food process engineering
- Value-added bioprocessing
- Biomass and bioenergy
You'll also benefit from the close relations our faculty have with the following industry and research partners:
- Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute
- Institute for Agricultural Rural and Environmental Health
- Prairie Swine Centre Inc.
- National Hydrology Water Research Center
- Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Development Centre
- Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre
- POS Bio-Sciences
Research supervisors
This program requires you to have a supervisor. Gaining entrance into this program is a competitive process and we recommend that you reach out to potential supervisors directly.
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Cellulose-based biomaterials, biochemicals and nanocomposites; Thermochemical and biochemical conversion technologies | |
| Efficient Extraction of Bioactive Components; Radio Frequency Heating; Food and Biomaterial Processing; Heat and Mass Transfer; Reaction Kinetics; Ultrasound, Pulsed Electric Field; Process Design and Optimization; Food Safety and Quality | |
| Livestock transport; Animal welfare; Livestock production | |
| Chemical Reaction Design; Heterogeneous Catalysis; Biomass and Bioenergy; Petroleum Processing; Materials Synthesis and Characterization; Gas Processing; Hydrotreating; Sustainable Energy; Value-added processing; Nanotechnology; Gasification; Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis | |
| HVAC; Air quality control; Environment control for agricultural buildings; Air emission and dispersion monitoring and modelling | |
| Atmospheric boundary layer processes; Energy and mass transport in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum; Irrigation | |
| Post-Harvest Processing; Food / Bio-process Engineering; Bioproducts and Biomaterials; Techno-economics and LCA for Circular Economy; Technology Entrepreneurship | |
| Engineering economics; Biomass, conversion technology, bioproducts, bioprocesses; Biosystems technoeconomic analysis, engineering economics; Biosystems life cycle assessment; Circular economy; Technology entrepreneurship: emerging technologies for bioproducts | |
| Spectroscopy; Hyperspectral Imaging; Machine Vision; Process Monitoring; Pneumatic Conveying; Agricultural Machinery | |
| Improvement in indoor air quality and reduction of odour and gaseous emissions from pig barns | |
| Agricultural machinery, virtual prototyping, crop/soil flow modelling | |
| Value-added Processing; Storage and Drying of Crops; Biomass; Pelleting; Forage Process Engineering; Biofuels; Feed Processing; Post-harvest Technology | |
| Fluidization and Multiphase Flow Systems; Clean Energy and Sustainability; Biomass and Bioenergy; Reaction Engineering; Electrostatics in Particulate System Handling; Process Intensification; PEM Fuel Cells; Green Polymers; Particle Technology |
Tuition and funding
Funding
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has a number of graduate teaching or research opportunities available and your supervisor may have funding from their research grants for eligible students. When you speak with potential supervisors about the research you would like to do, ask about funding opportunities.
Most thesis-based graduate students in the College of Engineering receive funding during their studies (e.g., scholarships, stipends, awards, research fellowships and teaching assistantships). Some typical funding levels are:
Stipends and scholarships:
- $14,000-$18,000/year (M.Sc.)
- $18,000-$22,000/year (Ph.D.)
Teaching assistantships (employment governed by the PSAC agreement):
- Average of $2,500/student/year (50% of students receive teaching assistantships)
College of Engineering awards:
- Average of $3,500/student/year (10% of students receive awards)
Graduate students at USask can receive funding from a variety of sources to support their graduate education.
Tuition
Master’s students in a thesis or project-based program pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program.
Master’s project-based (M.Eng.) program
| Program | Canadian students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Engineering per term |
Master’s thesis program
Graduate students in a thesis 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
- 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
- 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
Before you apply
Please visit our department's website to familiarize yourself with the program details.
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.
Frequently asked questions
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:
- Research Statement (free format, one-to-two pages in length)
Contact
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Engineering Building Room 1A01
57 Campus Drive
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9
Graduate Chair
Lope Tabil
Email: engr.blegradchair@usask.ca
Graduate Administrator
Graduate Commons
Email: engrgrad.inquiries@usask.ca
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements