Program
February 1st is the deadline to apply if you wish to begin the program in September and be considered for funding. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the department but will not normally be considered for funding. No January admission intakes.
| Program | Expected Length | Project and/or thesis | Course based |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.A. | 1-2 years | ||
| Ph.D. | 4 years |
The Department of English provides graduate training in literary studies towards M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Nearly 30 faculty supervise graduate work in a variety of areas:
- American
- Canadian
- Decolonizing
- Digital humanities
- Indigenous
- Literature by women
- Theory
- Medieval, Renaissance, Restoration/Eighteenth Century
- Nineteenth Century
- Modern British
- Cultural and media Studies.
The M.A. program offers either a thesis-based or a project-based option, requiring students to do course work and fulfil a language requirement (for the thesis option), and to complete and be examined on a thesis or a project. The Ph.D. program requires students to do course work, fulfil a language requirement, pass a Field Exam, and to propose, complete and be examined on a dissertation. The M.A. program is normally one to two years of work, and the Ph.D. takes a minimum of four years.
Students have access to resources provided by the Digital Research Centre, and the Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Program.
Research supervisors
It is helpful, but not required, to identify potential supervisors before you begin an application. Please read through list below to learn about the research interests of our faculty.
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Cultural Studies; Literature; United States; culture; film; nuclear; science | |
| Creative Writing; Ecocriticism and Environmental philosophy; Contemporary poetry and poetics; | |
| Aboriginal; Metis; indigenous; literature; storytelling; writing | |
| England; Wales; feud; literature; medieval | |
| 20th Century American Literature; Gender Studies; Masculinities; Popular Culture; Film; Periodical Studies | |
| 19th Century; Canada; culture; literature; poetry | |
| 17th century; England; Iceland; literature; proverbs | |
| Victorian Literature and Culture; Disability Studies; Children's Literature; Periodical Studies; | |
| 19th century; 20th century; American Studies; American literature and culture; Critical Indigenous Studies; Genre fiction; Indigenous North American literatures; Law and literature | |
| British literature; Early modern; Renaissance; Shakespeare | |
| English; digital humanities; history; language; literature; medieval; technology | |
| Autobiography; Feminist Theory; Queer Theory; Transnational Feminisms; Trauma and Resilience | |
| Creative writing; culture; feminist theory; gender; poetry | |
| Dorothy L. Sayers; England; Modernism/Modernity; Scholarship of Teaching and Learning; The Motor-Car; Virginia Woolf | |
| 18th century; London; cultural studies; digital humanities; history of science & technology; history of the book; literature; print culture | |
| John Donne; Renaissance; book history; cabinets of curiosities; cultural history; digital; digital humanities; early modern; literature | |
| British literature; United States; fiction; life writing; literature; poetry | |
| Augustine; Chaucer; John Donne; allegory; dream visions; early modern; history of science; medieval philosophy | |
| African Literatures; Caribbean Literatures; Postcolonial Literature; Transnational and Diasporic Literatures; Trauma Theory | |
| Chaucer; Dante; Digital humanities; editing | |
| Adaptations; Apocalyptic and dystopian fiction; Canada; Canadian literature; Feminism; Popular culture; Sequels; Travel writing; gender | |
| British Romanticism; Book History; Digital Humanities; Transatlantic Romanticism; Women's Writing | |
| United States; guitar; hypertext; literature; poetry | |
| Critical theory; linguistics; literature; translation | |
| 20th Century; Adrienne Rich; Ana Castillo; Annie Dillard; Catholic; Chimamanda Adichie; Mary Gordon; Simone Weil; Toni Morrison; attention; contemporary; ethics; feminism; gender; life writing; postcolonial; postmodern; redemption; religion; representation; suffering; theory; women; women writers | |
| Canada; Comparative Literature; Cultural Studies; European Studies; Film; Ireland; Minority languages; Quebec |
Tuition and funding
Funding
Upon admission each student is automatically considered for all forms of available funding, which may include scholarships, teaching fellowships, and various bursaries. No separate application is necessary. Most M.A. students are funded at some level during their first year of study.
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 completed on-line application, the application fee, and all supporting application documents; application requirements, instructions and deadlines can be found on the department website.
- A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70%** (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (e.g. 60 credit units)
- A four-year honours degree in English, or equivalent, from a recognized college or university
*Competitive applicants normally have language proficiency scores higher than the minimum standards set by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The department does not currently accept Duolingo scores to assess English language proficiency.
**Normally, applicants become competitive with a minimum average of 75% overall and 80% in English
To qualify unconditionally for admission into the M.A., you should have the equivalent of an Honours B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan. This is a degree with 10 full-year courses (or equivalent) in English literature and criticism, covering a wide range of historical periods and critical approaches. The minimum admission requirement for anyone studying under the British system is an Upper Second.
If your academic preparation is not equivalent to the University of Saskatchewan Honours B.A., you may be recommended for admission as a probationary student. If so, the Graduate Committee may require you to take one or more undergraduate courses in specific areas, and get a minimum of 70% in each. You will not be eligible for funding during the qualifying or probationary period.
To be eligible for the M.A. program, you must show an undergraduate average of at least 70% (or its equivalent).
- 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 completed on-line application, the application fee, and all supporting application documents
- A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70%** (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of full-time study (e.g. 60 credit units)
*Competitive applicants normally have language proficiency scores higher than the minimum standards set by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The department does not currently accept Duolingo scores to assess English language proficiency.
**Normally, applicants become competitive with a minimum average of 80%.
For admission into the Ph.D., you must have successfully completed an M.A. (courses with thesis, or courses only) deemed equivalent to a USask M.A.
If your academic preparation is judged not equivalent to the University of Saskatchewan M.A., you may be recommended for admission to the MA, or as a probationary qualified Ph.D. student. In the latter case, you may have to take one or more courses in specified areas. Ph.D. applicants must indicate a proposed area of research. Acceptance depends on supervisory resources being available in that area.
Ph.D. applicants are encouraged to describe (in the covering letter) the graduate work they have done so far, and to propose a plan of study.
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.
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:
- Statement of Intent/Research Proposal: The statement of intent/research proposal should include your choice of program, research proposal, and why you wish to study at USask. It provides the admissions committee invaluable information for assessing your application. A research proposal tells the committee what your intended research topic is, and gives an indication of your preparedness to undertake a graduate degree if you are accepted to the program. It does not have to be long—a page or two should be sufficient. It should be as specific as possible. For example:
- what are you hoping to research (what is your research question or hypothesis)?
- which specific authors and works (or in the case of a cultural studies approach, which specific issues) do you aim to study?
- what is the context (period, locale)?
- what is the theoretical/methodological framework you intend to use?
- who might be a good supervisor for this research, and why?
- Writing Sample: The writing sample should be a recent essay or chapter of a thesis that demonstrates your writing and research skills. There is no word or page limit.
- A CV or resumé: The curriculum vitae or resumé should include education and a brief written description of previous relevant course work, employment, and relevant training and life experience. It should also list all publications and colloquia or research presentations, or other public talks related to the discipline.
Contact
Graduate Admissions
Department of English
9 Campus Drive, Arts Room 518
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5
Graduate Chair
Dr. Ann Martin
Email: ann.martin@usask.ca
Application Admin Support
Anna McKenzie
Email: asg.gradapplications@usask.ca
Program Admin Support
Nadine Penner
Email: asg.graduateprograms@usask.ca
- Department of English
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements