Applications for the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs are accepted year-round.

Program

Terms start in September, May and January. International applications should be completed (and student accepted) at least three months prior to the start of the term to allow time for processing of student visa documents.

ProgramExpected LengthProject and/or thesisCourse based
M.Sc.2 years
Ph.D.4 years

Saskatchewan is known as the "bread basket of Canada," referring to its strength as a primary producer of agricultural commodities and its contributions to agro-biological science and biotechnology. These areas extend the scope of agriculture to food and bioproducts. The Food and Bioproducts Sciences Department has two streams of research: food science and applied microbiology. Food Science applies principles from chemistry, biology, microbiology and engineering to the study of food and the development of food technology and to non-food uses of agricultural materials.

Faculty interests include:

  • Value-added crop utilization
  • Novel techniques to detect food adulteration
  • Lipid quality and utilization
  • Food nanotechnology
  • Food enzymology
  • Meat quality
  • Microbial bioproducts
  • Lipid biotechnology
  • Food and environmental microbiology
  • Protein quality and utilization
  • Mycology, microbial biotechnology and bioproducts.

The Department of Food and Bioproducts is housed in the state-of-the-art College of Agriculture building, a prominent edifice on the beautiful USask campus. This research-driven unit focuses on small class size, ready access to and help from faculty supervisors, and hands-on experiential training in numerous high-caliber facilities, including: food and bioproduct chemistry and analysis laboratories; food microbiology laboratories; molecular and environmental microbiology laboratories; product development and sensory evaluation laboratories; biotechnology research facilities; and food and bioproduct processing facilities.

Research supervisors

We recommend that you contact the faculty that are doing research in an area that interests you before beginning a formal application.

Name Research areas
Bishnu AcharyaCellulose-based biomaterials, biochemicals and nanocomposites; Thermochemical and biochemical conversion technologies
Yongfeng AiCarbohydrate quality and utilization, dietary fiber, crop quality and processing.
Christopher EskiwNutrigenomics, Molecular Geontology, Genome Organization
Supratim GhoshFood nanotechnology
Darren KorberMetagenomics and proteomics of biofilm communities in dense clays, microbial stress response and antimicrobial resistance, encapsulated probiotics,
Michael NickersonProtein quality and utilization
Xiao QiuMolecular biology and biotechnology of nutraceuticals, bioactive lipids and industrial biochemicals.
Takuji TanakaEnzyme structure-function relationship studies, Enzyme utilization in food and bioproduct processing
Haixia ZhangFood -omics (proteomics & metabolomics), Effect of processing on food macro- and micro-nutrients, Food authenticity, food contamination

Tuition and funding

Funding

Students accepted into the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs receive financial support from their supervisor’s research funds. Students are also able to apply for academic awards and funds to support the student experience.

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:

Minimum* level of financial support for students in a thesis-based Master's program
Two years of funding at $18,500/year
Minimum* level of financial support for students in a Doctoral program
Three years of funding at $22,000/year

* 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 $1,644.00 CAD $3,699.00 CAD
January 1 - April 30, 2024 $1,644.00 CAD $3,699.00 CAD
May 1 - August 31, 2024 $1,644.00 CAD $3,699.00 CAD
Total per academic year $4,932.00 CAD $11,097.00 CAD

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

  • 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)
  • Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English
  • A four-year honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognized college or university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study

With the recommendation of the unit, direct entry Ph.D. admission is available to exceptionally strong students, who show great promise in terms of academic accomplishments and potential for research.  

  • 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 80% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of full-time undergraduate study (i.e. 60 credit units of course work)
  • A four-year honours, or equivalent, from a recognized university in a relevant academic discipline 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 full-time study (i.e. coursework required for master's program)

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.

Uploading documents

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.

Uploading documents

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/letter of intent
  • Curriculum vitae or resume

Contact

Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences
51 Campus Drive
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8

Graduate Chair
Supratim Ghosh
Email: supratim.ghosh@usask.ca

Graduate Administrator
Ann Harley
Email: fabs.gradstudies@usask.ca