Program
Built around understanding people, places, and environments, graduate studies in Geography at the University of Saskatchewan explore both human and physical geography. The program is designed for students interested in environmental studies, planning, health, Indigenous Peoples, and natural resource questions. You will engage with geographically grounded research that addresses regional, Canadian, and global challenges.
Why study Geography at USask?
- Build research grounded in strong faculty expertise in hydrology, environment and natural resources, health, Indigenous Peoples, and urban and regional planning.
- Advance graduate study in a department with a long‑standing and active research tradition dating back to 1963.
Quick facts
-
Expected length Thesis-based Course-based M.A. 2 years M.Sc. 2 years Ph.D. 4 years - Degree requirements
- Class delivery in-person
- Supervisor approval recommended before applying
- Deadlines and admission details below
Illuminators in geographic research and understanding
Explore how places, environments, and societies connect across local and global scales. This program supports thoughtful, research‑driven inquiry into the geographic issues shaping communities and environments today.
Geography masters and Ph.D. research areas
The department supports graduate studies in both human and physical geography. Graduate training and research in the department focuses on:
- Environmental studies, policy, management, and assessment
- Geographic information science and remote sensing
- Hydrological and ecohydrological processes and modeling
- Landscape analysis and environmental change
- Regional and urban planning history and theory
- Housing, urban form, watershed, and transportation planning
- Indigenous and health studies
Faculty use a range of research methods including quantitative and modeling techniques as well as qualitative research techniques. Field work spans the country with well instrumented field sites in the Canadian North and the Rockies as well as selected urban and rural places across the country and internationally. The department is equipped with graduate student offices, laboratories, and research space for both the social and natural sciences with recent investments provided by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, University, and the Province of Saskatchewan. The department also shares the university commitment to develop partnerships between communities and the university and to engage in research projects that improve conditions for people living in the province.
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 |
|---|---|
| Paleontology; Quaternary geology; environmental history; marine biology; northern studies | |
| GIS; geography; health; navigation; spatial cognition | |
| Cumulative Effects Assessment; Environmental Impact Assessment; Food Security in Impact Assessment; Indigenous Approaches to Cumulative Effects Assessment; Mega-Project Development; Regional Assessment; Strategic Environmental Assessment | |
| Hydrometeorology; Isotope hydrology; Earth surface processes; Pedagogy | |
| Big data; Bus; Cycling; Data analytics; GIS; Operations; Planning; Rail; Social Equity; Streetcar; Transit; Transportation; Travel behaviour; Walking | |
| Catchment Science; Cold Regions Hydrology; Stable Water Isotopes; Runoff Processes; Stream Chemistry | |
| Grassland; remote sensing | |
| 20th Century; Indigenous; aboriginal; community; culture; disease; health | |
| Northern and Indigenous communities; cumulative effects assessment; energy policy; energy resources; environmental impact assessment; environmental planning and manaegment; environmental policy; renewable energy; strategic environmental assessment; sustainable mining | |
| Watershed Planning; indigenous; land use; urban; water | |
| Climate; hydrology; snow; water security | |
| Climate change; Coupled systems approaches; Rural, remote, marginalised communities; Water-health | |
| Indigenous urbanism; age-friendly communities; city planning; downtown; public space; urban design; urban geography | |
| Ecohydrology; Rocky Mountains; beaver; peatlands; water storage; wetand conservation |
Tuition and funding
Funding
All successful applicants for graduate studies in the department are considered for support or scholarship on the basis of merit. No separate application is required.
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.
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.
View 2026-2027 tuition and fees rates through the financial planning estimator tool. By June, tuition information on this website will be updated with 2026-2027 tuition and fee information.
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
- Academic record which shows promise of the ability to successfully pursue 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
- 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
- Academic record which shows promise of the ability to successfully pursue 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.e coursework required in Master's program)
- Adequate preparation to undertake research work
Application process and deadlines
Deadlines and important dates
Students who apply by December 2nd will have the greatest opportunity for scholarships.
| Start Term | Application Deadline |
|
September |
February 1 |
Submit an online 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.
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.
You may be required to submit the following documents:
- Research statement
Contact
Department of Geography & Planning
Kirk Hall
117 Science Place
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8
Graduate Chair
Dr. Ehab Diab
Email: ehab.diab@usask.ca
Graduate Administrator
Phyllis Baynes
Email: geography.planning@usask.ca
- Department of Geography & Planning
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements