Program

Application deadlines are the following for each program:

  • Musicology: February 1 for a fall term start
  • Music Theory: February 1 for a fall term start
  • Performance: April 1 for a fall term start, and October 1 for a winter term start
ProgramExpected LengthProject and/or thesisCourse based
M.Mus.2 years
M.A.2 years

Graduate degrees in music at the University of Saskatchewan are an opportunity for students to do intensive one-on-one study with experienced scholars and performing artists with particular specialties in piano, collaborative piano, voice, strings, brass, and woodwinds. Our conducting program centres on choral conducting or instrumental conducting depending on the goals of the student. Our musicology and theory programs focus primarily on 18th, 19th, and 20th century classical repertoire, though individual study paths may be possible in consultation with our graduate committee. For information about the Master of Music in Music Education, please go here.

Each program culminates in a project, recital, or thesis, depending on the discipline and degree. Courses are carefully tailored to each student by the graduate committee to complement studies in the major areas.

Generous graduate scholarships are available and are awarded on the basis of excellence and potential in the area of specialization. Teaching assistantships may be applied for and are awarded on the basis of proven competency in teaching.

The Department of Music offers programs in music theory, conducting, and performance leading to a Master of Music (M.Mus.) and in musicology leading to a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.

Our Master of Music in Performance is available for performers in piano, collaborative piano, voice, strings, brass, or woodwinds. The conducting M.Mus. in Performance may be completed with an emphasis in choral conducting or wind band conducting. This program requires 24 credit units and is project-based, culminating in a final recital in the area of study.

The M.Mus. program in music theory and the M.A. program in musicology require 15 credit units plus a thesis. Certain areas of concentration also include the successful completion of a comprehensive examination and a foreign language(s). The normal time for completion is two years, including a one-year residency.

A meaningful graduate experience is enhanced by participating in professional activities. Toward that end, the University of Saskatchewan offers the annual Fine Arts Research Lecture Series in Music, providing a forum for the exchange of scholarly ideas through the presentation of scholarly research in formal papers and lecture recitals prepared by both members of the Department of Music and guests from the national and international scholarly community.

Research supervisors

We recommend that you review the faculty list below to determine if a faculty member is doing research in an area that interests you before beginning a formal application. For other application inquiries, please contact Anna McKenzie at asg.gradapplications@usask.ca.

Name Research areas
Glen GillisConducting; music; music education; saxophone; wind orchestra
Amanda LalondeMusicology; 18th-20th century art music; ; performance and improvisation; gender; German musical culture; interdisciplinary approaches to music studes; early hip hop
Jennifer LangChoral; Conducting; Music Education; Music Engagement and Agency; Sociology of music education; informal music learning; intergenerational singing
Gregory Marion19th Century; 20th Century; Beethoven; Debussy; Duke Ellington; Schubert; chamber music
Veronique MathieuViolin; Viola; Chamber music; Contemporary music; Strings
Dean McNeillBaroque Trumpet; Brass; Bumper Crop; Classical; Composition; Creativity; Improvisation; SJO; Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra; University of Saskatchewan Jazz Ensemble; brass; classical music; education; jazz; jazz arranging; jazz composition; music; music education; trumpet
Darrin OehlerkingRCMP; conducting; music; music education; trumpet; wind orchestra
Kathleen Solose19th Century; 20th Century; Chamber music; adjudication; music; performance; piano; recitalist
Mark TseProfessional wind bands; wind band history; wind bands

Tuition and funding

Funding

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

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

  • Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English
  • A completed online 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 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 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 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

Application process

Find a supervisor

We recommend that you review the faculty list above to determine if a faculty member is doing research in an area that interests you before beginning a formal application. For other application inquiries, please contact Anna McKenzie at asg.gradapplications@usask.ca.

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: one to two pages describing your prior academic background, readiness to undertake the desired program, and the purpose/rationale for wanting to enroll in the program
  • Curriculum vitae or resume

For M.Mus. in Performance applications also include:

  • A comprehensive list of studied and performed works.
  • An audition (a live audition is preferred). If unable to perform a live audition, please provide links to audition videos, attach a compressed (zip) video file or send a DVD (by mail) made within the last 12 months (at least 45 minutes in length). Audition details here. If unable to upload due to size/format restrictions, please email to asg.gradapplications@usask.ca.

For M.Mus. in Theory and M.A. in Musicology applications also include:

  • Two writing samples (e.g. term papers) within the final two years of B.Mus. program (or equivalent), illustrating the applicant's methodology and research skills. [For M.Mus. in Theory, only one writing sample is required.]

Contact

Graduate Admissions
Department of Music
9 Campus Drive - Arts Room 518
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1

Graduate Chair
Jennifer Lang
Email: jennifer.lang@usask.ca

Application Admin Support
Anna McKenzie
Email: asg.gradapplications@usask.ca

Program Admin Support
Nadine Penner
Email: asg.graduateprograms@usask.ca