Program
Join a dynamic, research-intensive graduate program at the University of Saskatchewan, where you'll explore the fundamental forces of nature and contribute to groundbreaking discoveries.
Why choose USask for Physics and Engineering Physics?
- Engage in meaningful research that advances global scientific understanding
- Access world-class facilities including Canada’s only synchrotron
- Collaborate with internationally recognized faculty and research teams
- Thrive in a supportive academic environment with a focused graduate community of 60–70 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students
- Work closely with your supervisor, participate in all aspects of research, and be recognized for your contributions, ensuring excellent training and professional growth.
Quick facts
-
Expected Length Thesis-based Course-based M.Sc. 2 years Ph.D. 4 years - Degree requirements
- Class delivery in-person
- Supervisor approval recommended before applying
- Deadlines and admission details below
Innovators in global discovery
From climate and space-weather prediction to breakthroughs in clean energy, advanced materials, medical technologies, and fundamental physics, our researchers tackle the world’s most pressing challenges—driving discovery, innovation, and a better quality of life.
Physics and Engineering Physics Master's and Ph.D. research areas
The research activities of our faculty members and research scientists include strong international collaborations. The research specialties of our department include experimental, observational or theoretical aspects of the following fields:
- Atmospheric physics
- Advanced materials/Data research
- Synchrotron radiation research
- Subatomic physics
- Plasma physics
- Solar-terrestrial physics
- Nuclear materials and transmutations
Major physics research facilities at the University of Saskatchewan include:
- Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPL)
- Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies (ISAS)
- Subatomic Physics Institute (SPIN)
- Canadian Light Source (CLS) Synchrotron Facility, Canada's only synchrotron
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 |
|---|---|
| Atmospheric coupling; Aurora; Ionospheric Physics; SuperDARN | |
| Accelerator physics; particle accelerators; synchrotron radiation | |
| Atmospheric & Space Physics; OSIRIS; aerosols; atmosphere; optical instruments; radiative; space-based remote sensing; stratosphere | |
| Plasma Physics; Precision measurements; fundamental physics; metrology; nano-devices; silicon | |
| Advanced Materials/Devices Research; Graphene electronics; Magnetic semiconductors; Organic electronics; Photovoltaics; Spintronics | |
| Physics of contrast mechanisms such as diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI); Diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI); Soft tissue contrast characterization; X-ray optics research; Synchrotron and conventional imaging systems | |
| Plasma physics; nanoparticles; plasma crystals; waves | |
| Atmospheric & Space Physics; OSIRIS; aerosols; light; optical; stratosphere; troposphere | |
| Astroparticle Physics; Dark Matter; Gravitation and Cosmology; Materials Physics; Particle Physics; Quantum Optics; Subatomic Physics | |
| Gauge-gravity holography; Higher-dimensional gravity; Kerr-CFT correspondence; M-theory; Physics of black holes; Quantum gravity; Supergravity; Supersymmetry | |
| Condensed Matter Physics; Materials Science; Quantum Materials; Strongly Correlated Electron Systems; Synchrotron Spectroscopy and Scattering | |
| Atmospheric & Space Physics; flow; ionosphere; plasma; radar; waves | |
| Atmospheric & Space Physics; Ionosphere; Magnetospheric Physics; convection; plasma; radar | |
| Condensed Matter Physics; Electronic Structure; Materials Science; Materials Science with Synchrotron Radiation; Synchrotron-based spectroscopy; band gap engineering | |
| Conceptual Foundations of Physics; Food and Agricultural Materials Treatment with X-rays; Medical Imaging; Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics; Physics Education; Subatomic Physics; radiation; sub-atomic world | |
| Quantum MRI; Space MRI; astrophysics; imaging and modelling of ovarian physiology | |
| Plasma Physics; astrophysical; fusion; ionosphere; magnetics; plasma; space; waves | |
| Condensed Matter Theory | |
| Chemistry-Climate interactions, Atmospheric dynamics, Oceanic trace gases in the atmosphere, Satellite observations of atmospheric composition | |
| Aerosols; Atmospheric & Space Physics; Atmospheric Radiative Transfer; Climate; Climate Modelling; Volcanic Eruptions | |
| CLS; High performance computing; Sycnhrotron and Neutron; computational physics; energy materials; neutron; radiation; superconductivity | |
| Materials, Surfaces and Nanostructures; NEXAFS; Physical Chemistry; Surface Science; X-ray absorption spectriscopy; X-ray microcopy; synchrotron | |
| Diagnostics; Injector; Operation; Plasma Physics; Transport; fusion; plasma | |
| Condensed matter physics; crystallography; quantum chemistry; synchrotron spectroscopies |
Tuition and funding
Funding
Full financial support is available for well-qualified applicants. Financial support for graduate students in our department is provided by the combination of various scholarships and research grants from students' thesis supervisors.
Ph.D. students enrolled in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics are guaranteed a minimum stipend of $20,000/year for 4 years. This guaranteed funding is contingent upon the student maintaining standard academic requirements for the Ph.D. program.
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 |
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 |
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
- 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)
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 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 and deadlines
Deadlines
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Submit an online application
International Students - Review federal international study permit policies before you apply. We do not anticipate that the implementation of the PAL process will limit graduate enrollment at USask.
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.
Relevant supplementary information in support of your application
After we receive your completed application package, if you haven’t yet confirmed a supervisor, it will be shared with our faculty members. If a faculty member is interested in supervising your research, they will contact you directly. If we’re unable to match you with a supervisor, the Department will follow up to let you know the outcome of your application.
Contact
Department of Physics and Engineering Physics
116 Science Place
Room 163
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2
Graduate Chair
Email: phys-engphys-gradchair@usask.ca
Graduate Administrator
Debbie Gjertsen
Email: debbie.gjertsen@usask.ca
- Department of Physics & Engineering Physics
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements