Program
December 15 is the deadline to apply if you wish to begin your program in September.
| Program | Expected Length | Project and/or thesis | Course based |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.Sc. | 2 years | ||
| Ph.D. | 4 years |
Pursuing a graduate degree in statistics opens excellent career possibilities across academia, industry and key professional sectors, including healthcare, epidemiology, and agriculture. These sectors increasingly seek individuals with knowledge of statistical tools and techniques. Statistics is central to the field of data science, where statistical techniques drive large-scale computation and data analysis and intersect heavily with machine learning and deep learning. Statistics has a wide impact on society as well—it is used in social sciences and humanities to justify or verify key findings and conclusions.
The Master of Science (MSc) degree in Statistics at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will train you to become a professionally competent statistician equipped to work in business, industry and public service positions. Also, the MSc program is a perfect choice if your area of specialization is in a field in which you regularly apply statistics and will provide you with an opportunity to study statistics at the graduate level. This degree will also prepare you with the academic foundation needed to pursue the study of statistics at the doctoral level.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Statistics is intended for students with strong mathematical and statistical backgrounds who are wishing to pursue research-oriented careers in academia or industry.
Both the MSc and PhD programs are thesis-based. They require the completion of theses or dissertations that report upon original research efforts. The PhD thesis in particular should make an original research contribution to the field.
Possible topics for your MSc thesis or PhD dissertation include most areas of statistical theory and application. The interests of our expert faculty supervisors include:
- Analysis of big omics data
- Applied statistical methods
- Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo
- Bioinformatics
- Biostatistics
- Environmental statistics
- Linear models
- Longitudinal data analysis
- Machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence
- Missing data and measurement error problems
- Queuing networks and applied probability models
- Statistical computing
- Statistical inference
- Statistical machine learning
- Statistical physics
- Stochastic processes
- Survival data analysis
Research supervisors
Our faculty are unable to directly admit you to a program or to review your supporting application documents. We kindly request that you do not send application documents or supporting materials to faculty unless they request you to do so.
Please submit your application with supporting documents, along with paying the application fee, to undergo a formal review for admission through our graduate committee.
While it is not necessary to find a potential supervisor before you apply to a program, you may contact our faculty to express your interest in their research and inquire about their potential availability to supervise you.
If you are admitted, we will assign a supervisor to you. We will take into account the research interests you indicated in your application package and the research needs of our faculty.
We welcome you to list in your application the faculty members whose research areas interest you.
The following list represents our current faculty, their expertise, and the research they might be interested in supervising:
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Mohamad Alwan | |
| Gary Au | Discrete Optimization; Combinatorics; Graph Theory; Mathematics Education |
| Murray Bremner | Algebraic operads; Computer algebra; Grobner bases; Linear algebra; Mathematics; Nonassociative algebra; Polynomial identities; Representation theory |
| Shahedul Khan | Bayesian Statistics; Biostatistics; Changepoint Data Analysis; Joint Modeling; Longitudinal Data Analysis; Recurrent Event Data Analysis; Survival Analysis |
| Bill Laverty | Computer Security; Experimental and Sampling Design; Multivariate Statistics; Spatial Statistics; Statistics; Time Series Analysis; applied statistical method |
| Longhai Li | Bayesian Classification and regression; Bioinformatics; Machine learning; Monte Carlo methods; Statistics; applied statistics; health; statistics in finance; statistics in genomics; statistics in health |
| Juxin Liu | Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methodology; Statistics; epidemiology; errors-in-variable models; genetics; integration models; missing data analysis; remote sensing; spatial statistics |
| John Martin | Mathematics; fixed point sets; knot theory; theory of retracts; topology |
| George Patrick | Applied Mathematics; Hamiltonian systems with symmetry; classical mechanics; geometric mechanics; mathematical physics; numerical simulation; structure preserving numerical simulation |
| Steven Rayan | Algebraic geometry; Algebraic topology; Differential geometry; Enumerative geometry; Higgs bundles; Integrable systems; Invariant theory; Mathematical physics; Mirror symmetry; Moduli spaces; Pure mathematics; Quantum matter; Quiver varieties; Representation theory; Symplectic geometry; Vector bundles |
| Ebrahim Samei | Banach algebras; Mathematics; harmonic analysis; operator spaces |
| A. F. Shevyakov | Applied Mathematics; Mathematical Modelling; Non linear PDE Models; Symbolic and Numerical Scientific Computation; Symmetry methods |
| Chris Soteros | Bioinformatics; Combinatorics; Computer Simulation; Monte Carlo simulation; Statistical Mechanics; Statistics; polymers |
| Artur Sowa | Applied Mathematics; mathematical modeling; mathematical physics; nascent quantum technologies |
| Ray Spiteri | High-performance computing; mathematics; optimization; problem solving; software |
| Raj Srinivasan | Applied probability; Markov chains; Queueing networks; Queueing theory; Statistics |
| Jacek Szmigielski | Applied Mathematics; integrable systems; inverse problems; lie theory; mathematical physics |
| Jiun-Chau (JC) Wang | Free convolution; Free probability; Mathematics; functional analysis; probability |
| Alexander Weekes | Affine Grassmannians; Algebraic geometry; Combinatorial representation theory; Coulomb branches; Geometric representation theory; Mathematical physics; Poisson geometry; Pure mathematics; Quiver varieties; Representation theory; Symplectic geometry |
| Curtis Wendlandt | Affine quantum groups; Kac-Moody Lie algebras; Mathematical physics; Pure mathematics; Quantization; Representation theory; Toroidal Lie algebras; Yangians |
| Li Xing | Analysis of Big Data, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, Bayesian Methods, Longitudinal Data Problem, Biostatistics, Experiment Design |
Please note that there are faculty in other units that may be able to supervise MSc or PhD dissertations in Statistics. Such arrangements will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Tuition and funding
Funding
We strive to offer financial support to the majority of our graduate students in eligible programs. In the course of their application and admission, students are advised about the possibility of financial support and particular funding opportunities.
Financial support for graduate students is normally offered in the form of Graduate Teaching Fellowships (at least $19,000 CAD for MSc and $22,000 CAD for PhD). The department automatically considers all eligible applicants for this funding.
Applicants who are successfully admitted to the program are encouraged (and in some cases required) to apply for external funding, if eligible.
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 | ||
| January 1 - April 30, 2024 | ||
| May 1 - August 31, 2024 | ||
| 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 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
Admission is competitive and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission or funding.
Admission is also subject to the availability of resources and funding, which are shared across the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Decisions for admission are made by the graduate committee in consultation with the department to ensure an equitable and effective use of resources.
- 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 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. 60 credit units).
- A four-year honors 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 master's degree, or equivalent, from a recognized university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study; under no circumstances may a prospective student holding a bachelor's degree be admitted directly into a Ph.D. program.
- A cumulative weighted average of at least 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. coursework required in master's program).
Application process
Before you apply
For detailed information on how to apply to this program, please visit the Mathematics and Statistics application procedures page. We have also designed some Frequently Asked Questions to help students in all stages of the 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.
After submission, if you find that you need to correct or replace the name or email address of one or more of your reference letter writers, please contact stat.grad@usask.ca with the updated information and we will update the information on your behalf.
We recommend that you pay your application fee online at the time of application to avoid delays in the processing of your application.
The Biostatistics program is offered by the School of Public Health, and it is not administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. If you apply for Biostatistics, we will not receive your application.
If you want to be considered for both programs, you will have to submit two separate applications.
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:
- A research statement including a detailed description of your research interest(s). The Graduate Committee will carefully read this document to help ascertain your suitability for the intended graduate program and your fit with potential supervisors' research areas.
In the statement, please include if you are interested in the thesis-based MSc program or the PhD program.
Contact
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Room 142 McLean Hall
106 Wiggins Road
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E6
Graduate Chair
Dr. Chris Soteros
Email: stat.grad@usask.ca
Graduate Administrator
Email: stat.grad@usask.ca
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements