Our graduate program is one of the best in Canada. It features 24 full-time faculty, a prestigious research chair, approximately 40 graduate students, and competitive funding packages.

Our alumni have a long track record of success in both the public and private sectors. Our alumni regularly receive offers for tenure-track positions and desirable jobs in archives, government, administration, law, and consulting.

The Department of History has thesis-based MA and PhD programs. We specialize in eight signature research areas, but can accommodate a wide range of topics.

Signature Research Areas

• Indigenous History
• Environmental History
• Prairies and the North American West
• Health, Medicine, Science, and Occultism
• History and Politics of Memory
• Gender and Sexuality
• Colonial and Post-Colonial Histories
• Twentieth-Century Politics, Culture, and Foreign Relations

Graduate students in our department have access to incredible opportunities. We boast the Digital History and Historical Geographical Information Systems (HGIS) Lab and embedded support structures for community-engaged research. The specifics of our program, including our MA and PhD Handbooks, can be found on our resources page.

The Department of History offers graduate courses leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and Research Funding

Departmental and College Funding

The Department of History offers competitive funding packages for Master’s and Doctoral students. MA students usually receive $17,500 per year for two years.  PhD students receive guaranteed funding of $25,000 per year for 4 years.

Major Awards

SSHRC Graduate Scholarships

Students applying to MA and PhD programs in History are encouraged to also apply for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council scholarships. Please be advised that the SSHRC deadlines are in the fall.  October for PhD and November/December for MA.  In addition, the Department of History and the College of Graduate and PostDoctoral Studies (CGPS) both provide generous top-up funding for those who hold SSHRC scholarships.  If applying for the MA SSHRC scholarship, students must submit applications on-line directly to SSHRC by December 1. If applying for the PhD SSHRC scholarship, students must submit their applications and supporting documents to the History Department in late October (check with the Department for specific deadline). Students enrolled outside the U of S should apply to SSHRC through their home institutions. Students not currently enrolled at a university should apply directly to SSHRC in Ottawa.

For more information for applying for SSHRC can be found at  www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca or contact Robert Englebert, Director of Graduate Studies in History.

Dean's Scholarships

Eligible Canadian and International PhD students who have outstanding academic records and show research promise can apply for Dean’s Scholarships. $24,000 per year for 2 years.  For additional details see:  Dean's Scholarship 

Indigenous Graduate Leadership Awards

Indigenous Graduate Leadership Awards are open to Canadian Indigenous students at the MA or PhD who demonstrate leadership through active community engagement and/or involvement. MA $20,000 per year for 2 years. PhD $24,000 per year for two years.  For additional details see: Indigenous Graduate Leadership Award

Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowships

These fellowships are awarded by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies to eligible Ph.D. students within the first 5 years of their programs. Preference is given to students who have completed their course work and comprehensive examinations. Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellows receive $20,000 for one year, during which they receive training in university teaching and deliver an undergraduate course under the guidance of a faculty mentor.  For additonal details see:  Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowship.

Departmental Graduate Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement to support graduate students who show excellent promise as researchers and teachers. Eligible Master’s students receive approximately $20,000 per year and eligible PhD students receive $24,000 per year. Scholarship holders are required to provide up to 12 hours of service to the History Department.

Renewal of these scholarships is based on satisfactory academic performance, service to the Department, and maintenance of full-time status.

Departmental Teaching Assistantships

Under the supervision of a faculty instructor, teaching assistants are responsible for conducting undergraduate seminars and grading essays over the regular academic session from September to April at an hourly wage. See   current pay rates here  

Folklore Graduate Fellowship in History

The recipient of this fellowship receives a stipend of approximately $15,000 per year for 2 years and works 10 hours per week as the editor of  Folklore Magazine. 

 

Teaching Awards

Graduate Instructor Award

Value: $250 each
Number: One
Description: The Graduate Instructor Award serves as a merit based award for Masters and PhD students who taught a 3-cu class. The instructional committee will meet annually in May to determine a winner based on teaching done during the preceding academic year. The award will be determined based on SEEQ evaluations, teaching materials provided by nominated instructors, and letters of support from faculty and students.
Eligibility: Open to Masters and PhD students who have taught a 3-cu class in the past year.
Apply: No application necessary

Outstanding Seminar Leader Award

Value: $250 each
Number: One
Description: The Outstanding Seminar Leader Award serves as a merit based award for Masters and PhD students who led a seminar section during the previous year. The instructional committee will meet annually in May to determine a winner based on teaching done during the preceding academic year.
Eligibility: Open to Masters and PhD students who led a seminar discussion during the previous year.
Apply: No application necessary

Memorial Awards

Student Research Travel Funds

Graduate students may apply to the department for research travel funds to assist with completing their research.

Student Research Travel Funds are a combination of the Department’s support and four memorial awards; the Terrance L. Cameron Awards, the Hallett Research Awards, the Messer Canadian History Fund, and the Arthur Silver Morton Memorial Travel Scholarships. 

Eligible applicants include History MA and PhD students, as well as 4th year undergraduates from the following departments:  Department of History, Department of Political Studies, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Department of Indigenous Studies. 

Deadline to apply: February 1. Please download and complete the  History Research/Travel Awards Application. Submit completed applications, including a one-page itemized budget, to  asg.studentawards@usask.ca.

Elizabeth and Cecil Kent Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Kent Postdoc competition is open to early career scholars working in the field of British History and/or the history of the British world.  The fellowship is tenable for two years and includes an annual research allowance. The competition normally takes place every two years, with applications submitted to the Department in February; the fellowship begins the following September.  Recent fellowship winners Kristine Alexander (2012) and Matthew Dziennik (2014) have gone on to tenure-stream positions at universities in Canada and the USA. Applicants must have completed all the requirements for a PhD in history by August 31 of the award year, and must be willing to reside in Saskatoon during the fellowship.

Other Sources of Funding

Eligible graduate students may also find additional sources of funding and professional training once admitted into the program, such departmental teaching assistantships, research assistantships, teacher-scholar doctoral fellowships, and other departmental awards

Eligible graduate students are also considered for scholarships provided by the Canada Research Chair in the History of Health and Social Justice.

Other Awards

Information on University and Tri-Agency Scholarships and awards can be found: https://grad.usask.ca/funding/scholarships.php#University 

Other awards can be found at the Graduate Awards database: http://grad.usask.ca/awards/