Once you’ve completed an online application and paid your non-refundable application fee, you will need to upload the following documents:

1. A Research Statement
2. A short CV or resumé
3. Writing Sample: Essays or term papers (samples of work), two in number. please note that the two required writing samples must be merged into one document for uploading.
4. Three letters of recommendation completed online by your referees.
5. Preliminary Statement of Marks of all university coursework up to the time of application (do not wait until you have received your final marks for the year). If you receive an offer of admission, you will then be required to have your official post-secondary transcripts sent directly from the institution to College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
6. Proof of English language proficiency (if required)

Generally admissions to the M.A. program for September of a given year are closed and prospective admissions have been identified around the middle of March, except for applications which have been held over for receipt of the transcript of final marks. This may happen if a deserving applicant has not quite attained a 70% before the final term of study. Thus, application materials should be received no later than the 15th of January. Admission to the M.A. program in January may be considered by the department. For further information, contact the Graduate Chair.

Proper spelling and grammar are important. We do not require you to have a thesis topic in hand, but we would like you to be as concrete and specific as possible in describing the nature of the research you would like to do for your thesis. There is no harm in outlining more than one area of interest, but do not write so as to give the impression that you are willing to do anything.

When applying to Archaeology program, your Research Statement should be two to three pages in length and:

• indicate the area of specialization within Archaeology in which you intend to study (see departmental website) and with whom you wish to work and why
• identification of a possible research problem and initial outline of the methodology required to conduct the research. Indicate why the topic is important to the field of study
• background experience and interests that will contribute to your proposed research

When applying to Anthropology program, your Research Statement should be two to three pages in length and:

• indicate the area of specialization or stream within Anthropology in which you intend to study (see departmental website), with whom you would prefer to work, and why
• identify a research issue or problem that you wish to study, and why it is important
• detail relevant background experience, education and training
• comment on your planned future academic and/or private sector ambitions, and how you feel our program will assist you as you move forward

Please choose your referees carefully. They should be academics who have substantial knowledge of your performance (two or more upper year courses), or supervisors of summer field work, for example. Business persons for whom you have worked in contexts unrelated to your academic plans are not suitable referees. You will need to have ready the names, positions and email addresses of your references at the time of completing your online application. After you have submitted your online application and paid the application fee, your referees are emailed a web link to complete their letter of recommendation online. Paper copies of letters of recommendation sent to the department will not be accepted.

University of Saskatchewan students requesting letters of recommendation from U of S faculty are requested to provide the faculty member with the following:

• Copy of statement of intent
• U of S unofficial transcript

Preliminary Statement of Marks

• Once you have submitted your application for admission and paid the application fee, you will be required to upload 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 should be a copy of a transcript issued by the university or college.
• 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 only be required once you have been 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. Official documents in electronic format are preferred and should be sent directly from the issuing institution to the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS) at grad.documents@usask.ca. Please note, the CGPS must be able to verify that the documents are being sent to our office by the issuing institution. Alternatively, CGPS will accept official documents in hard copy. Official documents must be sent directly from the issuing institution to CGPS at:

College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies – Admissions
116 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place, University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5C9, Canada

• 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.

At the end of the application, you will need to pay a non-refundable $120 application fee. It is recommended that you pay online with a credit card. If you do not pay online when completing your application, you will need to use an alternate form of payment. Your application will not be processed until payment is received.