Graduate Programs

Thank you for your interest in graduate studies in our department. Useful information about University admissions requirements and graduate study at the U of S can be found at the  College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR), and the  University of Saskatchewan Graduate Students Association. Requirements for admission of students to the College are formally published in the  University Calendar.

Admission to the Department of Biology is approved by the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) and CGSR. However, acceptance of an applicant is dependent upon a supervisor being available. Therefore, it is important that applicants contact individual faculty members in the department with whom they would like to work. Occasionally the supervisor and GSC may wish to interview an applicant before a final decision is made about admission.

On-line applications must be made through the College of Graduate Studies and Research website. However, a submitted application does  not guarantee admittance, nor does admission to the College of Graduate Studies  per se ensure that a student can undertake a graduate program in Biology. A shortage of space or funds, or lack of an available supervisor, may preclude admittance. Thus in order for us to pursue your inquiry further, the Department of Biology requests additional information regarding your academic background and experience beyond that required by the CGSR.

• How to Apply
• Requirements

Graduate Chair

1. Structure and Operation of Advisory Committees:

The Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) makes recommendations to the College regarding the composition of Ph.D. advisory committees and monitors the composition of M.Sc. committees. After a student has been admitted to the College, the supervisor will establish an advisory committee according to the following principles:

• The advisory committee for an M.Sc. student shall consist of the Head of the Department, who is normally chair of the committee, and at least two other faculty members from the Department. One or more members may be added from outside the Department.
• The advisory committee of a Ph.D. student shall consist of the Head of the Department, who is normally chair of the committee, and at least four other persons. At least two of these must be faculty members from the Department and at least one must be a faculty member from another university department. 

2. Program Approval and Research Proposal:

A student's program (i.e. research topic, coursework, etc.) will normally be approved at the first meeting of the advisory committee. This should take place no later than 6 months after the student first registers. The student will normally prepare a research proposal for the first or second meeting of the advisory committee. 

3. Monitoring Student Progress:

All advisory committees must meet at least once every six months to review the student's progress. Students must submit a written progress report at a minimum of one meeting per year. The GSC reviews the operation of advisory committees by receiving minutes of advisory committee meetings, which are subsequently kept on file.

Normally, during the course of his or her graduate career, decisions regarding any aspect of a student's work will be made by the student and the advisory committee together; such decisions will be communicated via the GSC to the College. Any recommendation concerning a student made by an advisory committee, the GSC or the Department may ultimately be appealed by the student to the Dean of the College. 

4. Course requirements:

Detailed requirements for graduate programs are published in the University Calendar and on the College website. Specific Department of Biology requirements are as follows:

M.Sc. Degree: For a fully qualified (non-probationary) candidate the minimum course requirement is 9 credit units of 800-level courses, selected to complete the student's graduate training. The courses should be in character for the student's field of specialization. There is a residency requirement of 24 months, or approval of advisory committee. Students must maintain continuous registration in the 990 and 994 courses.

Ph.D. Degree: A minimum of 9 credit units of 800-level courses, including any such courses taken at the M.Sc. level are required for students with recognized M.Sc. degrees in the same specialty. Students must maintain continuous registration in BIOL 990 and BIOL 996. Students must successfully complete qualifying and comprehensive examinations. There is a residency requirement of 36 months, or approval of advisory committee.

Academic standards: Students should obtain 70% in each course required specifically for their degree, and must obtain a cumulative weighted average of 70% for all their courses in this category.

Seminars: Biology 990 is a seminar course where each year graduate students present a research seminar and evaluate seminars given by their peers. All graduate students in the Department of Biology are required to give at least two  Biology 990 presentations. In addition to Biology 990 requirements, all Ph.D. students are required to present a seminar on their work in the regular departmental seminar series in their final year. Biology 990 also requires attendance at 75% or more of the seminars given in the Department's seminar series (link).

• Operations Manual
• Admission Requirements

The Department offers competitive graduate scholarships open to all graduate students. Graduate students may also be financed from faculty research grants and demonstrate in the laboratories of undergraduate biology classes. For more information about financial support, consult the College of Graduate Studies and Research website where you will find information about University scholarships and awards.

University Graduate Scholarships (UGS) and Graduate Teaching Fellowships (GTF)

The Biology Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) is responsible for annual competitions to award University Graduate Scholarships (UGS) and Graduate Teaching Fellowships (GTF), based on allocations to the Department. Students are not responsible for applying for UGS and GTF; the supervisors nominate students for these awards.  The awards are subject to regulations on period of eligibility for awards, academic standing, and service requirements. The UGS awards may be held for a maximum of two years by M.Sc students, three years by Ph.D students and four years by students transferring from M.Sc to Ph.D degrees. The corresponding times for GTF and UGS/GTF combinations are three, four and five years, respectively. Scholarship holders must maintain an average of 75% in their course work.

Biology Graduate Student Scholarships and Awards

The Biology Graduate Students Awards Committee (GSAC) is calling for applications for
the following internal graduate student awards/scholarships:

• Gary Bortolotti Graduate Award in Ecology or Animal Behaviour
• Hammer Limnology Scholarship
• Malcolm A. Ramsay Memorial Award
• PRT Cellfor Inc. Graduate Scholarship
• R. Jan F. Smith Memorial Award
• Vanterpool Memorial Travel Awards
• Taylor A. Steeves Graduate Award in Botany
• Sawhney Graduate Travel Awards in Plant Biology
• Hugh Boyd Scholarship in Waterbird Ecology

Details on these awards/scholarships can be found here.

• Graduate Scholarship and Awards