Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see an answer to one of your questions here, please email your question to the graduate secretary.

Q:

 I was not able to pay my application fee when I completed my application.  How do I pay it now?

A:

If you are unable to complete your credit card payment online, please review other payment options.

If you do not have access to a credit card, the $90 fee may be paid in Canadian dollars by cheque, money order or bank draft. These may be made payable to “University of Saskatchewan" and submitted to: Student and Enrolment Services, 105 Administration Place, Saskatoon SK, Canada S7N 5A2.

Q:

 Do I qualify for admission to your graduate program?
A: Admission requirements vary depending on which country you are from and what your educational background is. Please visit the Admissions Information page and review the admission and language requirements.

Q:

Do I need to take a TOEFL or IELTS test to prove English language proficiency?
A:

If you are an international student, it’s likely you will need to provide proof of English language proficiency as outlined by the College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR). 

If you have successfully completed a degree, for a minimum of three consecutive years, in an English speaking country, or in an institution where the language of instruction was English, your English language requirement may be considered fulfilled. Click here to view a list of eligible countries and institutions.

Domestic students are not, of course, required to prove English language proficiency.  Permanent residents, however, will still have to follow the guidelines above. Test results are valid for 2 years, so if you have taken a TOEFL or IETLS more than 2 years before your application date, you will need to retake an English proficiency exam and provide the current results.

Q:

My overall English language proficiency score meets the minimum requirement, but I have scored below the required minimum in one area (reading, writing, speaking or listening).  Do I need to retake the test?
A:

Students with an overall score that meets the requirements, but with a remedial minimum in only one area (reading, writing, speaking or listening), may be admitted. This requires the recommendation of the academic unit, and approval from the College of Graduate Studies and Research. The student will be required to take a remedial part-time English class during their first term.  The rememdial minimum for TOEFL IBT is 18 and IELTS is 6.0.

Even if you meet the remedial minimum requirements, we will often recommend that you retake your TOEFL or IELTS test if there is sufficient time before admission so that you can present a passing score and do not have to take a part-time English class during your first term.  Taking this class can cause inconveniences with your schedule and costs approximately $320 CDN, which is an extra cost to the student beyond the normal tuition and student fees. 

Q:

Can I submit a paper-based TOEFL test?
A: Yes, either paper-based or internet-based (iBT) TOEFL results are acceptable.

Q:

I have recommendation letters my professors gave me when I finished my degree.  Can I send these for the 3 letters of recommendation you need?
A: When you apply online, you will be required to submit the names and email addresses for three referees.  After you complete your application, an electronic link will be sent to your referees asking them to submit a reference for you.  This is our preferred method of receiving recommendation letters so please do not submit paper references.

Q:

Can I apply for January admission?
A: Generally, our department only accepts new students in the September term.  Occasionally a Ph.D. student may be admitted to the January term, but this is at the discretion of the proposed supervisor and subject to approval by our Graduate Chair.
   

Q:

Is there a deadline to apply?
A: You can find our current deadlines on the Admissions Information page.

Q:

How do I apply?
A: First make sure you qualify to apply for admission by ensuring you meet the admissions and language requirements listed on the Admissions Information page. Next, apply online. 

Q:

Do I need to find a supervisor before I apply?
A: This is not necessary; however, it is a good idea to investigate the research being conducted by our faculty and their graduate students.  You may contact faculty by email before applying, but most faculty will not seriously consider a candidate for the research group without seeing a completed application first. It is in your best interest to ensure there is at least one faculty member whose research group you are seriously interested in joining before you apply. 

Q:

Is there any funding for new students, or do I have to apply for a scholarship?
A: All students admitted to our graduate program are offered a stipend intended to cover educational and living expenses (for one person, not a family).  You can find more information about this on the Financial Support page.

Q:

Are there any courses to be taken in the graduate program?
A: All students are required to complete a minimum number of courses for both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs. Please visit the Degree Programs page to see the requirements for each program.

Q:

I don’t understand how the grade calculation works with the admission requirements.  Can you explain it to me?
A: CGSR has determined grade equivalencies for many countries, and what we generally do is calculate an average for the last 2 years of your post-secondary education based on the grading system at your university.  We then take that average and convert it to our grading system using calculators provided to us by the College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Q:

What if I apply and don’t get in?  Can I reapply for the next term or next year?
A: If you are not offered admission for the upcoming term, usually the fall, you can request that your application be held for consideration for the next year’s intake.  You will not need to reapply, pay another application fee, or provide further documents to hold your file open.  The only exception to this will be if your English proficiency test is out of date (more than 2 years old) by the time your application is reconsidered.  The graduate secretary will let you know if you need to retake the test to be considered for admission.