Program
The Environment and Sustainability programs at the University of Saskatchewan's School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) help students think beyond traditional disciplines to address urgent environmental and sustainability challenges. Learners gain interdisciplinary research experience and develop the skills needed to address complex global issues. Graduates are prepared to influence decision‑making and create meaningful change.
Why study Environment and Sustainability at SENS?
- Programs challenge students to integrate knowledge across disciplines to solve environmental and sustainability problems.
- Graduate students gain unique environmental learning and research experiences that build critical thinking for real‑world challenges.
- Learners explore scientific, technical, political, social, economic, and institutional factors shaping sustainability issues.
Quick facts
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Expected Length Thesis-based Course-based M.E.S. 2-3 years Ph.D. 4 years - Degree requirements
- Class delivery in-person
- Supervisor approval is required to apply
- Deadlines and admission details below
Groundbreakers in advancing sustainability solutions
You will immerse yourself in interdisciplinary learning that sharpens your ability to tackle complex environmental challenges. Here, you will grow as a researcher and changemaker ready to shape sustainable futures locally and globally.
Master of Environment and Sustainability (M.E.S.)
The MES is a thesis-based program that provides students with the opportunities and skills to advance their understanding of sustainability challenges in today's world. Education in complex problem-solving and the foundations of sustainability prepares students to play a significant role in knowledge generation, translation and decision-making. Students can explore the meaning of interdisciplinary research by considering a wide range of scientific, technical, political, social, economic and institutional factors that shape environmental and sustainability problems, their management and their potential solutions. For more information about the MES requirements, please visit the Program Catalogue.
Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability
This dissertation-based degree is for students who want an advanced education in researching 21st century sustainability challenges. Our PhD students attain a deep understanding of sustainability concepts while designing and implementing their own original research. These interdisciplinary scholars demonstrate excellence in their fields of study and are ready to become leaders in academia, industry, non-profit organizations and the public sector. For more information about the PhD requirements, please visit the Program Catalogue.
Research supervisors
Applicants must contact SENS faculty and secure a supervisor before submitting your application. We recommend reaching out to faculty whose research aligns with your interests before beginning the formal application. Applicants who do not secure a supervisor will not be considered, and the application will be deemed incomplete.
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Water quality, Eutrophication and algal blooms, Winter limnology, Aquatic ecology, Biogeochemical cycling, Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change | |
| Ecotoxicology; Exposure and risk assessment modelling; Effects of contaminants in aquatic organisms | |
| Indigenous co-management of resources and ecosystems; Polar bear-human conflicts; Wildlife and protected area management; Environmental governance | |
| Engineering geology; Geothermal energy; Groundwater modeling; Heat transport in porous media; Hydrogeochemistry; Hydrogeology | |
| Biological effects of environmental stressors; Environmental risk assessment; Aquatic ecology/fish biology; Development of bioanalytical techniques | |
| River deltas as complex social-ecological systems; Freshwater food webs; Contaminant biomagnification; Stable isotope analysis in ecology | |
| Analytical and environmental chemistry; Aquatic and wildlife toxicology; Ecological risk assessment; Human impacts on northern ecosystems | |
| Conservation biology; Plant population ecology; Vegetation science; Education for sustainable development | |
| Mining impacts; Metal bioavailability and toxicity in aquatic ecosystems; Sediment contamination; Water quality assessment; Pesticide ecotoxicology | |
| Surface water quality modelling; River ice processes; Climate change and river morphology; Flood and flood risk management | |
| Hillslope hydrology; Runoff processes and modelling; Isotope hydrology; Hydrological theory | |
| Comparative politics and policy around Indigenous relations; Energy and resource development; Renewable energy in northern and Indigenous communities | |
| Hydrologic models; Environmental and water resources systems planning and management; Surrogate modeling; Artificial intelligence; Machine learning | |
| Social dimensions of environment and sustainability; Gender, diversity and inclusion in environmental sectors; Forestry and Biosphere Reserves | |
| Environmental governance through collective action; Commons regimes; Migration-environment-development nexus; Local approaches to conservation | |
| Human dimensions of water security | |
| Catchment hydrochemistry; Ecosystem biogeochemical modelling; Wetlands; Biogenic greenhouse gas emissions; Climate change; Agricultural reservoirs | |
| Socioeconomic impacts of energy development; Relationships among individual behavior and economic and social outcomes in the context of climate change |
Tuition and funding
Funding
To be considered for potential scholarship funding, students must have obtained at least 80% in the last two years of undergraduate or graduate study.
Graduate students at USask can receive funding from a variety of sources to support their graduate education.
Tuition and fees
| Program | Canadian students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. - Environment and Sustainability per term | ||
| Master of Environment and Sustainability per term |
There are three terms per academic year: September to December, January to April, and May to August. Tuition is assessed each term for as long as the student is enrolled in their program.
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 2025 | Winter 2026 | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student fees | $578.45 CAD | $804.73 CAD | $36.75 CAD | $36.75 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
- 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 a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (e.g. 60 credit units)
- A four-year honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognized college or university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study
- Demonstrated ability for independent thought, advanced study, and research
- Written support of a faculty supervisor
- Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English.
- Master's degree, or equivalent, from a recognized university in a relevant academic discipline
- A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. coursework required in master's program)
- Demonstrated ability for independent thought, advanced study, and research
- Written support of a faculty supervisor
Application process and deadlines
Deadlines and important dates
Applications for the MES and PhD programs are open all year.
To be considered for a scholarship, completed applications should be received by the following dates:
| Start Term | Application Deadline |
| September | January 31 |
| January | June 30 |
| May | October 31 |
Submit an online application
International students - Master's and doctoral students applying for a study permit do not need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma students, as well as Visiting Research students studying over six months, still need a PAL. Review federal international study permit policies before you apply.
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 application fee: $125 for domestic students and $145 for international students. Your application will not be processed until payment is received.
Submit required documents
Note: Any application documents that are intended to be personal statements (e.g., Statement of Intent, Statement of Research, etc.) must be written by the applicant. Any such documents that appear to be produced by generative artificial intelligence (e.g., ChatGPT) may be rejected.
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.
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.
- Transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation.
For students who are required to provide proof of English proficiency:
- Completing a relevant test with the appropriate score is required 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.
In addition to the above official documents, please upload the following documents:
- A curriculum vitae or resume
- A research statement (one to two pages in length) that includes:
- Specific areas of interest that could lead to a thesis or project topic.
- A description of why the applicant wants to pursue research in the interdisciplinary context of the School of Environment and Sustainability.
- A description of any employment or study experiences that relate to the research interests described.
Contact
School of Environment and Sustainability
Room 326 Kirk Hall
117 Science Place
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8
Graduate Chair
Dr. Doug Clark
Email: sens.info@usask.ca
- School of Environment & Sustainability
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements