Program
The Statistics graduate programs at the University of Saskatchewan prepare students to become skilled statisticians ready to make meaningful contributions across research, industry, and society. Designed for those seeking strong theoretical and applied training, these thesis-based M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs build expertise for careers in data-driven fields or further academic research.
Why choose USask for Statistics?
- Learn within a research-intensive environment with internationally-renowned faculty.
- Explore thesis topics spanning statistical theory, applied methods, machine learning, biostatistics, and more.
- Benefit from strong supervisor mentorship and high-quality graduate courses that support specialized research.
Quick facts
-
Expected length Thesis-based Course-based M.Sc. 2 years Ph.D. 4 years - Degree requirements
- Class delivery in-person
- Supervisor approval not required to apply
- Deadlines and admission details below
Groundbreakers in statistical discovery
Unlock the power of data through rigorous training and innovative research that prepares you to solve complex problems across disciplines. At USask, you will join a vibrant community where curiosity drives discovery and your work can help shape decisions in science, industry, and society.
Statistics master's and Ph.D. research areas
Graduate students in Statistics work in a collaborative research environment where theoretical development, advanced computation, and applied problem-solving come together. Students engage in thesis-based research that strengthens their analytical abilities and prepares them to contribute to diverse scientific, industrial, and societal challenges.
Faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics support students across a wide spectrum of statistical inquiry, with active research programs that include both foundational methods and interdisciplinary applications. Students in the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs may pursue projects across many areas of modern statistics and often work closely with supervisors whose expertise spans multiple research directions.
Key research areas include:
- Analysis of big omics data
- Applied statistical methods
- Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo
- Bioinformatics
- Biostatistics
- Environmental statistics
- Linear models
- Longitudinal data analysis
- Machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence
- Missing data and measurement error problems
- Queuing networks and applied probability models
- Statistical computing
- Statistical inference
- Statistical machine learning
- Statistical physics
- Stochastic processes
- Survival data analysis
Research supervisors
Although you do not need to find or contact a potential supervisor before applying, you may reach out to express your interest in their research and ask about possible availability. If you are admitted, a supervisor will be assigned based on both faculty research needs and the interests you outline in your application, and you are welcome to list any faculty whose work aligns with your own. The following list shows our current faculty, their expertise, and the research areas they may supervise:
| Name | Research areas |
|---|---|
| Control Theory; Disease Models; Hybrid Dynamical Systems; Ordinary, Delay, and Stochastic Differential Equations | |
| Discrete Optimization; Combinatorics; Graph Theory; Mathematics Education | |
| Experimental Design; Trustworthy AI; Causal Inference; Social Networks | |
| Teaching and Learning of Mathematics | |
| Bayesian & MCMC methods; Biostatistics; Changepoint analysis; Computational statistics; Joint modeling; Survival & event-history analysis | |
| Brain disorder disease; microbiome data; model diagnostics; statistical machine learning | |
| Markov chain Monte Carlo methods; epidemiology; errors-in-variable models; genetics; infectious disease modeling; item response theory; microbiome data; missing data analysis; spatial statistics | |
| Applied Mathematics; Hamiltonian systems with symmetry; classical mechanics; geometric mechanics; mathematical physics; numerical simulation; structure preserving numerical simulation | |
| Philosophy of Language; Philosophy of Mathematics | |
| Algebraic geometry; Algebraic topology; Differential geometry; Enumerative geometry; Higgs bundles; Integrable systems; Invariant theory; Mathematical physics; Mirror symmetry; Moduli spaces; Pure mathematics; Quantum Computing; Quantum Information; Quantum algorithms; Quantum matter; Quiver varieties; Representation theory; Symplectic geometry; Vector bundles | |
| Banach algebras; Mathematics; harmonic analysis; operator spaces | |
| Biological Applications; Complex Fluid and Plasma Flows; Mathematical Modelling; Nonlinear Materials; Symbolic and Numerical Scientific Computation; Symmetry Methods and Exact Solutions of Nonlinear Models | |
| Bioinformatics; Combinatorics; Computer Simulation; Monte Carlo simulation; Statistical Mechanics; Statistics; polymers | |
| Applied Mathematics; mathematical modeling; mathematical physics; nascent quantum technologies | |
| Applications to Hydrology; Bioinformatics; Electrophysiology; Numerical Analysis; Optimization; Plasma; Quantum Materials; Scientific Software; Scientific and High-performance Computing (with actors); Weather Prediction | |
| Applied probability; Markov chains; Queueing networks; Queueing theory; Statistics | |
| Applied Mathematics; integrable systems; inverse problems; lie theory; mathematical physics | |
| Free Probability; Random Matrix | |
| Affine quantum groups; Kac-Moody Lie algebras; Mathematical physics; Pure mathematics; Quantization; Representation theory; Toroidal Lie algebras; Yangians | |
| Analysis of Big Data, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, Bayesian Methods, Longitudinal Data Problem, Biostatistics, Experiment Design |
Please note that there are faculty in other units that may be able to supervise M.Sc. or Ph.D. dissertations in Statistics. Such arrangements will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Tuition and funding
Funding
We strive to offer financial support to the majority of our graduate students in eligible programs. In the course of their application and admission, students are advised about the possibility of financial support and particular funding opportunities.
Financial support for graduate students is normally offered in the form of Graduate Teaching Fellowships (at least $21,000 CAD for M.Sc. and $25,000 CAD for Ph.D.). The department automatically considers all eligible applicants for this funding.
Applicants who are successfully admitted to the program are encouraged (and in some cases required) to apply for external funding, if eligible.
Graduate students at USask can receive funding from a variety of sources to support their graduate education.
Tuition and fees
Thesis or project-based master's program
Graduate students in a thesis or project-based program pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program.
| Term | Canadian students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| September 1 - December 31, 2025 | ||
| January 1 - April 30, 2026 | ||
| May 1 - August 31, 2026 | ||
| Total per academic year |
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.
Doctoral program
Doctoral students pay tuition three times a year for as long as they are enrolled in their program. Both international and domestic Ph.D. students pay the same rate.
| Term | |
|---|---|
| September 1 - December 31, 2025 | $1,812.00 CAD |
| January 1 - April 30, 2026 | $1,812.00 CAD |
| May 1 - August 31, 2026 | $1,812.00 CAD |
| Total per academic year | $5,436.00 CAD |
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 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. 60 credit units).
- A four-year honors degree, or equivalent, from a recognized college or university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study.
- Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English.
- A master's degree, or equivalent, from a recognized university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study; under no circumstances may a prospective student holding a bachelor's degree be admitted directly into a Ph.D. program.
- A cumulative weighted average of at least 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. coursework required in master's program).
Admission is competitive, and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission or funding. Because resources and funding are shared across the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, admission decisions are made by the graduate committee in consultation with the department to ensure an equitable and effective use of available resources.
Application process and deadlines
Deadlines and important dates
| Start term | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall term | January 15 |
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.
After submission, if you find that you need to correct or replace the name or email address of one or more of your reference letter writers, please contact [email protected] with the updated information and we will update the information on your behalf.
We recommend that you pay your application fee online at the time of application to avoid delays in the processing of your application.
The Biostatistics program is offered by the School of Public Health, and it is not administered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. If you apply for Biostatistics, we will not receive your application.
If you want to be considered for both programs, you will have to submit two separate applications.
Submit required documents
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.
You may be required to submit the following documents:
- A research statement including a detailed description of your research interest(s). The Graduate Committee will carefully read this document to help ascertain your suitability for the intended graduate program and your fit with potential supervisors' research areas.
In the statement, please include if you are interested in the thesis-based M.Sc. program or the Ph.D. program.
Contact
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Room 142 McLean Hall
106 Wiggins Road
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E6
Graduate Chair
Dr. Chris Soteros
Application Admin Support
Anna McKenzie
Email: [email protected]
Program Admin Support
Nadine Penner
Email: [email protected]
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Learn more about the academic unit offering this program - Program and Course Catalogue
To view official admission and program requirements