Program

The deadline to apply if you wish to start in September is December 15.

Program Expected length Thesis-based Project-based Course-based
M.Sc. 20 months
Ph.D. 4 years

The master's and doctoral programs in Applied Computing offer students high-quality, cutting-edge research opportunities and supervision by world leaders in their respective fields. Graduates of these programs will be highly qualified researchers who are able to apply computational techniques to some cognate research area.

A Master of Science in Applied Computing is a research-intensive and thesis-based program linking computer science concepts with a cognate area. Graduates of this program could pursue a Ph.D. in a related area, or use their advanced knowledge for a career in industry.

A doctorate in this program implies a commitment to research on the part of the applicant. Similar to the computer science program, graduates of this program may seek positions in academia or at large firms who have in-house research programs or leading-edge development efforts.

Research supervisors

It is not necessary to find a potential supervisor before you apply to this program. However, you can express interest in working with three preferred supervisors. You do not need permission from potential supervisors beforehand, and your preferences merely indicates interest.

Name Research areas
Accessibility; Usability; Software Engineering; e-Commerce; International Standards
Empirical Software Engineering; Technical Debt; Software Metrics; Predictive Analytics (incl. Data Mining, Machine Learning); Software Quality
Apps; Blockchain; Cloud Computing; Internet of Things; cloud; distributed systems; mobile; semantics; wireless sensor
Game semantics; language; programming; semantics; type theory
Content delivery; internet; multimedia; networks; video
Applied Deep Learning; computer vison; image processing
Cooperative; human computer interaction; interaction; surface computing; video games
Actors; Agents; Artificial Intelligence; Cloud Computing; Concurrency; Distributed Systems; Formal Methods; Machine Learning; Multiagent Systems; Parallelism; Programming Languages; Reactive Design
Genome evolution; Plant Phenomics; bioinformatics; comparative genomics; computational genomics
Artificial Intelligence; Reasoning and Abstraction in Artificial Intelligence; Reinforcement Learning
Bioinformatics; Genomics; Microbiome
Data processing; data storage; energy efficiency; mobile devices; multiplayer; operating systems; security; wireless networks
Automata Theory; Computer Science; Formal Language Theory; Machine Learning
Algorithm Design and Analysis; Big Data Analytics; Computational Geometry; Graph Drawing and Networks; Information Visualization
Artificial intelligence; graphics; medical models; mobile computing; visualization
Epidemiology; informatics; mathematical modelling; monitoring; public health
Artificial Intelligence; Computer Vision; Deep Learning; Machine Learning
Interactive Software Engineering; Program Comprehension; Software Analytics
Clone detection; engineering; programming; software
Human Computer Interaction; Programming Languages; Software Analysis; Software Evolution and Maintenance; Visualization
Applications to Hydrology; Bioinformatics; Electrophysiology; Numerical Analysis; Optimization; Plasma; Quantum Materials; Scientific Software; Scientific and High-performance Computing (with actors); Weather Prediction
Malware Analysis & Attribution; Mobile Security; Software Security
Applied AI; Computational Agriculture; Computer Graphics; Computer Vision; Human Computer Interaction
AI in Education; Decentralized Architectures; Human-centered AI; Multi-agent Systems; Personalization; Persuasive Technology; Social Computing; Trust and Reputation Systems; User Modeling
Computer Supported Cooperative Work; Computer Vision; Creative Arts; Human Computer Interaction; Human Factors

Tuition and funding

Funding

All applicants to both the Computer Science and the Applied Computing graduate program are automatically considered for financial support. The funding system for all students admitted to start in September 2024 or later is as follows:

M.Sc. students are normally funded for 20 months (the expected program length, with funding ending early if the student finishes earlier than 20 months) at a rate that covers the tuition/year at the time of admission plus an additional $18,000/year. Specifically, in the first 12 months of the program, they will receive enough to cover tuition plus $18,000, and in the next 8 months, they will receive enough to cover 8 months of tuition at the time of admission plus $12,000. Even though International Master's tuition rates are higher than domestic tuition, the funding package pays the difference as part of a fund called the International Student Tuition Offset Bursary.

Ph.D. students are normally funded for 4 years (the expected program length) at a rate that covers the cost of tuition per year at the time of admission plus $20,000/year.

Some sources of funding require that the student have a GPA of at least 80% at the time of admission and to maintain a GPA of at least 75% for the duration of their funding period. Most students will be required to provide service hours to the department as a lab instructor or marker.

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding such as an NSERC postgraduate scholarship. All students who are awarded an NSERC (CGS-D, CGS-M) or Vanier scholarship, and attend the Department of Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan will receive an additional $6,000 annual top-up scholarship from the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for each year that they hold the award. Furthermore, after the award is finished, they will continue to receive funding from the Department of Computer Science for the remainder of their funding term as listed above. For example, if a student is awarded an NSERC CGS-M award listing the University of Saskatchewan as an institution where they could hold the award, and they are admitted and attend the Department of Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan, they will receive $17,500 from NSERC plus a $6,000 top-up from the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for their first year; and will receive normal funds from the Department of Computer Science in their second year.

Tuition

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 $1,812.00 CAD $4,077.00 CAD
January 1 - April 30, 2026 $1,812.00 CAD $4,077.00 CAD
May 1 - August 31, 2026 $1,812.00 CAD $4,077.00 CAD
Total per academic year $5,436.00 CAD $12,231.00 CAD

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.

Financial planning estimator

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 minimum overall TOEFL score of 94 is required, or a minimum overall IELTS score of 7.0, or a minimum overall Duolingo English Test score of 120, or another approved test as outlined in the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Academic Policies.
  • A 4-year B.Sc. degree in applied computing, or computer science (or equivalent), or a 4-year undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline from a recognized institution, with a minimum overall average of 70%

Note that these English language proficiency requirements supersede the minimum requirements of the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The Department of Computer Science does not use the WHED database to exempt students if the primary language of instruction at their previous institution was in English, and the Department of Computer Science does not accept letters from universities stating the medium of instruction is English. However, test exemptions may be possible in certain circumstances. Please contact gradprogram@cs.usask.ca to inquire.

  • Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English. A minimum overall TOEFL score of 94 is required, or a minimum overall IELTS score of 7.0, or a minimum overall Duolingo English Test score of 120, or another approved test as outlined in the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Academic Policies.
  • A M.Sc. in Applied Computing, Computer Science or equivalent, or a thesis-based master's-level credential in a relevant cognate area with a minimum overall average of 80%

Note that these English language proficiency requirements supersede the minimum requirements of the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The Department of Computer Science does not use the WHED database to exempt students if the primary language of instruction at their previous institution was in English, and the Department of Computer Science does not accept letters from universities stating the medium of instruction is English. However, test exemptions may be possible in certain circumstances. Please contact gradprogram@cs.usask.ca to inquire.

Application process

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
  • Other information requested by the Department of Computer Science

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

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.

The Department of Computer Science has additional English requirements beyond the university minimum requirements.

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.

  • Your curriculum vitae or resume should be a one or two page concise summary of your skills, experience and education.
  • A curriculum vitae or resume is essentially your full academic and professional profile. It should include a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honours, affiliations and other details.
  • Applicants will be required to upload a PDF copy of their curriculum vitae or resume.

You must download and fill out the Supplemental Application form, which is your research statement. Save it as a PDF and upload it once it is complete.

Please include the abstract from your previously completed M.Sc. thesis in a PDF file. The PDF must be less than 3 MB in size.

Additional requirements can be found on the Department of Computer Science's Applications for admission page.

Contact

176 Thorvaldson Bldg.
110 Science Place
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9

Graduate Chair
Carl Gutwin
Email: gutwin@cs.usask.ca

Graduate Administrator
Maurine Powell
Email: gradprogram@cs.usask.ca