All students accepted into graduate programs within AgBio receive financial support from their supervisor's research funds and/or scholarships. Funding amount and duration varies; more information about typical funding within each department can be found in the respective graduate student handbooks.
Prospective students are encouraged to discuss funding with their potential supervisors. Scholarships and awards are available through the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and through various external funding agencies or industry partnerships.
Minimum funding levels
All students registered in thesis-based graduate programs within departments in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources receive a minimum level of funding at the beginning of their programs. Students are also eligible to receive other funding (e.g. scholarships and employment) in addition to these levels.
The minimum* funding levels are as follows:
- Thesis-based master’s students: Two (2) years of funding at $23,000/year
- Thesis-based doctoral students: Four (4) years of funding at $27,000/year
* This is a college-level minimum duration and annual funding level. The department-specific minimum levels may be greater than these. For more information consult the department graduate student handbooks.
Questions about the minimum levels of funding and durations can be directed to Danielle Baron, manager research and graduate studies: danielle.baron@usask.ca.
Academic scholarships
Application portal
The College of Agriculture and Bioresources administers over $550,000 in graduate-level awards annually. Graduate students apply for college-administered scholarships by filling out our online graduate awards application.
The College of Agriculture and Bioresources application portal for graduate student scholarships and bursaries opens annually in May for the upcoming academic year. This application is required to be considered for any Department-specific awards as well as College-based awards. Decisions are communicated in early July.
Please read all questions carefully and answer as accurately as possible. For these scholarships, note that students are no longer required to submit unofficial transcripts or letters of support from their supervisors.
Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission Scholarship
Those wishing to be considered for the 2024/25 Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission Scholarship must submit additional supporting documentation through the application portal.
Eligibility
- Incoming and continuing graduate students who will be registered in a thesis-based program in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources for the 2024/25 academic year;
- Students who, as of September 1, 2024, have completed no more than 20 months (master's) or 44 months (doctoral) in their graduate program;
- Students conducting research with social or scientific relevance to a sustainable and profitable western Canadian wheat sector.
Value: $20,000 for one year (master's); $30,000 for one year (doctoral).
Application components (to be submitted as a single PDF attachment in the award portal)
- Description of proposed research, including research question(s) and objectives, methodology and how the intended outcomes will respond to a a sustainable and profitable western Canadian wheat sector (max one page);
- List of academic and/or research achievements, including refereed publications, conference presentations, awards and distinctions (max one page); and
- List of other relevant activities, including volunteer experience, mentorship, committee involvement, etc. (max one page).
Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development Board Don Jacques Memorial Fellowship
Those wishing to be considered for the 2024/25 Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development Board Don Jacques Memorial Fellowship must apply through the application portal.
Eligibility
- Incoming and continuing graduate students who will be registered in a thesis-based program at the University of Saskatchewan for the 2024/25 academic year;
- Students who, as of September 1, 2024, have completed no more than 20 months (master's) or 44 months (doctoral) in their graduate program;
- Students conducting research on pulse crop development.
Value: $20,000 for one year.
Questions pertaining to graduate awards and bursaries can be directed to Danielle Baron, manager research and graduate studies: danielle.baron@usask.ca
Education Enhancement Fund
Education Enhancement Grants are available to assist students who wish to participate in worthwhile educational experiences. Activities may include, but are not limited to: conference registration or travel; travel to other locations for course work or experiential learning purposes; costs incurred as part of team projects or special topics courses; academic exchanges with other institutions.
Graduate parental leave
This program aims to support the graduate students in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources who become new parents. Challenges associated with balancing the demands of caring for a new child while enrolled in a graduate program are acknowledged. The program is intended to allow students to more easily balance the demands of early parenthood and their graduate program.
- Eligible applicants will include College of Agriculture and Bioresources graduate students in the following thesis-based programs who are becoming new parents by either birth or adoption: Agriculture Economics, Applied Economics (supervisor must be in AgBio), Animal and Poultry Science, Food Science, Applied Microbiology, Plant Sciences, Soil Science.
- Each applicant must be in good standing and making satisfactory progress toward the completion of their degree for at least two terms (8 months) prior to the start of the leave.
- Master's students may apply within months 9-20 of their program and PhD students within months 9-56 of their program.
- Each applicant must have been granted a parental leave by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS).
- Graduate students enrolled in the Plant Sciences Dual PhD program with United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences (Japan) whose home institution is listed as the University of Saskatchewan may apply.
- Applicants must intend to return to full-time studies following the leave.
- Students who are eligible to receive financial support from other sources while on leave (e.g., parental funding from Tri-Council scholarships, Tri-Council research funds, employment insurance, etc.) are not eligible to receive funding from this program.
The available funding for this leave is $1,500 per month for 4 months. Students are permitted to take one (1) leave per graduate program per child.
Applications must be submitted a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the anticipated start of the leave.
Students apply by submitting a copy of the approved CGPS Graduate Student Leave of Absence form to the Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies), College of Agriculture and Bioresources.
Once the request is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies). Following approval, the student, their academic supervisor and the departmental graduate chair will be notified of the decision via e-mail.