University of Saskatchewan
A U15 research university in Saskatoon, home to Canada's national synchrotron and a leading vaccine research centre.
- Students
- 26,155
- International
- 12%
- of students
- Tuition
- CA$39,007
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1907
About USask
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) was established by provincial act on 19 March 1907 and began as an agricultural college serving a farming province. Its main campus sits on the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, on Treaty 6 territory and the homeland of the Metis, and is known for its greystone collegiate Gothic buildings grouped around a large green called the Bowl. Today it has about 26,000 students from 130 countries, including more than 4,300 graduate students and more than 3,400 self-declared Indigenous students.
USask is a member of the U15 group of research-intensive Canadian universities and a medical-doctoral university, with colleges of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nutrition, nursing, law and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine alongside its direct-entry colleges. Its research strengths are tied to its setting: food and water security and infectious disease, supported by facilities such as the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) and the Global Institutes for Food Security and Water Security.
Students apply straight from high school to Agriculture and Bioresources, Arts and Science, Education, the Edwards School of Business, Engineering, Kinesiology, or Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy; professional programs such as Medicine, Law and Nursing need prior university study. USask suits students who want a full research university with a campus feel, lower costs than big-city schools and hands-on research: the university says one in four students gets a research experience during their degree.
Deo et Patriae
“For God and Country” — university motto
Why students choose USask
Undergraduates can work with the Canadian Light Source synchrotron and VIDO, one of the most advanced containment level 3 vaccine research facilities, both on the Saskatoon campus.
Most Arts and Science programs admit on a published minimum average of 70%, and admission is offered on a rolling basis until seats fill.
About 600 entering students a year receive a $5,000 USask Entrance Scholarship automatically if they apply by 1 December, and Best and Brightest awards are worth up to $40,000 over four years.
The Huskies field 15 varsity teams, and student fees cover the Physical Activity Centre, intramurals and free entry to home games.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
USask does not publish an acceptance rate. Most Arts and Science programs admit students who meet a 70% minimum average on a rolling basis; the Edwards School of Business requires 80%; Engineering is competitive, with an expected target average of 87% (89% for early admission) based on 2026-27 results.
Typical entry requirements
| Canadian high school (Saskatchewan) | Arts and Science (e.g. Biology, Psychology, Computer Science route): minimum admission average 70%, Pre-Calculus 30 or Foundations of Mathematics 30 recommended; Edwards School of Business (e.g. Finance, Accounting): minimum 80%; Engineering: Chemistry 30, Physics 30 and Pre-Calculus 30 at 70%+, expected target average 87% |
|---|---|
| International high school (outside Canada) | Same averages as Canadian applicants (70% Arts and Science, 80% Edwards, 87% target for Engineering), with senior mathematics, and senior chemistry and physics for Engineering |
| IB Diploma | Diploma total out of 45 (with bonus points) converted to a USask percentage equivalent; individual IB course scores out of 7 are converted to percentages for the admission average |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 86 IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0. TOEFL iBT on the new 1-6 scale: 4.5 overall with 4 in each skill; scores on the former 0-120 scale (tests before 21 January 2026) are accepted at 86 overall with 19 per component. Duolingo 120 is also accepted. |
Deadlines
- Early admission (Engineering) and entrance scholarship deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Engineering applicants with an average of 89% or higher by this date are eligible for early admission. Applying to any direct-entry program by December 1 (documents by December 15) also puts you in consideration for USask Entrance Scholarships and the Best and Brightest awards.
- Engineering application deadline (Fall 2027) Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 15, 2027
Documents due March 1, 2027. Applicants are ranked by admission average.
- International deadline (Arts and Science, Edwards School of Business, Fall 2027) Non-binding In ~7 monthsMay 1, 2027
Documents due June 1, 2027. Edwards has the same May 1 deadline for domestic applicants.
- Domestic deadline (Arts and Science, Fall 2027) Non-binding In ~9 monthsJuly 15, 2027
Documents due August 1, 2027. Admission is rolling until seats are filled.
Deadlines vary by college and are listed on each program page. Dates shown are from the Computer Science (Arts and Science), Finance (Edwards) and Mechanical Engineering pages for September 2027 entry, checked 29 September 2026.
How to apply
Apply directly to USask through an admissions account at apply.usask.ca (about 30 minutes; C$120 non-refundable application fee for most programs), choosing a first and second program choice. Then upload your latest transcript or predicted IB grades and English test results, and send final official transcripts after graduation. Most international students pay a non-refundable C$1,000 tuition deposit when accepting an offer, which is needed before USask can support their provincial attestation letter.
What admissions looks for
- An admission average at or above the program's minimum, calculated from specific Grade 12 or equivalent subjects.
- Required high school subjects, such as Chemistry, Physics and Pre-Calculus at 70% or higher for Engineering.
- For competitive programs like Engineering, a high ranking among applicants by admission average.
- English proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English.
Tips for applying to USask
- 1 Apply by December 1 even if later deadlines apply to your program: that date triggers automatic consideration for the $5,000 USask Entrance Scholarship and opens the Best and Brightest application.
- 2 Aspiring computer scientists apply to the Bachelor of Science (undeclared) in Arts and Science and compete for the major at the end of first year on their CMPT and MATH grades.
- 3 Medicine, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine are not open from high school, so plan a pre-professional first year.
- 4 Apply for residence as soon as applications open in early November: rooms are offered first come, first served, and you do not need to be admitted first.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CAD
International applicants are automatically considered for entrance scholarships on admission, and most awards are open to them. USask Entrance Scholarships of C$5,000 go to about 600 entering students chosen by admission average, and the Best and Brightest Entrance Scholarships (by separate application by December 15) include the George and Marsha Ivany President's First and Best Scholarship at C$40,000 over four years and Edwards Undergraduate Scholarships at C$36,000 over four years.
- C$5,000, about 600 entering students a year
- USask Entrance Scholarship
- C$40,000 (C$10,000 a year for four years)
- George and Marsha Ivany President's First and Best Scholarship
- C$1,331.66 in addition to tuition
- Student fees, 2026-27 (full-time, on campus)
Academics
Academic calendar: Fall and winter terms (September to April), with spring and summer terms
Engineering (BE)
The most competitive direct-entry route, with an expected target average of 87% and early admission at 89%.
Agriculture and Bioresources
USask began as an agricultural college in 1907 and hosts the Global Institute for Food Security.
Edwards School of Business (BComm)
Direct entry from high school with an 80% minimum average and its own C$36,000 Edwards Undergraduate Scholarships.
Computer Science (BSc)
Entered through a first-year BSc, with competitive selection for the major based on CMPT and MATH grades.
Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Offered by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, entered after pre-veterinary university study.
Research
- The Canadian Light Source synchrotron on campus is one of Canada's largest science investments.
- VIDO (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization) is one of the world's most advanced containment level 3 vaccine research and teaching facilities.
- USask hosts the Global Institute for Water Security and the Global Institute for Food Security, and ranks among the best in the world for water resources research.
- Discoveries at USask include the cobalt-60 cancer therapy unit and sulfate-resistant cement.
Schools & faculties
- College of Agriculture and Bioresources
- College of Arts and Science
- College of Dentistry
- College of Education
- Edwards School of Business
- College of Engineering
- College of Kinesiology
- College of Law
- College of Medicine
- College of Nursing
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Student life
Campus life centres on the Bowl, the green surrounded by greystone buildings, and on facilities such as the Physical Activity Centre, whose gym, pool, climbing wall and indoor track are covered by student fees. There are more than 150 clubs and one of the country's largest intramural programs, with more than 50 intramural hockey teams alone. The Huskies play in Canada West and U Sports, and home games are free for students. The Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre is a gathering place for First Nations, Metis and Inuit students and a hub for Indigenous culture on campus.
- 15 Huskies varsity teams, with 120 Canada West and 32 national championships.
- More than 150 clubs and student groups, including a ballroom dance club with over 1,000 members.
- Greystone Theatre stages four Department of Drama productions a year.
- The Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre supports Indigenous students, who number more than 3,400.
Housing. Residence is optional; applications open in early November and rooms are offered first come, first served, with Resident Assistants, a Counsellor in Residence and free PhD-led tutoring.
Location
Saskatoon is Saskatchewan's largest city, set on the South Saskatchewan River in the Canadian prairies. The campus is on the river's east bank, close to downtown across the bridges, with riverside trails and parkland. Winters are long and cold, which is why the university's rinks, indoor track and intramural hockey leagues are so busy. Saskatoon is smaller and generally cheaper than Canada's big metropolitan centres.
Nearest airport: Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE)
Notable alumni
- JD John Diefenbaker13th Prime Minister of Canada and later the university's chancellor
- HT Henry TaubeWinner of the 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- RH Ray Hnatyshyn24th Governor General of Canada
- EM Emmett Matthew HallSupreme Court of Canada justice and a father of Canada's Medicare system
- GT Gordon ThiessenFormer Governor of the Bank of Canada
- GV Guy VanderhaegheNovelist and Governor General's Award winner
- KC Kim CoatesActor
- LB Lorne BabiukVaccine scientist
Frequently asked questions
What average do you need to get into the University of Saskatchewan?
Most Arts and Science programs require a minimum admission average of 70%, the Edwards School of Business requires 80%, and Engineering is competitive, with an expected target average of 87% based on 2026-27 admissions.
What is the USask application deadline for fall 2027?
It depends on the college: Engineering closes on February 15, 2027 (early admission December 1, 2026), international applicants to Arts and Science and Edwards apply by May 1, 2027, and Canadian applicants to Arts and Science by July 15, 2027.
How much is tuition at USask for international students?
For 2026-27, a first-year full course load is estimated at C$39,007 in Arts, C$40,894 in Science, C$48,932 in the Edwards School of Business and C$59,383 in Engineering, plus about C$1,332 in student fees.
Does USask give scholarships to international students?
Yes. International applicants are automatically considered for entrance scholarships on admission, most awards are open to them, and some are reserved for international students.
What English test score does USask require?
IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new scale (or 86 on the old 0-120 scale), or Duolingo 120.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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