The Department offers research-focused MA/MSc and PhD degrees in Geography. Students may also register in Geography to undertake the MA/MSc/PhD program in Collaborative International Development Studies. Review the updated cost of Graduate Tuition and Fees for reference while pursuing financial support.
Guaranteed Minimum Stipend
The Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics guarantees funding for all full-time graduate students. Currently, Master's students are guaranteed a minimum of $18,500 during their first three semesters, and $12,000 for their fourth and fifth semesters. Currently, Doctoral students are guaranteed a minimum of $20,000/year for four years.
Most students receive considerably more than the minimum guaranteed funding amount. During the past three years, average annual funding from all sources for doctoral students was $24,000/year. For Master's students, during the past three years, average total funding from all sources received during their program was $36,600.
Importantly, the guaranteed minimum stipend is meant to support the costs of living and tuition. Advisors normally provide funding over and above the guaranteed minimum stipend to support laboratory and field research.
Sources of Funding
Sources of funding that contribute to the guaranteed minimum funding package include Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs); Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs); major internal and external scholarships that students secure; and other paid employment in the Department as may become available.
The specific composition of each student's funding package is determined based on factors such as their success in acquiring major scholarships, the value of any GRA(s) provided by their advisor, and their eligibility for GTAs.
Conditions
In order for the minimum financial support guarantee to apply, students must meet the following conditions:
- They must maintain full time status and satisfactory academic standing.
- They must be available to perform duties relating to GTAs in GRA through regular attendance in the department as required. Students who decline a GTA or GRA are not guaranteed replacement financial support from other sources.
- Students are expected to make a reasonable effort to apply for pertinent internal and external scholarships for which they are eligible.
- Finally, students are expected to negotiate a research topic with their advisor, and to conduct research consistent with that topic. Students who significantly reorient their research focus post admission without the support of their Advisor are not guaranteed the minimum stipend.