The Department offers research-focused MA/MSc and PhD degrees in Geography. Please consult the Graduate Calendar to learn about the collaborative specializations that can be combined with Geography programs.
Guaranteed Minimum Stipend
The Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics guarantees funding for all full-time graduate students. Master's students are guaranteed a minimum of $27,000 over their first three semesters (Year 1), and a total of $20,000 for their fourth and fifth semesters (Year 2). Doctoral students are guaranteed a minimum funding package of $30,500 per year for four years. Please note that tuition fees are not included in the funding package, and students must pay these fees separately. Information about current and future tuition rates can be found here.
Most students receive considerably more than the minimum guaranteed funding amount. Master’s students in our department commonly receive over $30,000 in funding for Year 1 and $25,000 for Year 2, while PhD students often receive more than $45,000 per year.
Advisors often provide additional funding to support field research costs and / or conference attendance: please confer with prospective advisors about possible funding for these costs.
Sources of Funding
Sources of funding that contribute to the guaranteed minimum funding package include Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) work, Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) work, and scholarship monies from the College or other sources. Some scholarships are allocated through the admissions process, while others may require a separate application. When students receive major awards, College funding or GRA offers may be reduced as a result. Under no circumstances will a student receive less than their minimum funding guarantee as a result of winning a major award. More information about scholarships and additional sources of funding can be found here.
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 the availability of GTAs.
It is important to confer with a prospective advisor before applying to our graduate programs. Advisors fund graduate student GRAs through their research grants, and students who have not secured funding from a prospective advisor cannot be offered a funding package.
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.