University of Saskatchewan

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is one of Canada’s oldest and most distinguished universities. Established in 1907, USask is a member of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities.

Located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in Western Canada, USask is known for its collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to tackling some of the greatest global challenges of our era — water and food security, energy sustainability, and infectious disease.

USask received close to $240 million in annual sponsored research income in fiscal year 2022-23, supporting its nine signature areas of research: Agriculture; Communities and Sustainability; Energy and Mineral Resources for a Sustainable Future; Health and Wellness; Indigenous Peoples; One Health; Quantum Innovation; Synchrotron Sciences; and Water.

USask’s Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS) is home to the world’s largest university-led freshwater research program, Global Water futures, a $301-million investment with more than 475 partners around the world.

More than 26,000 students from over 130 countries study at USask, which also offers over 130 academic programs and has 13 colleges, three graduate schools, and six affiliated or federated colleges. Study is enhanced by world-class research centres, including CLS, GIWS, Global Institute for Food Security,  the Crop Development Centre, Health Sciences Complex, and Saskatchewan Centre for Cyclotron Sciences operated by USask’s Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation, and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).

VIDO recently expanded to add a vaccine manufacturing facility that increases Canada’s biomanufacturing capacity and is establishing Containment Level 4 lab capacity – the highest level – to make VIDO the only non-governmental CL4 facility in the country.

The university also leads the S uper Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), with its five high-frequency radars located across Canada being part of a synchronized global network of 36 radars that continuously monitor “space weather” and predict when electromagnetic storms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere could threaten technologies such as GPS, electrical grids and navigation equipment.

A USask-led nine-university collaboration, Global Water Futures Observatories (GWFO ), is a network of 76 instrumented basins, rivers, lakes and wetlands, 27 deployable observation systems, and 31 state-of-the-art water laboratories that operates across seven provinces and territories. The aim is to provide data to quickly address flood, drought and water quality issues, and to develop solutions for the impending water crisis that faces Canadians due to climate change, poor water management, proliferation of toxic contaminants, and environmental degradation. 

Students, faculty, researchers and staff enjoy a high level of support typical of a smaller university, creating an environment that inspires collaboration, innovation and discovery. There are more than 100 student clubs, seven on-campus museums and art galleries, and a state-of-the-art Physical Activity Complex. USask also offers more than $35 million in scholarships, bursaries and prizes to students every year. Students receive the U-Pass, which offers unlimited public transit in Saskatoon throughout the school year. New international students have access to a special welcome and orientation service that includes free transportation from the airport and first-night accommodation.

USask’s historic main campus is recognized as one of the most beautiful in Canada, with plenty of green space, stately greystone buildings and tree-lined walkways. With a rising population of just over 325,000, Saskatoon offers many amenities of a large urban centre along with the friendliness, accessibility, and safety of a smaller city. There is plenty to do in Saskatoon every season, with live music events, festivals and cultural experiences on offer year-round.

USask’s more than 171,000 living alumni are spread globally. Alumni include 72 Rhodes scholars, two Nobel Prize winners, five Olympic gold medalists, one Canadian Prime Minister, nine provincial premiers, three justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, and an Oscar winner. Its graduates, recognized for their work ethic, resourceful nature and determination, will continue to build on a long history of success to address the world’s challenges now and in the future.

research.usask.ca