It is the responsibility of the academic unit to compile and review the full applicant file. Units are encouraged to follow a holistic review process to determine the suitability/capability of the applicant, and to recommend the acceptance of those applicants they wish to have admitted. Units should establish systematic, comprehensive, and contextualized application reviews to ensure full consideration of all eligible applicants. It is the responsibility of each unit with authority over admission recommendations to ensure that the criteria for admission, application procedure, and the process for evaluation of applicants are consistent with University policy and the requirements stated clearly in the University of Saskatchewan Catalogue. When the criteria for admission include multiple elements, the weights assigned to these elements shall be specified. If a unit uses media other than the Catalogue to advertise programs, such as brochures or web pages, the unit is responsible for ensuring that the information is up to date and consistent with the approved admission criteria listed in the University of Saskatchewan Catalogue.

Academic units will recommend students for admission whom they believe possess the necessary qualities and characteristics that are known to contribute to successful degree completion. This may vary across programs and can be demonstrated in multiple ways. Programs are encouraged to consider which applicant characteristics will contribute to successful degree completion. Characteristics that could be considered include:

In addition to the above-listed characteristics, and based on details included in an applicant’s CV, letter of purpose or statement of intent, consideration of membership in underrepresented groups (as defined by the Tri-Agencies, including but not limited to women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups and members of LGBTQ2+ communities) is also included as part of a full file review.

Academic units should ensure the necessary resources (including supervisory personnel, facilities, and financial support, and any additional support that may be required, where appropriate) are in place to support all applicants whom they recommend for admission.

Any submission of suspected fraudulent or plagiarized documents must be reported to the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

When an academic unit recommends an applicant for admission, based on a full file review, they are not required to meet the minimum entrance requirements listed in Sections 1.2-1.6. In these situations, units will provide a rationale to CGPS outlining why they believe the applicant will succeed in the program and how the academic unit plans to support that applicant as a student. CGPS will review this rationale and plan prior to the processing of the admission.

Applicants rejected by the academic unit are notified by the unit through RMS Recruit.

Applicants accepted by the academic unit may be informed that their application has been forwarded to CGPS and that the student has been recommended for admission. Academic units must ensure, however, that prospective students understand this is not an official offer of admission.

Academic units without a regular graduate program may apply for the admission of a graduate thesis student on a special-case basis. 

For special case admissions, the entire program of study must be outlined prior to approval, and final approval for the admission shall be by the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee.

The CGPS Interdisciplinary Committee serves as equivalent in authority, role and responsibility to an academic unit’s Graduate Affairs Committee, with the Interdisciplinary Committee Chair acting in an equivalent role as a Graduate Chair for all students in independent Interdisciplinary programs.

Prior to making a recommendation to the CGPS to admit an independent interdisciplinary student, the Interdisciplinary Committee shall review and formally recommend the proposed interdisciplinary program of study.

2.4.1. ADMISSION WITH CONDITIONS

An offer of admission will include conditions when an applicant is recommended for admission under one or more of the following circumstances:

1. The undergraduate or graduate degree is not yet complete.
2. The applicant has not yet met the minimum standards for proof of English language proficiency.
3. Official required documents, such as transcripts, are not yet available.
4. Applicants are required to take a specific number of courses and achieve a specific grade in a defined period of time.

Initial registration in the first term of a program may be allowed prior to receipt of final, official copies of transcripts, provided CGPS has received unofficial copies. Official copies of transcripts must be received for continuation in the program. Registration in the program will not be allowed prior to receipt of proof of English language proficiency. [Approved CGPS Council  211116]

If a student is unable to meet the conditions of admission, the academic unit may request to extend the deadline for meeting any unsatisfied conditions and/or introduce a new set of conditions, agreed to by the student and by CGPS. Students who do not meet the conditions of admission may voluntarily withdraw, or they will be required to discontinue.

In all cases:

• The maximum length of conditions shall not exceed 12 months.
• The maximum average of all final grades achieved in the courses completed as part of the conditional admission shall be equal to those listed as the minimum requirements for the specific program, or 70% where not specified.

2.4.2. ADMISSION DEFERRALS

2.4.3. NEGATIVE ADMISSION DECISIONS

The University Council Policy on Admission to Degree Programs provides for an opportunity for applicants to appeal negative decisions as follows: “Grounds for an admission appeal shall be limited to (1) unit procedural errors, (2) evidence that the information used in the assessment of the decision was wrong or incomplete, or (3) evidence that the assessment was not made according to the published admission qualifications and selection criteria. A failure by the applicant to provide accurate and complete information in accordance with the established admission qualifications and selection criteria shall not be grounds for an appeal.” 

Applicants who have not been successful in gaining admission may appeal the decision to the Associate Dean, College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, within 10 business days from the date a negative application decision is released. The decision made on the appeal will be final.

If an admission appeal results in an offer of admission, the admission term may be delayed due to limitations of space in cohorted programs, supervisory capacity, or funding as appropriate.