Student Requests

At the University of Saskatchewan, graduate students enrolled in programs of study (Post Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Master of Education, Doctor of Education, or Doctor of Philosophy) offered by the four academic departments housed in the College of Education are also students of the College of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies.

More general information about graduate student programming and resources at the University of Saskatchewan is available from the USask Students website.

If you are new to the University, consider reviewing the USask New Students website.

If you are close to the end of your program and are expecting to graduate soon, please refer to important information available on the USask Students Graduation website.

The USask Student site has information related to academics, money, job opportunities, health services, study and technical help, as well as other essential information about the University of Saskatchewan environment.

Background Information

Applicant students to the College of Education Cross-Departmental PhD program whose applications have been deemed to be incomplete at the time of deadline will not be considered for admission to the following September intake. Should you believe that an error was made in the decision to consider or not consider your application for admission, you are advised to contact the Office of the Associate Dean (Research, Graduate Support, & International Initiatives) at your earliest convenience.  Please include a description of the error you believe was made and how it adversely affected the treatment of your application.

All such communication will be reviewed by the College of Education Cross-Departmental PhD Graduate Chairs Committee. Letters outlining the decision of the Committee are forwarded directly to students.

Students may appeal decisions of the Cross-Departmental PhD Graduate Chairs Committee in accord with the deadlines outlined in the letter.  Appeals involve a review of the decision by the Dean of the College of Education (or designate).

Appeal Process

The process for preparing an appeal begins with:

    • the identification of an error or conflict in the Committee's application of College or University policy;
    • a claim that the consequence of a decision of the Committee is disproportionate to the request or infraction leading to the original review by the Committee; or
    • the introduction of additional facts—not available at the time of, or within the scope of, the original review by the Committee—to ensure that fairness in review is present. 

Appeals are commonly made based on one or more of the following three grounds:

  • compassionate:
    • a claim based on compassionate grounds will arise when unforeseen circumstances—beyond the student’s control—in a student’s family or personal life can be understood as causally linked to a period of uncharacteristically poor academic performance, where the student has sought remediation.
  • medical:
    • a claim based on medical grounds will arise when a student has suffered a professionally diagnosed ailment or disease for which they havereceived a documented treatment plan.
  • procedural:
    • a claim based on procedural grounds will arise when a student has been adversely affected by a policy or conflict of policies of the College or University.

In all cases outlined above, students wishing to appeal are required to provide all of the following documents in advance of an appeal being entertained by the Dean (or designate):

  • a copy of the letter received from the College of Education Cross-Departmental PhD Graduate Chairs Committee;
  • a letter summarizing the rationale for the appeal, including the category outlined above, and providing any additional explanation in support of this appeal; and
  • documents offering evidence in support of the additional explanation and the basis for the appeal.
  1.  

Documents noted above must be submitted in advance of the deadline outlined in the letter received from the Committee.  Please submit all documents electronically to the Office of the Associate Dean (Research, Graduate Support, & International Initiatives) in the College of Education.  The Associate Dean is currently designated by the Dean of the College of Education to entertain appeals of decisions of College of Education standing committees.

Students are advised that letters of support from family members and friends will not be considered in appeals; such do not offer independent evidence.  

Appeal Results

Students will be notified of the results and rationale by letter from the Associate Dean (Research, Graduate Support, and International Initiatives).  Appeals granted will offer instruction to relevant offices of the University and College indicating action required to ensure remedies are implemented forthwith.

Generally speaking, appeals based on the following will not be granted:

  • Without compelling and substantiated reasons, appeals sought after the date provided for such in the letter from the Committee Chair;
  • Without compelling and substantiated reasons, appeals supported only by medical evidence of alleged illness or disease that could have been provided to the College of Education Cross-Departmental PhD Graduate Chairs Committee in advance of their original review, but was not;
  • Appeals based on student ignorance of published University or College policy;
  • Appeals based on any of the following:
    • careless or last-minute holiday or travel arrangements;
    • misreading of schedules, timelines, or letters indicating a requirement for student action to be taken;
    • consequences of student compliance with University or College policy, schedule, or timelines and the disruption of paid employment;
    • supporting evidence that can be shown to be fraudulent, dishonest, or acquired by fraudulent or dishonest means;
    • Appeals considered to be vexatious or frivolous; and
    • Appeals sought absent evidence.

Appeals considered vexatious or frivolous may lead to disciplinary action.

International Graduate Student Immigration Advising

The College of Education provides international student and immigration advising services to graduate students within the college.

All newly admitted and current international graduate students in the College of Education, whether located in Canada or abroad, can access advising services to ask questions and receive information about immigration matters related to studies, work or life in Canada.  

Megan Fillatre is a Graduate Program and Internationalization Specialist in the College of Education, supporting graduate students, programs, and international initiatives within the college and across the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

Megan is a licensed Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor (RISIA) and can provide legal immigration advice to international students regarding:

  • study permits (initial and extensions)
  • visas
  • work eligibility
  • post-graduation work permit (PGPW)
  • spousal work permits
  • entry to Canada requirements
  • inviting family and friends to Canada

*Specific information about permanent residence (PR) cannot be provided as this is outside the RISIA scope of practice.

Non-immigration questions specific to your graduate program and academic requirements should be directed to your department’s graduate administrator/support person, as follows:

For undergraduate students, please contact the College of Education Undergraduate Programs Office: Contact Us - College of Education | University of Saskatchewan

All immigration drop-in advising is confidential, one-on-one, 15-minute virtual Zoom sessions with Megan Fillatre (RISIA), on a first-come, first-served basis (no appointment necessary). If more time is needed for special cases, it will be determined at the drop-in session and a longer appointment may be offered, in-person would be optional.

The virtual drop-in will be closed once the capacity has been reached, or 15 minutes prior to the drop-in end time, whichever is earlier.

Do you know your time zone? Use this online time converter if zooming from another country or outside Saskatchewan.

This virtual drop-in advising is available to all international graduate students in the College of Education.

Drop-in immigration advising is offered every Thursday from 1:00-3:00 pm, Central Standard Time, no appointment necessary.

Thursday Drop-in Zoom or Telephone Links:

When you access the Zoom link, you will be placed in a queue in a virtual waiting room. When it’s your turn, the advisor will let you into the session. The wait times are determined by the number of students in the queue. 

Please come to the session prepared with concise questions and your immigration documents at hand, if needed for reference.

Important: If a Thursday session is not available, a note will be provided here, and the Zoom link will not be accessible.

*Sessions will not be available on: May 21, May 28, June 18, July 2, July 16, August 13, August 20, August 27.

For urgent questions when Thursday sessions are not running, students can use the ISSAC international student immigration drop-in advising: https://students.usask.ca/international/international-student-advising.php

For issues connecting to the drop-in session, or any other questions, please contact megan.fillatre@usask.ca.

The International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC) is a central support unit and a campus partner for all students, staff, and faculty. ISSAC is dedicated to fostering a welcoming, globally aware and inclusive campus community. https://students.usask.ca/international/issac.php  

USask International Student Guide: https://students.usask.ca/international/index.php  

USask Immigration Info & Guide: https://students.usask.ca/international/immigration.php  

ISSAC international student advising: https://students.usask.ca/international/international-student-advising.php 

Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) 

On November 5th, following the tabling of Budget 2025, IRCC announced changes in relation to Provincial Attestation Letters (PALS).

Effective January 1 2026, international master’s and doctoral students at public universities will be exempt from the PAL requirement. Students pursuing a graduate certificate program, postgraduate diploma, or coming as a Visiting Research Student (VRS) for more than six months will still require a PAL.

If you are meeting one of the PAL exceptions (i.e. masters or doctoral student), you must provide a letter of explanation as part of your online study permit application. The USask PAL FAQ has samples of an explanation letter that you could use as a guide to help you write your own, as per your own specific situation. Please note USask cannot write letters of explanation on your behalf.

Please visit the IRCC's website for up-to-date information about immigration procedures and documents including PAL/TAL. Please also visit the USask's PAL FAQ. 

Contact Us

Department Support

Carla Schulz

ecur.office@usask.ca
tel. +1 (306) 966-7601
fax +1 (306) 966-7658

Department of Curriculum Studies
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3021
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada

Graduate Support

Patricia Gillies

ecur.gradprogram@usask.ca
tel. +1 (306) 966-5255
fax +1 (306) 966-7658

Department of Curriculum Studies
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3020
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada

Department Support

Jennifer Kovar
jennifer.kovar@usask.ca

tel. +1 (306) 966-7619
fax +1 (306) 966-7549

Department of Educational Administration
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3079
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada

Graduate Program Assistant

Katrina Hutchence
katrina.hutchence@usask.ca

tel. +1 (306) 966-2509
fax +1 (306) 966-7549

Department of Educational Administration
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3079
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada

Graduate Program / Department Support

Charmaine Spezowka

efdt.gradsecretary@usask.ca
tel. +1 (306) 966-5138

Department of Educational Foundations
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3104
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada

Department Support

Isabel Bacalao Azpurua

efdt.office@usask.ca
tel. +1 (306) 966-7514

Department of Educational Foundations
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3104
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada

Land-based Indigenous cohort support

Shirley Cardinal

milbe@usask.ca
tel. +1 (306) 966-7596

Graduate / Certificate Support

Charmaine Spezowka

Graduate support email: epse.gradsec@usask.ca
Certificate support email: spec.edpse@usask.ca
tel. +1 (306) 966-5253
fax +1 (306) 966-7658

Department of Educational Foundations
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3104
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada

Department Support

Isabel Bacalao Azpurua

epse.office@usask.ca
tel. +1 (306) 966-7514

Department of Educational Foundations
University of Saskatchewan
28 Campus Drive, Room 3104
Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X1, Canada