Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctoral students enrolled in the collaborative Biostatistics Program are required to:

• Complete 15 credits units of coursework (12 required credit units and three elective credit units);
• Participate in a non-credit seminar course and a non-credit research ethics course;
• Complete qualifying and comprehensive examinations; and
• Complete a dissertation based on original research.

PhD graduates in biostatistics will be prepared to assume faculty or other research-oriented positions in academic institutions or to take leadership positions in organizations that conduct health-related research. After completing the program, individuals will be able to:

• Develop new statistical methods using existing theory or apply existing statistical methods to address problems in the medical, biological, and agricultural sciences;
• Collaborate on research teams;
• Take a leadership role in study design, data management, statistical analysis, and interpretation of study results; and
• Be proficient in both the oral and written presentation of research results.

All PhD students entering the collaborative Biostatistics Program will have an advisory committee that includes the student's supervisor and other faculty members as required. The committee is responsible for determining the student's program, monitoring academic performance, and providing feedback and guidance for the student's research.  

The minimum residency requirement is two regular academic sessions. A regular academic session runs from September to April. During the residency period students are expected to be located at the University of Saskatchewan. After fulfilling the residency requirement, students must maintain continuous registration in their program of study until its completion.

Download program factsheet.