Program Funding

All students admitted to our graduate program have secured financial support for at least the first 2.3 years of an M.Sc. program and the first 5 years of a Ph.D. program (or until thesis defense, whichever comes first), at the minimum rate of approximately $25,197 (M.Sc.) and $25,917 (Ph.D.) per year, subject to annual review of academic and teaching performance. (Salaries are quoted from the Graduate Assistantship 2021 Salary Scale). Before the beginning of each term the Graduate Office will contact you to discuss your funding landscape.

Training our graduate students to be effective communicators and leaders in the biological sciences is accomplished in part by involving them in our undergraduate teaching program. All graduate students in our department are required to teach for a minimum of one term. Financial support for graduate students comes from a variety of sources:

  • Graduate Teaching Assistantships
  • Awards and Scholarships
  • External agencies
  • Supervisor's research funds

Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)

GTAs are awarded to graduate students within their guaranteed funding period (MSc 2.3 years, PhD 5.0 years) who possess the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical abilities to serve as a GTA for the course in consideration. Priority is given to students that do not hold a major scholarship. Graduate students outside of guaranteed funding and/or possessing a major scholarship will be considered for a GTA only if no other qualified graduate students are available.

  • Approximately half of the ~250 graduate students in the Department are supported by GTAs. They are awarded primarily on the basis of academic excellence and the ability to to perform the required teaching duties
  • Incoming M.Sc. and Ph.D. students receive $17,302 and $17,843, respectively, for teaching during their first academic year (two 4-month terms)
  • Funding is assured for a total of 2.3 (M.Sc.) or 5 (Ph.D.) years (or until thesis defense, whichever comes first), pending annual review of academic and teaching performance
  • Students who defend their thesis during a term in which they have a GTA are required to complete their teaching assignment for that term
  • Generally, the 4 months of summer support is equivalent to the support for one academic term (~$8,651 for M.Sc.; ~$8,921.76 for Ph.D.)

Please refer to the Graduate Student Assistantship Collective Agreement for more information.


Personal funds and/or student loans are not considered sources of financial support.


If you receive a major scholarship (>$13,000) in your guaranteed funding period, you will be expected to accept the award in lieu of all or part of your GTA.

Support Following Completion of a Major Scholarship

Following completion of a major scholarship students will automatically be awarded a GTA that will run up until the end of the 2.3rd (M.Sc.) or 5th (Ph.D.) year of the graduate program (or until defense of thesis, whichever comes first).

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and Fees are assessed by term; Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Graduate Students holding a Teaching Assistantship or Research Assistantship will automatically have their tuition deducted from their pay if the tuition is not paid in full by the fee payment deadline. See payroll deductions for more information or contact biogradf@ualberta.ca. Students holding a major award such as an NSERC or Alberta Innovates do not qualify for the tuition payroll deduction and must pay their fees before the deadline. Please see tuition and fees for tuition and cost of living estimates.

Travel Award Opportunities