To be considered for admission, applicants should meet the minimum requirements of a four-year honours degree with a 73% ('B') average during the final two years of study. Applicants must submit a statement of their research interests with their application. They are encouraged to contact potential advisors prior to submission of an application. Students are admitted in September and applications should be completed by January 30 for consideration for admission and funding.

Students may undertake an MA or an MSc program in geography by thesis or by research project (the non-thesis option). Students taking the thesis option are required to complete an acceptable thesis and the Research Methods course. In addition, students must take four courses (2.0 credits), three of which must be from the Department of Geography, and these must include courses from at least two of the biophysical processes, rural studies and resource assessment course groupings (see Courses section below). For the MA degree, students must complete at least two courses from the rural studies and the resource assessment groupings combined. For the MSc degree, students must complete at least two courses in biophysical processes, one of which may be outside the department, as approved by the student's advisory committee.

Students taking the non-thesis option must complete the Research Methods course and the Research Project course. In addition, six other courses (3.0 credits) are required, at least four of which must be from the Department of Geography, and these must include courses from at least two of the biophysical processes, rural studies and resource assessment course groupings. MA students must complete at least two courses from the rural studies and the resource assessment groupings combined. MSc students must complete at least two courses in biophysical processes, one of which may be outside the Department, as approved by the student's advisory committee.