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Pursue a research-based master’s degree in a small, intimate environment.

The University has an active research community, driven by faculty with wide-ranging and varied research interests.  

Graduate students work directly with their faculty supervisor on research. The program’s focus is on laboratory and field experience, which provides graduate students with an abundance of hands-on opportunities.

Mount Allison graduate students are highly sought after by employers as well as doctoral programs because of the high level research and training they accomplish during their studies.

Looking to apply? Read the 'How to find a supervisor' page and then visit graduate studies admissions.

International MSc students' responsibilities and processes: refer to the information at the bottom of this page.

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Departments hosting graduate students

Biology

Chemistry and Biochemistry

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Current research opportunities

 Dr. Irene Kaczmarska's Research Projects:

Biological and Computer Sciences

1. Merging theoretical reproductive strategies of diatoms with population cell-size data in fossil or extant settings.

This project is directed toward candidates interested in diatoms and their unusual life cycles. Both empirical evidence and theoretical attributes of specific cycles will be considered. The project aims to test some of the common assumptions leading to inconsistencies in the available published evidence for both.

Biological Science

2. Auxospore structure and development in selected mediophyceans.

Ellipsoidal valve outline is relatively common among mediophyceans. Recent advances in molecular phylogeny indicate that generally similar overall frustule structure in many of them does not mean that they are closely related. Although the process of sexual reproduction in some species have been examined using light microscopy, the fine structure and ontogeny of their sexual cells are poorly known. The aim of this study is to address this gap in knowledge and to analytically compare molecular and developmental relationships between relevant genera.

Paleoenvironmental Science

3. Diversity and ecology of the Oligocene Cymatosirales.

Extant species of many members of the diatom class Mediophyceae (e.g., Cymatosirales Thalassiosirales) have relatively weakly silicified frustules which result in their poor fossilization. The sedimentary environment from the Oligocene Carpathian Flysh facilitated exceptionally good preservation and rich flora of such species. Both diversity and palaeoecological setting of these species during the Early Oligocene will be investigated. Results will be placed in the context of the environment where their closest relatives thrive today.

Please contact I. Kaczmarska (iehrman@mta.ca) regarding the projects and Graduate Studies regarding admission.         

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International students, read more here about the typical processes and your responsibilities:

1) Financial considerations - International applicants for graduate studies in Canada will need to demonstrate that they have or are guaranteed to receive at least $20,635 (CAD) if coming to Canada as a single person (more if family members are coming as well), in addition to their first year of tuition and travel costs. Read more on the Government of Canada .

2) Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is needed before applying for a study permit – As of 2024, international grad students will now need to be assigned a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) once they are accepted into the MSc program at the university. You will then send your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and PAL along to the Canadian government when you are applying for a study/student visa. As part of the PAL, applicants need to provide details to the university from their passport (either a scanned copy or their passport number). More Government of Canada PAL details .
Requesting a PAL from ������ýapp: Once you have been offered a position in the MSc program, please contact gradstudies@mta.ca to inquire.

3) Visa end dates/extension of study permit – MSc students are responsible for ensuring that their study permit timeframe covers your full program of study, and to ensure that you apply well in advance (based upon current lead-time estimates which can easily exceed 150 days/5 months) if you require an extension to your study permit. Keep an eye on the info provided for a current estimate of processing times.

4) Before moving to Sackville, New Brunswick and before you can be paid your graduate stipend from Mount Allison – consider your needs for local housing, a Canadian bank account, access to medical services (for on-going medical needs and prescription continuations), travel and health insurance, etc.; discuss with your confirmed MSc program faculty supervisor and contact the International Centre (Christa Maston cmaston@mta.ca) for assistance.

5) Confirmation of Enrolment letters – don’t use letters generated in Self-Service, as those will imply that the MSc student is in a part-time program when, in fact, the item on your transcript noted as “MSCI 5990 Graduate Thesis” is our Registrar’s way of indicating your enrolment in the Master of Science Program (not just ‘one course’). Instead, request a letter from a Student Service Coordinator via advisor@mta.ca and you may want to contact the International Centre (Christa Maston cmaston@mta.ca) for assistance/to discuss your needs.

6) If applying for a post-grad work permit (PGWP), a transcript is required – for this, you probably want to ask the academic advisors to confirm in a letter that you are a full-time student because it would look like part-time enrolment on your transcript. For PGWP application, you typically need a completion of studies letter. This is usually done by our advisors (you can send an email to advisor@mta.ca when you get to this stage) so make sure you ask for both a transcript and a letter indicating you were a full-time graduate student for your PGWP.