To be considered for admission, applicants should meet the minimum requirements of a four-year honours degree with a 75% ('B') average during the final two years of study. Applicants must submit a statement of their research interests with their application. It is essential that applicants contact potential advisors in the department prior to submission of an application. Students are admitted in September and applications and supporting documentation should be submitted by January 10 for consideration in the first round for admission and funding. Applications received after this date shall be considered in the second round.

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. For the MA degree, students must complete two courses identified as social science courses. For the MSc degree, students must complete two courses identified as natural science courses.

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. MA students must complete three courses identified as social science courses. MSc students must complete three courses identified as natural science courses.