Master of Science – Earth System Science

Applicants for program or non-program admission to the Master of Science – Earth System Science program must:

• hold a baccalaureate degree in Science (or equivalent) or engineering from an accredited university, or
• hold a baccalaureate degree in arts with appropriate science content from an accredited university (e.g BA in Geography, or Mathematics) or
• if the potential applicant does not have a degree but believes their education and experience is equivalent to an undergraduate degree, then it is the responsibility of the applicant to put forward this position in writing as part of the application process.

English language proficiency

There are minimum English language proficiency requirements that must be met for admission to graduate programs at Athabasca University. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they meet the minimum requirements.

Applications for program admissions will be considered only if the applicant has full and unrestricted internet access.

Prospective applicants are expected to review the profiles of our faculty members and identify potential supervisors before applying. To ensure academic quality, applicants to the thesis-based route will normally be admitted after approval by a potential supervisor. For the course-based route, applications will be reviewed by the graduate program committee prior to admission.

Transfer credit

Students can apply for up to 9 transfer credits based on appropriate graduate-level coursework completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions, either as part of previously uncompleted credentials or through unclassified studies. Such coursework should have been completed prior to admission to the program.

Transfer credit is limited by the MSc ESS program residency requirements. Eligible coursework must be less than 7 years old at the time of application to the transfer of credits.

Only graduate-level courses successfully completed with a final grade of B- (70%) or higher will be considered for transfer credit.

Requests for transfer credit should be submitted after admission to the program. Additional information is available on the FST Transfer Credit page.

Applicants are expected to review all application procedures carefully prior to commencing the application process.

Application deadlines

The MSc ESS program offers monthly intakes.

Application procedures

Prospective applicants seeking admission to the thesis route of the Master of Science – Earth System Science program are expected to review the profiles of our faculty members and identify potential supervisors when applying.

How to apply

• Create an account as a new user, or sign in if a returning user and select the program intake for the Master of Science – Earth System Science program.
• Complete all components of the application and pay the application fee. The application includes the following:

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be received directly from the accredited institution(s) by mail, email, or MyCreds. Transcripts must clearly indicate the date of graduation, degree(s) granted, and all completed courses. Unofficial transcripts can be submitted to complete the application, however official transcripts are required before an offer of admission can be issued.

Mailing address

Office of the Registrar
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca AB T9S 3A3

Applicants submitting official documents, including transcripts, in a language other than English must also submit an official English translation of such documents. If the credential was earned outside Canada or the United States, applicants may be required to provide documentation assessing equivalency to Canadian academic qualifications, which can be obtained through a recognized credential evaluation service.

Reference letters

Applicants must include 2 letters of reference as part of the application. All references must comply with the following guidelines:

• Employer references should focus on professional skills, relevant work experience, and potential for success in a research environment.
• If academic credentials were completed within the past 5 years, at least one reference must be from an individual familiar with the applicant's academic abilities.
• References from family members, friends, or colleagues will not be accepted.

International credentials

If a credential was earned outside North America, applicants must provide documentation showing equivalency to a North American bachelor’s degree. The documentation can be obtained from an approved credential assessment service.

Athabasca University recommends World Education Services (WES) or International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS). Choose an assessment type that includes a description of completed coursework.

The MSc ESS program offers monthly intakes. A student may enrol in graduate-level courses for credit without pursuing a graduate degree. With application approval, the student will be admitted as a non-program graduate student.

Courses completed as a non-program student may be applied toward the MSc ESS program upon admission. Grades earned in courses completed as a non-program student will be considered in the admission process. Completion of courses as a non-program student does not guarantee admission into the MSc ESS program.

Non-program student application procedure

• Create an account as a new user, or sign in if a returning user and select Non Program – Centre for Science.
• Complete all components of the application and pay the application fee.

Transcripts

Official transcripts must be received directly from the accredited institution(s) by mail, email, or MyCreds. Transcripts must include the date of graduation, degree(s) granted, and all completed courses. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted to complete the application, however, official transcripts are required before an offer of admission can be issued.

Office of the Registrar
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca AB T9S 3A3

Applicants submitting official documents, including transcripts, in a language other than English must also submit an official English translation of such documents. If the credential was earned outside Canada or the United States, applicants may be required to provide documentation assessing equivalency to Canadian qualifications, which can be obtained through a recognized credential evaluation service.

• Feb. 1 – April 1 (for Spring session)
• June 23 – Aug. 4 (for Fall session)
• Oct. 15 – Nov. 15 (for Winter session)

The number of credits required to complete of the course- and thesis-based routes are:

 The MSc ESS program consists of 3 components:

1. Earth System Science core

The program includes two core courses that provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills required for successful graduate study and research in Earth System Science.

Core academic regulations

• All MSc ESS students are required to complete ENSC 510 and ENSC 680.
• The student should declare their program route (course-based or thesis-based) before registering in electives courses.
• A change between the thesis-based route and course-based routes, or vice versa, is possible depending on progress made at the time, and discussions with the supervisor.

2. Elective courses

• MSc ESS students who elect the course-based route are required to complete 6 elective courses from at least 2 of the Earth system spheres in the table below.
• MSc ESS students following the thesis-based route are required to complete 3 elective courses from at least 2 of the Earth system spheres in the table below in consultation with their thesis supervisor.
• MSc ESS students in either the thesis-based or course-based route may complete 1 elective course from a related discipline offered by a graduate unit outside the Faculty of Science and Technology, subject to consultation with the thesis supervisor.
• Additionally, 500- and 600-level courses from Computing and Information Systems will also be allowed as elective in the program. 

Electives*

Elective courses in the MSc ESS program are grouped into 5 spheres as follows:

Course Route or Thesis Route Courses

Course-based route*

*NOTE: This route will not be open to students until September 2026.

The course-based route requires completion of the core and elective courses, as well as a research project equivalent in scope and effort to two 3-credit courses. 

The research project is completed through 2 3-credit elements, which are administered as graduate-level course equivalents:

Although ESSC 697 and ESSC 698 are not conventional courses, they are treated similarly for administrative purposes.

A project supervisor and project sponsor are required, plus 1 additional reader. This additional reader may be a faculty member, or an industry resource person approved by the Program Director.

Thesis-based route

The thesis-based route requires completion of the 2 core courses, 3 elective courses, and a master's thesis, for a total of 30 credits. The thesis comprises five 3-credit elements (15 credits in total) which are not conventional courses, but are treated similarly for administrative purposes.

The thesis must represent independent work conducted after admission to the program. The thesis topic, a brief description of the proposed methodology, and the arrangement made for the faculty supervision must be identified at the beginning of the program study and be approved by the Program Director.

The Thesis will be evaluated by the student's supervisor(s) and at least 2 examiners appointed by the Program Director, 1 of whom shall be external to Athabasca University. Additional thesis examiners may be faculty members or industry resource individuals approved by the Program Director.

Focus Areas

Students may elect to complete the program with 1 of the following 6 focus areas:

• Environmental Science
• Quaternary Earth Systems
• Environmental Analytics
• Bioinformatics
• Environmental Space Science
• Climate Change

More details can be found under the Focus areas section.

Full- and part-time study and program status

Students may study in the program on a full- or part-time basis. All students must complete a minimum of 6 credits (2 course equivalents) per academic year, i.e. Sep. 1 to Aug. 31. To maintain program status, students must complete a minimum of 6 credits (2 course ewquivalents) per academic year, i.e. Sep. 1 to Aug. 31.

Residency requirements

Thesis-based route: Program students must complete the thesis and a minimum of 2 courses at Athabasca University.

Course-based route: Program students must complete the project and a minimum of 5 courses must be completed at Athabasca University.

Letter of permission

Students enrolled in the MSc ESS program may take 1 course from a different post-secondary in fulfillment of the 3 credits towards the program requirements, provided the course is applicable to Athabasca University's MSc ESS program.

Students wishing to take a course from another institution must submit a written request, and detailed course outline to the Program Director for review. If approved, the Centre for Science will issue a Letter of Permission.

Requests for a Letter of Permission should be made at least 1 month before the registration deadline at the host institution.

Upon completion of the course, the student must submit an official transcript to the MSc ESS Program Director in order for the credit to be applied to the program.

Time limit

The MSc ESS program must be completed within 8 academic years from the program enrolment date.

Program extension

If a student is unable to complete the program within the expected maximum time limit, a program extension may be considered. Requests for an extension will be considered only under compelling circumstances.

The maximum length of a program extension is 1 year. In exceptional circumstances students may reapply if additional time is necessary.

For further information on program extension requests, students should refer to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Handbook.

Upon approval of the program extension, a Program Extension fee is required.

Program deferral

While enrolled in the program, students may encounter circumstances that temporarily provent continued progress. In such cases, students may request a program deferral, which suspends program requirements for an approved period.

The maximum duration of a single deferral is 1 year. In special circumstances, students may apply for a second deferral, subject to approval. Time spent on deferral is not counted toward the maximum time limit allowed in the program. For further information on program deferral requests, students should refer to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Handbook.

A focus area is a subject concentration within the MSc ESS program. Students may elect to complete their program with a focus area. Students must declare their selection of focus area with the MSc ESS program office or on their program application or by submitting the Focus Area Declaration form. Students can only choose 1 focus area. For focus areas that require some courses delivered by other faculties and centres, students must register with the corresponding faculty and centre, and pass the courses according to the course regulations specified by those faculties and centres.

Focus areas are not mandatory. However, depending on the courses selected for the electives, students will have the freedom to specialize in a chosen field of study. In each instance, the program will be designed such that students acquire a breadth of knowledge relating to Earth's systems and how they interact.

MSc ESS students who elect to have a focus area and are taking the course route are required to complete 6 elective courses chosen from at least 2 spheres in one focus area.

MSc ESS students who elect to have a focus area and are taking the thesis route are required to complete 3 elective courses chosen from at least 2 of the spheres in 1 focus area. This should be done in consultation with the thesis supervisor.

If students wish to register in an SCIS course(s) they should contact a Graduate Program Advisor for steps on how to register.

Environmental Science

Students are to choose electives from the following courses:

Thesis or project:

Should cover environmental science topic

Quaternary Earth Systems

Students are to choose electives from the following courses:

Thesis or project:

Should cover quaternary earth systems topic

Environmental Analytics

Students are to choose electives from the following courses:

Thesis or project

Should cover environmental analytics topic

Bioinformatics

Students are to choose electives from the following courses:

Thesis or project:

Should cover bioinformatics topic

Environmental Space Science

Students are to choose from the following courses:

Thesis or project:

Should cover environmental space science topic

Climate Change

Students are to choose electives from the following courses:

Thesis or project:

Should cover climate change topic

Core courses

The core curriculum consists of two 3-credit courses that provide foundational coverage of Earth System Science. These coursers equip students with the essential knowledge and skills required to analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and address complex earth system challenges in support of sustainability. Generally, students should complete all core courses before proceeding to the elective courses. Specific prerequisites are outlined in individual course descriptions.

Elective courses

Elective courses are designed to complement the core curriculum extending foundational knowledge, theory, and practice into areas of individual academic or professional interest. Through elective coursework, students may develop specialized expertise or acquire additional skills relevant to research and professional practice in earth system science.

Elective course offerings may vary by year, and the list of available electives evolve in response to student demands and faculty expertise.

Elective courses may be selected from the following earth system spheres: geosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and magnetosphere.

External electives

With program approval, and subject to availability, students may complete additional elective courses offered by other Athabasca University graduate programs.

Delivery modes

Graduate FST courses are delivered via online paced study or online individualized study using distance education instructional design principles and enabling web-based technologies:

• Most course materials—study guides, assignments, resources, etc.—are available online, but some are still mailed. Review the Course Syllabi for details on your specific course.
• Students communicate with the instructor, the University, or with other students online.
• The instructor gives subject matter assistance and discusses scholarly issues, marks assignments, provides feedback, and helps the student prepare for exams.
• Final exams (when required) must be taken at pre-approved invigilators.

Paced study

This is a mode of learning involving online study as part of a group, with specific start and end dates. Synchronous communication requirements are generally more central to the learning process than in individualized study courses. This delivery mode will be used primarily for courses which have elements of professional practice requiring that students work in various group configurations to complete assignments.

Paced study delivery has the following characteristics:

• Students work with fellow students and instructors on a 13-week timetable.
• Students communicate with their instructor via email, and assignments are submitted through the course website.
• Sessions start 3 times each year: September, January, or April/May.
• Exams, where applicable, are written in the last scheduled week of classes.

Individualized study

Individualized study courses comprise a self-directed learning environment. Individualized study courses begin on the first day of every month. The course registration form and fees must be received at least 1 month in advance of your intended start date.

Typically, learners are required to:

• work their way through the learning materials and complete assignments at their own pace, although a suggested outline may be provided in the course, and
• schedule study time to achieve course objectives and complete assignments.

Online individualized study delivery has the following characteristics:

• Students communicate with their instructor via email, and assignments are submitted through the course website.
• Sessions start the beginning of every month.
• Exams, where applicable, are written on or before the contract end date.
• The course contract period for individualized study courses is 6 months.

Course registration

Registration in courses is subject to prerequisite requirements or professor permission. Elective courses may be taken after completion of the core courses or concurrently with core courses offered in the selected term.

Course extensions

Students who are unable to complete their course by the course contract end date may apply for a course extension by submitting an Extension Request Form and the applicable fee.

Only 1 extension per course is permitted and must be requested on or before the original course contract end date. The extension starts on the first day following the original course contract end date and provides students with an additional 2 months of full instructor support. The schedule for completing the course within the extension period is the responsibility of the student. If the required course work is not submitted by the end of the extension period, a failing grade will be assigned.

Non-funded students

Course extension requests must be submitted no later than the original contract end date.

Funded students

Full-time funded students are expected to successfully complete their courses within the 4-month funded term. Extension requests for courses supported by student financial aid must be received 1 month before the course end date.

Course extensions should be used with caution as government funding agency regulations take precedence over related AU policies.

Course extensions do not extend full- or part-term status or funding eligibility.

Re-registration

Students are allowed only 1 re-registration in each course. Both the initial registration and re-registration will appear on the student's academic record.

Students may re-register in a course only if they have received a final grade of less than B- in a course or have withdrawn from the course in good standing. Upon re-registering, students must complete all course requirements and pay the full course fee.

Course withdrawals and refunds

Early withdrawal (before or within 30 days of course start date)

Students may withdraw from a course before the course start date to within 30 days of their course start date and receive a refund of the full course fee less the Withdrawal Processing fee. The registration will not appear on the transcript and will be deleted from the official record. The student should not return the course materials.

Withdrawal (After 30 days of the course start date)

Students may withdraw from a course at any time up to the original course end date without academic penalty. A “W” will appear on the transcript without credit and without prejudice. No refund will be issued and course materials should not be returned. 

Students may not withdraw from a course without academic penalty in the following cases:

• The course does not have a final exam and all required coursework has been submitted for marking.
• The course has a final exam and the student has written the final exam.

Failing to withdraw

If a student does not formally withdraw from a course before the course end date, and does not complete the course, the official record will reflect a grade of “F” (Failure). A grade of zero will be assigned and calculated into the student's cumulative average. No refund will be issued and course materials should not be returned.

The course end date is the scheduled end of an independent-paced session for grouped-study courses or the expiry date of the course contract period for individualized-study courses.

Students are not automatically withdrawn from courses. Re-enrolment requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Grading system

All courses are graded using the Alpha/4.0 grading scale.

For additional information on grading scales and academic records, students should refer to the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ.

Understanding how higher education fees and tuition are calculated is important to ensure you stay within your budget and make informed decisions.

Financial aid and awards

We're dedicated to supporting your academic goals and committed to helping you overcome financial barriers by providing many funding and award options.

Fees

A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.

The following fees are effective for courses starting September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.

Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)

¹Master of Science – Earth System Science (MSc ESS) Course Tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology fee of $170 and Course Materials fee of $37 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fees of $14 per credit.

Estimated program tuition cost (2025 - 2026):

The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $20,260 ($2,026 x 10 three-credit course equivalents). AUGSA fees, the Course Administration and Technology Fee, and the Course Materials Fee are included in the above calculations. Application and admission fees are not included.

Other fees

² The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a student withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to Course Withdrawal.

Fee information effective Sep. 1, 2025 to Aug. 31, 2026.