The Department of Sociology provides specialized training in the core areas of the discipline (sociological methods and theoretical inquiry), as well as a number of substantive areas: criminology and social justice; culture and social relations; population health and wellness; power, privilege and resistance; social development and inequality; and social policy and social change. The low graduate student/faculty ratio creates an informal learning environment in which students receive considerable individual attention. Faculty members are actively involved in research, including many projects that readily lend themselves as the basis for student theses and dissertations.

Both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs are administered by the Department's Chair of the Graduate Committee. Prospective students should therefore direct their inquiries to:

The Chair of Graduate Studies
Department of Sociology
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2
Telephone: (204) 474-9260
FAX: (204) 261-1216

Admission to Graduate Study at the University of Manitoba

General regulations and criteria for admission to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Sociology are presented in the University of Manitoba Graduate Calendar. Copies may also be obtained from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Room 500 University Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2. Students should refer to the Graduate Calendar for admission requirements and procedures, except as outlined below.

While students interested in applying to the M.A. or Ph.D. programs in Sociology should contact the department if they require information specific to their program, applications and supporting documentation are to be sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Normally, admission to the program is effective in September. However, applications for admission in January will also be accepted.   The final deadline for submitting applications to the graduate programs in the Department of Sociology (for September admission) are March 15 for September admission and September 30 for January admission.

Applications for admission can be obtained from the Department of Sociology or the Faculty of Graduate Studies or online at: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/sociology/grad/index.html

A separate application for the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) must be completed in addition to the application for admission. Application deadline: January 15. Link to application can be found here "Awards and Funding"

N.B.   Students wishing to be considered for a University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship must submit a complete application for admission, a Fellowship application, and all required documentation by mid January of each year (contact the department for this year’s deadline date).

Students may apply for admission to the M.A. program on a full- or part-time basis.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program must apply as full-time students to fulfill the residency requirements, but may thereafter register on either full- or part-time basis. (This decision should be made in consultation with the Chair of Graduate Committee and the student's Advisor.)

Applications will not be processed unless accompanied by the application fee of $120 in Canadian funds for paper/print admissions or $100 for on-line applications. The application fee is non-refundable, and is not credited against tuition. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

1.    Fellowships and Scholarships: The Faculty of Graduate Studies maintains an up-to-date listing of all fellowships and scholarships available to graduate students in Sociology. The most noteworthy of these are the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Fellowships, and Manitoba Health Research Council Studentships. Students are strongly urged to pursue these opportunities. Such awards usually provide the most generous remuneration and at the same time allow students to devote all of their time to their studies. It should also be noted that the holding of a fellowship/scholarship does not preclude the student from obtaining other forms of assistance (e.g., teaching assistantships).

2.    Sociology Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship: The Sociology Graduate Entrance Scholarship valued at $2,000 shall be awarded to the student who:

(1) has applied by the January deadline for admission;

(2) subsequently enrolls in the first year of study in either the Master’s or the Ph.D. graduate program in the Department of Sociology;

(3) has achieved the highest grade point average [minimum grade point average of 3.5] based on the last two years of full-time study.

3.    Grant-Supported Research Assistantships: Faculty members with research grants frequently require research assistants. The number of such opportunities varies from year to year, but some graduate students are regularly employed in this way.

4.    Canada Student Loans and Manitoba Government Bursaries: Students who can demonstrate need may be eligible for loans and/or bursaries. Contact the University's Financial Aid & Awards Office for details.

5   Teaching Assistantships and Sessional Lectureships: This is the major form of assistance for graduate students. Funds for these positions are made available to the Department by the University and are then allocated and administered in accordance with the Collective Agreement between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the University of Manitoba. Students must apply for Teaching Assistantships by responding to a position vacancy posting found on the Human Resources web page on the University of Manitoba website: (http://www.umanitoba.ca/cgi-bin/human_resources/%0bjobs/view.pl?posting_type=tam).

These vacancies are usually posted in early to mid-June for T.A-ships beginning in September, and in March for T.A.-ships in spring/summer session. An email will be sent to all registered Sociology graduate students informing them of these postings. Students should consult the Collective Agreement for terms and conditions governing these appointments both during the regular academic session and summer session. New applicants who are interested in obtaining such employment should contact the Chair of the Graduate Program as early as possible.

5.    Conference Travel Support: Graduate students in the Department of Sociology can apply to the department for financial support to attend a conference at which they will present a paper or play a role of similar import.  The maximum allocation per student is $200, and no student will normally be funded more than once a year. Applications are available from the department and are submitted to the Department Head. These applications are then forwarded to the Faculty of Arts Graduate Student Conference Travel Award competition for consideration. The maximum allocation from this source is $250 per year. Travel funds are also available from the Alumni Association, the Faculty of Arts Endowment Fund (one competition each February), and the Canadian Federation of the Humanities and Social Sciences (formerly the Learned Societies) Traveling Scholarships administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

For complete information on awards see the Funding and Awards webpage at: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/graduate_studies/funding/index.html 

For complete information see the handbook, Graduate Study in Sociology