Geology (M.Sc.)
Expand and specialize your geoscience skills
Located on the southern rim of one of the world’s largest and best-exposed meteorite impact sites, close to many mines and diverse geological environments, Sudbury is truly the best place in the world to study Geology.
Sudbury’s massive deposits of nickel, copper and platinum group elements provide unique opportunities for field instruction and applied research. The region’s geological environments include Archean volcanic/sedimentary belts, a Proterozoic sedimentary/volcanic belt, Grenville metamorphic terrains, and lower to middle Paleozoic sequences. With over 330 lakes and access to over 1000 km of trails, your backyard becomes both your recreational space and laboratory!
Visit the Harquail School Website
Academic Advisor
Dr. Douglas Tinkham
Telephone: 705-675-1151 ext 2270
Email: dtinkham@laurentian.ca
Office:
Academic advisor for the thesis-based M.Sc. in Geology: Dr. Douglas Tinkham
Academic advisor for the Applied M.Sc in Mineral Exploration: Dr. Daniel Kontak, 705-675-1151 ext 2352, dkontak@laurentian.ca.
Positioning students for employment and success
The Harquail School of Earth Sciences and its Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) are housed in the Willet Green Miller Centre, in Sudbury, Ontario, the world’s largest mineral exploration and mining-service cluster. Uniquely situated in Northern Ontario, within close proximity to Manitoulin Island, Timmins, Noranda, and Bancroft, students have a setting for field-based learning and research that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Leading government organizations such as the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS), the Ontario Geoscience Laboratories (Geo Labs), and the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, are co-located with us. Students make valuable connections with industry and government geoscience professionals because of our close proximity and networking opportunities.
The Harquail School of Earth Sciences and MERC are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and analytical instruments, allowing students and researchers to conduct cutting-edge research. We are co-located with the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS), offering students access to a wide array of analytical instrumentation. The OGS’ Geo Labs are one of the largest and most advanced geoscience analytical facilities in North America.
The North's Advantage
Built on the Canadian Shield, Laurentian University’s campus in Sudbury provides a unique setting for field-based learning and research. Located on the southern rim of the world’s second-largest meteorite impact site, close to many mines, and a large variety of rock types, Sudbury’s geology provides exceptional opportunities for field instruction, pure, and applied research. This includes the exploration of ore deposits, understanding geological processes in the Earth’s interior and on its surface, and the study of other planets.
The region’s geological environments include Archean volcanic and sedimentary belts, a Proterozoic sedimentary and volcanic belt, Grenville metamorphic terrains, and lower to middle Paleozoic sequences. The School offers an unparalleled learning environment in ore deposits, structural geology, geophysics, mineralogy, igneous and metamorphic petrology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, and paleontology.
Laurentian University, leader in economic geology research funding
Laurentian is the leading Canadian university in Economic Geology research funding. The Harquail School of Earth Sciences has by far the highest level of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) funding in economic geology in Canada.
Metal Earth, a Canadian $104 million applied research and development program: Our largest project, Metal Earth, is a $104-million collaborative research and development project led by the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC). This exploration research program provides undergraduate students with valuable hands-on field experience. Findings from Metal Earth will be transferable around the world and position Canada as an authoritative leader in the global quest for metals.
Visit the Harquail School of Earth Sciences for more information
M.Sc. in Geology - Thesis-based option (Full time)
Entrance to the MSc. in Geology - Thesis-based option requires a B.Sc. Honours degree with a minimum B average. Note that students in this program cannot transfer into the Mineral exploration one-year option.
MSc Geology - Applied Mineral Exploration (Accelerated)
Entrance to the M.Sc. in mineral exploration one-year option is restricted to geoscientists holding a B.Sc. honours degree in the Earth Sciences (minimum B average). Enrolment and residency requirements: students in this option are full-time students.
MSc Geology - Applied Mineral Exploration
Entrance to the M.Sc. in mineral exploration two-year option is restricted to geoscientists holding a B.Sc. honours degree in the Earth Sciences (minimum B average) with at least two years of industry or equivalent experience. Enrolment and residency requirements: part-time.
Application Process
Step 1. Students are encouraged to consult the faculty list on the Faculty Members to identify a potential supervisor (i.e. a faculty member they would like to work with). Applicants should contact potential supervisors and inquire about the possibility of becoming a student. The application process requires a formal commitment from a faculty member to serve as the main supervisor (Thesis Supervisor Agreement Form).
Step 2. Click here to submit the online application. Once students have applied, they will receive instructions (typically within 48 hours) from the Office of Admissions leading them to the MyLaurentian portal. Students can access the portal at my.laurentian.ca; sign in credentials will be provided in the correspondence received from the Office of Admissions upon successful completion of an application. The following documents will be required in order to complete an application.
Documents:
- Three Reference Forms (to begin the process at my.laurentian.ca click on "Reference Submission" on the left-hand navigation menu)
- Statement of Interest (to be uploaded via MyLaurentian)
- Thesis Supervisor Agreement Form required for the Thesis-based option (found and uploaded via MyLaurentian)
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume (to be uploaded via MyLaurentian)
- Official Academic Transcript(s) from all post secondary studies* (Please note that current or prior Laurentian University students do not need to request transcripts)
*Please note that official transcripts or WES course-by-course (for institutions attended outside of North America) must come directly to the Office of Admissions from the previous post secondary institution by requesting at the time of your application or by contacting the institution's Registrar's Office.
Step 3. Once the Admissions Office receives all information and the application is deemed complete, the application will be forwarded to the department. An Admissions Committee meets to review the applications.
Step 4. The Admissions Committee will review all applications on file and make a decision regarding the suitability of each applicant. The Admissions Committee will then make a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Laurentian University. The Graduate Studies office will verify the dossier and if satisfactory, the Dean of Graduate Studies will forward the recommendation to the Office of Admissions at Laurentian University for admission.
Step 5: If approved for admission, the Office of Admissions will send the student an Offer of Admission via MyLaurentian. Applicants wishing to accept the offer of admission must indicate their response on MyLaurentian within 3 weeks of receiving the offer. Once the student has accepted the offer, a transition to the registration process occurs.
Potential students with two or more years of industry experience may want to consider the M.Sc. in Mineral Exploration which is offered in modular format, and may contact Dr. Dan Kontak at dkontak@laurentian.ca.
1. Check your program requirements
You can find your program requirements on this page, under admission requirements. For some Graduate programs you will need to secure a supervisor as part of your application process. You can find if you need to contact a supervisor on the how to apply to graduate programs page.
2. Complete your Application
Once you have reviewed your program requirements you can apply through the graduate application portal. This will take you to an external site, hosted by OUAC. Within 48 business hours of submitting your application you will receive an email with further instructions.
Apply Now3. Setup your myLaurentian account and upload your documentation
Once your application has been received by Laurentian University, you will receive an email that contains information on accessing your myLaurentian Portal where you will continue the application process. To activate your account, visit the myLaurentian Portal and click the yellow bar "New to Laurentian".
Please note that the submission of items on the “My Checklist” is solely the obligation of the applicant. Please review this list carefully in order to complete your application.
Learn more on our how to apply to graduate programs page.
Detailed How To ApplyThe degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Students must follow these regulations while in the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Approved Fields of Study
- Mineral Deposits
- Precambrian Geology
- Environmental Geology
MSc Geology - Thesis-based option (Full time)
This MSc program normally consists of four one-term GEOL graduate courses, plus a thesis (GEOL 5000). The department may recommend that in individual cases, one suitable fourth-year course may be taken in lieu of a graduate course. Admission requirements: B.Sc. Honours degree with a minimum B average. Note that students in this program cannot transfer into the M.Sc. Mineral Exploration one-year option.
MSc Geology - Applied Mineral Exploration (Accelerated)
This MSc in Geology Applied Mineral Exploration Option (MinEx), is designed for geologists who wish to upgrade their skills by taking an intensive, one-year, course-based degree program. Students may enter the program at any time during the academic year (i.e., September, January, May). This program involves completing 24 credits of courses; up to 6 credits of senior-level undergraduate geology courses may be taken. The Applied Research Project (GEOL 5055, 6 credits) may also count towards the degree*. A maximum of 6 credits of other non-GEOL graduate courses (modular or term based) may be considered appropriate substitutes at the discretion of the program coordinator.
* For the GEOL-5055 option, a suitable Applied Research Project will be determined in consultation with a faculty supervisor and, if appropriate, may focus on a problem of interest to the candidate's employer. To complete the program within a year, GEOL-5055 final project report must be submitted within 11 months of starting the program.
MSc Geology - Applied Mineral Exploration
The M.Sc. in mineral exploration two-year option is designed for industry geologists who wish to upgrade their skills while maintaining full-time employment. The program involves six, two-week course modules (listed below) and an applied research project (GEOL 5055). The courses are normally offered three per year (September, December, and April) on a two-year cycle; students may register for the program at any time (January, May, September). The scope and topic of the applied research project will be determined in consultation with the faculty supervisor and will focus on a problem of interest to the candidate's employer, typically in one of their active exploration or mining areas. Note that other modular-based and full-term graduate courses similar in amount of work, duration and academic content may be considered as a substitute for some of the courses at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Modular-based courses:
GEOL 5055 - Applied Research Project
*GEOL 5326 - Mineral Exploration in Volcanic Terrains**
*GEOL 5606 - Exploration for Magmatic Ore Deposits
*GEOL 5806 - Exploration Geochemistry
+GEOL 5307 - Structure, Tectonics, and Mineral Exploration**
+GEOL 5607 - Exploration for Hydrothermal Ore Deposits
+GEOL 5956 - Exploration Geophysics
(+) even year courses, (*) odd year courses
** field-based modules
Program Requirements:
The M.Sc. program normally consists of four 3-credit GEOL graduate courses and a thesis (GEOL 5000). The Harquail School may recommend that in individual cases, other suitable fourth-year undergraduate courses may be taken in addition to the normal graduate load.
Admission Requirements:
B.Sc. Honours degree with a minimum B average. Note that students in this program cannot transfer into the M.Sc. Mineral exploration one-year option.