Saskatoon - Neurosurgery
University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SaskatchewanCMG stream
At a glance
- Approx. quota
- 1
- Length
- 6
- Applications per year
- 0–50
- Offered interviews
- 76–100%
CMG stream · open to Canadian medical graduates
Interviews
1 date, 25 Jan 2027
Saskatoon, teaching sites not stated on CaRMS page
What stands out about this program
Research opportunities include neurosurgical applications of the synchrotron.
From “Program curriculum” on the CaRMS page
Pediatric neurosurgery and spine are integrated into daily work rather than separate rotations.
From “Program highlights” on the CaRMS page
Up to six months of the research/subspecialty year may be spent outside Saskatchewan.
From “Program curriculum” on the CaRMS page
- The University of Saskatchewan Neurosurgery residency is a 6-year program, with at least twelve months of neurosurgery in PGY-1 and 2.
- Residents complete 30 additional months of clinical neurosurgery in PGY-3 to 6, and one year may be spent in research or subspecialty training.
- Call is home call, and pediatrics and spine are integrated into daily work rather than separate rotations.
What training looks like
- Rural exposure
- Not stated on CaRMS page
- Focus areas
- Early independence
- Research
- Offered · research project · protected time
- Getting around
- Housing away from the home site is provided or paid for
By year
Not stated on CaRMS page
Other rotations
- General Surgery/Trauma (PGY-1 and 2)
- Plastics (PGY-1 and 2)
- Ortho Spine (PGY-1 and 2)
- ICU (PGY-1 and 2)
- Emergency Medicine (PGY-1 and 2)
- Neurology (PGY-1 and 2)
- neurosurgery (PGY-1 and 2 · at least twelve months)
- clinical neurosurgery (PGY-3 to 6 · 30 additional months)
- outpatient clinic (PGY-3 to 6)
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery (PGY-3 to 6)
- Neuroradiology (PGY-3 to 6)
- Neuropathology (PGY-3 to 6)
- Peripheral Nerve (PGY-3 to 6)
- basic or clinical research (PGY-3 to 6 · One year)
- community neurosurgery rotation (Electives · Regina)
Where you train
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: teaching sites not stated on the CaRMS page.
About Saskatoon
People
266,141residents, 2021 Census
Housing
3.1%rental vacancy rate
Winter and summer
−15.4 °CJanuary mean18.3 °CJuly mean
Job outlook
Goodfor the specialty here, 2025–2027
How they choose
- Application file components
- CV
- Electives
- Examinations
- Extra-curricular
- Leadership skills
- MSPRs
- Personal letters
- Reference documents
- Research/Publications
- Transcripts
- Return of service
- Not stated on CaRMS page. Check the provincial return-of-service rules.
Interviews and info sessions
- Interview dates (2027 match)
- 25 Jan 2027
- Format
- Virtual
- Traditional (one on one/two on one)
- Panel
- MMI or rotating station
Info sessions
None listed on the program’s CaRMS page (opens in a new tab) (read 20 Oct 2026) or on CANPREPP’s events calendar (read 24 Oct 2026). Programs add sessions through the fall.
4 Neurosurgery info sessions at other programsAll info sessions
Pay and call
| Level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $68,329 / year |
| PGY-2 | $74,518 / year |
| PGY-3 | $80,700 / year |
| PGY-4 | $86,858 / year |
| PGY-5 | $92,968 / year |
| PGY-6 | $99,065 / year |
Call
- Call (as the program states it)
- Home call
- Call (provincial max)
- 1 in 4 in-house, averaged over a rotation
- Post-call rule (provincial)
- Back on regularly scheduled hours the next work day
- Max continuous duty (provincial)
- 24 hours, plus up to 2 hours for handover
Benefits
- Annual vacation
- 4 weeks
- CMPA dues paid
- 100%
- Dental plan
- 100%
- Educational leave
- Minimum 7 days with pay, 12 Maximum
- Employee Assistance Program
- Two programs available through SMA and University of Saskatchewan
- Extended health insurance
- Blue Cross family coverage, if registered with a Provincial Health Plan
- Life insurance
- Paid premium, >$100,000 coverage
- Long-term disability insurance
- Paid premium cost for Disability Insurance
- Maternity leave/ Paternity
- In conformity with Sask. Labour Standards Act – 17 weeks max maternity leave and up to 35 weeks parental leave.5 paid days paternity (can split the 35 weeks parental leave with mother as desired.)
- Meal allowance
- n/a
- On-Call Stipends
- Home Light: per duty period: $72 weekday; $83 weekendIn House: per duty period: $166 weekday; $191 weekendICU/CCU: per duty period: $166 weekday; $191 weekend
- Provincial dues (% of salary)
- 1 %
- Provincial health insurance
- Yes, if registered with Sask. Health
- Sick leave
- 1.25 days per month to maximum 75 days
- Statutory and floating holidays
- 1.5 times pay or 1/2 pay & day off for stats, plus 6 extra paid days off at Christmas
- Supplemental Maternity Leave Benefits
- 15 weeks topped to 90% pay when eligible for Employment Insurance
Past matches
Open after round 1 in 2 of 8 years (2019–2026); still open after round 2 in 0 of 9 years.
Show the table, with round 2Hide the table
| Year | Open after round 1 | Open after round 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | not available | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 positions open after round 1 in 2022, CaRMS list (opens in a new tab) | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 position open after round 1 in 2024, CaRMS list (opens in a new tab) | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
What this means
- A position can go unfilled because of where the site is, because it is open to IMGs only or to another restricted stream, or because the quota changed late.
- It says nothing about the quality of the training or how heavy the workload is.
- A site’s numbers are shown when it had positions open after round 1 in at least 2 of 8 years or at least 3 in one year.
Year by year
2027 match
| Stream | Positions | Length | Interviews | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMG stream | 1 | 6 years | 1 date, 25 Jan 2027 | Nothing noted |
2026 match
| Stream | Positions | Length | Interviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMG stream | 1 | 6 years | 1 date, 26 Jan 2026 |
The 2026 page of the CMG stream: our summary of its CaRMS description
- The University of Saskatchewan offers a comprehensive 6-year Neurosurgery residency program fully accredited by the Royal College.
- The program aims to train exceptional, well-rounded neurosurgeons through a competency-based curriculum with extensive research opportunities and hands-on clinical experience.
- Research
- Clinical and basic research strongly supported, with opportunities in spine injury, pediatric neurosurgery, oncology, neural regeneration, stroke, epilepsy surgery, and synchrotron neurosurgical applications.
- Training setting
- Located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with potential rotations in Regina and other Saskatchewan communities. Training occurs primarily at Royal University Hospital with a provincial, distributive learning approach.
- Teaching approach
- Competency-based medical education with progressive independence, emphasizing comprehensive training across surgical foundations and neurosurgical specialties. Strong focus on research, clinical skills, and interprofessional collaboration.
- Enhanced skills
- Not stated on CaRMS page
- What the program looked at
- CaRMS application
- Medical Student Performance Record
- Casper test
- Reference letters
- Interview performance
- Research experience
- Leadership skills
Contacts and links
- Program director
Dr. Syed Uzair Ahmed
- Program office
Program Administrator
Per CaRMS. Staff change during the cycle, so check the CaRMS program page(opens in a new tab) before emailing.
Program websiteWebsiteCANPREPPCANPREPPincludes a resident experience sectionFrom the programThis program on CaRMS(opens in a new tab)
Videos and podcasts
From the program
Public podcast episodes and videos where the program presents itself. The short descriptions are ours; each link goes to the original.
Neurosurgery elsewhere
Nearest to Saskatoon
Did this page answer your question?