Frequently Asked Questions
MacPhail School of Energy



General Inquiries
How do I get more information on a program?
Do you have any hard-copy documents outlining the programs and courses that you offer?
Where are you located on campus and what are your office hours?

Programs and Courses
What kinds of programs does MSE offer?
How can I find out which course or program would best suit me?
Where can I find information about continuing education, seminar, or distance courses?
What is the cost of tuition fees, laboratory fees, materials and supplies?

Campus Life
Are there any resources to help me if I'm considering living on campus?
Can you tell me about the types of food available on campus?
Where can I find out more about the Trades & Technology Complex?

Support Inquiries
I'm having trouble finding the funding necessary to afford my program; are there any resources that can help?
Where can I get additional help such as tutoring?

Upgrading, Credits and Transfers
Where can I upgrade my math or science?
Will I get any credit for my diploma at universities?

School Information
How do you ensure that your programs give students the skills they need to do well in the industry?
What can you tell me about your instructors?
I've read that your labs are state-of-the-art. What benefits do they have for your students?
What is your average class size?

Career Information
What is the average starting salary for a graduate?
Does SAIT offer any assistance to students or graduates seeking employment?




General Inquiries

How do I get more information on a program?
If you know which program you’re interested in, please contact the program’s Administrative Assistant by referring to our Contact Us page.  If you don't know which program your question relates to, call our reception line at 403.284.8451 or Email energy.info@sait.ca.

Do you have any hard-copy documents outlining the programs and courses that you offer?
In addition to the up-to-date information found on our webpages, we also publish a yearly Career and Program Guide for our full-time day programs, as well as a Continuing Education Calendar.  These are available in hard copy all over campus; you can also obtain copies from our office.

Where are you located on campus and what are your office hours?
We are located on the 6th floor of the Senator Burns Building on SAIT's main campus.  Our office is open Monday to Thursday from 7:45 am to 4:15 pm, and Friday from 7:45 am to 4:00 pm.


Programs and Courses

What kinds of programs does MSE offer?
Our programs can be roughly grouped into two broad categories: full-time day programs, and everything else.  For more information, please see our Programs and Courses page.

You can also watch our program videos by clicking here.

How can I find out which course or program would best suit me?
We are committed to making sure that you end up in a program that you find interesting and fulfilling.  As a result, we have many different services available to students who are trying to make up their mind on which program to pursue.

During the school year we offer program-specific Information Sessions and the opportunity for prospective students to become a Student for a Day in the program of their choice.  We also hold an Open House event twice per year.  For more information on these opportunities designed to help students find the right fit, see our Events and Information Sessions page. To register for an Information Session or to be a Student for a Day, Email energy.mse@sait.ca or call 403.210.5879.

Additionally, you can contact a program’s Administrative Assistant to find out more.  Their contact information can be found on the Contact Us page.

For general inquiries, don't hesitate to call the reception desk at 403.284.8451 or e-mail energy.info@sait.ca.

Where can I find information about continuing education, seminar, or distance courses?
Visit our Programs and Courses webpage, or refer to a copy of SAIT’s Continuing Education Guide, which is available all over campus

What is the cost of tuition fees, laboratory fees, materials and supplies?
Fees vary by program.  Please refer to the Fee Information Table for a complete overview.


Campus Life

Are there any resources to help me if I’m considering living on campus?
There are a variety of options for students looking to stay on or near campus, including residence. For more information, visit our Housing webpage.

Can you tell me about the types of food available on campus?
There are no shortages of food available on campus.  One of the highlights is the food that is served and prepared by students in our Professional Cooking program.  Gourmet lunches and dinners are served in the Highwood Dining room, while more casual options are available to-stay or to-go in the 4 Nines Cafeteria.  Other dining options on campus include well-known chains like Tim Horton’s, Quiznos, Teriyaki Express, and Jugo Juice, as well as various student-owned and operated facilities.  There’s even a student pub located in the Campus Centre.  For more details, visit our Food Services webpage.

Where can I find out more info about the Trades & Technology Complex?
Our Promising Futures campaign website contains all of the most up to date information on the complex, and on the campaign.


Support Inquiries

I’m having trouble finding the funding necessary to afford my program; are there any resources that can help?
There are many resources available to students who need help financing their education.  For information on grants, bursaries, scholarships, and alternate funding, please click here.  Or, click here for information on student loans.  SAIT and the MacPhail School of Energy also offer student awards which are presented on a yearly basis.  More information on these can be found here.

Where can I get additional help such as tutoring?
SAIT's Learning Skills Services offers a wide variety of free learner support services, including tutoring.  You can visit their webpage, or get in touch with them at 403.284.7050 or by Email at learning.skills@sait.ca.  If you'd like to speak to someone in person, their office is located in the Heart Building in room MC221.

Upgrading, Credits and Transfers

Where can I upgrade my math or science?
Please contact the Centre for Academic Learner Services (CALS) if you have questions about Academic Upgrading.  CALS can be reached by phone at 403.284.7111 or by Email at cals.info@sait.ca.

Will I get any credit for my diploma at universities?
SAIT does have advanced credit arrangements with several Canadian and U.S. schools. However, each university sets its own transfer credit policy and so you must contact each of them directly. For full details, please visit our Transfer Options page


School Information

How do you ensure that your programs give students the skills they need to do well in the industry?
Our program design procedures demonstrate the extent to which we are in touch with the needs of industry, and the efforts we make to ensure that our curriculum reflects these needs.  For example, new programs are created in response to unmet needs indicated to us by our industry partners and are guided through the development process by experts who know the content inside and out.  Likewise, our existing programs undergo frequent reviews and redesigns to ensure that they continue to give our students the skills and competencies that industry demands.

What can you tell me about your Instructors?
Our instructional pool is comprised of industry experts who have gained expertise in their industry before coming to SAIT. We hire Instructors who are respected in their field and, through our Teaching Excellence and Curriculum Excellence Foundations program, we teach them how to share their years of experience with our students.

I’ve read that your labs are state-of-the-art.  What benefit do they have for your students?
Students at the MacPhail School of Energy benefit from our state-of-the-art labs because they are given the opportunity to work hands-on with equipment that they will ultimately work with in industry in environments that mimic the atmosphere of real-world job sites.  This means that when they go out into the working world, they will be work ready from Day 1.

Click here to take a virtual tour of our labs.

What is your average class size?
Most of our full-time day programs keep class sizes to about 32 students for lectures, and roughly 16 students for lab components.


Career Information

What is the average salary for a MacPhail School of Energy graduate?
In 2010, the average starting salary for graduates of MSE’s full-time day programs was $63,401.  This figure varies for each of our programs.  For information on specific program employment statistics, please see SAIT's Graduate Employment Statistics guide.

Does SAIT offer any assistance to students or graduates seeking employment?
Yes. SAIT Employment Services offers many resources to match current students and graduates with the perfect career.  Visit their webpage to see current employment opportunities and details about Career Directions, SAIT's bi-annual career fair.

Further Questions? Email energy.info@sait.ca