Graduate work at Queen's University at Kingston was established formally in 1889 with the adoption of regulations for the Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees. At that time the degree of M.A. was not a graduate degree, but was given on the completion of honours work in certain courses provided the candidate had first class standing. With the introduction of a new system of studies in 1919, however, a graduate program was set up requiring a year of work beyond the B.A. and prescribing advanced lecture courses and a thesis or other piece of independent work. In 1926 the master' s course was strengthened by making the Honours B.A., or its equivalent, with at least second class standing, the standard of admission, and the regulations stated that the degree was to be given "not on the grounds of general attainment, but in recognition of the candidate' s wide knowledge of a special field of study."

The degree of M.Sc. was given for the first time in 1905-06. Graduates holding the bachelor' s degree could qualify for the M.Sc. by practicing engineering for two years or spending one year at the university. In 1922-23 a formal course was set up and one year of attendance beyond the B.Sc. was required. Strong emphasis was placed on the research and thesis.

The establishment of the Chown Science Research Chair in 1919 and the Miller Memorial Research Chair in 1929 did much to stimulate graduate work in the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Geology, and Mineralogy, increasing the number of graduate students in these fields.

The administrative aspect of graduate work was first formalized by the Faculty of Arts which set up a Committee on Graduate Studies in 1941. Other faculties followed this example, and in 1943 the Senate constituted the Queen's University Board of Graduate Studies. This board was reconstituted into the School of Graduate Studies in 1963.

The School of Graduate Studies and Research has had the responsibilities for providing recommendations to the Principal and Senate on matters pertaining to university research policy, and for coordinating university-wide aspects of research administration since 1971.

1963-1964 - Dr. J.M.R. Beveridge, Head, Biochemistry Department

1964-1968 - Dr. C.A. Curtis, Head, Economics Department

1968-1970 - Dr. D.W. Slater, Professor, Economics Department

1970-1979 - Dr. R.L. McIntosh, Professor and Former Head, Chemistry Department

1979-1984 - Dr. M. Yeates, Professor and Former Head, Geography Department

1984-1989 - Dr. D.T. Canvin, Professor and Former Head, Biology Department

1995-2000 - Dr. R.J. Anderson, Professor and Former Head, Mechanical Engineering Department

2001-2006- Dr. U. Scheck, Professor of German Language and Literature

2006-        Dr. J.M. Deakin, Professor of Kinesiology and Health Studies