Master of International Public Policy

• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements

In order to be admitted to the master's program, a student must meet the general admission requirements of the university. Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree at the honours level with a minimum of second class honours or B standing. All candidates are expected to have completed the equivalent of a one term undergraduate course in microeconomic theory, a one term undergraduate course in macroeconomic theory, an introductory statistics course and a relevant political science course. Applicants with inadequate preparation in any of these areas may still apply to the program, but any admission offer will be conditional on the completion of missing prerequisites. Candidates may complete missing prerequisites either by taking additional undergraduate courses or by successfully completing the non-credit Foundations of International Public Policy certificate offered through the Balsillie School of International Affairs.

Each student is required to complete 12 one-term courses over three academic terms (Fall/Winter/Spring). In term one, students complete the four required core courses, IP601, IP602, IP603 and IP604. Over the course of the second and third terms, students select one field of specialization and take all three courses for this field. In each term, students also complete one interdisciplinary seminar (IP605 in the Winter, IP606 in the spring), plus three elective courses (students who wish to take non-IP courses as electives must have these courses pre-approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator). The courses required for each field are:

The core courses in the first term provide students with knowledge in political science, public sector economics, and quantitative and research methods necessary for public policy analysis in the global context. This common core also helps to ensure that students have a similar graduate experience.

The three required courses in each field provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of that area of international public policy. The interdisciplinary seminars give students the opportunity to undertake in-depth projects in specific areas of international public policy and to develop professional skills, including effective writing, communication, presentation and professional network building.

Students in the MIPP program will be required, by the end of the first semester in the program, to declare the field  they intend to pursue by completing a Graduate Program Change Request Form. This will ensure that the field  of specialization appears on the student's academic record and transcript. Students may elect to specialize in two thematic fields, but should be aware that some combinations may not be possible in any given academic year, depending on course scheduling, and that pursuing this option will reduce the number of elective courses they may take.