At GSPIA, we educate policy leaders for Canada and the world.

The first year of the MA in Public and International Affairs provides students with a multidisciplinary grounding in the concepts and practice of national and international policy as well as professional development workshops on essential skills such as writing effectively and delivering presentations. Then, students specialize and gain hands-on experience by taking elective courses, pursuing co-op work experiences or internships, and writing their major research paper to deepen their expertise on a subject that interests them.

The MA in International Affairs involves much more than classroom learning. We provide opportunities for our students to get hands-on experience and learn important professional skills.

Every new GSPIA student is assigned one of our senior fellows as a mentor. They are among the most seasoned policy professionals in the country, having occupied senior positions in government, non-governmental organizations, international agencies, journalism, and the private sector – and their advice is golden.

Students can also pursue co-op work opportunities or apply to GSPIA’s unique internship program in Canadian embassies abroad. Our students also have opportunities to engage with national and international policy leaders who regularly participate in School activities.

And we offer workshops on career opportunities, preparing résumés, being interviewed, writing effectively, and delivering presentations – all delivered by experienced practitioners.

Many of our graduates pursue rewarding careers in the federal public service. They work in virtually every department of government, such as Global Affairs Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, and in “central agencies” such as the Privy Council Office. Others have gone on to successful careers in non-governmental organizations in Canada or abroad, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as in journalism and business. Some opt to continue their graduate education.

GSPIA has 29 dedicated professors who are leaders in their fields. We believe that educating policy leaders requires a multidisciplinary training, so our faculty includes political scientists, economists, historians, sociologists, and ethicists. In addition to their academic excellence, many also have direct policy experience.

The School hosts nearly 20 senior fellows who are among the most experienced policy professionals in Canada, including some who previously served as deputy ministers of federal government departments. Their expertise covers international trade, national and international security, human rights, journalism, economic planning, business, and much more. Every GSPIA student is assigned a senior fellow as a mentor.

For Canadian students:

• Students enrolled full-time in the M.A. in Public and International Affairs, whose admission average is 8.0 / 10 or above, will receive a Graduate Scholarship worth $7,500 for the first year of study.

• Those with an admission average of 9.0/10 or above will also receive TA-ships or RA-ships paying $12,508 over two years.

For international students:

• The Faculty of Social Sciences holds a competition for the allocation of different types of awards and financial support for international students. A committee considers applications submitted by the program to which the student has been admitted. Funding is not guaranteed to all students who meet the eligibility criteria. Scholarships are awarded until the funds are all allocated.

Visit the Faculty of Social Sciences website for information on all scholarships, research grants and assistantship positions offered to graduate students.

Our program is designed to give students a solid conceptual grounding in both national and international policy as well as the opportunity to specialize and to pursue hands-on work experiences as part of their education. Although the degree can be completed in less than two years, most students choose to take advantage of these opportunities to gain the full benefits of the program.

Applicants must have completed an honours undergraduate degree (or its equivalent) in the social sciences, arts, management, or law, with at least a 75% (B+) average (calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines). Applicants with degrees in other disciplines may also be considered, depending on the relevance of their previous degree and experience to the MA in Public and International Affairs.

A basic knowledge of economics is required. There are two ways to meet this requirement:

• The first is for students to have successfully completed introductory courses in macroeconomics and microeconomics at the undergraduate level. At the University of Ottawa, this requirement can be met by taking the courses ECO 1102 or ECO 1302 and ECO 1104 or ECO 1304, or their equivalent. (The Faculty of Social Sciences will offer these courses in the summer to facilitate the completion of this requirement.) Equivalent courses from other universities are also accepted.

• Alternatively, students who lack these courses could still be admitted to the program on the condition that they take a remedial course in economics offered by the GSPIA during their first term.

For more information, see the admission requirements.

GSPIA is a bilingual School in a bilingual university – a huge advantage for our students. Aspiring policy leaders who hope to work on national or international issues in Canada need at least a working knowledge of both official languages.

All students must take at least one course (3 units) in the second official language.

The university offers a range of opportunities for students to strengthen their bilingualism, including courses in English or French as a second language. They are not requirements of the MA in Public and International Affairs, but some students take advantage of these options while they are at uOttawa.

Candidates who have not graduated from a French-speaking or an English-speaking university must pass the computerized Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or equivalent, before admission.

The MRP offers GSPIA students the opportunity to explore and deepen their knowledge of a topic that interests them. The MRP does not have to make an original contribution, but it must demonstrate extensive research and independent analysis.

Each MRP is supervised by one professor, who helps the student define their research question and guides their work.

​​​​​​It is a 12-month, course-based program. There is no thesis or major research paper. Please see the program requirements.

The program consists of ten courses, each worth 3 course units, totalling 30 units. 

There are four compulsory courses plus six optional courses.

Please see the program requirements for a complete list of courses. Please note that not every course will be offered each semester. They are offered on a rotational basis.

Yes, there is a part-time option. Part-time students will be expected to complete the program requirements within two years.

Please see academic regulation C-1.2.3 and  academic regulation C-6.2 for more information. 

For information on ways to finance your studies, please visit the Awards and Financial Support page. We also recommend visiting the Tuition fees page for an approximation of how much will cost your studies. Please note that these tuition fees do not include housing, food or any other personal expenses. Once you are ready to apply, please visit the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ website, for Step-by-step instructions.

This degree does not provide access to the Co-op or the Embassy Internship programs, due to the short duration of the degree.

If you wish to take advantage of the Co-op and Embassy Internship programs, please consider registering for our two-year MA in Public and International Affairs.

Most GSPIA students pursue careers in the public sector, either in the federal government or in provincial or local governments. A smaller but substantial proportion find work in international organizations, non-governmental organizations, journalism, and business.

To qualify for admission, candidates must hold an honours undergraduate degree (or its equivalent) in political science, sociology, economics, international relations, criminology, peace and conflict studies, international development, anthropology or a related field, with at least a 75% (B+) average (calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines). If applicants do not have degrees in these fields, candidates that have relevant work experience in international, national, and/or human security issues will also be considered. Applicants with degrees in other disciplines may be considered, depending on the relevance of their previous degree to the MASD program.

Please see the admission requirements.

As a condition of admission, all applicants must be able to speak and write in either French or English. Applicants whose first language is neither French nor English must provide proof of official language proficiency. The list of acceptable proofs is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.

No, there is no requirement to take a course in the other language.

However, one of the great advantages of uOttawa is that it is a bilingual university. You may wish to take the opportunity to strengthen your knowledge of the other official language of Canada.