Master of Public Policy

FAQs

Admission requirements

What are the minimum GPA requirements for admissions?

A minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 (out of a possible 4.0), OR a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the last two years of full-time studies. Those coming into the Program immediately after graduation will be expected to have a higher than average GPA. In the absence of relevant professional experience, more weight will be placed on applicants’ academic record.

What are the admission criteria for students?

The M.P.P. program is directed at early career professionals who are interested in developing expertise in the field of public policy. Two to five years of professional experience an asset but not a requirement. Recent graduates with an exceptional academic record will also be considered.

A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent as recognized by McGill University) is required.

The ideal applicant will have completed undergraduate courses in Political Science, Economics, Quantitative Methods, and/or Statistics. A CGPA of 3.60 out of 4.00 recommended.

Applicants who earned a bachelor's degree outside Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 100 for the Internet-based TOEFL exam test (iBT; 600 for the paper-based test (PBT)) with each component score not less than 20 is required. Please use the codes McGill 0935 when writing the exam.

Applicants may write the IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) instead of the TOEFL exam. A minimum overall band of 7.0 is required, with each component score not less than 7.0. IELTS test scores must be sent electronically by IELTS directly to McGill University using the McGill code 0935.

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline for international applicants is January 15. The application deadline for Canadian applicants is February 1.

What supporting documents do I need to supply?

  • Personal Statement (1,000 words)
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Two letters of reference
  • TOEFL or IELTS score written within the past two years (where applicable)

Do I need experience?

Professional experience is an asset, not a requirement.

What sort of academic background should I have?

The ideal applicant will have completed undergraduate courses in Political Science, Economics, Quantitative Methods, and/or Statistics, but none of these are required. A CGPA of 3.60 out of 4.00 is recommended.

 

How to apply

How do I submit documents for my application?

Please use the following link: https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply-now to submit your documents

What department do I select from the dropdown menu in the admissions portal to indicate my choice of program?

Please select “School of Public Policy” to indicate your choice of program in the “Department” field. 

Do I need reference letters and how do I submit them?

Two reference letters are required. Letters of reference should come from academic referees - professors, academic advisors or instructors - who have taught you or supervised your work. If you have relevant professional experience, you may choose to have one reference letter come from a professional referee who has supervised your work. Applicants who have been out of school for several years may choose to two professional referees in place of academic referees.

You must identify and provide a valid institutional e-mail address for each referee on the application form in the applications portal.

McGill University will send an email to the referees asking for a reference in support of your application to be admitted. If no response is received, a reminder message will be sent every two weeks. In rare cases a referee may decline the request; you will be advised by email if your selected referee declines, and you will be asked to provide an alternate. Referees will be invited to login to a secure portion of the McGill website where they can upload the letter(s) of reference.

Note: you will be able to make changes on your applications portal account, such as updating email addresses, replacing referees or adding a new referee should one decline the reference request.

Letters must meet the following conditions:

  1. The program the student has applied to must be clearly indicated and the letter should include information that would aid an admissions committee in making an informed decision.
  2. Letters must be dated and not be more than 12 months old.
  3. The referee must indicate his/her position and full contact information at the institution.

How will my application be evaluated?

Admissions decisions will be based on students’ application dossier, with consideration given to each component of the application. Applicants’ personal statement, professional experience, academic achievements, test scores, and reference letters will all be influencing factors in admission decisions.

When should I expect to receive a decision on my application?

We begin sending offers in November with the intention of completing the process by the beginning of April.

How do I send my transcripts?

  • A record of study is required from each university-level institution you have attended.
  • Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript or by a certified translator. A copy in the original language is also required; an English or French translation alone is not sufficient.
  • An unofficial copy of your complete university-level academic record to date must be uploaded through your applicant page.
  • If the transcript does not indicate that a degree has been conferred, a copy of the degree certificate (diploma) will also need to be uploaded.
  • If you receive an offer of admission you will be required to make arrangements for an official copy of each transcript to be sent to McGill University

 

About the Max Bell School MPP

How many students will you admit?

30 to a maximum of 50 students.

Does the MPP program offer options for specialization?

The program is designed to give students an understanding of the complexities of the general policy process, and to equip students with the skills and competencies to be effective policy leaders across fields and policy areas. Selected issues in specific policy areas such as environment, health care, privacy and security arise as examples and applications within MPP courses, as well as in the Program’s co-curricular activities.

Is there an option for students to complete the graduate program on a part-time basis?

There is currently no part-time option for the program.

Why is the tuition rate for Quebec residents the same as international and other Canadian students?

The Max Bell School’s MPP program is a private, self-funded program. As such, tuition fees are the same for all students, irrespective of students’ nationality or place of residence.

 

 

Information for international applicants

Do I need to send a language proficiency result?

  • Yes. If required, test scores must be less than two years old and submitted directly from the testing agency.
  • Applicants who earned a bachelor's degree outside Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 100 for the Internet-based TOEFL exam test (iBT; 600 for the paper-based test (PBT)) with each component score not less than 20 is required. Please use the codes McGill 0935 when writing the exam.
  • Applicants may write the IELTS (International English Language Testing Systems) instead of the TOEFL exam. A minimum overall band of 7.0 is required, with each component score not less than 7.0. IELTS test scores must be sent electronically by IELTS directly to McGill University using the McGill code 0935.

Can I work in Canada after studying?

Students who have completed a McGill degree may be eligible to obtain a Post Graduation Work Permit. The Post Graduation Work Permit is an open work permit, with the following benefits:

  • no job offer requirement
  • a duration of up to 3 years (depending on the official length of program completed)
  • eligibility for Provincial Healthcare (information on applying for healthcare in Quebec can be found here)

For complete details, visit the Immigration Canada website.

Can I get a job on campus to help pay for my expenses?

Students registered in full-time studies in a McGill degree program and who have a valid Study Permit are permitted to work on campus. For complete details, visit the International Student Services website.

However, our intensive 11-month MPP program is designed to accelerate your return to the workforce, and as a result, it is not recommended to continue working at the same time. It is expected that the average workload for the MPP is 55-60 hours per week. This may increase during exam weeks, or key policy lab milestones. 

The MPP is a wonderful opportunity to invest in your professional skills and learning, and your time will be consumed with courses, assignments, group projects, events and networking opportunities. During the second half of the MPP, the policy lab will be added to your course load and will further reduce your availability for extracurricular activities. In addition, you might be pursuing new career opportunities which will add more pressure to your schedule. 

As a result, it is our strong recommendation that students do not continue working during their MPP. 

What are the visa requirements for international students?

What support services are available to international graduate students?

International Student Services (ISS) offers a host of services to  graduate degree students.

They include:

What funding opportunities are available for international students?

All the scholarship information can be found on the tuition and scholarships page on our website.

 

Information for accepted applicants

How do I access my Minerva account and McGill email?

1. Log into Minerva: www.mcgill.ca/minerva 
 
To log in you must enter your 9-digit McGill ID and 6-character PIN. 

The first time you log into Minerva, you will be using the 6-character temporary PIN (your date of birth (yymmdd) provided when you first registered.  

2. Set the password for your e-mail address. (This password will be different from the Minerva password.)  

  • From Minerva, Click on the Personal Tab  

  • Follow the on-screen instructions to choose your 8-letter password. No need to have remembered your McGill e-mail address, it is your McGill Student Username and is shown on the screen.  

  • Click on Submit New Password at the bottom of the screen. 

Where do I submit an official copy of my complete university academic record? 

Arrange for an official copy of your complete university academic record to be submitted directly by each institution you have attended. These official transcripts must be addressed to: 

Enrolment Services 
Management of Academic Records 
McGill University 
3415 McTavish Street 
Montreal, Quebec 
Canada, H3A 0C8 

Please see here for instructions on submitting official documents from the People's Republic of China. 
 
Due to disruptions in mailing and courier services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the best delivery method for the time being is electronic. Many institutions are readily providing electronic copies of official transcripts and proofs of degree.  
 
These can be sent to officialschooldocs [at] mcgill.ca. If your institution is unable to provide electronic copies, printed copies of official transcripts can be submitted once mailing services resume, or once you arrive on campus this Fall. 

Where can I find information on student housing?

Can I work during the MPP?

The intensive 11-month MPP program is designed to accelerate your return to the workforce, and as a result, it is not recommended to continue working at the same time. It is expected that the average workload for the MPP is 55-60 hours per week. This may increase during exam weeks, or key policy lab milestones.

The MPP is a wonderful opportunity to invest in your professional skills and learning, and your time will be consumed with courses, assignments, group projects, events and networking opportunities. During the second half of the MPP, the policy lab will be added to your course load and will further reduce your availability for extracurricular activities. In addition, you might be pursuing new career opportunities which will add more pressure to your schedule.

As a result, it is our strong recommendation that students do not continue working during their MPP.

Where can I find resources for International students?

International Student Services (ISS) offers a host of services to  graduate degree students. Check out their website: https://www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/

Their services include:

Can I defer my offer?

Under exceptional circumstances, and only after the non-refundable deposit has been made, an applicant may request to defer their acceptance by one academic year. The applicant must request a deferral in writing, explaining the reasons for the deferral. Not all deferral requests will be approved. Additional deferrals are not possible.

Ready to start your application?

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