Public & International Affairs

Public & International Affairs

The two-year Masters in Public and International Affairs prepares Canada's future leaders for today's global challenges. It has three distinguishing features.  First, it is bilingual, students being required to take one-third of their courses and do their assignments in them in Canada's other official language. Second, it seeks to fuse together theory and practical knowledge. Instructors are both academics and practitioners.  Students learn to write briefing notes and memos to senior government officials.

They do a paid supervised internship with a government department, an international agency, or a non-governmental organization. Those students who wish to pursue an academic career have the opportunity to do a major research paper in their final year. Third, it is multidisciplinary and integrative: students are exposed in their courses to different methodological approaches and skills. The second-year Capstone Seminar is designed to bring together these diverse aptitudes in a dynamic learning environment.

As its name suggests, the MPIA has a strong international component. It encourages second-year students to go on a one-term exchange or to opt for the double Masters degree the MPIA has with the Université de Strasbourg in France. Our programme boasts a very high success rate in placing its graduates in enriching jobs in the federal or provincial civil service, as well as in international organizations or local bodies.       

Degrees Offered


Masters in Public and International Affairs (MPIA)


Program Length (Full-time)

5 term(s)


Program Component(s)

  • Major research paper
  • OR Course work only


Minimum Required GPA

B+


Fall Entry

  • Full-time

Deadline - Fall (Full-time Applicants Only)

2025-04-15

English Proficiency Requirement

Minimum TOEFL (Paper-based)600
Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based)100
IELTS (Academic Module)7.5
YUELIAcademic Program Level 9 with Distinction
YUELI Graduate Studies Preparation Program (GSPP)Graduate with distinction
CAELOverall score of 70, no component score less than 60
Minimum CPE ScoreC
Minimum CAE ScoreB
Duolingo140
PTE Academic76

Additional Admission Requirements

Required Forms

En français
Informations complémentaires (PDF)
Formulaire d'évaluation (PDF)

Number of Recommendation(s)

  • 3 recommendation(s)

Other Requirements

  • Applicants are required to be proficient in at least one language (English or French), with at least a working knowledge of the other language
  • Resumé or CV
  • Statement of interest (approx. 500 words), in French & English, including Grad Course List
  • Seminar paper (5,000 to 7,500 words)