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• Application form (online). If you cannot complete the online application, please contact mpa.adÑý¼§Ö±²¥s@queensu.ca for a paper application.
• Two academic recommendations are required, typically from professors under whom the applicant has studied
• If your previous degree is NOT from a Canadian or U.S. university, you will be required to submit a GRE score. There are no exceptions to this rule. The minimum GRE score requirements are: Verbal Reasoning - 152; Quantitative Reasoning - 149; Analytical Writing - 3.8. We are unable to comment on the competitiveness of scores as this depends on the annual pool of applicants. GRE scores must be received directly from the issuing agency.*
• Statement of Interest (4000 characters)
• Transcripts:

1. Official transcripts can be uploaded to the online applications, as PDF files. The transcripts must be scanned (black and white recommended) and saved as a PDF file, and uploaded successfully.
   In these unusual circumstances, the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs will work with whatever arrangements applicants are dealing with. We need the final transcripts for our processes—the documentation is required. But, we can accept the transcript from the issuing university as a pdf or similar document, or any other electronic format, or by fax if that helps. If for some reason the issuing university cannot produce official transcripts, we can accept unofficial transcripts if they are generated and sent by the issuing university and as long as all parties understand an official hard copy transcript will still be required, eventually. We cannot accept any version of any transcripts from applicants directly by email.
   Transcripts can be emailed to sgspa.reception@queensu.ca or our fax number is 1-613-533-6015. Canada Post services on campus is still operational 2 days per week, so we can pick up and process mail, including transcripts, 2 times per week (mailing address - School of Graduate Studies, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, Gordon Hall Room 425, 74 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6). But, our office building is closed to the public currently, so courier deliveries (ie FedEX, UPS, Purolator, etc.) cannot be processed for now.
2. If a transcript or transcripts cannot be successfully uploaded to the online applications, applicants are responsible for ensuring that an official transcript or transcripts of all current and previous university-level studies are sent to the School of Graduate Studies by all universities previously attended. All hard copy transcripts received as part of an application for adÑý¼§Ö±²¥ must be received in sealed envelopes.
3. Final transcript: hard copy original official transcript showing degree completion and conferral, will be required from all applicants who accept an offer of adÑý¼§Ö±²¥ to graduate studies at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥. These final transcripts are to be sent directly from the issuing institutions to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, in sealed envelopes. Official transcripts are NOT REQUIRED for any study of any kind carried out at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, Kingston, Ontario. The School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs will access the student record directly for applicants who have attended or are currently attending Ñý¼§Ö±²¥.

*Transcripts and GRE scores are to be sent from the issuing university and testing center to the following address:

School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Gordon Hall, Room 425
74 Union Street
Ñý¼§Ö±²¥
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 CANADA

AdÑý¼§Ö±²¥ decisions are made on a competitive basis among qualified applicants each year. As the number of applications greatly exceeds the number of available places, not all qualified candidates will be offered adÑý¼§Ö±²¥. An applicant should note that no decision on adÑý¼§Ö±²¥ can be made until the applicant's file is complete. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify that Queen's has received all documents. You may check online to see if your file is complete.

The review of MPA applications will take place in March. Successful MPA candidates may expect to receive notice of their adÑý¼§Ö±²¥ no later than 15 April. A second review of MPA applications, being held on a waiting list, may take place in the early summer or later, as places become available prior to the start of classes in September.

Formal offers of adÑý¼§Ö±²¥ are issued by the School of Graduate Studies.

Please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees webpage for more information.

1. Graduate students who do not enroll in the Payment Plan must pay tuition and fees by the due date of each term enrolled (September 30 for Fall term, January 10 for Winter term and May 1 for Summer term).

2. Ancillary Fees have mandatory and optional components. Please see your respective student government website for more details about Ancillary Fees.

• The Queen's  (AMS)
• The (SGPS)

3. The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is applied at the single rate to all International Students. Coverage for dependent family members who will be in Canada with you is mandatory at an additional cost. Visit  for more information.

 for the graduate programs can be found through the Office of the University Registrar. Be sure to also review the university's .

MPA students normally complete seven required courses from the following four groups:

1. Political and Institutional Analysis

• MPA 800: Governing Institutions (Fall)
• MPA 802: Applied Policy Analysis (Winter)

2. Economic and Quantitative Analysis

• MPA 804 - Principles of Economics (Fall)
• MPA 805 - Quantitative Analysis (Fall)

And at least one of:

• MPA 815 - Economic Analysis
• MPA 816 - Quantitative Program Evaluation (Winter - online synchronous)
• MPA 840 - Economics of Social Policy
• MPA 844 - Canadian Economic Policy
• MPA 849 - Behavioural Public Finance
• MPA 876 - Instruments of Public Finance (Winter)

3. Management

• MPA 809 - Implementing Public Policy (Fall)

4. Policy Process

• MPA 810 - Introduction to Public Administration (Fall)

  This course introduces basic policy concepts, the policy process and elements of the machinery of government in the first term, showing the links between the foundations of policy analysis and contemporary public issues. In the second term this course creates a framework to integrate the concepts of policy analysis with those of policy implementation.

Students may take at least six elective courses, typically, four in the winter and two in the spring. Students may choose to take elective courses offered by the School of Policy Studies or related graduate courses offered by other academic departments or professional schools at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, with prior approval of the School.

Winter 2026

• MPA 814 - Intergovernmental Policy
• MPA 816: Quantitative Program Evaluation (Hybrid)
• MPA 826 - Ethics in the Public Service     
• MPA 836 - Health and Public Policy in Canada
• MPA 847 - Environmental Policy
• MPA 848 - Immigration Policy in Canada    
• MPA 851 - Public Policy, Health and the Third Sector 
• MPA 876: Instruments of Public Finance
• MPA 887 - Public Sector Reform (Remote)
• MPA 897 - Directed Reading
• MPA 898 - Master's Research Project (Winter/Summer)

The Spring/Summer 2025 courses are listed below. 2026 course offerings will be announced later.

• MPA 806 - Analytical Tools for Policy Research
• MPA 817 - Impact Analysis Capstone (online synchronous)
• MPA 861 - Indigenous Governance
• MPA 881 - Government Communications
• MPA 890 - Internship
• MPA 894 - Professional Placement 
• MPA 897 - Directed Reading
• MPA 898 - Master's Research Project (Winter/Summer)

Some of the most common questions students have when both applying to and once enrolled in graduate school relate to funding their degree. Queen’s offers a range of opportunities for students to receive financial support.

Find out more about funding opportunities for Indigenous students by visiting the School of Graduate Studies website.

Students should apply for all scholarships and awards for which they are eligible and many apply in the fall prior to starting a graduate degree program. Check the agency websites for eligibility requirements and instructions about how to apply.

The (OGS) promote excellence in graduate studies at the master's and doctoral levels. OGS awards are merit-based scholarships available to graduate students in all graduate disciplines in Ontario Universities. Eligible students apply for OGS through each university for which they have applied.

Scholarship Value: $15,000 for one academic year, normally paid out in 3 equal installments. The award is not renewable.