MPP Admissions

The online application system will open on July 1. Click here to access the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ online application system. You will be prompted to create or have your eID ready to access the online application.

The application fee is $125 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, $145 for international applicants, and $180 for students who previously withdrew and now seek readmission.

Additional information on paying your fee can be found on the fee payment website.

One set of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you attended*

These are original documents or certified true copies of your official transcripts and degree certificates sent directly from the issuing institution in the original signed, sealed envelopes to the MPP program office.

We do not recommend sending your transcripts ahead of submitting your online applications. Because transcripts are tracked using your online application, your documents may not be routed to the appropriate department without an open application. 

If original documents are not in English: Original documents or certified true copies of your official transcripts and degree certificates in the original language sent directly from the issuing institution in the original signed, sealed envelopes to the MPP program office. As well as, an English translation from the issuing university or a notarized word-for-word English translation of a duplicate copy of that original.

We do not accept WES evaluations for the purpose of admissions. These types of third party evaluations are not relevant in determining if an applicant meets the minimum admission requirements. For this reason, we require official transcripts from the issuing institution as described above. 

*Note: This includes transcripts used for transfer coursework, and coursework taken without leading to a degree or diploma. Supplying your complete academic history is your responsibility. We will not review an incomplete application nor extend the submission deadline to accommodate the omitted education.

If at any time it is discovered that a student was admitted on the basis of falsified documents or information, the admission will immediately be declared null and void and future admission will be denied.

We require two academic references for a complete application. If you have been absent from studies for five years or more, two professional references will suffice; however only under these circumstances and they must be from direct reports to supervisor and or manager.

Notes:

• Email addresses provided for your referees must be professional addresses; references provided from a free email account (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.) will not be considered.
• Letters from friends, family, general colleagues, classmates, fellow church members, clergy, current or past MPP students, and general reference letters are not acceptable; these will neither be reviewed nor kept on file.

Once you submit your online application, your referees will receive an email notification inviting them to submit their letters of support.

As part of the University of Calgary Admissions Process, all applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. Internationally educated applicants must achieve either:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 105 (Internet-based) or 600 (paper-based).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.5 (Academic version).

Further information on this requirement and alternate testing options can be found here.  

Official documents indicating test scores should be sent to the MPP program office (hard copy only) or emailed to gradapp@ucalgary.ca If required, our institutional code is 0813 and you may select “any program not listed” as the program.

This document provides a better understanding as to why you wish to study with us and should be specific to your goals and interests. The expectations of this document and template can be found here; please save as a PDF and upload this document to your application. A visual sample of these expectations can be found here. 

The letter will answer the following four questions in your own words, as clearly and concisely as possible. Each question is allocated a maximum of 250 words to provide your response. If the maximum word count for each question is used, your total letter will be no more than 1000 words. Only the first 250 words of each answer will be read, nor will we consider any additional sections outside of these questions.

The four questions you must address are:

• Please describe how the MPP would further your future career goals.
• Please expand on the above by describing the strengths, ambitions and experience you will bring to the program.
• A capstone project that examines a contemporary public policy problem is a requirement of this program. Please describe a project that you might be interested in developing.
• Please describe your ability to work in a team atmosphere and how this has contributed to your successes

Following submission of your online application, you will receive an automated confirmation. Once confirmation is received, you may proceed with uploading the personal statement.

Supporting documentation must be submitted by the applicable deadline listed above. Late submissions will not be considered.

This professionally formatted document will outline your employment history, skills and education experience; please save as a PDF and upload this document to your application. If you are unfamiliar with the format of a North American résumé, there are many samples located online.

Following submission of your online application, you will receive an automated confirmation. Once confirmation is received, you may proceed with uploading the résumé.

Your résumé must be submitted by the applicable deadline listed above. Late submissions will not be considered.

The status of your application can be viewed online through your student center. This information is updated daily and is the most efficient manner to inquire, as this is the same system we use to manage our admissions process.