UBC’s Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) is a premier professional public policy program at a top-tier university that attracts expert faculty and leading students from around the world.
The MPPGA Program Office is committed to working with top candidates for whom financial considerations are a concern.
Tuition and Fees
For students starting in September 2024, tuition is $51,388.80 CAD total for domestic students and $94,427.30 CAD total for international students.
Payment Schedule
Tuition is paid in five installments over 20 months: Three are paid in the first year of study (September, January, and May) and two are paid in the second year (September and January). This means that 60% of your tuition amount is due in the first year. Installment amounts are $10,277.76 CAD for domestic students and $18,885.46 CAD for international students.
Fees*
Full-time graduate students can expect to pay approximately $1,144 per year in student fees (including the U-Pass) and $367.41 for the AMS/GSS Extended Health Plan. Most of these fees are mandatory, but some have opt-out provisions. All student fees are charged and payable annually, with the exception of the U-Pass, which is charged in three installments payable in September, January, and May. International Students may also pay an additional fee for temporary medical coverage:
Please see a listing of Student Fees in the UBC Calendar.
*Fees, including tuition, program, course, special, and student society fees, are approved by the UBC Board of Governors following consultation with students and are subject to change. Tuition fees are annually reviewed by the Board of Governors. In recent years, tuition increases have been 2% for continuing domestic students and between 2% and 5% for continuing international students.
Other costs
The Global Policy Project (GP2) in your second year will provide opportunities for you and your team to engage with policy makers and civil society on real world problems. Some of these projects will be locally based while others may involve national or international travel. Students will have the opportunity to rank their projects of choice prior to being placed on teams and should be prepared to cover part of the travel costs for their field work.
Funding
Sponsorship Billing
Some UBC students have a portion of their UBC fees paid by a sponsor such as an Indigenous community, employer, or government agency. This is called sponsorship billing. To have an organization sponsor your studies at UBC, they will have to meet the required criteria and apply before the deadline. For any changes to the sponsoring agency or amount sponsored, you will need to submit a new form.
Canadian Loans
If you are a Canadian student, please visit Government of Canada’s website for information about student loans and funding opportunities. For BC residents, please visit Student Aid BC for province-specific information.
U.S. Loans
If you are an American student, the MPPGA program has been approved for U.S. Direct loans to assist students to pay for their post-secondary education. Please visit UBC’s Student Services – Finances for more information.
Internal Awards and Scholarships
Each year, MPPGA Domestic Student Entrance Scholarship and MPPGA International Student Entrance Scholarship are offered to exceptional Canadian and international students entering the MPPGA programs at UBC. The entrance scholarship will be assigned to qualified students in 5 installments with satisfactory progress in the first year of the program, the same as the tuition payment schedule: 3 in the first year (September, January and May) and 2 in the second year (September and January). The number and level of the scholarships awarded each year vary, depending on available funding. In recent years, awards for high ranking applicants have ranged from $5,000-$30,000.
No separate application is required – admission records and Personal Profiles are reviewed after admission to the MPPGA program to determine scholarship eligibility and competitiveness. Apply for admission by the application deadline to be considered for the entrance scholarships.
Awards are made available annually by the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program to outstanding students in the first year of the program, on the basis of exceptional academic performance in first-year core courses. This award is made on the recommendation of the MPPGA program, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Both international and domestic students are eligible.
A fellowship of $15,000 has been made available annually through a gift from the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) in memory of Phil Lind (1943–2023) for an outstanding student entering the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA).
Over the course of his career, Phil (B.A. 1966, J.D. 2002) worked with Ted Rogers to build a small radio and cable company into Rogers Communications Inc., and held several key positions including Vice-Chairman on the Board of Directors. As the founder and long-time Chair of CPAC, Phil gave Canadian voters unprecedented insight into democratic proceedings through House of Commons and other public policy programming. This long-standing commitment to supporting democratic debate, as well as a desire to recognize the importance of Canada-U.S. relations and his deep connection to UBC, led to the establishment, in 2015, of the ongoing Phil Lind Initiative, which invites prominent U.S. scholars, writers, and intellectuals to the SPPGA to share ideas with the UBC community.
The award is made on the recommendation of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. No separate application is required.
Scholarships equivalent to €26,500 (converted to CAD) each are made available annually through a generous gift from the Fondation David R. Graham for outstanding students from France who are enrolled in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program in the Resources, Energy, and Sustainability stream at the University of British Columbia. Awards are made on the recommendation of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Awards totalling $1,750 have been made available through an endowment established by Dr. Yosef Wosk, OC, OBC (B.A. 1971), along with additional gifts from family, friends and colleagues, in memory of Stephen Owen, KC, PC (1948–2023) for second-year graduate students in the Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs program who demonstrate a commitment to public service through community engagement, a spirit of challenging and advancing social justice initiatives, and a commitment to pursuing a career in public service.
Stephen (LL.B. 1972, LL.M., M.B.A.) was a lawyer, politician and civil servant who held numerous positions throughout his career including Ombudsman for BC (1986–1992), Head of the Commission on Resources and the Environment (1992–1995) and Deputy Attorney General for BC (1995–1997). He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra (2000–2007) and held federal cabinet positions in three ministries: Western Economic Diversification, Public Works and Government Services and Minister of State for Sport. Following his political career, he became Vice-President, External, Legal and Community Relations at UBC. This award honours his unwavering dedication to the public good and to public service.
The awards are made on the recommendation of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Other External Awards
The award is made to master’s and doctoral Indigenous students, selected on the basis of academic merit through an annual competition administered by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Each fellowship provides a stipend of $17,500 per year for master’s students, and may be eligible to receive tuition funding. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate contributions and/or connection to the Indigenous community. Learn more.
The International Peace Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for international women students who intend to pursue graduate study in the U.S. or Canada, and return to their home country after their studies utilizing their education to make a positive impact. Awards amount up to $12,500 per year and are allocated based upon demonstrated need. The awards are made on the recommendation of the International Peace Scholarship Board of Trustees. Learn more.
Available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate study in any discipline, in Canada or elsewhere. One Open Scholarship is awarded each year. The value has most recently been $12,000 but it is subject to change. The award will be based on high academic achievements, personal qualities and demonstrated aptitudes. Awards are made on the recommendation of the Mackenzie King Board of Scholarship Trustees, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Learn more.
The BC Scholarship Society awards $1000-5000 (renewable annually) to First Nations, Inuit or Métis applicants residing in BC who plan to pursue graduate studies in BC. Learn more.
The Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme (AKF ISP) is an opportunity for outstanding scholars from selected countries*, who have no other means of financing their studies, to pursue postgraduate education. Award recipients are selected through a global, annual, and competitive application process, and will be based on academic achievements, demonstrated need, and strong interpersonal/leadership skills. The award is half grant and half loan. Learn more.
* For example, the AKF ISP is available in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, the Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Uganda. In countries, such as Canada, Portugal and the USA, applications are accepted from those who are originally from one of the countries listed above. The complete list of participating countries will be available on the AKF ISP website when applications are open.