The core courses within the MPPGA professional program aim to build your fundamental knowledge and policy skills, while a choice of three streams lets you focus your learning. The capstone Global Policy Project (GP2) will then give you the opportunity to apply your skills in the real world.
Our MPPGA faculty draw on a range of learning methods from multiple disciplines, including lectures, seminars, case studies, field-based experiences, and professional skills workshops. To help you refine your skills across the policy lifecycle, expect to engage in simulations, take part in team problem-solving exercises, and interact directly with policy makers, clients, and stakeholders.
Important
Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2025
To earn the MPPGA degree, you must successfully complete:
- 27 credits of required core courses
- 15 credits from stream and elective courses
- A Global Policy Project worth 6 credits
Core Courses
Year 1
- PPGA 500A Economics for Policy (3 credits)
- PPGA 500B Economics for Policy (3 credits)
- PPGA 503 Measurement and Data Analysis for Policy (3 credits)
- PPGA 504 Policy Analysis and Evaluation (3 credits)
- PPGA 505 Domestic and Global Policy Processes (3 credits)
- PPGA 506 Public Management (3 credits)
- PPGA 508 Policy in Context (3 credits)
- PPGA 509 Communicating Policy (1.5 credits)
- PPGA 510 Professional Practice in Public Policy and Global Affairs (1.5 credits)
- PPGA 514 Research Design and Qualitative Methods (3 credits)
Year 2
- PPGA 590 Global Policy Project (6 credits)
- In place of a thesis, you will participate in a Global Policy Project (PPGA 590), also known as GP2. This is your chance to apply your creative thinking and strategic design skills in the field and develop innovative policy solutions for a real-world client.
Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2026
To earn the MPPGA degree, you must successfully complete 45 credits, which include:
- 16.5 credits of required core courses: PPGA 503, 504, 505, 508, 509 (1.5), 514A
- 3 credits of Economics/Political Economy
- For students without both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics prerequisites completed within the past five years or wanting to start at a beginner level:
- PPGA 500A (3) Economics for Policy
- For students with both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics completed within the past five years, choose one of:
- PPGA 520 (3) Economics of Poverty
- PPGA 544 (3) Economic Foundations of Environmental Policies
- PPGA 568 (3) Global Economic Policy
- PPGA 591U (3) Special Topics - International Economic Policy
- For students without both Microeconomics and Macroeconomics prerequisites completed within the past five years or wanting to start at a beginner level:
- 1.5 credits from Skills courses (these courses train students the basic skills needed in the public policy world, such as leadership skills, budgeting, negotiation skills, data visualization, etc.)
- PPGA 510, 511 or 592X Professional Skills in Public Policy and Global Affairs
- 18 credits from stream and elective courses
- 12 credits from one stream
- 6 credits from skills/general electives or any stream – these six credits can also be filled with electives outside of MPPGA upon the approval of the Graduate Program Director.
- PPGA 590 Global Policy Project (6 credits)
- In place of a thesis, you will participate in a Global Policy Project (PPGA 590), also known as GP2. This is your chance to apply your creative thinking and strategic design skills in the field and develop innovative policy solutions for a real-world client.
- In place of a thesis, you will participate in a Global Policy Project (PPGA 590), also known as GP2. This is your chance to apply your creative thinking and strategic design skills in the field and develop innovative policy solutions for a real-world client.
Sample Course Schedules
| Year 1 (Sept to April) | |
|---|---|
| Work-integrated learning through Co-op, Work Terms, or Research Projects. Summer classes are optional, but students can choose to take skills courses or stream/elective courses. | |
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
| PPGA 500A (3.0 credits) | PPGA 514 (3.0 credits) |
| PPGA 503 (3.0 credits) | PPGA 504 (3.0 credits) |
| PPGA 505 (3.0 credits) | PPGA 508 (3.0 credits) |
| Elective / Stream (3.0 credits) | PPGA 509 (1.5 credits) |
| Skills Course (1.5 credits)** | |
| Summer Between Year 1 and 2 (May to August) | |
| Year 2 (Sept to April) | |
|---|---|
| *Students could also take 590B, with 6 credits in Term 2 **Students can take their skills credits in any term and may take up to 7.5 credits of skills courses. |
|
| Term 1 | Term 2 |
| PPGA 590A (3.0 credits)* | PPGA 590A (3.0 credits)* |
| Elective / Stream (3.0 credits) | Elective / Stream (3.0 credits) |
| Elective / Stream (3.0 credits) | Elective / Stream (3.0 credits) |
| Elective / Stream (3.0 credits) | |
Elective Courses
In addition to stream specific courses, students can choose from a range of elective courses. Offerings change each year.
PPGA 580 Internet and Global Affairs (3 credits)
PPGA 581 Behavioural Foundations for Public Policy (3 credits)
PPGA 582 Public Engagement in Policy Decisions (3 credits)
PPGA 583 Food Security (3 credits)
PPGA 584 Policy Responses to Global Climate Change (3 credits)
PPGA 591 Special Topics in Public Policy
Conferences and Competitions
The MPPGA program offers students various opportunities to participate in international conferences, business forums, policy case competitions, Global Public Policy Network meetings, and more. Build your policy expertise and networks by participating in these global policy discussions.
MPPGA students participate in conferences, forums and case competitions around the world every year. A sample is below:
- The 2024 Research Network on Women, Peace and Security Symposium
- MPPGA students win best position paper awards at the Carleton Model NATO conference
- 2024 Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration Case Competition
- 2023 Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration Case Competition
- MPPGA students awarded 3rd place at 2022 CAPPA Competition
- The 2022 Research Network on Women, Peace and Security Symposium
International Exchange Program
The UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs partners with premier public policy schools in Europe and Asia through an international student exchange program. Currently, our second year MPPGA students have the opportunity to study internationally with the Hertie School of Governance (Berlin, Germany), Sciences Po School of Public Affairs (Paris, France) and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (Singapore). There are opportunities for you to go on exchange to other institutions as well.
