Are you ready to advance your career?
Established in 1976, the Queen's Professional Master of Public Administration was a forerunner to many of today's executive degree programs. Its original vision was to provide "in-service" professionals in government, the broader public sector and not-for-profit organizations with the opportunity to fully combine formal classroom-based learning with student-focused learning through informal discussion and debate outside the classroom.
Nearly 40 cohorts and over 1000 alumni have now completed the program and are engaged in senior roles at all levels of governments and other organizations across Canada and beyond. You will greatly benefit through the personal contact with faculty and new colleagues, who are tremendously diverse in their academic, professional and personal experience. Part of the excitement of the program, is that you are part of a learning community and an expansive network of policy expertise. It provides experienced policy professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to take their career to the next level.
How to Apply
Admission to the PMPA Program
PMPA applicants must submit a formal application to the School of Graduate Studies. To begin the application process use this link or use the APPLY NOW button provided.
Typically, we require candidates hold a four-year undergraduate degree, with a minimum B+ standing (3.3 GPA) in their last two years of study, or the equivalent. They should also have five years of full-time work experience related to public policy or public management.
Applicants with significant, relevant employment experience, with a bachelor's degree of less than four years or equivalent will be considered on a case by case basis.
Applicants who earned their previous degree from a university outside of North America, must submit a GRE score as part of their application.
The School of Policy Studies is committed to equity and diversity in education and welcome applications from individuals from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.
- Online Application (which includes Statement of Interest)
- Two copies of official transcripts from post-secondary institutions previously attended, showing academic records from all undergraduate and graduate programs and specifying the courses taken, final grades, and standing obtained. The transcripts become the property of Queen's University and are not available for copying.
- CV (submit directly to mpa.admissions@queensu.ca)
- Two professional recommendations. (Additional academic recommendations may be submitted)
- GRE score, sent directly from the issuing agenda, if your previous degree is not from a Canadian or U.S. university
*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. An unofficial transcript is acceptable at the time of the application. If offered admission, you will be required to submit an official transcript. In these unusual circumstances, the School of Graduate Studies 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 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, Queen's University, 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.
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 admission must be received in sealed envelopes.
Final transcript: hard copy original official transcript showing degree completion and conferral, will be required from all applicants who accept an offer of admission to graduate studies at Queen's University. These final transcripts are to be sent directly from the issuing institutions to the School of Graduate Studies, in sealed envelopes. Official transcripts are NOT REQUIRED for any study of any kind carried out at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. The School of Graduate Studies will access the student record directly for applicants who have attended or are currently attending Queen's University.
School of Graduate Studies
Gordon Hall, Room 425
74 Union Street
Queen's University
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 CANADA
Students admitted to the Professional Master of Public Administration (PMPA) program may apply for advanced standing for degree credit for a maximum of two graduate courses completed prior to their enrolment to the PMPA program. Applications for advanced standing should be made at the time of application and no later than at the beginning of the first term of a student’s enrolment in the program. Courses credited towards another academic degree will not be considered for advanced standing.
Students returning to the Professional Master of Public Administration (PMPA) program, who voluntarily withdrew from the program five or more years ago, may apply for readmission to the program. Such candidates are required to complete all of the core courses which they have not completed and a minimum of one-half of the course requirements in place at the time of their re-admission.
The PMPA curriculum includes core courses in leadership, governance, economics, research methods, policy analysis and management and quantitative methods. In elective courses and a final capstone group project, program participants apply their learning to the analysis and resolution of real-world policy and management issues.
PMPA students complete 10 courses in all to earn their MPA degree.
Application Deadline and Review of Applications:
- Applications are due no later than August 1.
- Completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, beginning May 1, until all places are filled.
Formal offers of admission are issued by the Queen's School of Graduate Studies.
For further information please contact:
Admissions Assistant
301, Robert Sutherland Hall, 138 Union Street, Queen's University
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 CANADA
Tel: 613-533-6200
Email: mpa.admissions@queensu.ca