Application Information
Our admissions portal for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program is now open, and we are accepting applications from October 17th to January 30th. The application process is completely online and all materials including letters of reference and official test scores must be submitted prior to February 10th. We recommend you submit your application as early as possible. Please note that you cannot submit the application on the day of the deadline as the application fee takes 2-3 business days to be processed and you will be able to complete and submit your application only once this has been received.
We typically inform applicants of the outcome of their application in March-April, with the program beginning in early September. If you wish to request consideration for early admission, perhaps due to impending deadlines from other offers, please state and justify your request in your cover letter.
Because our MPP program is a cohort program, students are admitted for Fall semester only and on a full-time basis. There are no spring or summer admissions. Please visit our admissions FAQs and overview of financial support. We typically accept around 35 students into our program from 200-300 applications.
Visit SFU Graduate and Postdoctoral studies' admission requirements for more information.
Basic admissions requirements for SFU Master’s Program applicants
- A bachelor’s degree from SFU or its equivalent from a recognized institution;
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0/4.33 (B), or a grade point average of at least 3.33/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 units of undergraduate courses. Any graduate work is also considered.
- Submitted evidence, usually references from qualified referees, of the applicant’s ability to undertake advanced studies in the area of interest.
- Proof of English language proficiency, where required.
In exceptional circumstances, a student may be admitted with lower formal qualifications when there is significant experience relevant to the proposed area of scholarship. It is not possible to provide a review of individual cases prior to application for admissions.
If you have questions about these requirements, please contact SFU Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies directly by submitting a ticket.
University minimums for English Language requirements
SFU requires international applicants to demonstrate command of English sufficient to pursue graduate studies in the chosen field. On an Internet-based TOEFL, the University requires a 93 with minimum of 20 in each category, with scores achieved in a single test. TOEFL My best (super-scored) or TOEFL Essentials results cannot be used. Please review SFU’s requirements carefully and note that it can take a minimum of 3-4 weeks for your test results to update on your application portal.
If you have questions about these requirements, please contact SFU Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies directly by submitting a ticket.
Your application should consist of:
- SFU graduate studies application form: Please complete this though the ‘Apply Now’ button above.
- Application fee: We require the SFU graduate application fee ($110 for domestic and $150 for international students) to be paid before you can submit your application. If you are unable to pay the fee by credit card, see ‘How to Pay Your Fees’ for alternatives.
- Transcripts: We require official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended, including institutions you’ve attended on transfer or exchange.
- Unofficial transcripts are sufficient at the time of application. At the time of application, unofficial copies of your transcripts are sufficient and can be uploaded online within the application system.
- Official transcripts are required following admission. Please note that if you are accepted into the program, you will be required to mail official, sealed copies to the MPP program office and that these must be received before you will be able to enroll in courses. These will need to be sent directly from the granting institution.
- Resume or curriculum vitae: We require a resume or curriculum vitae, highlighting any public policy work and volunteer experience you have. We understand public policy broadly and welcome you to include government, civil society / advocacy, private sector, think tank and other related experience.
- Three letters of reference: We require three confidential letters of reference. At least two of these should come from faculty members at universities, while one can be a professional reference (we do not accept personal references).
- Letter of intent: We require a letter of intent explaining to the admissions committee why you wish to undertake the MPP degree within our program.
- Your letter of intent should clearly detail your public policy interests and goals, your hopes for the future, and the ideas and problems that motivate you to focus on public policy.
- This letter is an opportunity to tell us about yourself, explain what makes your record, expertise, leadership, and background distinctive, and why you’d make a great contributor to our MPP cohort.
- You are not required to secure a supervisor or submit an elaborate thesis proposal to apply to our program. However, if you know what you would like to write your Major Research Project on and which faculty you’d most like to work with, please do briefly explain this in your letter.
- Most letters of intent are around one page. There is a two-page maximum and longer letters may not be read.
- Test scores (if relevant). Per SFU’s general admissions requirements, if you have not undertaken an undergraduate or graduate degree from a University in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, or Australia, we require you to submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score. As well, most international applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores (see here for exceptions) that meet the University’s minimum requirements.
If you have questions about these requirements, please contact the MPP Program Manager during MPP Virtual Office Hours at mpp@sfu.ca. Please note we cannot offer you an assessment of how likely you are to be admitted prior to the admissions committee’s review of your file.
International students pay the same fees as domestic students. Please note that we are a full-time fee research program.
Important: All fees are subject to change, subject to provincial legislation, and subject to SFU Board of Governors approval.