Interested in learning about our Master of Public Policy program? Why not connect with one of our graduate program advisors in person or online? 

Program Description

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) provides students with opportunities to conduct research and contribute to the study of public policy and the application of policy expertise in the real world. Students graduating from this program possess the research skills necessary to play integral roles in the civil service, research organizations and industry associations. Top students from this program may go on to doctoral programs in public policy.

Following the School's recommended pace, the program can be completed in two years, studying full time. Upon entry into the program, each student is assigned a research advisor and an advisory committee.

CAPPA accreditedStudents entering the MPP program are required to participate in the Get Connected! academic orientation for new students, which is held in early September.

The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS) made changes to the MPP program, which takes effect for students enrolled in the fall 2018 semester. Those MPP students who started the program prior to then will be required to meet the program as it was constructed when they were admitted.

Research

As one of Canada's leading schools for policy analysis and research, the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is making a difference by concentrating its research capacity on three main priority areas:

JSGS faculty are committed to encouraging student involvement on research projects, grant applications, seminar series, and other opportunities for knowledge translation. As such the school has on average three to five fully funded fellowships to support Master of Public Policy and doctoral students.

Research Supervisors

It is not necessary to find a potential supervisor before you begin an application. The list below though may be helpful to learn about which JSGS faculty are accepting students for the upcoming academic year and in what areas of research focus.

JSGS faculty Campus Availability/Areas of research interest
Loleen Berdahl University of Saskatchewan  Loleen Berdahl is currently accepting applications from new MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: post-secondary education policy.
Martin Boucher University of Saskatchewan  Martin Boucher is currently accepting applications from new PhD, MPP, and GENI students for September 2022 in the following research areas: northern energy transitions, energy justice, post-secondary education policy, and skills and competency advancement.
Cheryl Camillo University of Regina Cheryl Camillo is not currently accepting applications from prospective MPP or PhD students.
Ken Coates University of Saskatchewan  Ken Coates is currently accepting applications from new PhD and MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: Indigenous governance, rural and remote innovation, rural and small town development, northern Canada/Circumpolar, and post secondary education.
Bruno Dupeyron University of Regina Bruno Dupeyron is currently not accepting applications from new PhD and MPP students for September 2022.
Jim Farney University of Regina Jim Farney is currently accepting applications from new PhD or MPP students in the areas of: education policy, institutional and governance change, and Canadian political development.
Murray Fulton University of Saskatchewan  Murray Fulton is currently not accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022.
Robert Hawkins University of Regina Robert Hawkins is currently not accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022.
Vince Hopkins University of Saskatchewan  Vince Hopkins is currently accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: social policy (including poverty and inequality), behavioural science, and policy implementation.
Margot Hurlbert University of Regina Margot Hurlbert is currently accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: climate change, energy, and sustainability policy with a focus on deliberative democracy and achieving net zero energy emissions by 2050.
Tarun Katapally University of Regina Tarun Katapally is currently not accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022.
Iryna Khovrenkov University of Regina Iryna Khovrenkov is currently accepting applications from new MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: philanthropy and grantmaking, nonprofits and nonprofit finance, taxation.
Justin Longo University of Regina Justin Longo is currently not accepting applications from new PhD or MPP students for September 2022. However, he is accepting applications from new PhD or MPP students for September 2023 in the following research areas: digital governance (especially the use of artificial intelligence and robotics by the public sector), policy analytics, and improving public sector management using technology.
Haizhen Mou University of Saskatchewan  Haizhen Mou is currently accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: public finance (which requires a strong economics training).
Peter Phillips University of Saskatchewan  Peter Phillips is currently accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: science and innovation policy, especially evaluation of bioscience innovation policy, particularly for students seeking to use quantitative methods (e.g. econometrics, behavioural experimentation, social network analysis, agent based modelling).
Marc-Andre Pigeon University of Saskatchewan  Marc-Andre Pigeon is currently accepting applications from new MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: co-operatives. 
Jeremy Rayner University of Saskatchewan  Jeremy Rayner is currently not accepting applications from new PhD students but may consider applications from new MPP students for September 2023 in the area of clean energy policy.
Yang Yang University of Saskatchewan  Yang Yang is currently accepting applications from new PhD and/or MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: consumer behaviour, food economics, experimental economics, food policy.
Amy Zarzeczny University of Regina Amy Zarzeczny is currently accepting applications from new MPP students for September 2022 in the following research areas: health law and policy, medical innovation and science policy. Students with an interest in regenerative medicine are particularly encouraged to apply. Zarzeczny is not accepting applications for new PhD students at this time.

Courses

The MPP is a research-based degree that involves a combination of course work, research, and the writing of a thesis. Students are required to complete a minimum of 15 credit units of course work. Once an applicant has been admitted, the program of studies (i.e., selection of appropriate courses) will be determined.

Minimum two courses (6 credit units) from the following:

Minimum one course (3 credit units) from the following:

Minimum one course (3 credit units) from the following:

Minimum one course (3 credit units) from the following:

Students at the U of R campus must also complete: 

  • JSGS 990AB - Public Policy Seminar Series (continuous registration required)
  • JSGS 901 - Research (registration is required after coursework completion)
  • GRST 800AA - Academic Integrity Tutorial This is a non-credit, online course required by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and is at no cost to the student. Students are required to complete the course in their first term of study.

Students at the U of S campus must also complete:

  • JSGS 990 - Public Policy Seminar Series (continuous registration required)
  • JSGS 994 - Research (continuous registration required) 
  • GPS 960 - Introduction to Ethics and Integrity  This is a non-credit, online course required by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and is at no cost to the student. Students are required to complete the course in their first term of study.

Application Qualifications

Students will enter the program from a wide variety of disciplines - including everything from the fine arts, to the humanities, to the social sciences, to the physical sciences, to the professional college disciplines - are eligible. Because concepts derived from micro-economics and statistics are used in parts of the program, students without a background in these areas are encouraged to take additional non-credit instruction, which may be offered by the school.

Admission to the MPP program is very competitive. Please note that because the number of applications received greatly exceeds the number of available places (we typically admit six to eight students a year), not all qualified applicants will be offered admission. Successful candidates will typically have an average in excess of 80 per cent (or lower first class).

University of Regina

To meet the entrance requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, all applicants must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree in any area with a GPA of at least 75 per cent.

University of Saskatchewan

To meet the entrance requirements of the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, applicants must have completed a four-year undergraduate degree from a recognized university. To meet the basic program requirements, an average of 75 per cent or better must be maintained during the final two years (60 credit units) of the undergraduate program or in the graduate program if students are entering the MPP after a graduate degree.

Funding and Tuition

Funding

Highly qualified MPP students who are engaged in the program on a full-time basis will automatically be considered for funding at a competitive rate.

In addition to potential funding from the school, there are scholarships and awards available for students at the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan.

Tuition

Tuition and fees are subject to change. Should there be a discrepancy between the information posted on the institution's website and information posted on the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy website, the institution website should be viewed as accurate.

University of Saskatchewan campus

Tuition for the MPP program at the University of Saskatchewan campus is $1,619.00 (per term) for the 2021/22 academic year (September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022), plus graduate student fees, as well as an international surcharge (if applicable, $1,227.75 per term). Continuous registration for all students in the MPP program is required—that is, students must register in all three terms each academic year until their program is completed. 

University of Regina campus

Tuition for the MPP program at the University of Regina campus is $1,619.00 (per term) for the 2021/22 academic year (September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022), plus graduate student fees, as well as an international surcharge (if applicable, $1,239.50 per term). Continuous registration for all students in the MPP program is required—that is, students must register in all three terms each academic year until their program is completed.