MA in Political Science in Canada at UVic Canada

Program Overview for MA in Political Science in Canada:

The master's program will develop your analytical skills, theoretical understanding, and research skills. You will participate in the course work while researching and writing original papers or main research papers.

Areas of focus

• Contemporary political theory
• International and transnational politics
• Democratic constitutionalism
• Comparative public policy and governance
• Cultural, Social and Political Thought
• Politics of the global south
• Indigenous nationhood
• Canadian politics

The eligibility for MA in Political Science in Canada for both domestic and international student is:

Admission into the department is determined on a competitive basis. Applications are first reviewed by the Graduate Admissions and Records Office and then by the Political Science Admissions and Awards Committee. In addition to the materials required by the Graduate Admissions and Records Office (two letters from academic referees, application form, and official transcripts), the department asks all master’s applicants to submit a one-to-two page statement of research interests.

Not all students who meet the minimum requirements can be admitted. Typically, eight to ten MA students are admitted into the program each year.

Applicants for admission whose first language is not English, who are not holding a recognized degree from a country where English is an official language, or who have resided in Canada or other English-speaking countries for less than three consecutive years immediately before the session applied for, must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a minimum score of 600 (paper test).

The normal minimum for admission to the MA program is a Bachelor of Arts (BA), preferably in Political Science, with an average of B+ (6.0 GPA) in the final two full years of study leading to this degree. Students without a strong background in Political Science may be considered for admission upon completing a non-degree undergraduate unclassified year of course work in upper-level political science courses with a GPA of at least 7.0 on the UVic scale of 9.0 or equivalent.

Deadlines and entry points

All domestic and international applicants are asked to apply by January 15 for September admission to be given full consideration for admission and funding. The admissions process closes on May 15. The MA program has a September entry point.

These are the test eligibilities for the MA in Political Science to qualify.

The international student tuition fees and costs for MA in Political Science in Canada.

All graduate students must have a faculty member who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:

• You must list a potential supervisor on your application
• This faculty member must agree to be your supervisor and recommend your admission.

To find a supervisor, review the faculty contacts. When you've found a faculty member whose research complements your own, contact them by email.

Contact the graduate secretary at poligrad@uvic.ca or 250-721-7486.

Graduate students registered in full-time programs are automatically considered for a fellowship. This is based on a qualifying GPA.

Individual award amounts may vary depending on the program.

UVic Fellowship Awards

• Up to $17,500 per year (masters)
• Up to $20,000 per year (Ph.D.)

UVic Graduate Awards

• Up to $10,000 per year (masters and PhD)

Eligibility

• The minimum requirement for funding consideration is an A- average on the last two years of coursework
• Domestic and international students are considered equally for funding
• Full-time registration (3.0 units) for UVic Fellowship holders and at least part-time registration (1.5 units) for UVic Graduate Award holders
• Full-time registration for students registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) is 1.5 units

Every year we employ many graduate students to assist with teaching, research, and lab instruction.

• Their academic units hire teaching assistants (TAs) to assist with teaching and grading courses. These are unionized, hourly positions.
• Faculty members hire research assistants (RAs) to help with their research. These roles are sometimes called scientific assistants or laboratory instructors. RA salaries come from faculty members’ research grants. Because of this, RA hours, salary, and other details are worked out between you and the faculty member.

Work-study

The work-study program offers part-time jobs on campus that fit your course schedule.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a full-time student
• Demonstrate financial need
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Co-operative Education Program (co-op)

UVic is home to the largest graduate co-op program in Canada. You can add a co-op to your master’s or doctoral studies for work experience in your field of study.

Bursaries

We offer non-repayable bursaries based on financial needs.

To be eligible for a bursary, you must be:

• Already receiving the maximum government student loans available to you
• In full-time status as determined by the Faculty of Graduate Studies
• In good academic standing