University of Toronto School of Public Policy and Governance

Program

The school currently offers a two-year Master of Public Policy (MPP) program, with a core curriculum emphasizing practical and applied dimensions of policymaking. The curriculum includes core courses that provide a foundation in subjects ranging from political science and legal analysis to such specific analytic tools and concepts as microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and quantitative methods for policy analysis. The curriculum also includes five electives, taken either at SPPG or other graduate departments on the University of Toronto campus, that allow students to bridge the spheres of domestic policy and international or global policy in order to address the complex issues facing modern governments and other policy-making organizations. Integrating seminars are led by faculty members. Invited visiting public sector leaders and external researchers bridge theory and practice, providing contact with senior professionals in government and the broader public, private and community sectors. In addition to the two-year course work students are required to complete an internship during the summer between the first and second year. The school internship partners include the Canadian Federal Public Service, the Ontario Public Service, the City of Toronto, the City of Mississauga, as well as many non-governmental organizations and research think tanks.

Admissions

Admission to SPPG's two-year professional Master of Public Policy program is highly competitive. The school typically receives 600+ applications for only 80 first year spots. Candidates are selected on a holistic basis. At minimum candidates are required to have a four-year bachelor's degree, with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) in the final year of undergraduate studies of 3.3 out of a possible 4.0 or a B standing. However, due to the high volume of applications there are many more highly qualified candidates than first year spots and simply meeting the minimum requirements is unlikely to be sufficient to gain admission. The school assesses candidates based on 5 factors: an online application form, a statement of purpose, a resume or curriculum vitae, 2 letters of academic recommendation, and an applicant's academic record. In addition, candidates may provide up to an additional two letters of reference from another source (for example, from an employer or volunteer organization). In determining admission the school considers a strong application one that has a high level of cohesion between the 5 supporting documents and the structure and learning objectives of the MPP program.

Scholarships

The Cadario Fellowship in Public Policy is an academic and monetary award given to the top students in their second year of the program. The award was created and named after Paul Cadario, a senior manager with the World Bank in Washington and alumnus of the University of Toronto, after he donated $1 million to U of T’s School of Public Policy and Governance. SPPG students have also been awarded many other prestigious external scholarships and awards, including Cancer Care ON grants, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grants, Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants.

Public Policy and Governance Review

The Public Policy and Governance Review (PPGR) is a biannual publication and blog supported by the University of Toronto School of Public Policy and Governance.

Public Good Initiative

The Public Good Initiative (PGI) is a student-led project that pairs students from the School of Public Policy and Governance (SPPG) with community organizations that can benefit from pro bono consulting services. The PGI has worked with organizations that include United Way Toronto, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Toronto City Summit Alliance, Maytree Foundation, People for Education, BC Centre for Social Enterprise, Mid Toronto Community Services and the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

Beyond the Headlines

Beyond the Headlines (BTH) is a weekly radio show that provides fair and balanced analysis of pressing public policy issues in Canada. The one-hour program airs from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST every Monday on CIUT 89.5FM, the University of Toronto’s campus radio station. BTH is staffed by students (both current and alumni) who are members of the SPPG community. After its first year on the air, BTH was voted “Best New Talk Show” on CIUT 89.5FM.

Since its founding in 2012, BTH has interviewed notable politicians, public servants, academics and activists, such as Josh Colle, Lynn Morrison, Mitzie Hunter, Mike Layton, Tony Dean, Daiene Vernile, Laurie Scott, Peter Singer, Garfield Dunlop, Greg Sorbara, Ron Atkey, and Michael Geist.

Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation

The Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation is an independent, non-partisan public policy think tank housed in the School of Public Policy and Governance. It undertakes applied public policy research and engages in public dialogue on federal issues important to the prosperity and quality of life of Ontario and Canada. The Mowat Centre has a mandate to propose innovative, research-driven public policy recommendations that work on behalf of Canadians in all regions of the country, including Ontario. The Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation was established in 2009 with $5 Million in seed funding from the Ontario Provincial government. The centre is named after Oliver Mowat, Ontario's longest serving premier and a father of confederation.

Notable SPPG faculty