phd in leadership and governance in canada

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Global Governance (PhD)

The world faces increasingly complex problems that have taken on global significance, including conflict and peace building, humanitarian crises and intervention, international economic inequality and instability, and global environmental change. Students in the PhD program understand the issues facing humanity and will develop both the research and leadership skills to examine how these problems are addressed at the global level. And are the mechanisms adopted to address them effective and just?

The PhD in Global Governance, offered jointly by Laurier and the University of Waterloo at the Balsillie School of International Affairs , is a unique opportunity for examination of power and authority in the global arena. Our graduates will pursue careers as researchers, scholars or practitioners working domestically or internationally in private sector positions, national or local governments, not-for profit agencies, think tanks and the media.

Program Highlights

• Study at one of Canada’s leading graduate schools for international studies, the Balsillie School of International Affairs .
• The Laurier PhD in Global Governance offers six areas of specialization .
• Opportunity to gain teaching experience in a master's level course.
• Eligible students admitted to study full-time in the PhD program will receive a minimum of $30,000 for the first year, and $27,000 a year for the subsequent three years.
• Additional financial support can be accessed through external scholarships, teaching or research assistantships and/or faculty-funded studentships.

Program Details

Joint university phd program with an interdisciplinary focus.

Graduate students in the program examine the variety of actors, institutions, ideas, rules, and processes that contribute to the management of global society. In addition to international organizations and inter-state relations, the study of global governance examines the various non-state actors as well as the realities of contemporary life that contribute to the establishment and functioning of global rules, norms and institutions.

The Global Governance PhD program interrogates the concepts, tools, and assumptions that have served scholars in the past and assesses new approaches for addressing contemporary and future challenges.

For further information, refer to the Graduate Handbook: Joint Laurier-UW Global Governance PhD Program .

Program Structure

PhD students will also complete the following milestones. The expected time to completion of the PhD is four years.

Comprehensive Examinations

Normally, candidates must write comprehensive examinations in two areas within 16 months of starting the program. Normally, students will write comprehensive exams in September at the start of their second year.

The first examination will be on Global Governance and will test the breadth and depth of a student’s comprehension of the leading literature. For their second examination, students will choose to write a comprehensive examination in one of the six fields of the program.

Students can only write an examination in a field if they have completed two courses, one of which must be a “core course” in that field.

Dissertation Proposal

Normally, students will complete and have approved a doctoral dissertation proposal by the end of February of their second year in the program. Completion of the proposal will normally involve a formal presentation and defence of the proposal to the Supervisory Committee. Normally, committee members and the student will also complete their second Annual Progress Report following the defence/approval of the dissertation proposal.

Within one week after completion of the presentation and defence, the student will make any final changes to the proposal that arise from the defence and provide the respective Program Director or Associate Director as well as the respective Program Graduate Coordinator/Program Officer with a copy of the final proposal for their records and the student’s file.

Normally, the doctoral dissertation research proposal will be no more than 30 pages or approximately 15,000 words, exclusive of bibliography. A proposal will include the following: a statement of the principal research question(s) and a justification of the question or questions; an outline of the principal theoretical orientations that are framing the research questions; a detailed outline of the research methods and steps to be taken to obtain answers to the research questions; an assessment of the likely contribution to knowledge of the dissertation research; a timetable for completion of the research.

Laurier students are required to complete the Dissertation Proposal Approval form .

Dissertations: Multiple Manuscript Thesis Guidelines

Doctoral theses can take various forms. The traditional thesis is a sole-authored document with various chapters. However, some theses – the multiple manuscript thesis – consist of a collection of papers that are published or submitted for publication; any such thesis must comply with the following guidelines:

• The multiple manuscript thesis must comply with the policies and guidelines of the student’s host institution.
• Any multiple manuscript thesis must contain at least three articles.
• At least two of the articles must be single-authored, and one may be co-authored provided the student first obtains approval from their supervisor committee, preferably at the time of the proposal defence. If an article is co-authored by the student and authors, the relationship should be explicitly stated with regards to the nature and extent of contributions to the work by all parties involved.
• There must be a common theme among the three articles that is explained in the introduction and conclusion.
• All articles must be of a publishable quality. Acceptance of a manuscript from a journal is separate from and does not constitute acceptance or approval by the advisory committee.

Research and Courses

Research focus and specialization fields.

Students will choose to specialize in one of the six fields in the program. To prepare for the comprehensive exam in that field, they must select at least two courses from their chosen field. Of these two, at least one course must be a course identified as “core” for that field.

Conflict and Security

This field is concerned with the referent objects of security and associated threats; the causes and management of conflict; and the global governance challenges of human, state, societal, national, international, ecospheric, and global security.

Courses in this stream examine the theory and practice of security at all levels of analysis.

Global Environment

This field is concerned with the global governance of environmental issues. Courses in this stream examine contemporary dilemmas relating to the ways in which environmental challenges are being addressed and managed by multiple agents through a range of transnational institutions and governance structures, both existing and proposed. Conceptual issues and debates, set within the context of a variety of internationally significant sustainability challenges, are investigated. Multilevel governance of these challenges at the international, regional, national and local levels are examined.

Key topics covered include: global climate change, agriculture and food security, international water resource management and environmental aspects of the global economy.

Global Justice and Human Rights

This field is concerned with the study of the relationship between global governance and issues of global justice and human rights.

Courses in this stream explore themes such as: the practical and ethical challenges that international human rights and relief organizations encounter when operating in the global south; theoretical approaches to understanding global justice as a contemporary social justice issue, with a particular focus on the cultural constructs relating to conceptions of freedom, obligation, and community; and contemporary debates in the field of human rights, such as those related to cultural relativism and universal human rights, human rights and foreign policy, the place of economic rights, the relationship between gender and human rights, and human rights and retrospective justice.

Global Political Economy

This field is concerned with the governance of the global economy and contemporary issues in international economic relations. Courses in this stream focus on the theoretical and public policy debates relating to governance of the global economy, as well as the evolution of international trade policy.

Topics covered include: international finance and intellectual property rights; labour and environmental standards; the control of illicit economic activity; the removal of tariffs on goods and services; and current efforts to integrate services, investment, and intellectual property into the trading regime through the increasing overlap of trade policy with monetary, competition, cultural, environmental and labour policies.

Global Social Governance

This field examines the prospects for the supranational governance of social issues with a particular focus on the political and philosophical underpinnings of transnational social policy cooperation.

Topics covered include: the implicit and explicit prescriptions for and impact upon national social policy of intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN and Bretton Woods Institutions), international non-governmental organisations and international private actors (such as TNCs and consultancy companies); the contribution of supranational organisations, international NGOs and other global actors to the global discourse on social policy; the role of private actors and global public-private partnerships in global health policy; the development of systems of transnational social redistribution, social regulation and social provision and empowerment; and the methods and concepts used by development agencies to assess the social policy of countries and shape their interventions.

Multilateral Institutions and Diplomacy

This field is concerned with the formal and informal practices, institutions and organizations which generate global governance.

Courses in this stream focus primarily on the theory, practice and machinery of international organization, public policy, and diplomacy. Topics covered include organization theory, multilateral co-operation, foreign policy, diplomatic history, global social and public policy, representation and negotiation.

Core Program Requirements

All students will complete six courses, including the following four mandatory courses: the global governance core course, an economics component, the history component, and Research Methods. Students are required to maintain an overall average of 80% in the course phase.

• Core Course Component: GV710: Globalization and Global Governance (Laurier registration) or GGOV700: Globalization and Global Governance (UW registration). Must be completed in the first term of registration in the program.
• Economics Component: GV730: Economic Analysis and Global Governance (Laurier registration) or Econ637: Economic Analysis and Global Governance (UW registration). Students who have higher-than-second-year macro/microeconomics are required to take an economics course other than GV730/Econ637.
• History Component: GV720: The History of Global Governance (Laurier registration) or HIST605: Global Governance in Historical Perspective (UW registration).
• Research Methods: GV701: Research Methods (Laurier registration) or GGOV701: Research Methods (UW registration).

See a full list of all PhD in Global Governance courses .

"I see the Balsillie School as a unique institution that provides students and scholars with the academic and experiential foundations to lead Canadian and international organizations in pursuing the most effective paths to global security and harmony."

Ann Fitz-Gerald, director, Balsillie School of International Affairs

Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.

• Start: Fall (September)
• Format: Full-time
• Application deadline:  January 15 (international applicants), April 30 (domestic applicants)

Please note: The application portal for our September 2025 intake is now open for all applicants. First round of consideration for all complete applications will be given to those received by January 15, 2025. We may continue to adjudicate domestic applications until April 30, 2025 or until the program is full.

Admission Requirements

• A master’s degree in political science, history, economics, international development studies, international peace studies, globalization studies, environmental studies, or a related field with a minimum A- standing.
• Applications are reviewed by the graduate program committee, which considers all prior university grades, a statement of research interests and letters of reference.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency in English prior to admission.
• Contact a prospective faculty advisor prior to submitting your application.

Note : It is a requirement of the application process, that you contact a prospective faculty member who shares your interests and would be a supervisor "in principle" for your PhD, should you receive an offer of admission. This must be done in advance and the information must be included on the Application Summary of the online application.

The idea of "in principle" means a professor has reviewed your statement of intent and your CV, and agrees "in principle" to supervise your doctoral dissertation. Sometimes, after the successful acceptance of an offer, another professor may be deemed to be more a suitable advisor; on the basis of this determination, it is possible to change supervisors in the early stages of your PhD program.

Application Checklist

After you have submitted your OUAC application , paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from [email protected] advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS) .

The application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.

An application for admission to our PhD program in Global Governance must include:

• The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
• Be sure you can respond "yes" to the question, "Have you spoken with any faculty at WLU?" and include the faculty member's name.
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Documents must be dated within the past six months.
• A completed statement of intent.
• A resume of your academic and work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
• A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your master's thesis or a paper written for a graduate course.
• Completed reference forms . Three academic references are required. Note: Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.

Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS .

Your Next Steps

Questions? Contact Maureen Ferraro, program officer, at [email protected] or 226.772.3122.

“The BSIA is a strong and supportive community in which I thrived as a student. I benefitted from the mentorship of a multidisciplinary faculty, exchanges with a diverse group of students, and comprehensive support that allowed me to network easily. I chose this program for its research and policy emphasis, and I made the right choice”

Ousmane Aly Diallo (PhD '2020) Researcher, Francophone West Africa, Amnesty International 

Balsillie School of International Affairs

As a hub in a global network of scholars, practitioners and students, the Balsillie School of International Affairs aims to develop new solutions to humanity’s critical problems, improve global governance now and in the future, and enhance the quality of people’s lives around the world. Founded in 2007 by philanthropist Jim Balsillie, the Balsillie School is an equal collaboration with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. 

The Balsillie School is a proud affiliated member of APSIA .

Tuition and Funding

Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

Graduate Tuition and Funding

"With contributions from several university-based partners, ASPIRE provides graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with informative, hands-on professional skills training essential for degree and post-degree success."

Brent Wolfe , Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

The program is committed to providing students with the interdisciplinary skills for a wide range of careers in the field of global governance.

We provide the students with opportunities to gain relevant international work experience, whether as a visiting scholar at a top-ranked university or as a fellow at a leading think tank. In addition to the academic curriculum, we offer supplementary "professionalization" programming and are normally able to offer funds to support field research and travel to academic conferences.

Graduates of the Joint-PhD Program in Global Governance have gone on to tenure-track positions at a number of universities in Canada and abroad. Many others are pursuing a career in leadership positions for the Government of Canada, non-government agencies, think tanks or the private sector.

• Defence Scientist, Defence Research and Development Canada
• Program Manager, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Researcher for Amnesty International
• Global Social Policy Researcher, Public Health Agency of Canada
• Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
• Researcher, Career and Education Advisor, Canada Accent Immigration
• Assistant Professor, University of New Brunswick
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Schulich School of Law
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oslo
• Research Director, Cascade Institute
• Deputy Director, Policy and Economics at Canadian Dairy Commission
• Research Associate and Lecturer, University of Kassel
• Founder, Go To Jupiter Productions Inc.
• Senior Lecturer, City University, UK
• Lecturer, Leiden University
• Senior Project Manager, MEDA
• Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh

Your Path to Post-Degree Success

ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace .

Learn about the interests of our faculty members. If you are looking for more information about this program, have questions, or want to set up a meeting, contact a member of our team . 

Alison Blay-Palmer Professor UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies

Paula Butler  Instructor

Winnie Chan Instructor

Jonathan Crush Professor

Simon Dalby Professor (Retired)

Timothy Donais Associate Professor

Alistair Edgar Associate Professor Associate Dean, School of International Policy and Governance

Nick Garside Instructor 

Patricia Goff Associate Professor

Jeff Grischow Associate Professor

Derek Hall Associate Professor   

Jenna Hennebry Associate Professor

Ken Jackson Associate Professor

Jurek Konieczny Professor

Alex Latta Associate Professor

Terrence Levesque Professor

Colleen Loomis   Associate Professor  Co-Director, PhD in Global Governance Director, Master of International Public Policy

Sara Matthews Associate Professor

Audra Mitchell Professor Canada Research Chair in Global Political Ecology

Alison Mountz Professor  Co-Director, International Migration Research Centre

Amjad Rabi  Instructor 

Kim Rygiel Associate Professor  Co-Director, International Migration Research Centre

Pierre Siklos Professor

Debora VanNijnatten Associate Professor

Margaret Walton-Roberts Professor

Alan Whiteside Professor (retired)

Randall Wigle Professor Emeritus

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PhD IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

• Program Information

Specializations

Program requirements.

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Program Handbook and Forms
• Scholarships and Awards
• Global Governance, Laurier
• Global Governance, U Waterloo

Joint University Program with an Interdisciplinary Focus

The world faces increasingly complex problems that have taken on global significance – including conflict and peace-building, humanitarian crises and intervention, international economic inequality and instability, and global environmental change. How are these problems addressed at the global level? And are the mechanisms adopted to address them effective and just?

The PhD in Global Governance, offered jointly by Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo, is a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary examination of power and authority in the global arena. Graduate students in the program examine the variety of actors, institutions, ideas, rules, and processes that contribute to the management of global society. In addition to international organizations and inter-state relations, the study of global governance examines the various non-state actors as well as the realities of contemporary life that contribute to the establishment and functioning of global rules, norms and institutions. The Global Governance PhD program interrogates the concepts, tools, and assumptions that have served scholars in the past and assesses new approaches for addressing contemporary and future challenges.

The Global Governance PhD program is committed to providing students with training for a wide range of careers in the field of global governance. In addition to the academic curriculum, we offer supplementary “professionalization” programming, and are normally able to offer funds to support field research and travel to academic conferences. We also provide students with opportunities to gain relevant international work experience, whether as a visiting scholar at a top-ranked university, a fellow at a leading think tank, or an intern with an internationally recognized non-governmental organization or in the UN system.  See what some of our graduates are up to .

Students admitted to BSIA-affiliated academic programs may enroll in the Technology Governance Summer School, free of charge. On completion, students will gain knowledge of the key concepts underlying data science, data sets, data analytics, modelling and the use and application of these approaches in key policy areas. Read more information about our pilot course that was offered in Summer 2023.

“As an international student from Brazil, I have benefitted tremendously from being involved in academic and policy debates with northern counterparts, while receiving unremitting support on my research on South America.”

—J. Ricardo Tranjan, PhD Graduate (2012)

We look forward to welcoming you to the joint PhD program at the Balsillie School of International Affairs

We are about humanity-driven outcomes - developing new solutions to some of the world's most critical problems by improving international relations and global governance for the enhancement of people's lives around the world.  Our joint-doctoral degree will provide you with a wide range of careers working in the area of global governance.

“At the BSIA you will discover an environment for learning both hard and soft skills and co-creating a meaningful life. Our doctoral program is known for building relationships with peers within and across the years, enriching your intellectual community and professional network. In addition to the notable accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, they are empathic, have a sense of humour, and manage a healthy work-life balance. Join us and take the next step in your education to support your future solving large-scale, complex problems.”

Colleen Loomis

“BSIA’s emphasis on interdisciplinarity and collaboration makes it the perfect incubator for groundbreaking research on current and looming global challenges. Here you will acquire the knowledge, skills, and connections to contribute meaningfully to solving those challenges no matter where life takes you — the academy, public service, civil society, or the private sector. Our alumni are having an impact in all four areas, and you can, too.”

David Welch

Students must choose to specialize in one of the six fields of the program. To prepare for the comprehensive exam in that field, they must select at least two courses from their chosen field. Of these two, at least one course must be a course identified as “core” for that field.

Conflict and Security

This field is concerned with the referent objects of security and associated threats; the causes and management of conflict; and the global governance challenges of human, state, societal, national, international, ecospheric, and global security. Courses in this stream examine the theory and practice of security at all levels of analysis.

Global Environmental Governance

This field is concerned with the global governance of environmental issues. Courses in this stream examine contemporary dilemmas relating to the ways in which environmental challenges are being addressed and managed by multiple agents through a range of transnational institutions and governance structures, both existing and proposed. Conceptual issues and debates, set within the context of a variety of internationally significant sustainability challenges, are investigated. Multilevel governance of these challenges at the international, regional, national and local levels are examined. Key topics covered include: global climate change, agriculture and food security, international water resource management and environmental aspects of the global economy.

Global Justice and Human Rights

This field is concerned with the study of the relationship between global governance and issues of global justice and human rights. Courses in this stream explore themes such as: the practical and ethical challenges that international human rights and relief organizations encounter when operating in the global south; theoretical approaches to understanding global justice as a contemporary social justice issue, with a particular focus on the cultural constructs relating to conceptions of freedom, obligation, and community; and contemporary debates in the field of human rights, such as those related to cultural relativism and universal human rights, human rights and foreign policy, the place of economic rights, the relationship between gender and human rights, and human rights and retrospective justice.

Global Political Economy

This field is concerned with the governance of the global economy and contemporary issues in international economic relations. Courses in this stream focus on the theoretical and public policy debates relating to governance of the global economy, as well as the evolution of international trade policy. Topics covered include: international finance and intellectual property rights; labour and environmental standards; the control of illicit economic activity; the removal of tariffs on goods and services; and current efforts to integrate services, investment, and intellectual property into the trading regime through the increasing overlap of trade policy with monetary, competition, cultural, environmental and labour policies.

Global Social Governance

This field examines the prospects for the supranational governance of social issues with a particular focus on the political and philosophical underpinnings of transnational social policy cooperation and in relation to governance challenges of migration and mobility arising in relation to borders and intersecting governance systems. Topics covered include: the implicit and explicit prescriptions for and impact upon national social policy of intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN and Bretton Woods Institutions), international non-governmental organisations and international private actors (such as TNCs and consultancy companies); the contribution of supranational organisations, international NGOs and other global actors to the global discourse on social policy; the role of private actors and global public-private partnerships in global health policy; migration/refugee policy and governance, the development of systems of transnational social redistribution, social regulation and social provision and empowerment; and the methods and concepts used by development agencies to assess the social policy of countries and shape their interventions.

Multilateral Institutions and Diplomacy

This field is concerned with the formal and informal practices, institutions and organizations which generate global governance. Courses in this stream focus primarily on the theory, practice and machinery of international organization, public policy, and diplomacy. Topics covered include organization theory, multilateral co-operation, foreign policy, diplomatic history, global social and public policy, representation and negotiation.

All students must complete six courses, including the following four mandatory courses: the global governance core course, an economics component, the history component, and Research Methods. Students are required to maintain an overall average of 80% in the course phase.  See full list of courses

Core Course component  (must be completed in the first term of registration in the program)

• GGOV 700 Globalization and Global Governance (UW registration) / GV 710 Globalization and Global Governance (Laurier registration)

Economics Component

• GV 730 Economic Analysis and Global Governance (Laurier registration) / Econ 637 Economic Analysis and Global Governance (UW registration)
• or equivalent (students who have higher than second year macro/micro economics are required to take an economics course other than GV 730/Econ 637)

History Component

• HIST 605 Global Governance in Historical Perspective (UW registration) / GV720 The History of Global Governance (Laurier registration)

Research Methods

• GGOV 701 Research Methods (UW registration) / GV 701 Research Methods (Laurier registration)

Comprehensive Examinations

Normally, candidates must write comprehensive examinations in two areas within 16 months of starting the program. Normally, students will write comprehensive exams in September at the start of their second year. The first examination will be on Global Governance and will test the breadth and depth of a student’s comprehension of the leading literature. For their second examination, students will choose to write a comprehensive examination in one of the six fields of the program. Students can only write an examination in a field if they have completed two courses, one of which must be a “core course” in that field.

Dissertation Proposal

Normally, students will complete and have approved a doctoral dissertation proposal by the end of February of their second year in the program. Completion of the proposal will normally involve a formal presentation and defence of the proposal to the Supervisory Committee. Normally, committee members and the student will also complete their second Annual Progress Report following the defence/approval of the dissertation proposal.

Within one week after completion of the presentation and defence, the student will make any final changes to the proposal that arise from the defence and provide the respective Program Director or Associate Director as well as the respective Program Graduate Coordinator/Program Officer with a copy of the final proposal for their records and the student’s file.

Normally, the doctoral dissertation research proposal will be no more than 30 pages or approximately 15,000 words, exclusive of bibliography. A proposal will include the following: a statement of the principal research question(s) and a justification of the question or questions; an outline of the principal theoretical orientations that are framing the research questions; a detailed outline of the research methods and steps to be taken to obtain answers to the research questions; an assessment of the likely contribution to knowledge of the dissertation research; a timetable for completion of the research.

Laurier students are required to complete the Dissertation Proposal Approval form .

Dissertations – Multiple Manuscript Thesis Guidelines

Doctoral theses can take various forms. The traditional thesis is a sole-authored document with various chapters. However, some theses – the multiple manuscript thesis – consist of a collection of papers that are published or submitted for publication; any such thesis must comply with the following guidelines:

• The multiple manuscript thesis must comply with the policies and guidelines of the student’s host institution.
• Any multiple manuscript thesis must contain at least three articles.
• At least two of the articles must be single-authored, and one may be co-authored provided the student first obtains approval from their supervisor committee, preferably at the time of the proposal defence. If an article is co-authored by the student and authors, the relationship should be explicitly stated with regards to the nature and extent of contributions to the work by all parties involved.
• There must be a common theme among the three articles that is explained in the introduction and conclusion.
• All articles must be of a publishable quality. Acceptance of a manuscript from a journal is separate from and does not constitute acceptance or approval by the advisory committee.

More information about the PhD in Global Governance program can be found in the handbook or on the Wilfrid Laurier University or University of Waterloo program pages.

PhD Program Handbook and Forms

• Graduate Handbook: Joint Laurier-UW Global Governance PhD Program
• GGOV Reading Course Form
• Annual Progress Report Form (Laurier)
• Annual Progress Report Form - year 1 (UW)
• Annual Progress Report Form - year 2 (UW)
• Annual Progress Report Form - year 3 (UW)
• Dissertation Proposal Form (UW)
• GGOV PhD (Laurier) Dissertation Format
• How to use the PhD Dissertation Template
• Petition for Extension Form (UW)
• PhD Student Forms (Laurier)
• BSIA Graduate Student Research/Travel Support Application Form
• BSIA Conference Travel Support Application Form
• Laurier Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) Travel Award Application
• UW Graduate Studies Research Travel Assistantship Application
• UW Field Work Risk Management Program
• Laurier International Research Travel Guidelines

Additional program information is available from Maureen Ferraro (Laurier) or Andrew Thompson (UW).

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PhD Program

Pursue Excellence, Drive Change, Lead Globally

5 year full-time program

On campus in-person Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Attend Rotman seminars

Applications for Fall 2025 will open on September 1, 2024. Application deadline is January 10, 2025.

Join a close-knit community of scholars at one of the world’s top-ranked centres of management research – at the University of Toronto, in the heart of Canada’s vibrant, culturally diverse financial capital. As part of Rotman’s PhD program, you’ll explore new ideas, develop insights that inspire solutions and help to spark broader conversations among corporate and public leaders.

The PhD in Management is a challenging 5 year program which features course-work, cutting edge research training, and close working relationships with some of the best management academics in the world.  The success of our program is evidenced in the impressive careers of our graduates.

PhD students work closely with faculty in our research-led culture which emphasizes rigor, creativity and innovation. The PhD curriculum is carefully designed to support students as publishing scholars as early as possible in their doctoral studies and we have a terrific track record of placements in leading business schools. Our program is divided into 7 distinct streams of research: Accounting, Economic Analysis and Policy, Finance, Marketing,  Operations Management and Statistics, Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, and Strategic Management.

We are Rotman

The Rotman School is ranked 16th in the world by the Financial Times for its faculty and research. PhD students at Rotman enjoy an academic culture of collaboration and research excellence. Our doctoral program is delivered in seven streams that reflect the organization of the school as a whole: 

• Economic Analysis and Policy
• Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
• Operations Management and Statistics 
• Strategic Management

PhD students at Rotman study in small classes and form close working relationships with faculty. Take a moment to get to know our program requirements. If you are a strong candidate with an appetite for academic excellence, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about the Rotman PhD.

The Rotman PhD is for ambitious scholars who plan to teach and research at some of the world's top business schools. If you are looking to study with leading faculty, publish in noted academic journals, and build a global network of like-minded scholars, the Rotman PhD program is for you. Our goal is to prepare our PhD students for exceptional careers in the field of management, and all aspects of the doctoral program are developed with your professional goals in mind. Find out how the Rotman School at the University of Toronto has been the launching pad for many stellar academic careers.

Rotman PhDs on the Market

Research at Rotman

Careers: After the Rotman PhD

Rotman PhD Courses

2024-2025 phd course schedule.

Please view the Course Schedule above for the list of current courses.  

Student Life

Are you a promising scholar driven to achieve success in your studies? At Rotman we believe that your success is fueled by support that extends well beyond scholarship. Your ability to achieve both during the program and after graduation depends on strong networks with faculty and your peers. We aim to give you the tools you need to complete your program while achieving a balanced life outside of the classroom.  Whether you're looking for a new living arrangement, wanting to attend a research event, or wondering how previous students experienced their doctorate, the Rotman Phd progam has the support you need to succeed. Find out what it's like to study at one of the world's top business schools, and live in Toronto, Canada's cultural and financial capital. Finding a Place to Stay Research Seminars at Rotman University of Toronto

Daphne Baldassari, Rotman PhD'23: Dare to Risk

Board games and pizza night, rotman phd: leading the world in research, rotman phd: from support to strength.

School of Graduate Studies

Management, phd, program overview.

The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto is home to Canada’s premier management doctoral program, one of the top-ranked PhD programs in the world. The Rotman PhD program is a growing, vibrant, and intellectually rich environment for those interested in developing new insights in management. This close-knit community of scholars value and celebrate insightful, breakthrough research. ​

The PhD program offers specialization in seven fields:

• Business Economics
• Operations Management
• Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
• Strategic Management

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership

Thesis-based, on campus degree

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership draws upon the social sciences and humanities to prepare researchers and practitioners for the analysis and resolution of issues and problems related to educational policy and the direction and management of schools, school systems, other institutions, and governmental bodies concerned with public and private education. This program prepares graduates for administrative and research-related careers with an understanding of organizational change in the field of educational leadership.

Program Information for Current Students

Program requirements.

Please refer to the  University Calendar  to view official program requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

In addition to the requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Graduate Programs in Education requires that students be available on campus for the first two years of their program.

a) Educational Research 702 and 704;

b) Additional 9 units of 700-level thesis-based courses in research methods (excluding EDER 707, 708, 709, 710, 711 and 712);

c) Additional graduate courses or seminars as required by the student's specialization.  Courses may be selected from any 700-level Education Research courses:

• Leadership requires 9 units which must focus on Leadership and Policy.

Course requirements

You can view current Graduate Programs in Education course schedules by visiting the  PhD homepage .

Graduate courses from other departments, faculties, or universities may be taken to partially fulfill your degree requirements. Approval from your supervisor and the unit in question are required to take these courses. Please ensure that your Graduate Program Administrator in Graduate Programs in Education receives written confirmation of these approvals. 

Expected completion time for full-time students is four years with a maximum completion time of six years.

Supervisory Assignments

A supervisor is normally appointed at the time of admission.

Checklists and Forms

Doctoral Procedures Checklist

At the beginning of program:

• Register for an eID to access  myUCalgary . Keep your eID and password confidential.
• Accept your Offer of Admission in the online Student Centre .
• Activate your UCalgary  IT computing account  that comes with a UofC email. We strongly encourage you to use this email while in program.
• Before you start utilizing your UofC email, update your email address in the online Student Centre .
• Confirm your current e-mail address to your Graduate Program Administrator (see your Admission Letter for contact information). Please include your full name, UCID number, program, and specialization.
• Attend one of the scheduled Virtual Welcome Sessions for Graduate Programs: Education (GPE) students.
• Attend one of the scheduled Student Orientations to GPE Online Delivery Tools. We recommend this for students in on-campus programs, due to the fact that online tools may be utilized in on-campus courses.
• Connect with your supervisor to plan your program.
• Initialize your registration .
• Register for courses.
• Check with FGS, Research Services and SSHRC for possible research funding.

Within 12 months:

• Confirm the number of courses required for program completion with the supervisor.
• Submit the online Annual Progress Report form through student centre, approved by supervisor, and Graduate Program Director of GPE or designate.

Every 12 Months:

• Complete  registration initialization .

Within 15 months:

• Consult with supervisor regarding the appointment of the supervisory committee. Complete the Appointment of Supervisory Committee form.

Within 28 months:

• Request candidacy examination guidelines.
• Complete all course work prior to the candidacy examination.
• Submit a research proposal to the supervisory committee. If acceptable, this proposal is signed by the members of the supervisory committee and placed in the student's file.
• Complete candidacy requirements and examination.

Within 4 to 6 years:

• Have ethics application approved before collection of data.
• Complete thesis and final oral examination.
• Submit two unbound copies of the thesis to the Faculty of Graduate Studies along with the Thesis Clearance form.
• Submit an Application for Degree through your Student Centre .
• Attend convocation and celebrate.

Program Forms

There are various forms related to a student’s progress through their graduate degree. Please refer to the forms for detailed instructions on their proper completion. Students who have any questions or concerns should contact their Graduate Program Administrator. Required forms are available in the GPE office and some can be accessed by downloading them from  Faculty of Graduate Studies .

Have Questions?

Sylvia Parks Graduate Program Administrator (GPA) 403.220.4105, [email protected]

Academic Coordinator

Dr. Shelleyann Scott, [email protected]

Complete Program Details

Public Administration (PhD)

Our PhD program in Public Administration prepares you for research and leadership roles in government, universities and other institutions.

You'll gain an in-depth understanding of issues in comparative policy and governance and assist faculty members while you pursue your own externally-funded research. Our key fields of study are organizational studies, comparative policy and governance.

This is a full-time program. Students usually spend at least 75% of regular work time dedicated to studies.

Quick facts

PhD in Public Administration students will:

• work with experienced faculty members at the forefront of a wide variety of fields, including public policy analysis, governance and management
• master basic research methods (e.g. foundational statistics, qualitative methods, quantitative methods and evaluation)
• acquire in-depth academic understanding of issues in comparative policy, governance and organizational studies
• participate in research projects through the school
• build externally-funded research programs of their own
• be prepared to conduct further leading-edge research after graduation
• be prepared to take on leadership roles in government, universities and/or other public institutions

Find a supervisor

PhD students must have a faculty member from the School of Public Administration who serves as their academic supervisor. When you apply:

• this person must also recommend your admission to the program
• we will contact them to verify

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

Astrid Brousselle

Professor Evaluation approaches and methods, Planetary Health, theory-based evaluation, ecological transition, public health, health system analysis, collaborative/participative/community based approaches, qualitative methods

[email protected]

Astrid V. Pérez Piñán

Associate Professor

[email protected]

David Castle

Professor Science, technology and innovation policy , Open science and research data

[email protected]

Dr. Sarah Marie Wiebe (she/her)

Assistant Professor and Academic Program Lead (MACD and PhD Programs) Environmental justice, Public engagement, Critical policy studies, Climate emergencies and displacement, States of emergency, Interpretive research and arts-based methods, Community development, Indigenous community engagement and governance

[email protected]

Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly (he/his)

Professor & Jean Monnet Chair Border studies: border disputes, border security, border management, management of cross border regions; European Union: regional and urban policies, immigration and border security policies; Canada - United States border policies

[email protected]

Evert Lindquist

Professor Public sector and public service reform, Designing and implementing policy interventions, Digital and collaborative governance, Horizontal governance and administration to support policy interventions, Organizing for policy and administrative innovation, Role and influence of think tanks in policy networks, Competing values in public sector leadership and reform

[email protected]

Heather Castleden

Professor, Impact Chair in Transformative Governance for Planetary Health Transformative governance; Planetary health; Decolonizing energy; Decolonizing the academy; Climate change; Climate justice; Climate displacement; Renewable energy; Water; Social justice; Environmental racism; Health equity; Indigenous-Settler Relations; Research ethics; Relationality; Accountability; Indigenous Rights; Critical methods; Anti-colonial; Anti-racist; Participatory methods; Qualitative inquiry; Community-based participatory research

[email protected]

Helga Hallgrímsdóttir

Deputy Provost and Professor

[email protected]

J. Barton (Bart) Cunningham

Professor Human resource issues, Leadership, Organizational behaviour and change, Insight problem solving, Stress and mental health, Action learning and research

[email protected]

Jill Anne Chouinard

Director and Professor

[email protected]

Katya Rhodes

Associate Professor Multi-attribute climate policy analysis, Pro-environmental behaviour, Survey-based methods, Energy-economy modelling, Comparative climate policy

[email protected]

Kimberly Speers

Associate Teaching Professor

[email protected]

Lynne Siemens

[email protected]

Richard Marcy

[email protected]

Robert Lapper, KC

Lam Chair in Law and Public Policy and Graduate Advisor Justice system policy and reform, Access to Justice, Indigenous law and legal issues, Technology and design in law and policy

[email protected]

Susanne Thiessen

Associate Director and Assistant Professor

[email protected]

Tamara Krawchenko

Associate Professor Comparative public policy; regional development; sustainability transitions

[email protected]

Walter Lepore

Assistant Professor Organizational analysis and design, Organizational performance assessment, Program and policy monitoring and evaluation, Strategic planning, Transparency, accountability, corruption and conflict of interests in the public sector, Public sector reforms, Mixed methods research, Experimental research designs, Community-based participatory research, Capacity development in participatory research, Community-university research partnerships, Community development

[email protected]

Show me program details

Providing you accurate admission requirements, application deadlines, tuition fee estimates and scholarships depends on your situation. Tell us about yourself:

I am a Canadian citizen or permanent resident International student

Show program details

Your program details

Application deadlines.

• September entry – apply by March 15
• September entry – apply by December 15

Admission requirements

• your degree must be in a discipline or professional school related to the field of public administration
• A grade point average of 7.0 (on the UVic scale ) or equivalent in your master's degree
• A committment to full-time studies —typically at least 75% of regular work time should be dedicated to your studies

If your first language is not English, you must provide proof of language proficiency. Learn more about language requirements , including allowable exemptions and tests.

Review our general admission requirements for more information.

Program specific requirements

When you submit your application, you must include:

• If it has been more than five years since you last attended a post-secondary institution, you may have three professional references in place of academic referees.
• Graduate Admissions will send your referees a link to complete an assessment report and/or upload their reference letters.
• unofficial transcripts all post-secondary institutions
• a professional résumé
• an overview of your proposed area for dissertation research including the problem to be studied, possible literature and general approach
• the name of the faculty member you've identified as your research supervisor
• a list of applications you've submitted for external funding
• GMAT or GRE results from within the last 2 years
• the name of the Public Administration faculty member you've identified as your research supervisor

Completion requirements

View the minimum course requirements for this program.

Funding & aid

Tuition & fees.

Estimated minimum program cost*

* Based on an average program length. For a per term fee breakdown view the tuition fee estimator .

Estimated values determined by the tuition fee estimator shall not be binding to the University of Victoria.

Ready to apply?

You can start your online application to UVic by creating a new profile or using an existing one.

Apply now     How to apply

Faculties & departments

• Faculty of Human and Social Development
• School of Public Administration

Related programs

• Community Development (MACD)
• Public Administration - online (MPA)
• Public Administration - on-campus (MPA)
• Juris Doctor and Public Administration Double-Degree (JD + MPA)
• Evaluation (GCE)
• Evaluation (GDE)

Contact Kimberley Cook at [email protected] or 250-721-6448 .

< Back to Public Administration overview

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PhD in Public Policy

A dissertation-based program for research students.

• Apply to the JSGS University of Regina campus
• Apply to the JSGS University of Saskatchewan campus

Program Overview

Two-campus model, admissions and deadlines, career focus.

Develop and lead policy solutions for some of government and society's most complex problems.  The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy is a research-based program and is the highest degree awarded in public policy at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School. It denotes an advanced level of competence in scholarly research and communication. This program will provide you with an opportunity to expand your knowledge and acquire in-demand skills, contribute to the study of public policy, and master the theories, concepts and applications of policy within a government or organization.

The program involves a combination of coursework (culminating in a comprehensive exam) and proposing, writing and defending a dissertation. Upon entry into the program, you will be assigned a research advisor and an advisory committee to support you in your work.

As a graduate of the PhD program, you'll be in a position to train the next generation of public service professionals or to lead teams and conduct public policy and management research in government, business, think tanks and other research organizations.

Connect with Us

Want to learn more about the PhD program? Chat with our admissions staff and ask any questions you have.

• Ask a Question!

Quick Facts

Looking for answers to some of your key questions? We have you covered.

Areas of Focus

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 areas related to  innovation , science , technology , health , society and inequality , and governance .  To ensure engagement in these areas of research, JSGS faculty are committed to encouraging student involvement in research projects, grant applications, seminar series, and other opportunities for knowledge translation.

Research Supervisors

University of regina campus, university of saskatchewan campus.

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.

The PhD is a research-based program that involves a combination of twelve credit units of coursework  (four courses), research, and the writing of a dissertation. Once you are admitted into the program, your supervisor and program advisor will work with you on your program of studies (i.e., selection of appropriate courses). 

If you have already taken one or more of the following courses (i.e., in a master's program), you will be required to substitute with a different course(s). You may take additional courses in a particular subject area if you wish, subject to the approval of your advisory committee.

• JSGS 803.3  Quantitative Methods
• JSGS 851.3  Qualitative Methods
• JSGS 865.3  Decision Making in Organizations
• JSGS 869.3  Ideas in Public Policy

Students must also register in the following courses:

JSGS 990 - Public Policy Seminar

JSGS 990 - Public Policy Seminar (USask Campus) 

A required non-credit seminar for graduate students in the MPP and PhD programs. The course features reports and discussions on current research and policy issues presented by students, researchers, policy practitioners, and faculty. Students must attend at least 25 seminars and present their own research in one session before completing their program of study.

JSGS 996 - PhD Research

JSGS 996 - PhD Research (USask Campus)

This course is designed for students at the JSGS USask campus who are writing a doctoral thesis.

GPS 960 - Introduction to Ethics and Integrity

Students at the U of S campus must also complete  (in their first term of study) 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.

JSGS 990 AB Public Policy Seminar

JSGS 990 AB Public Policy Seminar (U of R Campus)

The purpose of the 990AB Seminar Series is to bring students, faculty and others together to hear from a variety of individuals on current and interesting policy topics and to foster a community of scholars. All students in the PhD programs are required to register in JSGS 990AB. They must also attend at least 25 seminars and present their research in one session prior to completing their program. PhD students are also required to submit a JSGS 990 student report. 

JSGS 901 - PhD Research

JSGS 901 - PhD Research (U of R Campus)

This course is designed for students at the JSGS U of R campus who are writing a doctoral thesis.

Transfer Credit

• The University of Saskatchewan campus does not accept transfer credit.
• At the University of Regina, transfer credit is awarded when a student has successfully completed coursework at this or another accredited institution of higher education at the Master’s level. This coursework must be first reviewed by JSGS, then recommended to Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research via JSGS. Credits can then be transferred to the student’s program at the University of Regina. Transfer credit(s) must be submitted for review and obtained in the first semester of beginning the new program. Transfer credit only applies to courses that have not been used to satisfy another academic credential (e.g. master’s degree, certificate, diploma). For more information, visit here .

The intent of the PhD core course schedule is to provide students with assistance in planning for upcoming semesters.

Normally, some core and elective courses are scheduled during the daytime and some in the evening (or on weekends and/or in blocks) to accommodate both full-time and part-time learners.

**Classes may change as circumstances require.

As a student entering the PhD program, you will be required to pass a qualifying exam. This exam may be waived for students with a master’s degree (with thesis) in public policy from a recognized university and for students with a master’s degree (with thesis) in a cognate field (e.g., economics, political science, political sociology, public or educational administration). Normally this examination is administered within the first year, preferably within the first four months, of starting your PhD program.

You will also be required to complete a comprehensive exam following your prescribed coursework. The comprehensive exam involves both written and oral components. The exam will cover general public policy topics, as well as material linked to your research program. Following the successful completion of your comprehensive exam, you will move to the development of a dissertation proposal and, upon its approval, to the dissertation research (either a standard dissertation structure or a three-paper model).

Effective September 1, 2024, the per-term tuition for the PhD program is approximately $2,073 for both domestic students and international students, plus on-campus graduate student fees.

Assuming a four-year completion , the total tuition (using rates for 2024-25) for both domestic and international students is approximately $24,876. Assuming the average time to completion of 5.5 years , the total tuition (using rates for 2024-25) for both domestic and international students is approximately $33,168.

Continuous registration for all students in the PhD program is required — that is, students must register in all three terms each academic year until their program is completed.

• University of Regina Tuition and Fees
• University of Saskatchewan Tuition and Fees

NOTE: 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's website should be viewed as accurate.

Highly qualified PhD 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.

• University of Regina Scholarships and Funding
• University of Saskatchewan Scholarships and Funding

As Saskatchewan's policy school, the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School is unique in its partnership with both the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. As a student, you'll benefit from learning from faculty and executives-in-residence across our two campuses and will have the opportunity to visit both campuses (either in person or virtually) throughout your program.

So how do you decide where to apply?   Besides considering available faculty advisors at each campus, we encourage you to  explore both universities and communities to determine which is the best fit for you.

Located on Treaty 4 lands, the University of Regina is situated on the territories of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. 

As the provincial capital, Regina is home to Saskatchewan's   Legislative Building   which sits near the beautiful Wascana Lake. The Legislative Building is also the main backdrop to the University of Regina's College Avenue Building and home of the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School. A short distance from the main campus, the historic and recently renovated College Avenue Campus is located close to downtown Regina. 

Referred to by many as the "Queen City", Regina is home to 230,000+ residents and is the main hub for many provincial public servants as well as municipal employees.

• Experience the University of Regina
• Learn more about the City of Regina
• Explore what Regina has to offer

Located in Saskatoon on Treaty 6 lands, the University of Saskatchewan is situated on the territories of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dene, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. 

A quick 2.5-hour drive from Regina, Saskatoon is located in the central part of Saskatchewan near the South Saskatchewan River Valley. The city boasts many attractive walking trails, a vibrant social scene, and a welcoming place for all. Situated on the northwest side of campus in the Diefenbaker Building, the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School overlooks the South Saskatchewan River and the core downtown area.

Referred to by many as the "Paris of the Prairies", Saskatoon is home to 273,000+ residents and is home to many federal public servants, industry and scientific leaders, as well as municipal employees.

• Experience the University of Saskatchewan
• Learn about student life
• Discover the City of Saskatoon
• Explore what Saskatoon has to offer

Application Deadlines

The PhD program has one intake every year and welcomes a new class each September. The application deadline for the PhD program is December 1 for entry in the following academic year.

To meet the deadline, all components of your application must be received by 11:59 PM CST on December 1. Applications that are incomplete will not be reviewed nor will they be deferred to future terms.

Application Qualifications

Applicants to the PhD program must have a master’s degree in public policy, public administration or in a cognate discipline such as economics, political science, political sociology or educational administration, with a cumulative weighted average of at least a 75% (U of S grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. coursework required in Master’s program

Please note that because the number of applications received greatly exceeds the number of available places, not all qualified applicants will be offered admission (we typically admit two to three students a year). Indeed, successful candidates will typically have an average well in excess of 80 percent (or lower first class).

Application Process and Required Documentation

The Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy has aligned its application requirements (where possible) across its two university campuses; however, please note that the application portal varies by campus. 

Please apply through   one campus only .

When applying to the JSGS University of Regina campus, please note that you must submit an application through the   Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research . 

You may choose to upload unofficial transcripts, supporting documents,  letters of recommendation,  letter of intent, and resume via your online application portal.

You will have the opportunity to enter the names and email addresses of your referees in the online application portal. Once you pay the application fee and submit the application, the system will automatically contact your referees with a link for their submission. Remember to advise your referees to check their spam folder for the auto-email from uregina.ca domain.

To troubleshoot document uploads, referee issues, other technical aspects of the online application, contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at [email protected] .

When applying to the JSGS University of Saskatchewan campus, please note that you must submit an application through the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.  The online application takes about 30 minutes to complete. You may start an application, save it and return to it any time before the application deadline.

HOW TO APPLY   |   APPLY NOW

Once you have completed an online application, you will need to   upload  a series of  documents. Please note that in most cases, you will need to allow one business day after paying your application fee before you are permitted to upload documents.

If your application fee has not been processed after 48 hours after being submitted, please contact   [email protected]   or phone 1-306-966-5788 for assistance. Please ensure you are checking the status of the application fee before emailing or calling. To check the status, please log into your application profile.

What are JSGS PhD Alumni up to?

• Read more alumni stories

PhD Student Stories

• Read more about our PhD students' research

PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy

Are you passionate about advancing new research and scholarship on policy and leadership in elementary and secondary education? With a commitment to equity and rigorous research training, this program develops critical and highly skilled scholars who will drive transformative change in education.

Delivery mode: In person

Designed for practicing professionals, the flexible-time PhD option enables students to continue working while pursuing their studies. Flexible-time students are self-funded. Learn more .

OISE offers a OISE Graduate Funding Package to students in their first four years of a PhD program, excluding the flexible-time PhD.

OISE's Graduate Funding Package covers the cost of tuition, and helps offset other living expenses. Last year, awards averaged around $25,000 per eligible student.

• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD)

Go to programs search

The Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy provides advanced preparation for education practitioners with leadership and policy responsibilities in both formal and nonformal settings. These settings include, among many others, the post-secondary sector, business and health organizations, unions, and community groups, as well as the K-12 school system.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The program is grounded in the belief that it is important for participants to engage in scholarly discourse about understanding, critiquing, and improving practice in educational settings. It consists of six required seminars, two elective courses, a comprehensive examination, and a dissertation. While the program addresses Canadian educational issues and perspectives in a global context, it is the particular settings and leadership or policy responsibilities of the participants that are the starting points of seminars. The expertise of qualified adjunct faculty from related professional fields supplements that of the regular faculty members.

Graduate school at UBC helped me to see things more broadly, to take more chances, not to be afraid to fail and to believe that I had things worth sharing with others.

Suzanne Windsor-Liscombe

Program Structure

Students are admitted to the Ed.D. in cohorts of 10 to 15 and proceed as a group through required courses and the comprehensive examination which occurs at the end of Year 2. Students then propose and execute their dissertation research projects. Students must complete all program requirements within six years of initial enrolment. Required courses are offered on campus for two consecutive Summer Sessions (July to mid-August) and two consecutive Winter Sessions (on weekends from September to early April).

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, program instructions.

Please ensure you follow the instructions in the online application system. After submitting your application, it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all supporting materials are submitted properly and by the application deadline. The Admissions Committee will only review complete applications. You can check the status of your application and supporting materials through the online application system.

1) Check Eligibility

Minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 92

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Document requirements.

Letter of Intent; Writing Sample; Professional resume or CV

2) Meet Deadlines

July 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, deadline explanations.

Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.

Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.

Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.

3) Prepare Application

Transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

Upcoming doctoral exams, monday, 16 september 2024 - 9:00am.

• Research Supervisors

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Abdi, Ali (Comparative and cross-cultural education; Decolonizing philosophies of education, Development education, Critical research methodologies,; Human rights education)
• Ahenakew, Cash (Cultural studies, Higher Education, Indigenous Studies, Leadership and Organizations, Post-colonial studies, Race/ethnicity, Research methodologies, Social justice, Sociology of Education)
• Andres, Lesley (Higher education; life course research; international comparative higher education; sociology of higher education)
• De Oliveira Andreotti, Vanessa (Education for/about international development, Social accountability in local and global engagements, Global Citizenship Education)
• Ellis, Jason (Canadian history; Specialized studies in education; Educational policy; Education policy; history of education)
• Fallon, Gerald (Indigenous Studies, International and Comparative Education, Leadership and Organizations, Policy, Research methodologies)
• Gill, Hartej (Cultural studies, Leadership and Organizations, Post-colonial studies, Teaching and Practice)
• Gleason, Mona (History, archaeology and related studies)
• Kelly, Deirdre (Children and youth, Gender studies, Media and democracy, Social justice, Sociology of Education)
• Kovach, Margaret
• Mazawi, Andre (Citizenship and democracy, Higher education, International and Comparative Education, Leadership and organizations, Research methodologies, Sociology of Education)
• Metcalfe, Amy (Educational policy; Higher education; Specialized studies in education; Higher Education Studies; Internationalization; Migration Studies; Academic Labour and Mobility; Higher Education Policy; Visual Research Methods; Campus Environments; Science and Knowledge)
• Rocha Perkerwicz, Samuel (Educational policy; Specialized studies in education; Philosophical Traditions in Education; philosophy of education)
• Roman, Leslie (Ethnography, Cultural studies, Disability studies, Sociology of Education)
• Ruitenberg, Claudia (History and philosophy of education; Political science and policy administration; Environmental education and extension; Environmental philosophy and education; philosophy of education; Political education)
• Shan, Hongxia (Other education, n.e.c.; Immigration and adult education and learning; Lifelong learning; Gender and work; Prof. learning)
• Stack, Michelle (Adult and continuing education, and community education; Educational policy; Media studies (except social media and digital media); Community Engaged Research; Knowledge translation; Cooperatives and Social Solidarity Economies; University Rankings and Equity; Disability studies; anti-racism; media education)
• Stein, Sharon Rebekah (Higher education; Educational policy; Specialized studies in education; Educational theory; Global education; Higher Education; International and comparative education; International education; Pedagogy and education; Post-colonial studies; Race/ethnicity; Social and Cultural Foundations of Education; Social justice; sustainability; climate change)
• Taylor, Alison (Adult and continuing education, and community education; Educational administration, management and leadership; Educational policy; Higher education; Specialized studies in education; Education, Knowledge and Skills; Educational Context; Political Contexts; Social Contexts; Social Policies)
• Vanwynsberghe, Robert (Citizenship and democracy, Social justice, Sustainability; Sustainability; Environmental Education; Theory and Method)
• Walker, Judith (Adult and continuing education, and community education; Sociology of education; Educational policy; Adult education; Higher Education; policy studies; Health Professions Education)
• Wang, Fei (Educational administration, management and leadership; Educational policy; Specialized studies in education; Educational administration and leadership; Leadership; the role of the school principals; social justice and diversity; comparative policy studies; Education and Training Management; Ideology and Social Policy; Social Contract and Social Justice; Offshore school and its leadership)
• Webb, P. Taylor (Education systems; Philosophy; Education governance, policy, and politics; Michel Foucault; Gilles Deleuze; Neoliberalism; Governmentality; Micropolitics; Biopolitics; Subjectivity; Artificial Intelligence)
• Wright, Handel (Educational policy; Specialized studies in education; (post)multiculturalism and multicultural education; Africana studies; Critical Race Theory; Cultural Studies; Educational Approaches; identity, citizenship and belonging; postcolonialism and decolonization; Transcultural Studies; Youth Studies; anti-racism)

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Community-university engagement in Canada : boundary spanner practice
• Ableism in higher education : collective agreements, EDI initiatives, and accommodation policies
• Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing and settler educator practice in the North Vancouver School District
• Transformative learning through collaboration : experiences of education beyond borders’ members from Canada and Kenya
• A humanities-based pedagogy of death : apocalyptic prose as public reimbursement collapse competency
• What's at stake and what's at play : a case study of government and non-profit stakeholders and their experiences of power in the early stages of collaboration
• The meaning of home : untold stories of people from Dadaab Refugee Camp studying at Canadian postsecondary institutions
• Quality assurance in British Columbia higher education : a policy analysis

Related Programs

Same academic unit.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD)
• Graduate Certificate in Adult Learning and Education (GCALE)
• Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (GCHIED)
• Master of Arts in Educational Studies (MA)
• Master of Education in Adult Learning and Education (MEd)
• Master of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change (MEd)
• Master of Education in Curriculum and Leadership (MEd)
• Master of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership (MEd)
• Master of Education in Educational Studies (MEd)
• Master of Education in Higher Education (MEd)
• Master of Education in Society, Culture and Politics in Education (MEd)

Further Information

Specialization.

Educational Leadership and Policy provides advanced preparation for education practitioners with leadership and policy responsibilities in both formal and nonformal settings. These settings include, among many others, the post-secondary sector, business and health organizations, unions, and community groups, as well as the K-12 school system.

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Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Considering UBC for your graduate studies?

Here, you can choose from more than 300 graduate degree program options and 2000+ research supervisors. You can even design your own program.

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Certificate Program in Public Sector Leadership and Governance

Effective countries depend on quality public service.

Like all advanced countries, Canada relies on well-designed and competently administered government policies, programs and services for the effective functioning of its economy and society. While politicians decide on the direction and tone of government action, it is public servants who support them in shaping policy and delivering services.

Globalization and unprecedented population mobility, growing demands for inclusion and declining trust in institutions require public service leaders who can marshal resources and leverage rapidly changing technology so that Canada remains in the front ranks of advanced societies. In the Certificate Program in Public Sector Leadership and Governance, our aims are to foster in leaders an awareness of this complex and dynamic world and build a mature capacity to learn and adapt constantly despite the daily frenzy.

These challenges, and many others, are occurring while experienced public service leaders continue to retire in historically high numbers. New leaders are challenged to step up quickly and make sense of today’s crises and the longer-term issues that lie beneath the surface. We understand that few senior executives will take up their roles with all the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and succeed in this world. We see our challenge as providing an environment in which senior leaders can prepare themselves for the greater responsibilities that come with top public service positions.  

The Certificate Program in Public Sector Leadership and Governance

This Program is designed to accelerate the development of promising senior public service leaders who need to broaden and deepen if they are to lead effectively in a complex and dynamic world.

Each autumn, a Cohort of 30-40 participants begins an about 20-month journey of learning and discovery at the University of Ottawa’s Odell House, home of the Centre on Public Management and Policy and part of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs within the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Social Sciences. While most participants come from the federal public service, executives from Crown corporations, provincial or municipal public services, or the private sector, will also benefit from the Program, and make the learning experience richer for all.

The Certificate Program has two parts: the first focuses on public sector management and governance, and the second on the world and Canada’s place in it. Both parts emphasize leadership and the good use of evidence in shaping advice and action. We also incorporate topics of accelerating importance, such as Technological Change and Indigenous Reconciliation.

The Program concerns itself throughout with the key leadership competencies identified by the federal Treasury Board Secretariat (2016): the ability to create vision and strategy, to mobilize people, uphold integrity and respect; collaborate with partners and stakeholders; achieve results, and promote innovation and guide change. Our goal is to provide a learning environment in which participants can prepare themselves to assume greater responsibility at the levels of Assistant Deputy Minister or Director-General, or their equivalents. Our Program is practical, not academic. There are no exams, marks or degrees. What we emphasize is “how things really work.” Because this priceless tacit knowledge is seldom written, we probe it through conversation with exceptional practitioners who generously share what their experience has taught them. We understand that these insights have many different facets, and our sessions offer multiple overlapping perspectives on executive leadership in the public sector. By the end of the program, we find that participants have internalized the crucial principles, in effect, the “accumulated wisdom”.

Background to the Certificate Program

In January 2007, the University of Ottawa launched its Certificate Program in Public Sector Leadership and Governance, following consultations by David Zussman, Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management, with federal Deputy Ministers. The Program was designed to address the above challenges by helping to prepare emerging public sector leaders to assume greater responsibility as older seasoned executives retire in increasing numbers.

Since then, over 400 participants in Cohorts I to XVI have successfully completed the Program. Further cohorts will be launched each autumn.

For more information about the program, please download our  certificate program prospectus . (PDF, 2.56 MB)

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Google Code for Remarketing Tag - Bloom

Mcgill scs graduate certificate in public administration and governance.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Governance focuses on the core competencies and tools needed for a career in public administration. These include analyzing legal and ethical issues relevant to public services, as well as providing leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion practices in the workplace; building processes and systems in public organizations; and responding as appropriate to current issues and practices that affect day-to-day operations and decision-making.

You may also be interested in McGill SCS Graduate Certificate in Advanced Public Administration and Governance

APPLY NOW Type:    Graduate Certificate Courses:   5 Credits:   15 Schedule:    Full-time or Part-time Time:    Weekday evenings, Saturdays Delivery:  Online Unit:   Administration and Governance Questions?   info.conted [at] mcgill.ca

Message from the Academic Program Coordinator

I look forward to welcoming you to our Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Governance program. Newly revised and updated, the program focuses on developing core competencies and tools to better navigate in public administration. At the core of this online program is a learner-centered instructional methodology which includes simulations, experiential activities and case studies to go beyond knowledge and theory. Our instructors and students make up a community passionate about public administration. We have created an online environment that makes learning fun, hands-on, and engaging. Classes are taught by public services experts and practitioners. Guest speakers make each class engaging and interactive. Group activities and interactions are an integral part of the program; the ability to network with like-minded individuals and learn from your peers is important. Our students come from Canada and other parts of the world, as well as from a variety of backgrounds, both those employed in public administration and those who are not. By the end of this program, graduates will be able to analyse legal and ethical issues relevant to public services, provide leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion practices in the workplace, build processes and systems in public organizations, and respond as appropriate to current issues and practices that affect day-to-day operations and decision-making.

Nadège Firsova, PhD Academic Program Coordinator, Public Administration and Governance programs Academic Director, Administration and Governance domain

Who Should Apply

This program is a good fit for you if you are:

• An early or mid-career professional who wants to begin a career in the public sector
• A professional who wants to move to mid level positions such as an Administrative Services Manager or Manager in the public sector in general

Learning Outcomes

The program is designed to enable you to:

• Analyze individual, group, and organizational behaviours
• Interpret legal and ethical issues relevant to public services
• Use public sector tools to analyze and evaluate current issues
• Lead public and non-profit organizations
• Plan, schedule, and develop projects
• Analyze, evaluate, and apply lean project management techniques

Delivery Format and Schedule

Online, Full-time or Part-time, Evenings, Saturdays

Program Requirement:

The online 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and Governance focusses on the core competencies and tools, including: analyzing legal and ethical issues relevant to public services; providing leadership in equity, diversity, and inclusion practices in the workplace; building processes and systems in public organizations; and responding as appropriate to current issues and practices that affect day-to-day operations and decision-making.

Required Courses (9 credits)

Organizational Behaviour: Analysis of individual and group performance and behaviour within an organization. The implications for management and the essential concepts of social psychology, such as motivation, perception, working in teams, well-being, decision-making, communication, conflict management, power and politics, leadership, and organizational culture.

Offered by: Administration & Governance

• Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CORG 551 or CORG 551N1 /N2, or CORG 551J1 /J2/J3.
• Course may be offered in person or online with synchronous and asynchronous components.
• Winter 2025
• Nathalie-Michele Sylvain

Public Admin & Governance-SCS: Analysis of contemporary issues and challenges faced by public administration due to political, technological, social, and economic changes. Examination of current trends, successes, failures, and alternative solutions experienced by public administration in the past.

• Not open to students who have taken CPAG 510 .
• Veldon Coburn

Public Admin & Governance-SCS: Interpretation of legal and ethical issues relevant to public services. Examination of legal principles and legal reasoning, the role of law in public sector management, such as constitutional law, administrative law, and human rights law. Exploration of the principles that inform privacy and access to informatio legislation and their derivation form ethical theories.

• Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CPAG 515 .
• Hélène Guay

Complementary Courses (6 credits)

3 credits from:

Policy: Exploration of how to lead organizations. Examination of why and how leadership skills are critical to organizational success. Application of leadership skills to work effectively with others in an organizational setting.

• Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CPL2 533 .
• There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year

Policy: Exploration of how to successfully lead diverse and inclusive organizations. Analysis of a variety of trends that have made managing workforce diversity an essential competency for leaders to succeed in an inclusive environment.

• Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CPL2 534 .
• Derek Tannis, James Beatty Hunter

Management: Analysis of the development, scheduling, and planning of projects in both public and private organizations. Focus on theories of project management from initiation of a project to close-out. Exploration of project life cycle, planning, scheduling, implementing, monitoring, controlling, close-out and ethics applicable to projects of various sizes, types and degrees of complexity.

Offered by: Management & Entrepreneurship

• Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CGM2 510 . Not open to Special Students.
• Andrew Chasse

Public Admin & Governance-SCS: Analysis of lean principles and the processes needed to optimize cost and maintain or improve services levels in the public sector. Exploration of the particularities of the service operations and how process improvement methodologies can be used in the public environment.

• Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken CPAG 500 .

Or another 600-level course offered by the School of Continuing Studies and approved by the program adviser or academic unit.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an approved university with a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.0 in the last two years of full-time academic studies.

* If your CGPA is lower than the above requirement, please submit the following for consideration with your application and official transcript.

a) Letter of Intent: A letter, one to two pages in length, single-spaced, written in English or French, which addresses the following:

• basis for interest in the program;
• your knowledge that would be pertinent to the program;
• your interest in the field of study and the reasons for applying to our program;
• plans for integrating the training into your current or future career;
• a description of your professional experience and its relevance, if applicable, to the program;
• awards received or other contributions;
• any additional information relevant to your application.

b) Curriculum Vitae

c) Two Letters of Reference:  At least one should be from a current or former employer.

• Applicants must provide proof of English Language proficiency .

Career Spotlight

• Business Administrator
• Community Worker
• Education Administrator
• Executive Assistant
• Foreign Correspondent
• Foreign Service Officer
• Government Administrator
• Immigration Officer
• Policy Advisor
• Policy Assistant
• Project Administrator

Online Tuition

Students who have been admitted to online programs will be subject to deregulated fees if they are studying with a residence address outside the province, as the government does not fund the University for credit activities that are followed outside Quebec. All students will have to self-declare their location of study each term in  Minerva . Consult the student accounts website –  Online Programs page  for more information.

This program is an Online (Distance Learning) program.

Since by definition distance learning does not require one to be in Canada, a study permit cannot be issued for this type of program, nor can one’s immigration status be changed (or renewed). For more information, please visit Immigration Quebec  and  Immigration Canada .

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Ready to take the next step?

Be sure to review all the necessary instructions and guidelines to help make your application process smooth and easy.

How to Apply

Application Deadlines

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Financial Aid

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Need help applying? Contact us at info.conted [at] mcgill.ca or call 514-398-6200 Questions about your admission? Contact us at admissions.scs [at] mcgill.ca or call 514-398-6200

Department and University Information

School of continuing studies.