Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The MGA program is a two year full-time program, with a global internship component in the summer after the first year.

Applicants currently completing their final year of undergrad will be assessed, in most cases, on third-year grades since final-year grades will not be available at the time of offering admission. If one term of grades is available from the final year, then those grades may be averaged with the second-term grades from the previous academic year if this comprises a full year of courses.

Admitted students may request a deferral from the Admissions Committee. If granted, any funding the admitted student received will not carry over to the next year.

A final year is considered 10 half courses or 5 full year courses taken at a senior level (300 or 400). If you did not take a full course load in your final year, we will count courses taken in your third year to get your final year GPA.

The MGA program does not believe that taking a language course while completing the MGA degree is sufficient enough time to claim proficiency in another language upon graduation. MGA students have the opportunity to enroll in language courses offered by the University of Toronto for non-credit while doing the MGA if they choose but it is not a requirement of the program.

Yes. A background in economics is not required to apply to the MGA. All admitted students will be required to take the core courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics regardless of whether they have taken these courses at an undergraduate level.

The MGA program offers limited scholarship funding opportunities. MGA entrance scholarships are awarded to a select number of admitted applicants each year. They are based on academic merit and the overall strength of the application file. The MGA program does not offer full funding packages. MGA students fund their degree through a mix of scholarships (if awarded), government loans, bank loans, and personal finances. Please visit the fees and financial aid page for more information.

New students are admitted in the fall of each year. There is no winter admittance.

The MGA admission process is highly selective, and enrolls under 100 students each year.

• The MGA equips students with an awareness of global innovation, global economic and financial systems, global civil society, and global strategic and security issues;
• brings scholars and practitioners together to ensure that students’ thinking is informed by rigorous theoretical work as well as real-time, real-world experience;
• enables students to specialize in one of five emphases —development, innovation policy, justice, markets, or security—only after having achieved a level of fluency in all five;
• provides students with the critical management skills required to take a leadership role in their chosen field;
• helps students develop essential skills through professional development workshops;
• prepares students for strategic thinking and responsible leadership on global issues;
• draws on the strength of the University of Toronto’s faculty across a wide range of disciplines;
• connects students with internship opportunities at top international organizations and enterprises, as well as opportunities for study abroad.

The Kira Talent and admissions websites are not linked and will not update one another.  If Kira Talent indicates that you have completed them, then that is sufficient for our purposes.

Some of our graduates have enrolled in a Ph.D. after their MGA, either immediately following their degree or after gaining professional work experience in the global affairs field.

The Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy has an Office of Professional Development & Career Strategies (PDACS), exclusive to the MGA Program. The PDACS office provides a planned curriculum of professional development and career workshops, seminars, information sessions and networking opportunities to grow the knowledge and skills necessary for MGA students to launch their careers. The MGA Program does not provide job placement services, and in this highly competitive global market, the Munk School cannot guarantee a job after graduation. MGA students can, however, rely on faculty members and staff to offer career support and advising. As well, employers across all sectors are increasingly coming to the PDACS office seeking skilled MGA graduates. New graduates have consistently high employment rates – one of the highest among comparable international and global affairs schools worldwide. PDACS services are available to MGA students as well as MGA alumni, indefinitely. In addition, the University of Toronto’s Career Centre provides a wide range of services, opportunities and resources to MGA students.

Applications for fall 2023 entry open October 1, 2022 and close January 25, 2023 (first round). 

No. The MGA program can only be taken on a full-time basis.

Yes, but if admitted, you must get permission from both the Faculty of Law and the Master of Global Affairs program to complete the JD/MGA program out of sequence.

No. The MGA does not have a different admission process or different admissions requirements for mature students. All of our standard procedures and requirements must be satisfied.

A minimum CGPA of  a B (3.0), and a minimum GPA of B+ (3.3) in the final year of undergraduate studies. Admission is highly competitive, and meeting this requirement does not guarantee admission. Applicants who went to a university that uses a different grading scale will have their marks converted to the University of Toronto grading scale.

Applicants educated at non-Canadian institutions should note that their educational background will be assessed for equivalency with a University of Toronto degree as described above. All applicants, including those who have completed university studies in another country, must satisfy all of our regular procedures and requirements. Please see the online international degree equivalencies to determine if you are eligible to apply to graduate school.

Please submit a personal statement of approximately 400-500 words that describes the professional interests or issue(s) which attracted you to the Master of Global Affairs program and what you intend to accomplish or pursue in this field after completing the MGA degree.

Any information entered on the Application Summary cannot be changed after your application fee has been paid.

The MGA program accepts applications and students from various disciplinary backgrounds. Please check with the program office if you are unsure your background is sufficient for applying to the MGA program.

The members of the admissions committee appreciate the unique situation of applicants who have been out of school for several years. If you have been out of school for some time and your CGPA and GPA do not make the cut-off, the University of Toronto suggests you take a qualifying year to boost your GPA. Although work experience will be taken into consideration when assessing your applications, you still need to meet the academic requirements.

If you cannot get in touch with past professors for reference letters, try and get a letter from a supervisor at work who, for example, can comment on your writing skills, problem-solving ability, creativity, organizational skills, and, if possible, your research skills. You could also apply to another university located near you for non-degree student status, which would allow you to take one or two graduate courses in political science or international relations. This would provide the opportunity for a professor to become familiar with your academic abilities.

You may wish to consider academic upgrading. Normally, such an upgrading program:

• consists of five full courses at the senior level (e.g., fourth year)
• consists of academic (i.e., liberal arts) courses related to Global Affairs
• must be completed at a recognized university
• must be completed on a full- or part-time basis within five years or less of your application to our program

Keep in mind that completing a qualifying year will not ensure admission into the program.

Students who wish to complete a qualifying year should stay at their current university or apply to be a non-degree student at the University of Toronto. For information on how to apply to the University of Toronto as a non-degree student click here.

Please have your referee submit their letter directly to the MGA program office at mga.admissions@utoronto.ca before the application deadline date. They must indicate the applicants first and last name, along with the applicant number.

All application documents, including reference letters, must be submitted by the application deadline. Applicants are encouraged to pay their application fee well in advance of the deadline in order to give referees enough time to upload their letters before the deadline.

It is preferred that you submit at least two academic references. If you would like to submit an employer reference on top of your academic references you may do so, but it should be relevant to the program you are applying to and speak to your writing skills, problem-solving ability, creativity, organizational skills, and, if possible your research skills.

Please contact the MGA Admissions Office at mga.admissions@utoronto.ca if you made a mistake uploading your documents to your application.

Please indicate here which specialization you would be interested in studying: Development, Innovation Policy, Justice, Markets, or Security.

You may log on to the online application system to see the status of your application. However, please note that due to the volume of applications your application will not automatically be reviewed if all your documents are not in.

If your application has been moved to “Under Review” before the application deadline of January 25, 2023 that means your application is complete and is waiting to be assessed by the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee does not meet until after the application deadline of January 25, 2023. Decisions are made mid-late March.

Final decisions will be on-going as applications are assessed after the deadline. Offers typically go out in mid-late March.

If you have any other questions please e-mail us at mga.admissions@utoronto.ca

Applicants admitted to the MGA program for fall 2023 may request a deferral in writing up until August 1st. Deferrals after August 1st will not be considered. Applicants can then reapply to the program the following year. Please note, funding offers do not carryover for deferred applicants.