Canada · Master's
University of British Columbia (UBC)
Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA)
University of British Columbia (UBC)
Course Overview
UBC's MPPGA is run by the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and is explicitly built for people who intend to work on transnational problems rather than one country's domestic policy — climate and energy transition, global health, resource governance, migration and displacement, and social policy and development. The two-year structure pairs analytical training (policy analysis, quantitative methods, economics for policy, negotiation) with a Global Policy Project: a team consultancy delivered for a real client organisation, frequently overseas.
For Sri Lankan applicants the appeal is the combination of price and placement. At roughly CAD 17,000 a year, MPPGA tuition sits well below comparable US policy schools, and Vancouver's Asia-Pacific orientation means South Asian and Indian Ocean policy questions are taken seriously in the classroom rather than treated as regional colour. Cohorts are small and deliberately international, and a meaningful share of students arrive with prior public-sector, NGO or multilateral experience.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Four-year Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a B+ average (roughly 76%+ or a Sri Lankan Second Upper) in the final two years.
- check_circle Relevant professional or volunteer experience in public policy, government, development, NGOs or the private sector is strongly weighted — this is a professional degree and the admissions committee reads the CV closely.
- check_circle Statement of intent, CV and a policy-relevant writing sample.
- check_circle Three references, at least one academic and at least one professional.
- check_circle Some quantitative and economics background is expected; applicants without it should show a plan to prepare, and UBC runs a pre-programme quantitative bootcamp.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 90 Overall (no section below 22).
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was completed at a university where English is the primary language of instruction — Sri Lankan applicants normally qualify with a Medium of Instruction letter.
- check_circle Interviews are used selectively and are conducted in English.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (CAD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, international) | CAD 17,000 /yr | Rs. 3,995,000 /yr |
| Living Expenses (per year, Vancouver) | CAD 24,000 /yr | Rs. 5,640,000 /yr |
| Health Insurance (MSP + iMED) & Student Fees | CAD 1,800 /yr | Rs. 423,000 /yr |
| Study Permit, Flights & Setup | CAD 2,500 | Rs. 587,500 |
| Total 2-Year Investment | CAD 88,100 | Rs. 20,703,500 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
MPPGA graduates go into federal and provincial policy roles, international organisations and UN agencies, development banks, climate and energy policy shops, global health organisations, NGOs and foundations, and public-sector consulting. Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit gives up to three years of open work rights after a two-year Master's, and the programme's co-op and project placements often convert into first jobs. For Sri Lankan graduates the strongest routes home are the Institute of Policy Studies, Verité Research, the Central Bank and Treasury policy units, the UN system and ADB/World Bank country offices in Colombo, and climate-finance and adaptation programmes where formal policy-analysis training is scarce.
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Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in Canada. We handle everything from applications to visa processing — and it starts with a free, in-person visit to one of our three offices.
ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.
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- location_on Rajagiriya (head office) 8th Floor, Jana Jaya City Mall, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
- location_on Jaffna 158 Hospital Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
- location_on Matara No. 474 New Tangalle Road, Matara, Sri Lanka
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