Global Governance - Master of Arts (MA) at University of Waterloo

Programme overview

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. Learn to address these problems through an interdisciplinary approach with the Master of Arts in Global Governance program. The program goes beyond the rigidities and formalities of established academic boundaries by drawing on a variety of disciplines, including economics, politics, history, sociology and environmental studies.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Environment* | Department: Balsillie School of International Affairs | Duration: 16 months (full-time) | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall (September - December); application deadlines: January 22 (for admission in September) | Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

What you will study

Research fields: Conflict and Security, Global Environment, Global Justice and Human Rights, Global Political Economy, Global Social Governance, Multilateral Institutions and Diplomacy, Peace Integration. Study option(s): Master's Research Paper.

Career pathways

You’ll be prepared to pursue further scholarly work at the PhD level or start a career in this rapidly growing field in nation-state governments, international organizations, the non-governmental sector, or the private sector.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Successful completion of an honours degree in political science, economics, history or a related field (including international, environmental or global studies undergraduate degrees) with an overall average of at least 78% in the final 20 courses. Successful completion of at least one introductory course in economics at the university level before commencing the program. Experienced professionals in the private or public sectors will be considered for admission, but additional course work may be required.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the courses you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Terms run fall (September to December), winter (January to April) and spring (May to August). Programmes are currently accepting applications for fall 2027; intake terms vary by programme.

Graduate applications are made online through the Graduate Studies Application and the non-refundable application fee is $150 CAD per program, paid in the applicant portal. Deadlines are set by each programme (for example MDSAI part-time: fall January 15, winter July 1). Apply two to four weeks ahead of the programme deadline.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.apply.uwaterloo.ca/apply/

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