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Admission Requirements & Application Process
Admissions
Full-Time MPA
Full-Time MPA students, most of whom are recent university graduates, complete the program within a twelve-month period beginning in September. They take their courses with students in the Online GDPA and Part-Time MPA stream, thereby allowing them to benefit from the knowledge and experience of working municipal professionals.
Full-Time MPA applicants should possess a four-year university undergraduate degree (with at least a B+ average). They will outline their interest in local government, public administration and/or urban studies through course work and/or in their letter of intent (see Application Components below).
Students are admitted to the MPA by Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) on the recommendation of the Local Government Program's Admissions Committee.
Part-Time MPA
Part-Time MPA students, most of whom are working local government professionals, complete the program in seven or ten terms beginning in May.
Part-Time MPA applicants should have at least five years of Canadian local government employment experience and are also expected to have an undergraduate degree. Recommendations for special admission can be made for applicants lacking an undergraduate degree but possessing other postsecondary credentials and extensive professional experience on a case-by-case basis.
The Local Government Program's Admissions Committee may recommend that an applicant without sufficient evidence of academic preparation for the MPA should first apply to the GDPA. In these instances, applicants are advised to complete the GDPA and then re-apply for admission to the MPA program. If accepted into the MPA, GDPA graduates receive credit for their four courses towards the MPA.
Students are admitted to the MPA by Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) on the recommendation of the Local Government Program's Admissions Committee.
Application Components
In order to apply to graduate studies at Western, it is important that you understand the essential elements of the Western graduate school application. The responsibility rests with the applicant to ensure that all documents (e.g., transcripts, references, test results such as TOEFL scores) are submitted.
Western accepts two methods of payment in order to process your application.
- Visa or Mastercard
- Money order or bank draft from a Canadian Banking Institution.
Western is unable to accept payment through alternate methods.
The application fee is non-refundable.
Applicants are required to upload copies of their transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
- Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the application process.
- If your transcript is not in English, you must also provide an English translation processed by the issuing institution or a third-party translation service.
Official transcripts after admission
If you are offered admission, you will be required to provide an official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended, other than Western.
An official transcript is a transcript in an unopened envelope with the institution's stamp on the seal, or an electronic transcript sent directly to gradapps@uwo.ca by the institution's Registrar.
Western also accepts electronic transcripts issued directly through third-party transcript distribution services such as MyCreds or Parchment.
References are collected through Western's online reference system.
- You will be asked to provide your referees' contact information within the application. Please provide an email address associated with each referee's institution or workplace.
- Western will email your referees within 2 hours of you entering or updating your reference information within the application, regardless of whether you submit it. Be sure to communicate with each of your referees prior to entering their information.
- Your referees will receive an email containing a unique link to our online reference form, which is comprised of questions selected by the graduate program and includes a space to write or copy/paste a letter of reference.
- When your referee submits their completed form, you will receive a notification email. We will add the submitted reference to your application within 1-2 business days.
- You will receive an email notification when a referee submits the completed form.
You may submit your application before your references have been received, but all references must be submitted by the application deadline.
Applicants whose first language is not English should carefully review Western's English language proficiency requirements before applying.
Applicants whose first language is English are not required to submit proof of English language proficiency with their application.
Review English language proficiency requirements
Make the right choice...
Please make sure that you are applying to the correct start term according to your academic load (PT vs FT) and your citizenship.
Domestic Full-Time MPA Applicants
Canadian citizens and permanent residents (Domestic) applying to the Full-Time MPA will choose to start in Fall Term (September).
Domestic Part-Time MPA Applicants
Canadian citizens and permanent residents (Domestic) applying to the Part-Time MPA will choose to start in Summer Term (May).
* Applicants who have completed a GDPA from Western will apply for a Fall start date (Note: Those that have graduated with a GDPA more than 5 years ago should contact the program before applying localgov@uwo.ca)
International MPA Applicants
International applicants apply ONLY to the Full-Time MPA starting in Fall Term (September).
Graduate School Application Guide
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