Graduate Diploma Public Management and Governance

The primary aim of the graduate diploma is to provide students with both a strong conceptual foundation for understanding and analyzing stakes in Canadian and parliamentary politics and an effective tool-kit of skills and techniques required to operate in an increasingly complex political, academic and organizational environment.

Governance is about effective coordination and decision-making in a world where knowledge and power are increasingly distributed. In this perspective, governance challenges are increasingly important to public, private and civic organizations – both within such organizations and across them.

This program was created for students who wish to increase their skills and knowledge in Canadian and parliamentary politics by adding an interdisciplinary and experiential (placements) dimension via courses from the School of Political Studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines and other admission requirements, please visit the Parliementary Internship Programme (PIP) webpage.

One of the conditions for admission to the diploma, is that candidates must be participating in the Parliamentary Internship Program. Candidates must meet the normal requirements for admission in a master's level program at the University of Ottawa (namely, an honour's baccalaureate degree, or its equivalent, with at least second class "B" standing from a recognized post-secondary institution). Advanced standing for up to 4.5 units will be given to qualified students in recognition of comparable studies as determined by the Program Committee. To be eligible, the units in question must not have counted towards the requirements of a previously conferred diploma or degree.

The Parliamentary Internship Program is open to all candidates who, on the start date of their internship (September 1st of the year in which the internship begins):

• Have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status;
• Hold at least a university diploma or its college equivalent;
• Are available to work full-time from September 1st when the internship begins to June 30 of the following year.
• Candidates are required to submit a resume as well as a personal statement: Candidates must describe in 400 words or less how they anticipate contributing to and benefiting from the Programme.
• Approach to teamwork: Candidates must describe in 400 words or less how they managed a situation working with colleagues who had different personal or professional priorities and perspectives from their own.
• Transcripts: Candidates must upload accurate copies (in low resolution PDF or JPG formats) of each transcript (official or unofficial).
• Contact information for letters of reference: Candidates must provide contact information for at least two referees who have agreed to write confidential letters of reference in support of their application. One referee must be academic and one must be from an employer. Candidates may identify a third referee at their discretion. The application system will automatically request letters of reference for each referee.

An active knowledge of French or English is required. All students are expected to demonstrate a level of passive bilingualism, which means that candidates are expected to attend meetings in French and English, and to understand most of what is said, while being free to participate in discussion in the language of their choice, and to be able to read texts in English and French. They must indicate on their application form the language in which they intend to take most of their courses. The Public Administration program reserves the right to require a test in either language.