To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts program in political science, applicants should hold a four-year bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in political science.
A minimum cumulative GPA of A- (3.7 on a 4-point scale) in the most recent two years of study is required, as well as a minimum of B+ (3.3 on a 4-point scale) in all political science courses. This is the equivalent of a minimum Second Class Upper Division degree, with excellent grades in all political science courses.
Meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. In addition to evaluating transcripts, careful consideration is given to the following documents, which must all be submitted at the time of application:
This should be a piece of academic writing (normally, an essay or chapter of an honours thesis) of no more than 30 pages double-spaced or 15 pages single-spaced. This is a firm page limit; additional pages will not be read. The writing sample should demonstrate:
This should be a maximum of one single-spaced page. The research statement is used by the admissions committee to assess whether the applicant is proposing a course of research that can feasibly be completed within the MA timeframe, and whether the proposed topic is one in which the department can offer supervision. Therefore, the research statement should:
Applicants must provide the names and contact information for three referees, who must send confidential reference letters directly to the School of Graduate Studies.
Reference letters should be from professors who are familiar with your academic work, and who can evaluate your potential to succeed in graduate school. References from work supervisors should be provided only if academic references are unavailable; in this case applicants are advised to consult with the graduate director. Personal references (friends, family) will not be accepted.
For detailed information about application requirements and procedures, please refer to the School of Graduate Studies guidelines. The department recognizes that some applicants with potential to excel in graduate studies – for example, mature students or students whose undergraduate studies were adversely affected by serious illness, family crisis or armed conflict – may not meet these requirements. Students in these or other exceptional circumstances are advised to consult with the graduate director before submitting their application.
Applicants should submit a CV outlining their prior academic, work and volunteer experience.
The deadline for application in each calendar year is Jan. 15. Students applying by this date will be automatically considered for financial support. The late application deadline for enrolment without consideration for financial support is March 15. When these deadlines fall on a weekend, the application deadline is the first Monday following the deadline.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all supporting documentation and the application fee are received by these deadlines.
The minimum residency requirement for the MA program is one academic year.
Residency can be either in Fredericton or Saint John; normally the residency will be on the same campus at which the student’s supervisor is located.
The program and residency start dates are in September of each year; the department does not offer January admission.