Public Administration (PhD)

Frequently asked questions

• How much does Public Administration (PhD) cost?

  CAD 8,571 / year.

• What English score does it need?

  IELTS 6.5 overall is the score listed for this programme.

• How long is it?

  3-5 years (9-15 academic terms), as listed by the university.

• What are the entry requirements?

  Completion of a master's degree from an institution recognized by UVic - your degree must be in a discipline or professional school related to the field of public administration - A grade point average of 7.0 (on the UVic scale ) or equivalent in your master's degree - A commitment to full-time studies -typically at least 75% of regular work time should be dedicated to your studies If your first language is not English, you must provide proof of language proficiency. Note: the School of Public Administration requires a higher standard for minimum test scores for admission. Find minimum required scores for this program in the academic calendar. Review our general admission requirements for more information. Program specific requirements When you submit your application, you must include: - references from two academic referees - if it has been more than five years since you last attended a post-secondary institution, you may have three professional references in place of academic referees - you will include the names and email addresses of your referees as part of your application - Graduate Admissions will send your referees a link to upload their reference letters (preferred) and/or complete an assessment report - unofficial transcripts all post-secondary institutions - a professional résumé - a letter of intent (max. 5 single-spaced pages) that includes: - an overview of your proposed area for dissertation research including the problem to be studied, possible literature and general approach - the name of the faculty member you've identified as your research supervisor -... IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no section less than 6.0 (Academic IELTS only, test centre or online; IELTS Academic One Skill Retake accepted); TOEFL iBT for tests taken after 21 January 2026: 4.5 overall with no section less than 4.0; for tests taken before 21 January 2026: 90 overall with no section less than 20 (iBT test centre or Home Edition; MyBest Scores accepted); PTE 65 with no skill less than 60; CAEL 70 with no component below 60; MET 64 with no section less than 60; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180 with no component below 170. Test scores more than two years old are not accepted. Individual departments may set a higher standard. (Source: UVic Graduate Admissions, Language proficiency.) · English: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 90; PTE Academic 65 · English test waiver: Requirement already met if English is your primary language, you hold a degree from a designated English-speaking country, or you hold a degree from a recognized institution at which the language of instruction is English. Applicants who cannot provide proof may still be considered and complete UVic's University Admission Preparation (UAP) course with a grade of at least 80%, provided the prospective academic unit is willing to admit on that condition; UAP is a 12-week program offered in January, April and September, and in an intensive four-week summer format. UVic does not accept university English preparation courses from other institutions. · Application fee: CAD 187.00 if any documents originate outside Canada; CAD 145.25 if all documents originate within Canada (payable online by credit card; the application is not processed until payment is received). Source: UVic Graduate Admissions, How to apply.

• Is there a scholarship?

  Graduate students admitted to a graduate degree programs are automatically considered for a fellowship, based on a qualifying GPA. Individual fellowship amounts may vary depending on the program. UVic Fellowship - Up to $20,000 per year (PhD) Eligibility - The minimum requirement for UVic fellowship consideration is a B+ average on the last two years of course work - To receive your payment, UVic fellowship holders must be registered in a minimum of 1.5 units of graduate level courses - Full-time registration for students registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) is 1.5 units You can also join the co-op program or work as a research or teaching assistant . Funding opportunities