Please note: We’ll be offering remote services only on December 22 and 23, 2025. Our offices will be closed for the holiday break from December 24, 2025, through January 2, 2026. In-person services will resume on January 5, 2026.
Education for good governance
Are you committed to social justice, ethics and democratic values? Our programs prepare tomorrow’s leaders for work in the broader public sector, spanning all levels of government and non-profit organizations. Our diverse programs provide the multidisciplinary knowledge, critical thinking, analysis and management skills that will help you realize your goals.
We offer:
- Honours-only Bachelor of Public Administration with optional specializations in Law, Justice and Public Policy, Management or Policy Analysis
- Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law
- Professional Certificate in Public Administration and Law
- Professional Certificate in Public Policy Analysis
You’ll engage with award-winning faculty who have strong research records and many years of direct experience in public service. Our program blends practical experience with theory and emphasizes professional development and a sense of community among students.
Select high-achieving undergraduate students may fast-track to our executive-style master’s program and study alongside professionals in the broader public sector.
Read our Land Acknowledgment which recognizes the unique and enduring relationship of Indigenous people and their traditional territory.
The Institute of Public Policy of Canada (IPAC) is proud to partner with York University’s School of Public Policy & Administration (SPPA) to support and empower the next generation of public sector leaders. Through this collaboration, we are creating meaningful pathways for students to engage directly with Canada’s public administration community – whether by attending national events, connecting with senior leaders, or exploring careers in public service. Together, IPAC and SPPA are helping bridge academic learning with real-world impact and fostering a dynamic, future-ready public service across Canada.
— David Fulford, CEO IPAC
What I love most about the Public Administration program is the tremendous combined effort of staff and students to provide an academic experience that uses both in-class lectures and experiential education to truly prepare and position students to secure employment post-graduation. Every professor I have contacted, either through email or their office hours, has provided a forum that encourages respect and discussion, ultimately assisting my academic and career development.
— Eunice Patrick, BPA Graduate, Class of 2020
Learn more from current students and alumni.
November 28, 2025
2025 High School Essay Contest Winners
December 17, 2025
SPPA Newsletter - December 2025, Volume 13, Issue 12
November 27, 2025
SPPA Newsletter - November 2025, Volume 13, Issue 11
November 18, 2025
SPPA Newsletter - November 2025, Volume 13, Issue 11