Juris Doctor and Public Administration Double-Degree (JD + MPA)

September – apply by December 15

• Completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an institution recognized by UVic.
• Equivalent of a minimum B+ (6.0 G.P.A.) average in the final two years of your degree.

If your first language is not English you must provide proof of language proficiency. Learn more about language requirements, including what exemptions and tests are allowed.

Review our general admission requirements for more information.

Program specific requirements

As part of your application to the double-degree program, you must:

• Apply separately to both the Juris Doctor (JD) program in the Faculty of Law and the on-campus Master of Public Administration program in the School of Public Administration.
• Indicate on both applications that you are applying for the double degree program. You must be accepted by both the School of Public Administration and the Faculty of Law to be admitted into the double degree program.

As part of your MPA application, you must submit:

• Academic/professional references: At least two academic assessment reports from academic referees, who may also submit a letter to accompany the assessment and strengthen the application. If it has been more than five years since you last attended a post-secondary institution, you may include three professional references from work-related supervisors in place of academic referees. Professional references will be required to submit a letter only and will not be asked to submit an assessment report. Please note that applicants will indicate the name and email address of their referees and the Graduate Admissions office will contact them with instructions for how to provide their reference.
• Official copies of all post-secondary transcripts.
• A letter of intent describing why you are seeking an MPA and how the degree relates to your career plans, personal values and goals,
• A professional résumé.
• If you do not have a Canadian undergraduate degree, you will need to write and submit your official GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test) scores.

As part of your JD application, you must submit:

• Your Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score (written no later than the January test date).
• A personal statement in two parts. Please make sure your first and last name are included. Your personal statement, especially Part B, in conjunction with academic performance, LSAT score and any other information pertinent to the criteria for specific awards will be used to determine entrance scholarship recipients.
  • In Part A, write a personal essay under 750 words, telling the admissions committee why you want to join the UVic Law community. Explain why you believe that your life experiences, background and personal attributes show a strong match between you and the community of students that UVic Law seeks to build.
  • In Part B, in bullet point format only, list any other activities or achievements that you want the admissions committee to know about. This could include your academic achievements, employment experiences, extra-curricular activities, community involvement, or other life experiences or personal attributes not already in your application.
• Note: If you have participated in a graduate degree program, please list those achievements in either Part A or B of your personal statement.
•  A transcript from each post-secondary institution you have attended (including exchange and study abroad transcripts).