International Relations Schools and Programs in Canada

International Relations Studies in Canada

International relations in Canada is studied at university, most often as a major within a Bachelor of Arts. Some universities have an interdisciplinary programme with that name, which draws on political science, history, economics and languages. Others teach it as one of the fields of a political science degree, and the name on the diploma is then Political Science or Political Studies. At graduate level there are professional master's programmes in international affairs as well as research degrees. The first thing to compare is therefore how each university organises the subject.

SpainExchange lists 9 universities in Canada with international relations programmes, each in a different city: Vancouver, Abbotsford, Calgary, Lethbridge, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal and Sackville.

How the degree is organised

According to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC), bachelor's degrees normally require three or four years of full-time study, depending on the province or territory. A master's degree typically requires one to three years and a doctorate a minimum of three years of study and research.

Examples from the universities' own pages:

• The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers a major and a minor in International Relations within its four-year Bachelor of Arts. Students complete prerequisites in the first two years and apply to the programme at the end of the second year; honours programmes run through the departments of Political Science or History
• The University of Calgary offers a BA in International Relations that includes coursework in at least one language other than English
• Mount Allison University offers International Relations as a BA major (60 credits) or honours (72 credits), with courses drawn from disciplines such as political science, history, modern languages, economics and geography
• York University's Glendon campus in Toronto offers a bilingual International Studies programme, as a BA or an international BA (iBA). About two-thirds of the courses are taught in English and one third in French, and there is a dual-degree option with two years at Emlyon business school in France
• At the University of Lethbridge, International Relations is one of the four sub-fields of the Political Science degree, next to Canadian politics, comparative politics and political theory
• The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) offers a Bachelor of Arts with a major or minor in Global Development Studies, which includes a fieldwork internship in Canada or abroad, and its Political Science major has upper-year courses in international relations

McGill University in Montreal has major, minor, honours and joint honours programmes in Political Science and offers the MA and the PhD.

Graduate programmes

Carleton University in Ottawa is home to the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), which states that it has trained students in international affairs for 60 years. Its Master of Arts in International Affairs lasts 2 years, starts in the fall and includes co-op and internship options. The fields of specialisation are international trade and economic policy; conflict, fragility and development; diplomacy, international organisations and foreign policy; and national security, intelligence and defence. The school also offers a combined MA/JD with law and a PhD.

Queen's University in Kingston offers the Master of Arts and the PhD in Political Studies with International Relations as one of the fields.

Admission and language

Each university sets its own admission requirements, and international applicants must provide proof of their English or French language skills; the tests commonly accepted include TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge English and CAEL, according to EduCanada, the Government of Canada's study portal. Teaching is in English at the universities listed here, except for the bilingual programme at Glendon. Language study is built into some programmes: the UBC major combines its disciplines with the study of languages.

Study permit and costs

Most foreign nationals need a study permit, which requires enrolment at a designated learning institution (DLI). The application fee is CAN$150 (Government of Canada, checked October 2026).

Tuition fees vary by region, programme and university. On average, international undergraduate students pay about CAN$41,746 per year and international graduate students about CAN$24,028 per year (Statistics Canada figures published by EduCanada, 2026). EduCanada advises budgeting a minimum of CAN$23,000 per year for living costs.

Careers

The University of Calgary describes career opportunities for its graduates in the civil service, the non-profit sector and the business world, and the degree is also a step towards graduate study. UFV points to work in aid, relief and development and to graduate degrees in policy, law, international relations or public administration. Many UBC students spend a semester on exchange. UBC also notes that full-time international students who graduate from a bachelor's degree may obtain a post-graduation work permit for up to three years if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an international relations degree take in Canada?

A bachelor's degree normally takes three or four years of full-time study, depending on the province; the programmes at UBC and other universities listed here take four. A master's such as Carleton's MA in International Affairs takes 2 years.

Is international relations a separate degree or part of political science?

Both models exist. UBC, the University of Calgary and Mount Allison have an International Relations major, while at universities such as Lethbridge and Queen's it is a field within political science.

Can I study international relations in French in Canada?

Partly. At York University's Glendon campus the International Studies programme is bilingual, with about one third of the courses taught in French.

Do I need a second language?

Often, yes. The University of Calgary's BA includes coursework in at least one language other than English, and the UBC programme combines its disciplines with language study.