Offered by Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, Canada, Sustainable Food Systems and Security Graduate Certificate is a postgraduate certificate in Sustainable Development programme. The programme runs for 1 year, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 756 per credit (CAD 665 per credit for local students).
This is a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems and Security offered by Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Faculty of Arts. The program examines the dominant global-industrial food system from environmental, social, and economic perspectives, drawing on multiple academic disciplines, and goes on to explore how community-based and bioregional food systems might be devised and promoted for the future. It consists of six online courses totalling 18 credit hours, structured for part-time, self-paced completion within one academic year, and is delivered fully online. Credits earned are described as transferable toward future postgraduate study. The certificate is aimed at recent university graduates as well as aspiring and practicing professionals with an interest in food system sustainability, and the page positions it as an accessible entry point for students beginning advanced study in this area rather than a lengthy standalone credential. Its short, fully online, part-time structure suits people who want focused graduate-level exposure to food security and sustainability issues alongside existing work or other commitments, without committing to a full graduate degree program.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.00 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: The Faculty requirement here is KPU's undergraduate English Proficiency Requirement, set out in the university's own admission requirements. On top of it this programme asks for: a completed recognised undergraduate or graduate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 — applicants below 3.0 may still be assessed for suitability alongside the rest of the requirements. You must also submit a statement of intent of 800 to 1,000 words covering your intellectual and creative interests, your personal goals for the programme, what your background brings to it, a self-assessment of your emotional intelligence with worked examples, and your community involvement; and three references, one academic and two professional, speaking to your suitability. At least three years of professional experience is normally expected. An admissions committee weighs the statement and references for maturity, fit, educational background and work experience, and may interview you as part of screening. Meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission. Guidance on the statement of intent is at kpu.ca/arts/sustainable-food-systems-security. KPU's calendar page sets out these requirements without separating domestic from international applicants, so the same standard applies to both.
Application Details
Application Deadline:KPU classifies most programs as Open Intake, meaning every applicant who meets minimum institutional requirements is admitted without ranking, while a smaller set of Limited Intake programs closes earlier. For the Fall 2027 (September) term, both domestic and international applications open on 1 October 2026; Limited Intake programs have a firm deadline of 1 March 2027 and may close earlier if demand is high, while Open Intake programs stay open on a rolling basis through a confirmation-deposit deadline of 15 June 2027 to a final cutoff of 1 July 2027. Spring (January) and Summer (May) entry follow the same open/limited pattern on an earlier timeline, and KPU applies identical deadlines to domestic and international applicants throughout. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
