At Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada, Social Policy Issues Post-Baccalaureate Diploma is offered as a postgraduate diploma in Public Policy programme. The programme runs for 1 year, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 1,263 per credit (CAD 221 per credit for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Postgraduate Diploma
Field:Public Policy
Duration: 1 year
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 221 / credit
International tuition: CAD 1,263 / credit
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
The Social Policy Issues Post-Baccalaureate Diploma offers you an opportunity to apply recent developments in social theory and research methods to the investigation of a range of social problems and social policy issues. As well as featuring courses which examine various substantive social policy issues, the overall program aims to provide the critical perspectives needed in order to grasp the processes by which social problems are defined, understood, and acted upon both in Canada and in other societies. The program is intended for people who have previously completed a Bachelors degree (or higher) in any field of study, and is of special interest to those who wish to fulfill or change career goals, professionals (teachers, civil servants, nurses, and those working in the social services field) who seek new perspectives for analyzing social policy issues.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:2.50 / 4.33
Admission Requirements: Admission requires a completed bachelor's degree from a recognized institution, normally with a minimum graduation GPA of 2.5 (on SFU's 4.33 scale) or its equivalent; the page notes that admission to the University overall does not by itself guarantee acceptance into the diploma program. Applicants without a background in sociology or anthropology are required to complete two lower-division prerequisite courses in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology before or during the program. A statement of objectives and official supporting documents must accompany the application, alongside SFU's standard undergraduate admission documentation and deadlines. Once admitted, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 across all courses applied toward the diploma and must complete the diploma within five years of admission. No English-language test score is stated on this page for the diploma specifically.
Application Details
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through EducationPlannerBC, with one set of dates per applicant type rather than by citizenship. Fall 2027 entry: high-school-route applications open 1 October 2026 and close 31 January 2027, while transfer applications open 1 March 2027 and close 15 April 2027 (Education and Contemporary Arts transfer applicants may apply from 1 October 2026). Spring 2027 entry runs 1 July to 15 September 2026, and Summer 2027 entry runs 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027. Admission documents are generally due 28 February 2027 (Fall) and offers must be accepted by 1 May. International applicants use the same EducationPlannerBC dates and portal; SFU publishes no separate international deadline. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
