Offered by University of Victoria in Victoria, Canada, Community Development: Master of Arts (MACD) is a master's degree in Public Policy programme. The programme runs for 6 semesters, delivered on campus. Teaching is in English. Tuition for international students is CAD 2,857 per semester (CAD 2,265 per semester for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Master's Degree
Field:Public Policy
Duration: 6 semesters
Delivery: On Campus
Language: English
Local tuition: CAD 2,265 / semester
International tuition: CAD 2,857 / semester
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This MACD is designed for working professionals in the non-profit, community and public sectors who want to lead equity-focused, systems-level change. The degree runs six academic terms, delivered online with a single required on-campus residency week, so students study year-round in a blended, full-time format with an optional co-op component. It concludes with a research project or thesis tied to the student's own area of interest in community development. Coursework builds skills in values-based, ethical and participatory approaches to community wellbeing, sustainability, governance and policy, with attention to Indigenous knowledge systems, and applicants are not required to secure a supervisor before applying. September 2027 entry applications are due February 15, 2027, drawing student cohorts from across Canada and internationally who continue working while they study.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:5.00 / 9.0
Admission Requirements: Admission requires completion of a relevant four-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) recognized by UVic, with the equivalent of a minimum “B” (5.0 GPA on UVic's 9-point scale) average over the final two years of the degree. Applicants four or more years past graduation may instead be admitted as mature students, and those below the GPA threshold may still qualify as mature students with four years of relevant professional experience, subject to Dean of Graduate Studies approval. All applicants must demonstrate commitment and paid or volunteer experience in the community development sector. The School of Public Administration sets a higher-than-general minimum English-language test score for this program, published in the academic calendar, for applicants whose first language is not English. The application includes two academic references, or up to three professional/community references for those more than five years removed from post-secondary study, official transcripts, a resume, and a 750-1,000 word statement of intent; applicants whose degree is from outside Canada must also submit GRE or GMAT scores. September entry applications are due February 15.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:Domestic applicants apply through EducationPlannerBC, which opens for 2027-entry applications on 1 October 2026: most degree programmes see September 2027 entry close 31 January 2027, January 2027 entry close 30 September 2026, and Summer 2027 entry close 31 March 2027, though Teacher Education post-degree programmes close 2 January 2027, Indigenous Education post-degree admits on an ongoing basis, and Engineering's Summer entry (high-school graduates only) closes 31 December 2026. International applicants use the same portal and face identical dates, since UVic publishes no separate international deadline. UVic treats these as fixed annual dates rather than rolling admission, though it warns any programme can close early without notice. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
