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Political economy is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of power and the (re)production of social relations in contemporary societies. Specifically, scholars of political economy understand politics and economics to be deeply intertwined, directing the production and distribution of social surplus. Our students explore a variety of topics, including finance, migration and borders, labour and power relations, environmental justice, Indigenous resurgence, race and racism, gender and sexuality, social reproduction, colonialism, food sovereignty, and community activism.

The Institute was initially a joint initiative of Political Science and Sociology, and it now has a close relationship with 10 other programs in the Social Sciences and Humanities at Carleton. Professors from all these programs contribute to our curriculum and to supervising students. It does, however, offer a distinct graduate student experience:
   * It is only a graduate-level program.
   * Students come to IPE in order to pursue research that requires an interdisciplinary approach.
   * Core courses are typically taught by professors from different disciplines, to ensure students receive breadth of training in addition to depth.
   * It is small — each year’s cohort fits around a seminar table; students share office space and take many courses together. Few graduate programs today offer this kind of cohesive cohort experience.
   * The degree has two pathways (Thesis and MRE), but both are 2-year research-based degrees. There is no “coursework MA” option, nor does the Institute offer a compressed 1-year program. Here professors engage directly with their students (without using genAI in assessments), and students (not genAI) develop their research and writing skills for their degrees.  These traits reflect the Institute’s commitment to maintain the integrity and reputation of the MA in Political Economy regardless of trends elsewhere.
   * All Political Economy courses and approved electives are small graduate seminars.
   * At least one visiting professor each year contributes significantly to the program’s curriculum and shapes the experience of the cohort.
   * The program draws a group of students that is uniquely diverse in identities, disciplinary backgrounds, and geographical origins. 

No, you do not. Our program attracts students with backgrounds spread across the social sciences and humanities — most commonly Sociology, Political Science, Geography, Journalism, Environmental Studies, Legal Studies, Communications, History, Literature, Global Studies, Development Studies, and Economics. The program is truly interdisciplinary, and the curriculum of PECO 5000 (the core theory seminar) will make sure all students are well-versed in the theories of political economy required for success in the program. 

Lots of things! Many of our graduates go on to do their doctoral work across various disciplines at top universities in Canada and abroad; others are in high demand as researchers and policy analysts in the federal and provincial civil service, NGOs, trade unions, and the private sector.

Students focus on a wide variety of topics for their research. Because of our close relationships with professors from programs across the university, students have a wide range of flexibility in topics for their research. Students often explore Canadian and global issues in areas related to finance, migration and borders, work and labour, environmental justice, Indigenous resurgence, race and racism, gender and sexuality, colonialism, food sovereignty, and community activism. Most students pursue ‘traditional’ scholarly research projects, but some students engage in community-based research. For a more in-depth look at what students are researching, visit our graduate student profiles. 

Students do not need to have a supervisor before beginning the program, and typically secure one during their first fall or winter term. We recommend reviewing our cross-appointed faculty listing to ensure that there are faculty members with similar research interests. Our cross-appointed faculty are affiliated with the Institute because they like to work with Political Economy students — so don’t be shy to approach them. It is a good idea to take electives from professors you’re most interested in working with and getting to know (in terms of both research interests and teaching style); most of our cross-appointed faculty teach at least one graduate seminar per year that can be taken as a Political Economy elective.

Depending on your courses and the electives you take, you may be in one or more courses that train you in the use of and limitations of GenAI. But it is important that students here learn to write their own thesis or MRE without AI shortcuts. Even employers who require the use of GenAI in professional work want employees who are capable of doing research and writing themselves, not least in order to guide their genAI inputs, be familiar with its significant limitations, and know when its outputs can be trusted and when its outputs are mediocre or simply garbage. IPE’s academic culture is one that eschews its use as a shortcut for research and writing; your future employer will thank you for this.

Alongside the world-class resources available to all Carleton students, IPE students have access to office space, an in-house library of political economy, the Financialization Research Lab, a kitchenette with coffee and tea on the 15th floor, and a larger shared lounge on the 12th floor. 

Our program is highly competitive with a small cohort size of 12-15 students a year, drawn from across Canada.

Because our cohorts typically consist of 12 to 15 students, all of whom take the same core courses, students here tend to form close social bonds. Most of these develop organically, but the Institute also hosts social events throughout the year, providing opportunities for students and alumni to connect with one another. 

The Institute’s extracurricular activities such as the seminar series, movie nights, and annual student conference all provide further opportunities to bring students together.
 
Prospective students are encouraged to talk about the program with current students, many of whom would be happy to talk candidly about their experiences here. Please contact the Current Students to arrange a meeting. 

The university guideline is an average B+ (77%, or 9.0 on the 12-point scale) cutoff for graduate school applications; those who do not meet the average can still apply but will not be eligible for most funding offers. 

Note that most students accepted to the Political Economy MA will have an average GPA of A- or above in a rigorous program of undergraduate study that includes social or political theory and that demonstrates critical thinking and analytical skills. The Institute’s admissions committee recognizes however that GPA is only one metric of evaluation, and it is not always the best predictor of graduate school success. Just as an A+ average does not guarantee acceptance, there may be extraordinary situations in which a student with a B+ average (or below) is accepted. We consider the full transcript (including which courses contributed positively or negatively to the GPA) and the department and university that issued it, as well as other markers of critical thinking, motivation, and rigour. The remainder of the application, including the statement of intent and reference letters, is equally important; if your GPA is low, your referees have the opportunity to speak to why they believe you are nevertheless a good candidate for graduate school. 

We will consider two calculations of your GPA: first by using all courses you have completed in your degree(s), and secondly by calculating your final 10 credits (typically equal to 20 one- semester courses).

Carleton University uses the system of 0.5 credit/1.0 credit course units; a 0.5 credit course is typically a single semester course. If you are at an institution that uses 3 credits for a single semester course, our 0.5 credit is equal to your 3 credits.

The language of instruction at Carleton University is English. For admission into Carleton’s graduate programs, you will need to demonstrate that your knowledge and use of English are strong enough for graduate studies at an English-language university.
Please see Carleton’s Minimum Language Proficiency (ESL) test score requirement.

All full-time MA applications will be assessed for financial support. Funding may include a Teaching Assistant position, scholarships or a combination of these. Although we do not have final control of the pot of resources that are available, we do try to ensure that all full-time students receive at least some funding. To be eligible for funding, please be sure to apply by February 1. (If you do not need or do not wish to be considered for funding, please make a note of this in your application.)
 
Part-time students are not eligible for funding, and we currently have a very limited ability to offer funding to international students.
 
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply to external funding bodies such as OGS and SSHRC, if eligible, to help pay for all or part of their graduate school trajectory. Students in the program can also apply to OGS and SSHRC in the fall of their first year.  Additionally, the university has a number of smaller internal awards and bursaries that students may apply for each year. In most years, Graduate Studies also sets aside a small amount of funding in the form of travel grants to assist students travelling for fieldwork or to present a paper at a conference.
Please see more information on the Awards and Funding page.

The MA degree is a 5.0 credit program. A student studying full-time typically takes two years (5–6 terms) to complete the program. Most coursework is completed in the first year of the program, and most of the thesis or MRE research and writing is completed in the second year.
 
Part-time students have up to six years to complete their program.

Official academic transcript(s) are only required if you are admitted. Unofficial transcripts may be used in the application process.
Please see Required Documents.

Tuition fees are handled by the Student Accounts Receivable Office.

No. The Institute offers a Collaborative PhD in Political Economy, which is designed for doctoral students already admitted to participating programs in the Faculties of Arts and Social Science and Public and Global Affairs. Students in these programs who wish to enrich their training by developing a political economy approach to their research are encouraged to apply in the fall of their first year of their PhD. 
You can find further information about the Collaborative PhD here.

Here you will find all the remaining information you’re looking for on graduate Student Life at Carleton!