Juris Doctor/Master of Global Affairs Program
The JD/MGA is designed for students interested in studying the intersections of law and global affairs. The combined program permits the completion of both degrees in four years rather than the five years it would take to acquire them independently.
Application
IMPORTANT: Applications to the combined program are made separately to:
- The Faculty of Law (for the JD portion of the degree). http://www.law.utoronto.ca/admissions/jd-admissions
- The MGA through the School of Graduate Studies (for the MGA portion of the degree). Applications for fall 2022 are due January 20, 2022.
The Combined Juris Doctor/Master of Global Affairs (JD/MGA) is designed for students interested in studying the intersections of law and global affairs. The combined program permits the completion of both degrees in four years rather than the five years it would take to acquire them independently.
Registration
Requirements
Within this combined four-year program, students must:
- In the first year, successfully complete all the first year courses at the Faculty of Law with at least a B standing to continue in the program.
- In the second year, successfully complete all the first-year requirements of the MGA with at least a B+ standing, with the exception of Global Legal Challenges (GLA1006H). JD/MGA students must take Public International Law (LAW252H worth 4 law credits = 0.50 MGA credit) during the second year and obtain at least a B+ standing in the course. Public International Law will be counted towards the fulfillment of a student’s MGA degree requirements, rather than the fulfillment of the J.D. requirements. Students register through the MGA program for this course and it will be graded on the MGA/SGS scale.
- In the summer between years two and three, students must take a summer global internship with the MGA (GLA1007H)
- In the 3rd and 4th years of the Program students must complete the following requirements:
- Faculty of Law:Successfully complete 41 – 45 credits at the Faculty of Law, including:- a perspective course,- a moot, and- an International, Comparative or Transnational Perspective course (ICT).At least 9 of these credits must be in the area of international law. Note: Only Faculty of Law courses graded on a letter scale and taken as Faculty of Law courses count toward the required number of credits for honours standing in the J.D. program.
- Munk School of Global Affairs:successfully complete the MGA capstone seminar (GLA2000H) and Financial Management for Global Organizations (GLA1009H) successfully complete five additional graduate half courses or their equivalent in the MGA or graduate courses approved by the Director of the MGA.
- Students in their second, third and fourth years are required to complete and submit the JD/MGA Requirements Checklist (see below) by the add/drop date in the second term. This form will help you and the Administration make sure that your program of study is on-track.
Admissions
Applicants must apply to each program separately, indicating on their applications that they wish to be considered for the Combined JD/MGA program. Students must satisfy both the JD and the MGA requirements before either degree may be conferred.
Students who are in the first year of the JD program may apply for admission to the combined JD/MGA Program by meeting the normal application and admission requirements for the MGA
Structure of the JD/MGA Program
Year 1- Students are enrolled as full-time JD students in the Faculty of Law.
Year 2- Students are enrolled full-time in the Master of Global Affairs Program.
Summer between Year 2 and Year 3- Students are enrolled full-time in the Master of Global Affairs Program (Global Internship).
Year 3- Students are enrolled full-time in the JD program and part-time in the MGA program.
Year 4- Students are enrolled full-time in the JD program and part-time in the MGA program.
Fees and Funding
Students enrolled in Year 1 of the combined program will be required to pay the standard first year fee for the Faculty of Law. For Year 2 students will pay MGA tuition fees only. For Years 3 and 4 the student will be required to pay the higher of the tuition fees of the two divisions.
During years 1, 3, and 4 of the combined program, students will be entitled to receive Faculty of Law scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of undergraduate financial assistance. Students will not be eligable in their 2nd year as they will be in the MGA program. When JD/MGA students are in their MGA only year (Year 2) they will be eligable for MGA financial aid as well as OGS and SSHRC. JD/MGA students should apply for OGS and SSHRC when they are in their first year so that the award can be used in their second year of the program. For more information on financial aid please click here.
Combined Juris Doctor / Master of Global Affairs
Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
tel: 416-978-3716
fax: 416-978-7899
E-mail: law.admissions@utoronto.ca
For more information on the JD program at the Faculty of Law, please visit: http://www.law.utoronto.ca/
JD/MGA Student Profile
Louis Century, JD/MGA Class of 2013
"The breadth and quality of faculty, the calibre of students, and the professional opportunities afforded by the U of T name have all exceeded my expectations. My work this summer at the International Criminal Court in The Hague was supported and funded by both the Faculty of Law International Human Rights Program and the Munk School of Global Affairs. Both programs also include fantastic extracurricular possibilities."
Louis Century was a student in the combined JD and Master of Global Affairs program at the Faculty of Law and Munk School of Global Affairs, where he was the Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of International Law and International Relations. A graduate of International Development Studies, Louis has experience working for UNHCR in Kenya, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in Zambia, the Canadian Council for Refugees and, most recently, the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he was an intern with the defence in a Darfur case.
Click below to see JD/MGA student Louis Century speak about his experience in the combined program.
