WHAT IS THE MPACC?

The McGill Policy Association Case Competition is open to students of all backgrounds, and is designed to be an opportunity to develop practical policy skills, gain exposure to the policy field, and connect with like-minded peers regardless of prior experience.

The competition begins with workshops and keynotes led by policy professionals who introduce the brief-writing process, walk participants through core policy tools, and remain available to answer questions throughout the evening. Then it's up to teams of 3–4 students to compete in applying their knowledge, problem-solving skills, and research abilities to develop a clear, actionable two-page policy brief.

See past case competitions here.

WHY DO WE HOST THE MPACC?

We believe that experiential learning is an essential component of skills development. The MPA Case Competition is our flagship annual event; it brings together students from across McGill’s faculties to create solutions to policy problems, and to present their work to a panel of expert policy practitioners. 

We welcome students from all faculties to join and work in an interdisciplinary environment that allows you to solve each year’s policy issue. This event will combine research, analysis, and policy writing, helping to enhance participants' abilities to craft creative and innovative solutions to the world’s leading problems.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE | MPACC 2026

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026

4:30 PM — Participant Arrival

4:45 PM — Keynote Lecture: Context and Knowledge to Approach the Case

5:15 PM — Workshop: How to Approach a Policy Case

Led by Neil Bouer

6:15 PM — Case Reveal

6:30 PM — Q&A Session

7:00 PM — End of Workshops

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2026

11:00 AM — Participant Arrival
11:15 AM – 4:00 PM — Team Drafting Session

  • Teams work independently on policy briefs and slide decks

  • MPA executives available for consultation

  • Lunch provided

4:00 PM — Submission Deadline
    • Briefs and slide decks due
    • End of day for participants

4:00 PM – 8:30 PM — Internal Review
    • MPA team evaluates submissions and selects finalists

8:30 PM — Finalists notified via Email

SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026

12:00 PM — Participant Arrival

12:15 PM – 3:00 PM — Final Presentations & Judging

  • Five finalist teams

  • 10-minute presentation per team

  • 5-minute Q&A with judges

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM — Judges’ Deliberation
    • Refreshment break for participants

3:30 PM — Winners Announced & Closing Remarks

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM — Networking Session
    • Meet judges and participants

4:30 PM — End of Event

EXPERIENTIAL. INTERDISCIPLINARY. COLLABORATION.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No prior experience is required, and students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to participate. The competition begins with workshops targeted towards competitors without prior experience or looking for a refresh led by policy professionals, providing all competitors the tools they need to compete.

  • There are 3 ways to register: as a full team of 3-4, as a pair of students looking to be matched with another pair/competitor, or as a solo entrant looking to be assigned a team. If you do sign up as part of a pair or as a solo entrant, fill out the additional questions on the sign up so we can better match you!

  • Not at all. Successful teams often come from diverse academic backgrounds. The competition values interdisciplinary thinking, creativity, and clear reasoning.

  • No, the competition is open to undergraduate students from all disciplines and institutions. 

  • This year’s competition will focus on healthcare policy. The specific case prompt will be released on March 17 at 7:30 PM

Have another question? Feel free to contact us using one of the options below:
Email: info@mcgillpolicyassociation.com
Instagram: @mcgillpolicy

LinkedIn: McGill Policy Association