Frequently Asked Questions
Applications are due on March 15 for both the Fall and Spring semesters for the following school year. We do a “top up” application intake for the Spring semester (January to April) due October 15. You can apply as early as you wish, as long as you clearly indicate which semester you’re applying for.
To apply to the LLC, undergraduate students must have at least 60 semester hours with a minimum average GPA of 2.75, and have taken POLS 234 or an equivalent course. See our Apply page for more details on application requirements.
Students attending the LLC need some background and foundational knowledge of the Canadian governmental system. Students will also need background knowledge of the Canadian governmental system for their courses, which is provided through the prerequisite course POLS 234. As well, many internships are with Canadian political offices or NGOs that interact with political offices.
POLS 234 is offered every semester at TWU, including as a summer course option. Visiting students can contact us to determine if an acceptable equivalent is offered at their home institution. BUSI students can take BUSI 245 as an acceptable equivalent. POLI 309 and POLI 260 through Athabasca University (online) are also acceptable equivalents.
The LLC is open to students of all majors. We have had students studying everything from Business to Biology who have enjoyed a semester at the LLC, with internships relevant to their areas of interest.
Most of the LLC courses can be used to meet core requirements and practicum options from many programs. Plan ahead and enlist the help of your academic advisor to make it work for you.
Yes, the LLC is open to BA Leadership students. Talk to your program advisor about the best semester for you to come to the LLC.
Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in universities or colleges that are members of either Universities Canada or CHEC may apply to the LLC Certificate Program as a visiting student. Visiting students will be students of Trinity Western University for a semester at the LLC. It is up to the student to determine in advance if the courses will be transferable to their home institution. Students should obtain a letter of permission from their home institution to ensure transferability of part or all of the course credits. We regularly have visiting students from a variety of other institutions join us at the LLC!
Yes, students who have already graduated have the option of obtaining a Graduate Certificate. They will participate in the same courses as undergraduate students but receive an extra assignment from the Director.
LLC students take three interdisciplinary, interactive courses. The course offerings enable you to learn about leadership, public policy, ethics, and contemporary culture. You will benefit from the insight of guest speakers who are leaders in government, media, public policy, advocacy and the private sector. The courses offer a strong conceptual framework for the practical realities students encounter in their internships.
You will complete 15 semester hours in total: three academic courses totaling nine semester hours and an internship totaling six semester hours.
- POLS/HIST/SOCI 391: Canadian Governmental Leadership
- POLS/SOCI 392: Ethics and Public Affairs
- POLS/IDIS 493: Law, Public Policy, and Cultural Change
- POLS/BUSI/COMM/HIST/SOCI: Internship/Practicum*
To obtain the Certificate in Leadership and Applied Public Affairs, you must complete all three courses, and it is generally expected that students will do so. However, in some circumstances students have been allowed to take only two courses, or two plus an alternative course (such as a directed study through TWU, an online course from another university, or a course at one of the Ottawa universities). The program fee remains the same in these cases. Please speak to the Executive Director to determine if an alternative third course arrangement would be allowable in your case.
The courses are taught by experienced professors and feature many dynamic guest speakers, from MPs to legal experts to NGO professionals to business leaders.
The LLC Executive Director places all students in internships. After a student is accepted into the program, they will meet individually with the Executive Director to discuss their interests, experience, and long-term goals. If a student has a unique interest, or something outside the typical range of internship placements, the Executive Director may ask the student to participate in finding and securing an internship placement.
As part of the internship placement process, students will meet with potential supervisors along with the LLC Executive Director. To prepare for these meetings, the LLC Executive Director will provide the student’s resume/CV to the organization. In some cases, these meetings feel like a job interview, while in other cases, they are more of a “meet-and-greet.” These meetings take place via zoom and are done before students arrive at the LLC.
The LLC Executive Director will strive to place students according to their requests, preferences, experience, and goals. However, due to a variety of circumstances, it is not possible to guarantee any particular internship placement.
Yes, of course! A wide selection of internship possibilities exist. We have had students participate in a variety of placements, including and not limited to urban planning, magazine/newspaper writing, street youth outreach, international anti-poverty advocacy, sports event management, wealth management firms, venture capital firms and many others as part of their internships. Ottawa, as the nation’s capital, has a wide array of organizations and opportunities.
All LLC students will receive course credit upon completing their internships. In certain cases, an organization may choose to pay a small stipend or honorarium. This is not guaranteed and is completely up to the organization.
Community life is a valuable aspect of a student’s time at the LLC. Because of this, students are expected to live in the mansion at the LLC. Living off-campus is an option only in special circumstances. Contact us if you have further questions.
We welcome married students to the LLC program. When space allows, students with a spouse may be given a private room. This will depend on enrolment numbers and whether or not we have a full semester. Non-student family members will need to cover the cost of their accommodations if they do stay at the LLC.
When we have a full semester, however, married students may need to find alternate accommodation arrangements. In previous years, married students have rented an apartment nearby for the semester. In these cases, students who live off-campus can get reimbursed for the accommodations portion of the LLC program fee.
Generally, parking for students at the LLC is very limited or not available. Please contact us in advance if you are hoping to bring a vehicle to the LLC and we will discuss availability with you and parking rates.
If family members or friends are dropping you off at the LLC by car, they are welcome to temporarily park at the LLC if there is space.
The community life at the LLC enables you to learn, grow, and share your experience within a close-knit community. Engaging in discussions in and out of class, travelling to your internships together, and coming home afterwards to share about your experiences are all valuable experiences that can foster lifetime friendships. A full-time Community Life Coordinator works at the LLC helps to facilitate community activities throughout the semester, from house-wide games, to class trips. As well, there is a large TWU alumni community in Ottawa that is happy to encourage and help you. Each new LLC class also adds to the community life in its own way. You can always follow the LLC on Instagram and on Facebook.
The LLC mansion is located in downtown Ottawa, more affectionately known as Centretown. In and around the mansion, there are all sorts of things to do. In the fall, go for a bike ride along the Ottawa River. In the winter, go skating along the world-famous Rideau Canal Skateway. The LLC provides bikes, skates, and sports equipment that are all available for students’ use.
Located a short walk away from Parliament Hill, you’ll be right in the Ottawa action. Take in free fireworks at Parliament, visit museums for free on Thursdays, or join local organizations to hand out hot chocolate to homeless people on a cold winter’s night. Dress to impress and join your friends for a night at the Opera on a student budget; the National Arts Centre offers world-class theatre, dance, and classical music with student discounts. Suit up and rub shoulders with MPs and Senators at evening receptions on Parliament Hill.
Join a local gym or participate in yoga on the Parliament Hill lawn. Plan a weekend trip to Toronto, Quebec City, or New York. Connect with one of Ottawa’s vibrant church communities on Sunday mornings. Walk through a local market or festival to enjoy live local music and fresh food on your way home Sunday afternoon. Catch a professional hockey and football game with some friends. Are you convinced? There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
While we do not have Chapel every day at the LLC, there are plenty of opportunities and ways to connect with one another in faith. LLC students will participate in a weekly bible study as a group. Many LLC students connect in Christian community through a local church.
Your first few meals during orientation week will be provided for you by the LLC, and after that it’s up to you! We encourage students to form food groups and take turns cooking meals on different nights of the week. These “food families” become a highlight for many students, offering a place to collectively share about your day at your internship. There are several grocery stores within easy walking distance of the LLC.
Yes, we love to encourage family and friends to visit LLC students.
Generally, but not always, the semester starts on the first Sunday of September for the Fall, and the first Sunday of January for the Spring. The semester is 14 weeks long, with departure dates usually on the second Saturday of December for Fall, and the second Saturday of April for Spring. You will find out the exact start and end dates for your semester at the class meeting after you receive your acceptance.
Given that we are busy preparing the house for Orientation Week, students are not permitted to arrive early.
Yes, students may be able to stay past the semester end date, as long as there is availability. In these cases, students will have to cover the cost of accommodations beyond the end of the semester. How long you can stay is determined by the LLC’s schedule and room availability.
Reading weeks in the fall are the week of Canadian Thanksgiving in October. Reading weeks in the spring are typically around the third week of February. No classes are held during the LLC’s reading week, however students may still be working within their internships depending on their organization’s needs and schedules.
We will provide all LLC students with packing instructions before their come. Feel free to contact us if you have questions that are not answered after reviewing these guides.
Please contact us and we will be happy to help!