Island Studies at University of Prince Edward Island is an interdisciplinary program designed to promote an understanding of selected features of the world’s small islands, including their geographies, ecologies, cultures, political systems, histories, and societies. We offer both a Master of Arts in Island Studies (the MAIS program) and an Undergraduate Minor in Island Studies.

Master of Arts in Island Studies Program

The Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) at the University of Prince Edward Island is a unique, interdisciplinary, and policy-driven graduate program that critiques islands on their own terms.

Our program welcomes students from around the world. Our MAIS students come out of undergraduate programs from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and diverse degrees, or with professional workplace experience in the public, private, or resource sectors.

“UPEI and the MAIS program taught me being small is a strength.”

Ayana Arnaud is a recent graduate of the Master of Arts in Island Studies program, Sustainable Island Communities stream.

What’s unique about UPEI, and Prince Edward Island, in your experience?

Living and studying here has provided many unique experiences. PEI offers a valuable advantage for studying Island Studies: the opportunity to observe climate and coastal issues firsthand as a living lab. I also value how the UPEI and PEI regularly give land acknowledgements, reminding us that we are all settlers on Mi’kma’ki territory, which enriches your understanding of place-based histories. For me, UPEI’s uniqueness lies in its scale and setting. It’s small enough to recognize faces across campus and build genuine connections, yet diverse enough to meet people from many different countries and disciplines. PEI stands out because the island doesn’t feel or look like anywhere else in Canada; it’s an untouched gem full of stories, a slower pace, and an incredibly strong sense of community that reminds me of home. This is very personal for me, as I come from a small island developing state in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago, where many people may not have heard of it. I love being able to introduce myself as an islander, drawn by the tides to another island, to explore the stories, struggles, and strengths of islands everywhere. As islanders, we all have different stories to share, and PEI and UPEI have their own unique ones. 

Check out the full interview with Anaya Arnaud here.

“The MAIS program is steeped in a philosophy that ‘to love is to learn’.”

Jack Weeks is a student in UPEI’s Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program in the thesis stream.

What would you tell a student considering the MAIS program at UPEI?

Do it, no hesitation. If one wants a learning environment that encourages their passions on their own terms, the MAIS program is the perfect backdrop. The study of islands can take so many shapes, and so many niches, and the professors and staff do so much to inspire and support your efforts as a student to find which niche interests you most. Not to mention that, because the program is smaller, students receive much more personal support, both in terms of academic resources as well as encouragement. The program is practically an exercise in becoming a better, more curious person overall, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Read the full interview with Jack Weeks here.

“UPEI’s MAIS program encourages independence, critical thinking, and self-reflection.”

Aneilla Dennis is a student in the International Relations (Island Studies) and Public Policy stream of the Master of Arts in Island Studies program

What do you find unique and interesting about the Master of Arts in Island Studies program?

What makes the MAIS program meaningful to me is how it challenges students to think differently about islands and their role in shaping policy, governance, and development. Before entering the program, I viewed islands mostly in geographic terms. However, the MAIS program challenged me to see islands not just as places, but as spaces of possibility, governance, and change. That shift in perspective has influenced how I approach policy issues and development challenges, especially within small island contexts.

The program is unique in its interdisciplinary nature—courses draw from public policy, governance, environmental studies, and the social sciences, allowing students to examine issues from multiple angles. This encourages critical thinking and deeper engagement with complex topics affecting island communities, such as climate change, land use, and sustainable development. It also allows us to compare island experiences globally while still recognizing the distinct realities of individual communities.

Beyond academics, what truly sets the MAIS program apart is the level of care shown toward students. One experience that stood out to me was during a semester when the department applied to offer a small grant to all students enrolled in the program. For a struggling student, regardless of the amount, that support made a meaningful difference. Gestures like these demonstrate that the program recognizes the real challenges students face and is willing to take meaningful steps to support them. The program has also provided opportunities for hands-on academic work. For example, I was able to contribute to a forthcoming book chapter by Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino, a project made possible through the guidance and support of my professors, including Professor Brinklow and Professor Davison. Experiences like this have not only strengthened my research skills but also built my confidence in contributing to meaningful scholarly work.

Read the full interview with Aneilla Dennis here.

“Living here is different from what I imagined, but in a good way. The slower pace and close-knit community have made it easier to focus on my studies and find a sense of balance in my life.”

Hexi Wang is a recent graduate of the MAIS program, International Relations and Public Policy stream.

What opportunities have you experienced because you’re studying at UPEI, or because of the Island location?

Studying at UPEI and living on this island has given me the chance to experience the beauty of the simple moments around me. The campus itself is peaceful, and I often find myself taking walks, reflecting on my studies or just appreciating the calm. There’s something about the quiet here that helps me focus and connect with both my academic work and personal life. The beauty of PEI is in the small details—the way the light filters through the trees in the morning or the soft pink hue of the sky at sunset. These moments remind me to slow down and take in what’s around me, offering a kind of peace that allows for reflection.

Being on this island has also made it easy to engage with the local community. The slower pace means I’ve had more opportunities to meet people and form connections, whether it’s with classmates on campus or with locals around town. At UPEI, it’s not just about academics; it’s about learning to appreciate life at a different pace, finding balance, and connecting with the world in a meaningful way. 

Read the full interview with Hexi Wang here.

The program offers a challenging opportunity for students with:

• a special interest in researching islands: their societies, economies, histories, cultures, governments, geographies, and environments
• an interest in public policy and administration
• career aspirations within local, regional, national, and international governmental and non-governmental organizations
• career aspirations in the private and resource sectors
• a desire for the challenge of graduate education.

Students may adopt a comparative approach to study islands or explore a topic or issue that is crucial to one island. Either way, the program will prepare students with the practical research skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a world increasingly defined by interconnections and interactions among peoples and regions.

For application and admission information and complete course descriptions, please visit the Master of Arts in Island Studies page on the University of Prince Edward Island website.

Have questions or looking for more information? Contact the MAIS Coordinator at brinklow@upei.ca or review our MAIS student handbook

Dr. Jim Randall has since retired and Dr. Laurie Brinklow is now the MAIS coordinator and assistant professor in Island Studies.

Island Studies: A Global Classroom
Through this initiative, the MAIS program at UPEI has established linkages with other researchers and scholars from island universities throughout the world, encouraging and facilitating knowledge-sharing both in person and via video conference. Learn more

Undergraduate Minor in Island Studies

Island Studies is an interdisciplinary Minor program for undergraduate students at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) designed to promote an understanding of selected features of the world’s small islands, including their geographies, ecologies, cultures, political systems, histories, and societies.

The Island Studies Minor program at UPEI has three primary goals:

• to engage students in an emerging, international academic discussion of islands’ distinctive characteristics, challenges, and opportunities
• to study Prince Edward Island as a specific example of an island bearing these characteristics and playing out these challenges and opportunities
• to study islands in a comparative and international framework

Prince Edward Islanders may call PEI “the Island,” but they know that their island shares the world’s seas with many small islands. Each sea-bound stretch of land faces its own particular challenges, but international discussions among the world’s island peoples continue to reveal many characteristics that islands share.

Lessons from small islands come from many disciplines — from geography, sociology, education, and political studies; from biology and physics; from English and history. As an interdisciplinary program, UPEI’s Minor in Island Studies encourages students to make critical connections among studies from diverse fields to expand their knowledge of islands.

The University of Prince Edward Island is uniquely placed to offer Canada’s only Minor in Island Studies. The University already houses the Institute of Island Studies, one of the world’s leading small islands research and public policy institutes. The academic program in Island Studies balances the University’s traditional strength in researching and teaching Prince Edward Island topics with its increasing reputation for advancing international island studies.

For application and admission information and complete course descriptions, please visit the Island Studies Minor program page on the UPEI website.

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Click here to view and download our brochure.

Have questions or looking for more information? Contact the MAIS Coordinator at brinklow@upei.ca