Carleton University Admissions 2022: Requirements, Fee Details & FAQs ,Ottawa,Canada

Located in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, Carleton University has a rich history dating back to about 80 years. From its modest beginnings, the university has now established itself at the pinnacle of research and development. Its first PhD in engineering was awarded in 1962. In 2019-20, the university had an impressive operating budget of CAD 489.1 million (excluding auxiliaries). The location of the university is one of its highlighting features as it is situated on the south of Ottawa’s city center, sprawling over 62 hectares of land, with its extremities lined by the Rideau River and the noted Rideau Canal. The vast campus is well-connected by five-kilometer long underground tunnels that link the university’s buildings. Professionally equipped, managed and staffed, The Kailash Mital Theatre is Carleton University’s fully equipped 444 seat performance theatre. The Carleton advantage is the university’s high-tech sector, non-governmental agencies, and state-of-the-art life sciences research facilities.

Courses Offered

What all courses are available to international students?

Carleton University offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree programs in 22 different fields such as:

• Architectural Studies
• Bachelor of Arts
• Cognitive Science
• Commerce (Business)
• Communication and Media Studies
• Computer Science
• Economics
• Engineering
• Global and International Studies
• Health sciences
• Humanities (Great Books)
• Industrial Design
• Information Technology
• International Business (BIB)
• Journalism
• Journalism and Humanities
• Mathematics (BMath)
• Media Production and Design
• Music (BMus)
• Public Affairs and Policy Management
• Science Social Work

Minor Programs

Many programs offer the option of adding a Minor. A Minor is a set of courses offered in addition to the dominant course. It provides specialization in a field of your choice that may or may not be related to your primary degree program. There are a few programs that are solely offered as Minors. However, some major programs can also be pursued as minors.

Combined Honors Degrees

The university offers Combined Honors degrees, where you get to pursue two major programs at the same time.

 

Programs Available for Undergraduate and Postgraduate/Research Students:

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students can choose from a wide array of 22 programs in various specializations. They may choose to do an Honors, which is a four-year degree, or a General program, which is a three-year course. 

Postgraduate/Research Students

With more than 100 program choices on offer, Postgraduate/Research students have a wide array of available options. They can choose from five degree options, as mentioned below, based on their qualifications/requirements:

• Master’s programs
• Doctoral programs
• Graduate diploma
• Collaborative specializations
• Affiliated programs

For more information, please visit the official university website.

Eligibility & Documents Required

What are the eligibility requirements?

The main determining factor for admission into Carleton is your academic performance in the previous studies.

The following are the basic requirements for various programs. For accurate information regarding your choice of course, please visit the official university website.

Undergraduate Level Requirements:

• High school and post-secondary studies transcripts
• If you are in the final year of high school, you are required to submit mid-year or predicted results
• Internet Based (iBT) TOEFL: Total score of 86 with 20 in reading and listening, 22 in writing and speaking
• IELTS Academic: 6.5 IELTS and minimum 6.0 in each band
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: Total of 60 with minimum 60 in each Communicative Skill

Master’s Level Requirements:

• You need to have a four-year bachelor’s degree equivalent. The completion of both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s or a Bachelor’s degree requiring four years of study (e.g., BPharm, MBBS, BTech, BEng, or BArch)
• Minimum first class division in under-graduation
• Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) with 86 (22 in writing and speaking, 20 in reading and listening) scores
• IELTS (Academic) 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each band)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) 60 overall (min 60 in each Communicative Skill)

Doctoral Level Requirements:

• Master’s/graduate degree equivalent: Master’s, MPhil
• A score of B+ or better in your course and thesis
• Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) with 86 (22 in writing and speaking, 20 in reading and listening) scores
• IELTS (Academic) 6.5 (min 6.0 in each band)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) 60 overall (minimum 60 in each skill)

Graduate Diploma:

Please contact the respective department for minimum admission requirements for the course.

Please note: Applicants who have a three-year bachelor’s degree from institutions that have received a CGPA average of 3.01-4.00 or A by the Institutes of Management Technology (IMTs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), or National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) may be considered for admission to a master’s program, subject to the admission requirements of the program.

What all documents are needed for application?

Once you have filled the application form and paid the non-refundable fee, you will receive an e-mail from Carleton on how to access Carleton Central. This can take up to one to three working days.

You will need to upload the following documents:

Documents/Forms	Procedure	Maximum File Size
Transcripts	Upload a PDF copy of all post-secondary transcript(s) within the application/Carleton Central	2MB
Letters of Reference	Completed electronically by your referees	NA
Statement of Intent	If needed, upload a PDF copy within the application or in Carleton Central	2MB
CV/Resume	If needed, upload a PDF copy within the application or in Carleton Central	2MB
Writing Sample	If needed, upload a PDF copy within the application or in Carleton Central	2MB
Preference Form	If needed, upload a PDF copy in Carleton Central	2MB
Portfolio	If needed, upload a PDF copy in Carleton Central. If larger than 2 MB, mail a copy directly to your department.	2MB
GMAT GRE	If needed, upload a PDF copy within the application or in Carleton Central	2MB
Language Proficiency (ESL Test Scores)	If needed, upload a PDF copy within the application or in Carleton Central	2MB
MBA Complement Form	Only for MBA: upload a PDF copy in Carleton Central	2MB
Funding Sponsorship	If needed, enter details within the application or e-mail a PDF copy to Graduate Admissions	2MB
Third Party Authorization Form	Optional: After the application has been submitted, please upload this form in Carleton Central, under “Graduate Admissions,” “View Application Details,” and “Documents”	2MB

Source: Carleton University

Application & Tuition Fees

Is there any application fees?

As an international student, you have two options to apply to Carleton University:

Through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC)

The OUAC is a common application form that you may use if you are applying to more than one university within the province of Ontario.The base application fee is CAD 165 for three university/program choices, and CAD 50 for each additional choice. The fee can be paid through a credit card.

 

Apply directly to Carleton University

If you are only applying to Carleton, you may do so by filling up the Carleton University International Application form. The application fee for the same is CAD100. The Application fee for MBA program is CAD 150. This fee is payable to OUAC and can be paid via credit card.

What is the fee structure of courses offered by the university?

The fee structure varies depending on your choice of program and lifestyle. Below is an estimate of what to expect to pay during your studies in Ontario.

Expenses	Single Student
Approximate Tuition Fee (Fall and Winter terms) of the listed academic year only (September-April).  Some programs also require summer registration, which will raise the fees	CAD 15,033 – CAD 22,979
MBA/MAcc Tuition and Ancillary Fees	CAD 29,261 - CAD 31,947
On-campus Living	CAD 8,304 – CAD 13,354
Off-campus Living	CAD 8,000 - CAD 10,000
Books and Supplies	CAD 1,200
Miscellaneous Expenses	CAD 3,000
Groceries	CAD 4,000
Transportation	NA
Estimated Total Expenses	CAD 31,233 – CAD 53,501

Source: Carleton University 

The fees presented above are estimate figures. For an accurate number, please visit the official university website.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Is there any scholarship or financial aid available for international students?

Carleton is known for offering the highest number of scholarships in Canada with over CAD 24 million offered to undergraduate students alone. Carleton University offers two types of scholarships to international students.

1.       Entrance Awards for International Students

The Entrance Awards are renewable scholarships offered to students who have been granted admission to Carleton and have an above 80% score according to their high school transcripts. It is important to note that these scholarships are only offered during the Fall intake. They may also be offered to students attending Carleton for the first time and no priors of attending post secondary educational institutions. For all eligible students, the value of the scholarship will be ascertained based on the admissions average at the time of admission. These scholarships are not calculated or recalculated based on final high school grades.

Please note: For scholarships to be renewed, students must have an annual GPA of 10.0

2.       Prestige Scholarships

The Prestige Scholarships are the top-notch awards given to students. They include the Chancellor’s Scholarship, the Richard Lewar Entrance Scholarship, the Carleton University SHAD Scholarship, the Carleton University Scholarship of Excellence, the Riordon Scholarship, and the Collins Prestige Scholarship. Only students who are admitted to Carleton straight after high school or Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Iles are eligible for these scholarships. They must also have an admission average of over 90% along with stellar voluntary service and extracurricular activities record.

Deadline: March 1

Please note: There is only one application form for all Prestige Scholarships.

Admission Process

When do the admissions start?

Carleton starts accepting applications beginning each year in September through OUAC as well as directly through Carleton 360. The university hosts its Fall Open House in October. The application deadline for international students is October 15, 2020 for the January 2021 intake.

The next admission cycle begins in January for the Spring intake. April 1, 2021, is the main application deadline for international students. There may be a few programs that have an earlier deadline. For accurate timelines, please visit the official university website.

Important dates:

Undergraduate programs:

UG students must begin the application process in December for early September entry, submitting their application by January. For Architecture and Social Work, the deadline is February 1. For Humanities, Industrial, Design, Information, Technology, Journalism, Music + Portfolio, the early deadline is March 1. Remaining programs have the application deadline on April 1.

Graduate programs:

Almost all graduate programs begin in Fall, i.e. September, barring a few that may offer admission for the Winter term (January) or Summer term (May). The application deadlines vary depending on the chosen program, which is why it is recommended to check the official university website for accurate information. As a general rule, the deadline to apply for the Fall term usually falls between January and March of the same calendar year.

Pro tip: It is advisable to start the application process five to six months prior to when you wish to begin your studies.

What are the steps to the application process? Is there an interview involved?

The overall application process is mostly similar apart from a few exceptions wherein it may only slightly vary for graduate students. International, as well as national students, have to fill in the same application material for admission. However, international students must also submit a Certificate of Finances irrespective of whether they are applying for financial aid or not along with the English Proficiency Examination results. They are also allowed to apply to more than one program at Carleton.

Key steps to the application process are as follows:

Step 1: Apply to the program (pay application fee)

Step 2: Submit documents (track required documents received)

Step 3: Check status (view any decision)

Step 4: Accept your offer!

The university does not require its applicants to go through an interview process. However, students may request for an interview to discuss their interest in the university.

How do I start my application?

The application process for both undergraduate and graduate students is similar. You need to go to the university website in order to start your application process. At the start of the process, you will be directed to Carleton 360, which is the university’s online application portal. Here, you will create an application and fill in details for assessment, depending on the course of your choice.

Only you will have access to this account.

Step 1: Log on to Carleton 360 and choose “No Account” in order to create a new one.

Step 2: Register for Carleton 360 by filling in your personal details.

Step 3: Select the program of your choice.

Step 4: Select the “Term” that suits you. The availability of entry terms will depend on the program and the time of application. Once the selection has been made, please click on “Apply”.

Step 5: Once the above steps have been completed, you will be directed to the page (as depicted below) that will show you the sections of the form needed to be filled. At this point, please keep the required documents ready along with a valid credit card to pay the application fee.

The form is divided into the following nine sections:

• Instructions
• Program Details
• Personal Information
• Academic History
• Experience and Interests
• Test Scores
• References
• Source of Interest
• Declaration/Submit

You need not fill the form all at once. However, you must remember to save your progress at every stage of the application so that you can come back to it later.

When will I hear from the university after I submit my application?

The applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, which means that the ones that reach the university first, get reviewed first. Students should expect to hear from the university in four to six weeks from the time of application. A few special courses like Industrial Design, Music, Social Work, Architectural Studies, Humanities (Great Books), and Information Technology, require supplementary information like portfolios, interviews, and auditions, and have documentation deadlines. For such courses, admission will be offered after the documentation deadline. In most cases, students should expect to hear from the university before June.

Students may check their application status on Carleton Central.

Student Diversity & Preferred Profile

How difficult is it to get an admission?

Getting admitted to Carleton is a competitive affair, considering the high volumes of applications that the university receives every year. The minimum requirements vary depending on the degree. However, English is a compulsory requirement for eligibility, along with the stated minimum past academic scores. All programs have limited seats and the eligibility requirements are subject to change at the discretion of the university.

It is important to keep in mind that eligibility is not the basis for guaranteed admission.

Take a look at Carleton’s 2018-19 class profile:

S. No.	Carleton University	Statistics
2	Class size	31,202
3	Undergraduate students	27,152
4	Graduate students	4,050
5	Tuition and student fees	CAD 28,183 – CAD 39,798
7	Employment rate of 2013 graduates	76-98%
8	QS world university rankings for graduate employability 2019	Among top 10
9	Percentage of international graduate students	22%

Source: Carleton University

How many Indian/international students are studying at the university?

Carleton welcomes students from over 140 countries in the world, with international students making up for about 14% of the total student body in 2019.

As per the 2018-19 profile, there were about 31,202 students at Carleton, including 27,152 undergraduates and 4,050 graduates from all over the world. The acceptance rate varies from year to year but it is important to note that 22% of the total graduate student body comprises of international students, which equals to almost 891 students.

The graduate student body is further divided into national and international students.

 

Part Time Work While Studying

Can I work while studying here?

Most international students can work while studying at Carleton. Be sure to check whether the program that you are applying to offers work-study opportunities. Carleton also offers an International Internship program which will also help you gain academic credit. On the other hand, you can also look for job opportunities within the university.

You may also apply for a part-time job off-campus, with an upper limit of 20 hours per week. During the holidays, you may look for a full-time job.

Students at Carleton can make use of the Work Study Program funded by the university. This program is especially intended for students who have the least financial support and are in need of it. It can only be used by a limited number of international students, depending on the availability of funds.

The Work Study Program offers jobs within the university. Through this program, you can work in the library, academic departments and in various areas within student services. You may also choose to work on your chosen area of study.

Nature of job:

If you are unable to cover your educational expenses, the Work Study program may help cover a part of the costs through extra income. It is important to keep in mind that while you are at school, your studies are your top priority and work cannot come in the way.

Maximum work limit:

The Work Study program allows you to work up to a maximum of 96 hours for the entire period.

Income:

The hourly wage is CAD 15/hour in addition to holiday pay. You may be able to earn up to CAD 1,500 for the Fall/Winter session.

Eligibility criteria for the program:

• The candidate must prove financial need as decided by the Awards Office
• Must be registered in 60% of a full course load (1.5 credits per term) or 40% of a full course load (1.0 credit per term) for special-needs students registered with the Paul Menton Centre
• Student must have adequate academic performance

Please note: First-year international students cannot avail this program.

Campuses & Accommodation

How many colleges and campuses does the university have?

The scenic, bustling university only has one campus, making it easy to access and navigate.

Is on-campus housing available?

Carleton University suggests international students choose the on-campus residential facility. It is a voluntary option but is advisable for students who are new to the city and adjusting to a new lifestyle. In 2019, about 3,600 students opted to live on-campus in one of the residential buildings.

The university’s housing facility offers two types of residences:

1.       Traditional rooms

First-year students are mostly offered traditional double rooms, with shared washroom facilities. Only a certain number of single rooms are available for first-year students.

 

2.        Suite-style rooms

These suites are housed by four people, either two doubles or four singles. They have a shared common area, washroom facilities and a small kitchen that includes a fridge and microwave.

 

Here is an estimate yearly cost of living at Carleton

Expenses	Cost
Living on-campus
Tuition and student fees 2020-2021 (varies according to program)	CAD 28,183 – CAD 39,798
On-campus residence and meal plan  (double room, all-access meal plan and Wi-Fi)	CAD 11,138
Books and supplies – varies according to program	CAD 1,400
Personal expenses	CAD 2,000
Total	CAD 42,721 –  CAD 54,336
Living off-campus
Tuition and student fees 2020-2021 (varies according to program)	CAD 28,183 – CAD 39,798
Off-campus accommodation (variable)	CAD 8,600
Books and supplies – varies according to program	CAD 1,400
Personal expenses	CAD 2,000
Total	CAD 40,183 - CAD 51,798

Source: Carleton University

Please note: Carleton University offers a guaranteed double traditional room to all first-year students, recently passed out from high school. However, you should have received an offer of admission on or before May 15.

For more information, please visit the official university website.

University Contact Information

Whom should I contact in case of any doubts?

You may reach the Carleton University here:

 

Website: https://carleton.ca/

Telephone: (1) 613-520-2600

Email: LIAISON@CARLETON.CA

Postal Address: Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6 Canada