Carleton University

Overview

At a Glance

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Urban Centre Size
Major (over 500K)
Number of Students
32,116
DLI Number
O19332687812
Main Campus Region
East
Summary

Become part of Carleton University’s diverse and welcoming community – situated on a beautiful riverside campus, minutes from Ottawa’s downtown. Find your program from among 100+ subjects, and access paid, work-study opportunities – preparing you for success in a dynamic and ever changing world.

Profile

Located in Ottawa, Canada’s scenic capital, Carleton University offers opportunities students won’t find anywhere else. Carleton is ranked in the Top 5 (Opens In A New Tab) among comprehensive universities in Canada, and in the Top 10 (Opens In A New Tab) for graduate employability. Students can choose from over 100 majors and specializations, with most offering a work/study (“co-op (Opens In A New Tab)”) or practicum option, opening doors of opportunity upon graduation.

Students benefit from Carleton’s partnerships in Ottawa and around the world, connecting students with work experiences in Ottawa’s government offices, 130+ embassies and high commissions from around the world, national organizations, museums and a large percentage of Canada’s major medical, clinical and life sciences research centres. Ottawa also has a booming technology industry with over 1,900 companies.

Ottawa is also one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, with a great number of neighbourhood parks and tranquil green spaces, waterways that wind through the city, and historical and architectural landmarks. Situated on a beautiful campus just minutes from downtown, Carleton has earned a reputation as one of the foremost universities in the fields of international affairs, commerce, journalism, and high technology. Carleton emphasizes hands-on research, community engagement, work experience and immersive learning. Over 32,000 students enjoy our small and interactive classes, state-of-the-art research, laboratory and athletic facilities.

Carleton has a long history of attracting international students to our welcoming and inclusive campus. Today the university has approximately 4,500 international students from 150+ countries, creating a diverse and supportive academic community.

Requirements and Admissions

Admission Requirements – Academic performance in your previous studies is the main determining factor for admission to Carleton’s undergraduate degree programs. Secondary school (high school) graduation is the typical level required for admission to the first year of an undergraduate program.

Admission requirements vary by program, so depending on your program of choice you may also be required to present specific subjects (prerequisites). See the specific admission requirements (Opens In A New Tab) for your chosen degree program from the education system you have completed.

We recognize and accept national qualifications from most countries. For some countries, applicants may be required to have completed one year of university study.

English Language Requirement (Opens In A New Tab)For admission, you will need to demonstrate that your knowledge and use of English are strong enough for studies in an English language university. You can do this by:

  • Demonstrating that you have studied for the last three years (full-time) in a high school, college, or university in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom or any other country in which the primary language is English and where the language of instruction in the relevant institution was exclusively English
  • Submitting an English as a Second Language (ESL) test result

Programs

  • Aboriginal and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other
  • Aboriginal languages, literatures and linguistics
  • Accounting and related services
  • Aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical/space engineering
  • Anthropology
  • Applied mathematics
  • Architectural history and criticism
  • Architectural sciences and technology
  • Architecture (BArch, BA, BS, BSc, MArch, MA, MS, MSc, PhD)
  • Area studies
  • Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies, other
  • Biochemistry/biophysics and molecular biology
  • Bioengineering and biomedical engineering
  • Biological and biomedical sciences, other
  • Biological/biosystems engineering
  • Biology technician/biotechnology laboratory technician
  • Biology, general
  • Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Botany/plant biology
  • Business administration, management and operations
  • Business, management, marketing and related support services, other
  • Business/commerce, general
  • Cell/cellular biology and anatomical sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Civil engineering
  • Civil engineering technology/technician
  • Classics and classical languages, literatures and linguistics
  • Communication and media studies
  • Communication, journalism and related programs, other
  • Communications technology/technician
  • Computer and information sciences and support services, general
  • Computer and information sciences and support services, other
  • Computer engineering
  • Computer engineering technologies/technicians
  • Computer programming
  • Computer science
  • Computer software and media applications
  • Computer systems analysis/analyst
  • Computer systems networking and telecommunications
  • Computer/information technology administration and management
  • Criminology
  • East Asian languages, literatures and linguistics
  • Ecology, evolution, systematics and population biology
  • Economics
  • Electrical and electronic engineering technologies/technicians
  • Electrical, electronics and communications engineering
  • Engineering physics/applied physics
  • Engineering-related fields
  • Engineering, general
  • Engineering, other
  • English language and literature, general
  • English language and literature/letters, other
  • English literature
  • Environmental design/architecture
  • Environmental/environmental health engineering
  • Ethnic, cultural minority, gender, and group studies
  • Film/video and photographic arts
  • Finance and Financial Management Services
  • Food science and technology
  • Foods, nutrition and related services
  • French language and literature, general
  • French language and literature/letters, other
  • French literature
  • Geography and cartography
  • Geological and Earth sciences/geosciences
  • Germanic languages, literatures and linguistics
  • Graphic communications
  • Health services/allied health/health sciences, general
  • Health/medical preparatory programs
  • History
  • Human development, family studies and related services
  • Information science/studies
  • Interior architecture
  • International business/trade/commerce
  • International relations and national security studies
  • Journalism
  • Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities
  • Library science and administration
  • Library science, other
  • Linguistic, comparative and related language studies and services
  • Management information systems and services
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematics and statistics, other
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering
  • Music
  • Nanotechnology
  • Neurobiology and neurosciences
  • Non-professional general legal studies (undergraduate)
  • Physical sciences, general
  • Physical sciences, other
  • Physics
  • Political science and government
  • Psychology, general
  • Psychology, other
  • Public health
  • Public relations, advertising and applied communication
  • Radio, television and digital communication
  • Research and experimental psychology
  • Romance languages, literatures and linguistics
  • Science Technologies/Technicians, General
  • Second language learning
  • Sign language
  • Social sciences, general
  • Social sciences, other
  • Sociology
  • Sociology and anthropology
  • Statistics
  • Systems engineering
  • Teaching English or French as a second or foreign language
  • Urban studies/affairs

Student Experience

There’s a reason why Carleton continually tops the list for student satisfaction among Canadian universities. Carleton’s diverse and inclusive community offers many ways to get involved, as well as a far reaching system of student services.

  • 300+ clubs and societies (Opens In A New Tab) – a great way to meet new people and pursue your academic, social, political or charitable interests
  • Orientation – make friends and have fun! International students also have an additional orientation
  • Peer mentors (First Year Connections, and Global PALS) – get connected to services, support and friendly advice
  • Fun activities such as movie nights, games and contests! (Organized by the Student Experience Office, with lots of student volunteers!)
  • International Student Services Office (Opens In A New Tab) – fun cultural and social activities; workshops; advice on pre-arrival, immigration, study and work permits, health insurance, employment and volunteer opportunities, and more!
  • Wellness – Athletics (Opens In A New Tab), medical clinic, 24/7 access to free mental health counselling, support for students with disabilities
  • Employability – get support with job search, networking, resume building, interview skills, volunteer opportunities (Opens In A New Tab), job shadowing, career planning, job boards, career fairs; get work experience through co-operative education (“co-op,” or paid work-study opportunities), internships, exchanges
  • Academic support – develop key academic skills through: workshops on academic writing, presenting, exam prep; peer assisted study sessions; advice on how to tailor your degree
  • Campus Safety (Opens In A New Tab)

Scholarships and Bursaries

Entrance Scholarships are automatically offered to all high school students who meet Carleton’s academic and language requirements. The scholarship amount is based on the applicant’s previous academic performance.

Students with an admission average over 90 per cent are eligible to apply for a Prestige Scholarships, Carleton’s highest awards. These competitive scholarships are awarded based on both a student’s admission average and participation in community and secondary school activities.

Housing

Your home away from home. Last year, over 3,600 students chose to live on campus in one of our residence buildings. Living in residence is a great choice for international students who are adjusting to a new life in Canada.

First-year residence guarantee – At Carleton, a double traditional room is guaranteed to all new, first-year students entering directly from high school—provided they receive an offer of admission on or before a specific date (usually mid May).

What does residence offer?

Friendship

  • Experience university life as part of a vibrant, close-knit community
  • Meet people from around the world and make friendships that last a lifetime

Support

  • Access support from a network of Residence Life staff who are there to help make sure you reach your academic and personal goals, and have a rewarding experience

Convenience

  • Get to class, meals or workouts within minutes via five kilometres of underground tunnels
  • Live minutes away from your classes, the library, athletics and a large dining hall
  • Easily arrange meetings with friends, study partners or professors

Community

  • Participate in events, programs and committees in and around residence
  • Visit Raven’s Roost, your student hang out with video games, pool tables, tv and more
  • Volunteer in the community or participate in activities to promote sustainability, such as Earth Hour, or zero waste workshops

Traditional or suite-style rooms
The majority of our rooms for first-year students are traditional double rooms, with shared washroom facilities. A limited number of single rooms are available for first-year students. The suite style provides four-person suites (either two doubles or four singles) with a shared common area, washroom facility and small food preparation area (with fridge and microwave).

Students living in residence also have a meal plan, and enjoy seasonal specials, smoothie and ramen stations, have access to a dietician, as well as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal food, and fresh locally grown produce and sustainable seafood. If you’re craving a meal from home, you can also request a recipe!

Contact Information

Location

Student Testimonials

Read about the experiences of past international students.

  1. The Carleton community has pushed me to grow, and encouraged me to become who I am today. Why would I recommend Carleton? It’s one of the best for international students in terms of services, the people are very friendly and welcoming, and it’s an amazing campus!

    Hania, Bachelor of Science (Chemistry/Nanotechnology) From: Mauritius
  2. Carleton has allowed me to open my eyes to new and exciting challenges…. I feel lucky to say that I am surrounded by intelligent, inspirational, strong and fearless women that have supported me since day one in my journey in Biology at Carleton. They have taught me to be and believe in myself!

    Sarita, Bachelor of Science (Biology) From: Peru
  3. Carleton was my top choice because of diversity – in terms of the school, the people that go [to Carleton] as well as the services that are offered. Because there are so many different people, that leads to so many different perspectives.

    Laquesha, Bachelor of Global and International Studies From: Trinidad and Tobago

Have questions about admissions?

To learn more about the admissions criteria for each of our programs please contact the admissions office.

An overhead view of students sitting at tables.

Contact Admissions