Admission to Carleton’s graduate programs is competitive. It is important to familiarize yourself with the specific requirements of the program to which you wish to apply. Although each program may vary slightly, the overall admission process is the same for all graduate programs.
The best way to connect with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPA) is by email at graduate.studies@carleton.ca. You should receive a reply to your inquiry within three business days. We also offer in-person services Mondays through Fridays at 512 Tory Building from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Visit the following links to stay updated on service delivery changes and options:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
How to Apply
Explore
Carleton offers more than 100 graduate programs to choose from. You can find more information about the program, research areas and specific admission requirements by visiting the Admission website.
It’s important that you find a program that fits your own research and study interests by looking at the fields of specialization and/or concentrations of the program in which you are interested.
Prepare
Throughout the online application, you will need to upload required documents for your program of choice. Visit our website for a complete list of documents. The most commonly required documents include:
- Transcripts
- Referee Contact Information
- Statement of Intent
- CV/Resume
- Writing Sample
- Language Proficiency
A specific list of required documents will be available once an application has been started. Take time to prepare your documents prior to starting an application.
Apply
After you have decided on the program(s) to which you would like to apply, you will need to create a Carleton360 account. This will be your specific Carleton account to which only you have access.
In Carleton360, click on Apply Now on the right side of the screen or click the Applications tab on the top menu.
Program Selection: Search for the program to which you are applying. Search by Department, Degree or Keyword. From the search results, select the program to which you are applying. Ensure you select the correct program, as some programs have similar names.
Term of Application: Review entry dates. All terms in which applications are open will be displayed. Choose the term to which you are applying.
Getting Started: Review instructions and details of what to expect as you move through the application. Note that program and deadline information is displayed at the top of each screen. You must click the acknowledgment at the bottom of the screen in order to complete this page.
As you move through the online application, you will need to enter details about your academic history, referee information, English language test score (if applicable), etc. It is not necessary to complete the online application in a single session. You may return to your partially completed application as many times as needed to complete and submit it.
Documents that you do not submit within the online application must be uploaded prior to the specific program application deadline. When you access your application details in Carleton Central, you will be advised of all of the documents that are required for your particular program. Failure to upload the required documents as described may delay the processing of your application.
After you submit your application you will be required to pay the non-refundable application fee of C$110 (C$160 for the MBA program) for programs with admission in 2023. For programs with admission in 2024, the application fee is C$120 (C$170 for the MBA program). This fee is payable to Carleton University and can be paid by INTERAC online or Credit Card. Once your fee payment has been processed, you will be redirected to a Confirmation page with further information and instructions. Within 1-3 business days, you will receive an email with further instructions and information on how to log in to Carleton Central.
Once the application has been submitted and your application fee has been processed, it cannot be modified.
Note: Application fees for graduate programs will not be waived.
Check your application status
The academic unit will review your application, which may not occur until after the application deadline has passed. To find out the status of your application, you can log into Carleton Central and follow the “Graduate Admissions” link.
Once the academic unit has selected candidates for admission, recommendations are made to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs for final approval. If approved, an email is sent to applicants informing them to log into Carleton Central to view their Offer of Admission and Funding as well as their Statement of Standing on Admission.
If you receive an offer of admission and funding, you can accept the offer by logging into Carleton Central and accepting it online.
Applying to More Than One Program
A separate online application must be completed for each program to which you are interested in applying. Each application will cost an additional application fee of C$110 (C$160 for the MBA program) for programs with admission in 2023. For programs with admission in 2024, the application fee is C$120 (except for the MBA program).
You must complete each application as per the instructions for that program. You must also submit separate required documents and new Referee details for each application you complete.
Deadlines
Complete applications (including requires documents and supplementary forms) for admission to graduate programs may be submitted at any time before the appropriate application deadline. However, applicants who apply early may increase their chances of securing financial support for their graduate studies. For information on application deadlines, please visit our Deadlines website.
Required Documents
Applications to graduate programs at Carleton University require various documents such as aptitude test results, transcripts, letters of reference, a statement of intent, a writing sample, CV/Resumé, etc. This additional information is required to provide more background to assess an applicant’s suitability for entrance into a graduate program.
Required documents will vary depending on the program. Specific forms are available in your online application as .PDF documents . Please note that you must first save any Supplementary Forms to your computer before completing them electronically. Forms which are opened within your browser will not save data. Adobe Acrobat Reader is one program that can be used to open and fill out .PDF documents.
After you have submitted your online application and paid the non-refundable application fee, Carleton will email you instructions on how to access Carleton Central where you can upload any required documents not uploaded within the application.
Review of Applications
After you have submitted your application, the application fee, and the required documents, the academic unit can begin to review your application. The time frame for processing applications can be different for each program. Decisions may be made on a rolling basis and may be made after the application deadline. You can review the status of your application in Carleton360, Carleton Central or contact the Graduate Administrator in the appropriate academic unit.
Other Important Information
Carleton is unable to process incomplete applications. It is your responsibility to ensure that your online application is submitted with payment and that all required documentation are received by Carleton before the application deadline. All information, documents, and transcripts supplied during the application process become the property of Carleton University and will not be returned.
If evidence of misrepresentation or fraudulent or falsified documentation is found, the penalty is severe. Carleton University reserves the right to revoke any offer of admission and/or financial support. Carleton University may also disclose evidence of any misrepresentation or fraudulent or falsified documentation to all Canadian universities, to Citizenship and Immigration Canada and to law enforcement personnel where appropriate.
If you have any program specific questions or wish to inquire about your application status, you can visit Carleton Central or contact the Graduate Administrator in the academic unit of the program to which you have applied.