Carleton University: Admission and Fees for International Students

Carleton University is a public university in Ottawa, Canada's capital, on a riverside campus along the Rideau River. International applicants apply directly to bachelor's programmes through Carleton's own Carleton360 portal or through OUAC, and the main deadline for students from schools outside Canada and the US is 1 April 2027. International tuition is frozen for three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) at $27,380, $31,590 or $38,610 (CAD 39,000, 45,000 or 55,000) a year depending on the degree. With IELTS as low as 5.0, Carleton can admit you straight into a degree with compulsory academic English courses in the first terms.

Do not confuse it with Carleton College, a small liberal arts college in Minnesota, USA, or with the University of Ottawa, a separate university in the same city.

Who Carleton suits

Ottawa is home to federal ministries and embassies, and Carleton's strengths reflect that: public affairs and international studies (Faculty of Public Affairs, Global and International Studies), journalism and media, business at the Sprott School of Business, engineering, computer science, cybersecurity and data science. Many programmes, computer science among them, offer co-op work terms.

Carleton is worth a close look if:

• you want a capital-city university without Toronto rents;
• you value predictable costs, since your international tuition rate will not rise before 2028/29;
• your English is at IELTS 5.0–6.0 and you would rather not spend a separate year at a language school.

Compare it with other options if:

• you want to study in French or benefit from a French-stream discount — the University of Ottawa offers this;
• you are after a large metropolis and a research brand — see the University of Toronto;
• you mainly want an applied qualification at a lower price; Ottawa's public college, Algonquin College, offers diplomas.

For the wider landscape, see studying in Canada and universities in Canada.

Entry from a Russian or Kazakh school

Carleton does not publish a separate requirements table for the Russian attestat. In the Admission Requirements tool on each programme page, applicants with this certificate choose "Other national curriculum", and the tool lists the prerequisites and documents for that programme. To apply, you upload copies of your Year 10 and Year 11 grades; Carleton uses them for a first, often conditional, decision. Final official transcripts come from your school once available.

How selection works:

1. Programme order matters. Carleton makes an offer for one programme at a time, starting with your first choice if you qualify for it.
2. Alternate offers. If you miss the requirements for your choice, Carleton may offer a related programme you do qualify for.
3. Timing. A decision usually takes 4–6 weeks after your file is complete. Admission is rolling, so applying early helps.
4. Extra materials. Architecture, industrial design, music, nursing and some other programmes need portfolios or supplementary forms, and some have an earlier deadline of 1 March 2027.

Our guide to Canada after 11 years of school explains the routes open to school leavers.

English: direct entry or entry with ESL courses

This is what sets Carleton apart from many Ontario universities: there are two sets of scores.

Table 1 — no further English requirement:

Table 2 — admission with an ESL requirement (ESLR): IELTS 5.0 (4.5 per band), TOEFL iBT 3.0 on the new scale, Duolingo 80, PTE 31, CAEL 40, Cambridge 154. In the first terms you take academic English courses ESLA 1300, 1500 and 1900 alongside a limited number of degree courses, from 0.5 to 1.5 credits. This can take up to three terms, and the degree credits you earn count towards your bachelor's.

Admission with ESLR is not available for Information Technology, International Business, Journalism and Humanities, Media Production and Design, Public Affairs and Policy Management, or post-baccalaureate diplomas. Letters from schools confirming English-medium teaching are not accepted.

Application deadlines for 2027

Two ways to apply:

• Directly to Carleton. Best if you are applying to one or two Ontario universities: the CAD 100 ($70) fee covers two Carleton programmes and is paid by card.
• Through OUAC. The common Ontario portal, where the CAD 166 ($120) fee covers three choices across universities.

Either way, create a Carleton360 account to track status, document requests and the decision. Our guide to bachelor's degrees in Canada walks through Canadian application portals.

Tuition: three-year rate freeze

Carleton has frozen international bachelor's tuition for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29. Rates are per academic year (September–April) at full-time load:

Mandatory fees are not frozen: they cover UHIP health insurance, the U-Pass transit pass, campus health services and the gym. After 2028 Carleton expects increases of 3–8% a year.

Carleton's 8-month budget estimate: residence with meal plan $9,840 (CAD 14,010) or off-campus housing with food about $11,230 (CAD 16,000), books $980 (CAD 1,400) and personal costs $2,110 (CAD 3,000). Pay only Carleton University through its approved channels, never a third party. For legal payment routes from Russia, see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia; for comparisons, see the cost of studying in Canada.

Scholarships for international undergraduates

Any award attached to your offer appears in the offer letter. Carleton decides who receives each award. Other funding sources are listed in scholarships in Canada.

Residence: first-year rooms and year-round living

High school students who receive an admission offer by 31 May 2027 and accept the residence offer on time receive a traditional double room. To confirm it, you pay a non-refundable Residence Advance Payment of $490 (CAD 700) by 7 June 2027, which counts towards your fees. For 2026/27 residence is already full and new applications are queued.

2026/27 rates for 8 months, including unlimited meals at Teraanga Commons:

Since September 2025, international students can stay in residence year-round — up to 12 months in each year of study, for at most five consecutive years. The summer months need a separate application each year, and you may have to change rooms for the summer.

Deposit, PAL and study permit

After you receive an offer:

1. Accept the offer in Carleton360 (or OUAC if you applied there).
2. Pay the CAD 2,000 ($1,400) deposit. It is a prepayment of tuition and is refunded only if your study permit is refused and you send proof before the term starts.
3. Get your PAL. The provincial letter appears in Carleton360 7–10 business days after the deposit, with no notification, so check yourself. A PAL cannot be reissued, so your legal name, address and date of birth in Carleton360 must match your passport before you accept the offer.
4. Apply for the study permit. Carleton advises applying as soon as the PAL arrives and lets you prepay part of your tuition to support the application. Incoming students get free access to BorderPass, an application support service.

On the cap: for 2026 IRCC gave Ontario 104,780 application spaces for applicants who need a PAL. A PAL is valid until the end of the year it was issued, so a September 2027 start will use the 2027 cap, which IRCC sets in fall 2026. Master's and doctoral students at public institutions no longer need a PAL.

For Russian citizens:

• Funds. From 1 September 2026 IRCC requires $16,460 (CAD 23,448) for a year of living costs on top of tuition and travel. The CAD 22,895 figure still seen on some university pages applies to applications submitted up to 31 August 2026. Because of currency controls, you must show the money can actually be transferred; TD's student GIC is not available to residents of Russia.
• Passport and biometrics. Since 28 January 2026, Canada's visa application centres in Russia no longer accept passports or documents, according to IRCC's list of visa application centres. When IRCC asks for your passport, you submit it at a centre outside Russia that accepts documents, for example in Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty or Astana. Biometrics are given after IRCC's instruction letter; before booking, check on the chosen centre's website which services it currently offers.
• Medical exam. Required for residents of Russia and Kazakhstan, with an IRCC panel physician.
• Fees. $110 (CAD 150) for the permit and $60 (CAD 85) for biometrics.
• Work. Up to 24 hours a week off campus during studies.

See our Canada study permit guide and studying in Canada as a Russian citizen.

Working after graduation

Bachelor's and master's graduates do not have to meet the PGWP field-of-study list. They do need CLB 7 in all four skills, for example IELTS General Training with 6.0 in every band; IELTS Academic does not count for this. The PGWP length depends on the length of your programme. Details are in working while studying and the PGWP.

Master's and PhD

International fees for fall and winter 2026/27, including mandatory fees (Student Accounts table for thesis-based programmes):

Some non-thesis programmes are charged per billing hour, and the summer term is billed separately. Master's students do not need a PAL. For the wider picture, see master's degrees in Canada.

Recognition of a Carleton degree in Russia

Carleton University is on Russia's list of foreign institutions whose qualifications are recognised without a separate procedure (Government Order No. 186-r, as amended on 19 February 2026). The list names Bachelor with Honours, Master and PhD. Because the bachelor's is listed specifically as Bachelor with Honours, choose an Honours programme if you will need the degree in Russia; recognition of a non-Honours degree is decided by Rosobrnadzor.

Carleton or the University of Ottawa

University of Ottawa figures come from our profile of that university, which lists its official sources and check date.

Timeline for fall 2027

1. October–November 2026. Choose a programme and check the "Other national curriculum" prerequisites in the Admission Requirements tool.
2. November 2026 – January 2027. Take IELTS or another test and apply in Carleton360 with your Year 10–11 grades.
3. By 1 March 2027. With an average of 90%+, apply for a Prestige Scholarship.
4. By 1 April 2027. Main deadline; send any missing documents.
5. April–May 2027. Receive the decision, accept, pay the deposit, and download the PAL 7–10 business days later.
6. By 7 June 2027. Confirm residence and pay the advance.
7. June–August 2027. Medical exam, IRCC application, biometrics after IRCC's instruction letter; the passport goes to a visa centre outside Russia when IRCC requests it.

Common mistakes

• Confusing Carleton University with Carleton College or uOttawa. They are three different institutions.
• Ranking a fallback programme first. You receive one offer, for the first choice you qualify for.
• Assuming the freeze covers the whole budget. Mandatory fees and residence rise separately.
• Waiting for a PAL notification. There is none; check Carleton360 yourself.
• Choosing International Business or IT with IELTS 5.0. These programmes do not admit students with an ESL requirement.

FAQ

Can I enter Carleton with a Russian school certificate and no foundation year?

Yes. Carleton considers graduates of foreign schools for direct entry to a bachelor's degree, assessing the attestat as "Other national curriculum" with prerequisites shown in each programme's requirements tool. The university's admissions office makes the decision.

How much does Carleton University cost for international students?

In 2026/27, tuition is $27,380, $31,590 or $38,610 (CAD 39,000, 45,000 or 55,000) a year depending on the degree, plus about CAD 2,500 in mandatory fees. These rates are fixed for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29; after 2028 Carleton expects increases of 3–8% a year.

Can I get into Carleton with IELTS 5.0?

For most programmes, yes, through admission with an ESL requirement: you take academic English in the first terms alongside degree courses. Exceptions include IT, International Business, Journalism and Humanities, Media Production and Design, and Public Affairs; the university sets the conditions of each offer.

What scholarships does Carleton give international students?

Automatically, an Entrance Scholarship of CAD 1,000–3,000 a year and the President's Welcome Award of CAD 2,000–5,000 for the first year. With a 90%+ average you can apply for a Prestige Scholarship by 1 March. Carleton decides on every award and its amount.

Is a Carleton degree recognised in Russia?

Yes. Carleton is on the Order No. 186-r list, so a Bachelor with Honours, Master or PhD is recognised without a separate procedure. For other qualifications, Rosobrnadzor decides on recognition.

When does Carleton issue the PAL, and what if it contains an error?

The PAL appears in Carleton360 7–10 business days after you accept the offer and pay the CAD 2,000 deposit. It cannot be reissued, so check your details against your passport beforehand; IRCC then decides on the study permit.

Sources

• Carleton: how international students apply, 2026–2027 dates and deadlines, English requirements, international applicants — checked 2 October 2026
• Carleton: USA and international costs and scholarships
• Carleton: deposit, PAL and BorderPass
• Carleton Housing: 2026/27 fees, applying to residence, residence for admitted students
• Carleton Student Accounts: 2026/27 international graduate fees, non-thesis fees
• IRCC: proof of financial support, PAL/TAL, 2026 cap allocations, visa application centres, fees, PGWP eligibility, medical exams by country
• Russian Government Order No. 186-r of 30 January 2023, as amended on 19 February 2026

US dollar figures use the ECB reference rate of 1 October 2026 (CAD 1 = $0.7020), rounded to $10. All data checked on 2 October 2026.

If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

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