BGINS FAQs

The BGInS office is located in 2125 Dunton Tower. You will need to take the elevator up to the 21st floor and find the sign that says “BGInS Program Office”.

Academic advising for BGInS students is provided in-house by Andrea Kayembe. Students may also consult the academic unit offering their stream or specialization for advice on stream and specialization requirements. The Academic Advising Centre on campus does not service BGInS students.

Services offered by BGInS include:

• Course selection advice
• Language requirement advice
• Support in selecting an International Experience Requirement
• Periodic check-ins to review students’ audits and academic progress
• Advice on Academic Performance Evaluation
• Referrals to support services on campus
• Review of students’ progress as they approach graduation
• And much more!

The best place to contact for information regarding Admissions to the BGInS program would be Undergraduate Admissions. We recommend consulting their website first, and if you have follow-up questions, you can e-mail: admissions@carleton.ca or stop by in person at 315 Robertson Hall, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Prospective transfer students are encouraged to first contact Admissions to determine their eligibility to transfer in (https://admissions.carleton.ca/contactandgeneralinformation/). Students who are eligible to transfer in are strongly encouraged to receive academic advising from BGInS on course selection, IER eligibility and general timelines. Academic advising is provided by Andrea Kayembe.

Current transfer students are encouraged to receive regular advising from BGInS so that students have the right tools to select courses and understand their requirements. Academic advising is provided by Andrea Kayembe.

Students who already have intermediate or higher second language skills upon entry may be exempted from the requirement to take language courses. To seek exemption from language courses, students must send an email to BGInS providing an explanation of their circumstances. Each situation will be treated on its merits, but the following general guidelines apply:

1. Secondary school language of instruction: Students whose secondary school transcripts show that their primary language of instruction in secondary school was a language other than English may be exempted from taking language courses.
2. French immersion: Students who have successfully completed Grade 12 French immersion or the equivalent at a Canadian high school may be exempted from taking language courses. Grade 12 core French is not sufficient for an exemption.
3. Proficient speakers: Students who do not qualify under either of the first two categories, but who nonetheless consider themselves proficient speakers of a language other than English, may be exempted from taking language courses.  More information can be found here to completion of one of the designated language courses linked above.

We recommend that students receive advising on this topic so that they smooth the transition from one specialization or stream to another. Academic advising is provided by Andrea Kayembe. Students may apply for changes to be made to their BGInS degree through the Change Program Element function in Carleton Central.

It is one thing to study a part of the world, and another to live there. For this reason, the BGInS program features an international experience requirement as an integral part of the program. Many students find studying abroad to be an enriching, even life-transforming experience. As well, current research shows that students who have studied abroad have a competitive advantage in the workplace. There are five ways to fulfill the BGInS International Experience Requirement (IER). Each option has
different timelines, costs, and academic requirements. Click here for more information to help you choose which IER option is right for you.

Yes. Students who participate in more than one IER will only receive the IER bursary once. Students interested in pursuing more than one IER option are encouraged to receive advising from BGInS staff.

The best place to contact is Awards and Financial Aid at awards@carleton.ca or in person at 202 Robertson Hall Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

A Minor is a cohesive set of courses that offer a foundation in another area of study. A minor usually consists of 4.0 credits. It is possible to complete a minor in conjunction with a Bachelor in Global and International studies, we encourage students to consult the BGInS Program Administrator, Andrea Kayembe, for academic advising before adding a minor to their program.

A double Minor cannot be completed in conjunction with a Bachelor in Global and International studies.

Students completing the Bachelor in Global and International studies degree cannot complete a Combined Honours (or double Major).