PhD Requirements for International Applicants
Thank you for your interest in our PhD Economics at Carleton University!
Program Information
The Ph.D. program is offered by the Ottawa-Carleton Graduate School of Economics (OCGSE). This is a joint institution consisting of the Economics Departments at Carleton and the University of Ottawa. The program stresses the application of economic theory to the analysis of Canadian economic policy and economic development. Eight areas of specialization are available for intensive study and thesis research: economic development, the economics of the environment, industrial organization, international economics, monetary economics, econometrics, labour and public economics. The program of courses and thesis guidance, drawing upon the faculty of the two departments, will encompass course requirements, policy-oriented workshops, comprehensive examinations, and a thesis. Students are expected to have or acquire proficiency in mathematics and statistics before proceeding with the program. The expected term to successfully complete the Ph.D. program is five years.
Admission Eligibility
Please note that the typical requirement for admission into the Ph.D. program is a master’s degree in economics with a GPA of A- or higher, from a recognized university; however, applicants who have completed the master’s level core courses (micro, macro and econometrics) will be considered for admission.
A PhD Economicsapplicant’s admission CGPA is calculated using their master’s grades only.
Students in Carleton’s M.A. Economics complete the core courses listed below and are expected to earn a min. A- in all of them if they want to be considered for our PhD.
- ECON 5020: Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 5021: Macroeconomic Theory
- ECON 5027: Econometrics I
- ECON 5029: Methods of Economic Research
The Graduate Record Examination is not required but recommended for PhD applicants with degrees from universities outside of Canada.
The application deadline for the fall 2026 admission is February 1, 2026, but we will strive to assess applications within a 3–5-week window from the date an application (with all required documents including 2 referee reports) is received.
Students applying to a program offered under a Joint Institute need to follow the application procedures and meet admission requirements at the university to which they are applying.
Applicants are required to apply to one university based on the location of their potential supervisor and specific research area. If an applicant is interested in more than one research area, they should apply to the university offering their first choice.
Supervision is only assigned once students have finished their Ph.D. coursework.
Proficiency in English is necessary to pursue graduate studies at Carleton University.
All applicants whose first language is not English must satisfy this requirement in one of the following ways:
- (i) An overall score of 70 on the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment;
- (ii) A TOEFL score of 100 IBT overall with a min. score in each component of writing: 24; speaking: 24; reading: 24; and listening: 24;
- (iii) An overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a min. of 6.5 in each band score;
- (iv) Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) with minimum 75 overall (min. 75 in each Communicative Skill)
- (v) A Duolingo (DET) overall score of 130; Literacy- 125; Conversation- 125; Comprehension- 125; and Production- 125.
You can also prove your language proficiency by presenting official certification (transcripts) that you have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree within the past three years in a university in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, or any country in which the primary language is English, where the language of instruction in the relevant educational institution was English, and the language of instruction in your most recently completed undergraduate or graduate degree was English. Complete and submit (upload) with your application documents the Confirmation of Language Proficiency form. Please note that the application for admission will be considered incomplete until the language proficiency requirement has been met.
Funding
Funding is only available to full-time students. On assessment, students may be offered a teaching assistantship, a graduate scholarship, and, if eligible, an admission scholarship or an entrance scholarship. Please note that there is no guarantee of admissions or funding.
Study Permit Information
NEW Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regulations regarding Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) came into effect January 22, 2025.
If you have not applied for a study permit prior to January 22, 2025, and you are not in a PAL exception category listed on the IRCC website, you’ll need to obtain a PAL from Carleton University.
Note that a tuition deposit of CAD$2,000 is required to obtain a PAL. The tuition deposit requirement cannot be waived. It is mandatory, cannot be waived, and is non-refundable, except in cases where a study permit is denied.
Applicants need to accept their offer of admission and pay the CAD $2,000 tuition deposit. Once these conditions are met, Carleton will initiate the PAL process automatically. Within approximately 7-10 business days after the deposit payment has been received, applicants will be able to access their PAL in Carleton Central, along with their offer of admission. Notifications are not sent when the PAL is added to their account, so applicants must check Carleton Central a week after the deposit payment has been received by Carleton.
Please note: Wire transfer payments can take up to 14 days for verification.
This verification time may delay issuance of the PAL.
Questions related to study permits, Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) should be sent to Carleton International Student Service Office (ISSO): isso@carleton.ca