Changing Engineering Programs
Engineering students who have attained second-year status and have a minimum CGPA of 5.00 can access to the Change of Program Elements (COPE) form in Carleton Central.
Engineering students can use the COPE form to:
- change majors within the BEng program (ex: Civil to Electrical), or
- declare or change a program stream (for Aerospace, or Software engineering), or
- declare a minor.
NOTE: Starting May 2026, the mechatronics engineering program will accept transfers from current engineering students (25FA Admit term only) into the program.
Timelines for Submitting your Change of Program Elements Request
Effective March 15, 2026 the following timelines for COPE requests for all Engineering programs will apply:
| Change Effective For: | Fall Term | Winter Term | Summer Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| COPE Open/Processed | May 1 – June 20 | October 1 – November 20 | February 1 – April 1 |
Submitting a COPE request during these time periods will ensure students with approved requests will have time to consult with their new program advisor in advance of peak registration periods.
Note: any requests submitted outside of the time periods stated above will not be answered until the next COPE processing period opens.
Requirements for Change of Program Elements Requests
- With the exception of first-year AERO students’ stream selection; Change of Program Elements requests are evaluated based on merit (CGPA) and the number of spaces open in the program requested at the time of submission.
- Changing engineering programs is never guaranteed. It is based on available space which changes year to year, and available spaces are offered to students in order of decreasing CGPA until programs are full. It is possible that in a given year no changes will be granted to a program if it is full.
- Please contact the Engineering Academic Support Office to confirm eligibility criteria for the engineering program you are seeking to change into.
- Students can contact the program advisor of the program they’re interested in changing into if they have questions about how it would impact progression/status.
Important Notes:
- Please be certain about your COPE change request before you submit a request — once a COPE request is submitted and if approved, it will be automatically applied – there is no option to revert back to your previous program (a new COPE request will be required). Do not submit a COPE request until you are certain you want to proceed with the program change.
- Until a Change of Program Elements request is approved, engineering students will be limited to register in courses included in their current degree program requirements.
- When a Change of Program Elements request is approved, students will be subject to the rules, regulations and degree requirements in the new catalog year. Catalog year appears at the top of the academic audit, which can be run in Carleton Central. For questions or clarification about which catalog year to follow, please contact the Academic Support Office.
- For general information on the process for applying to change your program, please refer to the Registrar’s Office Change of Program Elements.
Adding a Minor
Engineering students are permitted to add a minor to their degree.
For advising on minor requirements, please contact the Department offering the minor you’re interested in. A Departmental Advisor list can be found via the Academic Advising Centre.
Please note: because Engineering programs include no “free electives”, adding a minor (which all include 4.0 credits of course requirements) will extend how long it takes you to complete your degree requirements (engineering major and minor included). With this in mind, please ensure that you have a plan to complete your degree within the eight (8) year time limit, as per the Bachelor of Engineering Regulations.