Pre-Arrival Guide

Before you do anything else, make sure your place at Carleton is official and you have all the required documents to apply for study permit if you need one.  

• Accept your offer of admission  

• Pay the $2,000 admission deposit to receive provincial attestation letter (PAL) 

• Check if you have all the required documents from Carleton for your study permit application  
• Learn more about study permits and submit your application

Need help with this step?  

Email: international@carleton.ca 

• If you were offered a room in residence, the deadline to accept your offer is June 8.
• If you are planning on living off-campus, visit the off-campus living resource page.

I-Start Orientation is a free, online mini-course designed for new international students. You will learn the essential information needed to help your transition to student life at Carleton and in Canada.

This virtual program features go at your own pace modules which you can revisit when you need it. Additionally, registrants will have access to live sessions held through ZOOM featuring upper year student leaders and members of our Global Opportunities and International Student Services Office (GO-ISSO) who can answer your questions and help you prepare for your transition to Carleton. Registration for I-Start is now open!

Have questions about study permits, working in Canada, navigating campus, or making Ottawa feel like home? We’ve got you covered! Join the GO-ISSO for our Ask Us Anything: New International Student Q&A! 

See our list of upcoming sessions below. If you would like to register for a reminder in advance of the event, register here.  

• Tuesday June 16: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

• Tuesday July 7: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

• Tuesday July 21: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

• Tuesday August 4: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

• Tuesday August 18: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 

• Register for classes on Carleton Central.
• Class registration opens early July; make sure you review your time ticket.
  • Undergraduate students can access registration assistance on the Registrar’s website
  • Graduate students can find registration information on the Grad Student website.
  • Attend online info sessions on course registration

The GO-ISSO is hosting International Orientation Day which is a free event dedicated to welcoming incoming international students.  Join us on Friday, September 4, 2026 for a day of presentations, workshops, and activities that are designed to help you transition to life in Ottawa, Canada. 

Highlights of the day will include: 

• Interactive activities and opportunities to engage with upper year international students. 

• Presentations and workshops led by campus partners. 

• Catered lunch providing you with the opportunity to mix and mingle with other new students. 

• Campus tours and more! 

If you haven’t already registered, don’t miss out on your chance to participate in one of the most exciting weeks of your university career. Fall Orientation is hosted by the Student Experience Office and provides incoming students with a week of fun activities, a chance to meet fellow students, and an opportunity to gain the skills necessary to help transition to university life at Carleton. 

We offer two unique Fall Orientation programs. Join over 3,000 other students in the program that is right for you! Join us September 6 – September 13, 2026. 

• Central Orientation – open to students in any faculty 

• EngFrosh – for students entering the Faculty of Engineering and Design (limited space) 

Your orientation registration will include: 

• A Ravens Starter Kit containing your official Ravens Hoodie and other swag items. 

• Access to activities that will be offered for you to meet and interact with fellow first-year students. 

• Information about the many clubs, societies and services that Carleton has to offer. 

Visit the Fall Orientation website to register online today! Space in each session is limited and the cost to participate in this year’s program ranges from $140 – $150 plus HST.  

• Note important dates and deadlines within the New Student Checklist available through the Registrar’s Office.
• Register for classes on Carleton Central.
  • Undergraduate students can access registration assistance on the Registrar’s website
  • Graduate students can find registration information on the Grad Student website.

• Find a place to live. Apply to live on campus on the Housing Services page OR visit the off-campus living resource page.
• Be sure to pack a universal or travel power adaptor for any technology you are bringing in the event that your technology does not correspond with voltage or plugs in Canada.

• Make a plan for transferring funds from home to Canada.
• View your account balance on Carleton Central and pay your tuition, residence, and auxiliary fees through your student account.
  • For international payments, the approved methods are through CIBC, Convera and Flywire (which can all be accessed by logging into Carleton Central).

• Pre-order your Campus Card online.
• Follow our Ravens Student Life team on social media on Instagram and TikTok.
• Download the Carleton mobile app.
• Check your Carleton University e-mail regularly for important university updates.
• Review the GO-ISSO’s events calendar and sign up for upcoming social events.

• Familiarize yourself with Ottawa’s transportation systems.
• Read about Canadian culture to get ready for your Canadian adventure

• Learn what is included in your mandatory University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) and consider travel insurance for the journey to Canada.
• Pack important medical records and order extra prescription medication you may need.