FAQ – MSc in HSTP

• Applications are submitted online: http://graduate.carleton.ca/apply-online/
• Once an applicant has submitted their online application and paid the non-refundable application fee of $100, Carleton will email instructions on how to access Carleton Central and the applicant will be assign a User ID.
• A complete list of admission requirements can be found here
• The following documents are required for the application:
  • Transcripts (all post-secondary transcripts are required)
  • Letters of Reference (2 required – letters of reference should be submitted by former professors, preferably project/thesis supervisors).
  • Statement of Intent
  • Health Research Projects Preference Form
  • CV/Resume
  • Language Proficiency (ESL test scores are required if applicable) – full details here

Your Statement of Intent should consiste of two parts:

1 – A 750 word Statement of Intent that indicates how you envision the program will help further your career goals.  It will be used to assess the program’s ability to meet those goals and will help determine if this program is a good fit for you.

2 – A 1000 word Statement of Experience detailing your specific skills in research design, analysis, and writing; your ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams; and your previous experience that will ensure your success in this interdisciplinary program.

All applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average of 9.0/12.0 (B+ average) over the last 2 years of full time study, to be considered for the program.  However, the MSc in HSTP program is highly competitive and thus most of our successful applicants will have a GPA closer to a 10.0 (A-).

The MSc in HSTP is a 20 month program for which we only admit students once per year, in the Fall term.  The preliminary deadline is February 1st, from which we will fill most of our available spaces.  The online application system will remain open until August 1st, however remaining spaces will be very limited..

GRE scores are not required for applications to the graduate programs in the Department of Health Sciences

Official transcripts (and/or WES evaluations) are not required at the time of the application.  Applicants must scan copies of their original transcripts and upload them to their online application.  If an applicant is successful, a conditional offer of admission will be given, and candidates must make arrangements to have officially conferred degrees and transcripts (or WES evaluations) sent directly to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs prior to enrollment in their graduate program.

Applicants who have been in the work force for a number of years may choose to provide professional referees.  Keeping in mind that academic references are typically preferred, as there are questions on the referee form that refer to the applicants skills and experience as an academic student.

The statistics course must have been taken at the university, and must have been taken for the duration of one full academic term.

No, the MSc in HSTP is a 20 month program that cannot be completed on a part-time basis.

The MSc in HSTP is a competitive program that admits on average 15 students per year.

We encourage, and accept, students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, and it is not an admission requirement to have a science degree.  All applicants must have completed at least a 4 year (honours) bachelors degree to be considered for the program, and we welcome applications from those with a unique and diverse background.  It is important that we admit students with various skillsets and expertise, as this helps increase the interdisciplinary nature of our collaborative program.

Applicants for the MSC in HSTP program do not need to find a research supervisor prior to the application.  The topics and supervisors of the Interdisciplinary Health Research Projects (HLTH 5504 / 5505) will vary from year to year.  As such, applicants must review the proposed list of projects, and provide a ranking of their top 3 projects at the time of the application.

No this is not a requirement, however this is asset that would prepare you for the research and data analysis required of the Interdisciplinary Health Research Project (HLTH 5504 / 5505).

At the time of the application, successful candidates will be considered for a departmental scholarship, and entrance scholarship (for those with a GPA of 10.5 or above).  Offers of admission to the MSC in HSTP do not include a TA award or RA award.

Students are welcome to apply for the Outside Priority TA opportunities.  The application will become available via Carleton Central, after students are registered for their course work.

There is no funding for international applicants.

Students are encouraged to apply for external awards (i.e. OGS, NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC) prior to, or while enrolled in the program.  Students can also consider applying for internal awards.  If accepted into the program, the department will keep you abreast of these opportunities as they become available.