Why choose Carleton for your exchange?
Carleton’s reputation is built on its strengths in the fields of Journalism, Public Affairs, International Affairs, Architecture and High Technology. Students benefit from the interdisciplinary, active, hands-on approach to teaching. Our beautiful campus spans more than 100 acres, between the Rideau River and the historic Rideau Canal, just a short distance from downtown Ottawa.
We invite to review our Incoming Student Exchange Program brochure (PDF) and read past testimonials from students who have enjoyed an incoming exchange program with us.
If you have questions about the program, please contact us at exchange@carleton.ca.
This page includes:
Exchange Process
1
Eligibility
Exchange students study at Carleton for a single semester or a full academic year. To attend Carleton as an exchange student, your home institution must have an exchange agreement with Carleton. Check to see if your university is on our partner institutions list.
For students whose first language is not English, they are required to meet the English language proficiency requirements referenced below:
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Minimum English Language Requirements for Undergraduate Students: |
Test date should be no more than 24 months prior to application:
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Minimum English Language Requirements for Graduate Students: |
Test date should be no more than 24 months prior to application:
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| NOTE:
Students must achieve the TOTAL minimum score indicated. They must also achieve the minimum score indicated for each BAND in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. |
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If you wish to study at Carleton but your university is not on our partner institutions list, you may be eligible as a Study Abroad student. It is important to note that Study Abroad students are required to pay international student fees to Carleton University.
2
Nomination by your Home University
Students must be nominated for exchange by their home institution. Partners nominate their students using the Carleton University Exchange Nomination form.
Nomination forms are completed online and a form must be submitted for each student to be nominated.
The following information is required. Nominations submitted without this information will not be accepted:
- Student Last Name
- Student Middle Name(s) (if applicable)
- Student First Name(s)
- Term(s) of Exchange (Fall Term, Winter Term, or Full Year)
- Level of Study (Undergraduate or Graduate)
- Degree/Study Program at Home Institution
- Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY format)
- Student Home Address
- Student Email Address
- English Language Test Score, Type & Date Completed (if student’s first language is not English)
Nomination Deadlines
- March 15th for Fall Term (September to December) and Full Year (September to April)
- September 15th for Winter Term (January to April)
Nominations are reviewed to ensure that students meet the requirements for exchange and can move forward to completing the exchange application.
3
Carleton Exchange Application
Following the submission and acceptance of their nomination, a student will receive detailed instructions on how to complete the exchange application.
Applications are submitted online using the Incoming Exchange Application form.
Within the application, students are required to upload the following documents:
- Official proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, CAEL, or Pearson Test of English [Academic] ) – the test report must be in English and the test date cannot be more than 24 months prior to application
- Most recent official home institution transcript in English
- Home institution’s Grading System
- Portfolios must be included when students are applying for courses in Architecture, Industrial Design and Interactive Multimedia Design (IMD)
- An audition is required for students requesting performance courses in Music
Deadlines
4
Academic Information
| Academic Levels Offered: | Undergraduate and Graduate
Note: Carleton has an agreement with each of its exchange partners. This agreement specifies the academic level of the students accepted for exchange. |
| Duration of Exchange (3 options) |
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| Language of Instruction | English
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| Class Hours per Week – Full Arts Course Load | 15 – 18 hours (approx.) |
| Class Hours per Week – Full Science Course Load | 25 – 30 hours (approx.) |
| Course Load Requirements per Term
1 semester course = 0.5 Carleton credits 0.5 Carleton Credits (1 Course) = 6 ECTS 2.5 Carleton Credits (5 Courses) = 30 ECTS |
Undergraduate Students: (1000 to 4000 Course Level)
Minimum: 1.5 credits per term (3 courses) Maximum: 2.5 credits per term (5 courses) Recommended: 2.0 credits per term (4 courses)
Graduate Students: (5000 Course Level) Minimum: 0.5 credits per term (1 course) Maximum: 1.5 credits per term (3 courses) Recommended: 1.0 credits per term (2 courses) All exchange students are required to follow the requirements set by their home institution with regards to their course load. |
| Grading System | 12 Point Scale – Found in Section 5.4 of Undergraduate Calendar |
| Transcripts | Upon completion of an exchange term, Carleton will provide a student’s home institution with an official copy of their transcript. This is a requirement of the bi-lateral exchange agreement and is done automatically.
The transcript provides details of the courses completed by the student and the results achieved. Transcripts are sent electronically via email to the home institution as a PDF document and the information contained therein is equivalent to that of a paper version. Transcripts are not provided to students. If a hardcopy original of the transcript is needed, the student must submit an email request to the Registrars’ Office at registrar@carleton.ca. |
5
Exchange Application Course List
On the exchange application, in order of priority, students must list ten (10) Carleton courses they would like to take, including the course title and course code.
Course information is available in the academic calendars provided below:
- Undergraduate Courses: http://calendar.carleton.ca/undergrad// and carleton.ca/undergrad/courses/
- Graduate Courses: http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/ and http://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/courses/
Please refer to the Selecting Courses page for important information on how to select courses.
In addition, please refer to the Courses Not Available page for a list of courses that are restricted and not open to exchange students.
6
Acceptance for Exchange
Following the review of their exchange application, a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) is emailed to the student.
For students studying in the Fall term or a full year, letters are sent in June and for students studying in the Winter, term letters are sent in November.
Letters of Acceptance are quite detailed and include information such as:
- Carleton University Identification Number (CUID)
- MyCarletonOne (MC1) username for email set-up and records system access
- Important dates and deadlines
- Visa requirements
- Housing
- Fees
- Orientation
Students who require a visa should submit a copy of their Letter of Acceptance with their visa application to the nearest Canadian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission.
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Guidebook and Resources
Before You Arrive
The Guide for New Students (PDF) is a comprehensive handbook on how to prepare for your exchange to Carleton.
A convenient BEFORE YOU ARRIVE checklist (PDF) is also available.
After You Arrive
Students are encouraged to visit the Services for Current Students page for a description of all of the services and programs available to exchange and international students at the International Student Services Office (ISSO).
An AFTER YOU ARRIVE checklist (PDF) is also available to help you settle in quickly and easily.
Housing
On-campus housing is assigned by lottery and is not guaranteed. Students apply online using their Carleton University Identification Number (CUID) which is provided in their Letter of Acceptance (LOA).
A $35 non-refundable application fee is required and can be paid by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express).
Please visit residence rates and application deadlines for more information.
Students are responsible for securing their own off-campus accommodations. If possible, students should arrive 2 weeks prior to the start of the term so that they can check off-campus listings or view the property they have already rented. Students should book temporary accommodations to allow them to perform these searches in person.
Visit the Off-Campus Housing website to access possible listings. For additional information about living off-campus, please review ‘Starting Your Search: Advice and Cautions’.
Costs & Fees
Exchange students study at Carleton for a single semester or a full academic year and do not pay tuition to Carleton. Students pay tuition to their home institution.
However, there are two fees that all exchange students are required to pay. These mandatory fees include the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) and the Transit pass (U-Pass).
Visit Planning Your Finances for estimated costs for on-campus and off-campus living, books, supplies and personal expenses.
Immigration
If your studies in Canada will be less than 6 months, you may study as a visitor without having a study permit.
Most international students need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website has a tool to help you determine which you need and lead you to the correct online application. This letter may be used in a TRV application to explain the purpose of your visit to Canada.
If you plan to study in Canada for more than 6 months, you must apply for a study permit. Your application for a study permit is automatically your application for a TRV or eTA as well.
The ISSO’s website tells you how to start the online study permit application process and provides helpful tips. Requirements for the application vary by country, but all students will need a valid passport, a Carleton Letter of Acceptance (this letter), and proof of having sufficient resources to cover expenses in Canada. You will probably have to give biometrics, and may need to get a medical exam and/or police certificate(s). You should gather your documents and submit your application as soon as possible.
All students over the age of 18 must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and meet all current COVID-19 travel requirements in order to travel to Canada.
Questions: please email an ISSO Immigration Advisor at isso@carleton.ca
Orientation
An orientation session is offered in August/September for students attending in the Fall term and in December/January for students attending in the Winter term. The session provides information and resources to help students transition successfully to student life at Carleton.
All exchange students are required to participate in the session preceding the start of their exchange term.
Students are provided with the session details in advance.