{"id":5921,"date":"2024-10-17T15:54:29","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T19:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/mds\/?page_id=5921"},"modified":"2025-10-03T15:10:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T19:10:15","slug":"admission-application-faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/mds\/admission-application-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Admission & Application FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Admission & Application FAQ\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

What are the deadlines to apply to MDS Graduate Programs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Fall Application review begins on January 3, 2026 with admission and funding offers being sent out on a rolling basis until the program is filled.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only applications received by February 1, 2026 will be considered for offers of funding with their offers of admission.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If space remains in the program, domestic applications received after the deadline may be considered until August. Because of the timeline to have a study permit issued, we are unable to consider international applications after the deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the minimum requirements for admission to the MA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The minimum requirement for admission into the M.A. program is an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts Honours degree (i.e. a four-year undergraduate degree program) in a humanities or social science discipline or interdisciplinary program with a B+ average or higher in the last two years of coursework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous coursework, volunteer or work experience in Migration and Diaspora Studies is an asset. Students who have four-year degrees in other fields but have relevant experience working the area of migration and diaspora studies may also be considered (if unsure, please contact the Program Director at mds@carleton.ca<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Diploma? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Graduate Diploma is offered in two forms, as a stand-alone direct-entry credential (Type 3)<\/strong><\/em> and as a concurrent credential<\/em> (Type 2)<\/em> <\/strong>that is taken to complement another Carleton graduate program (MA or PhD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Diploma (Type 2, Concurrent):<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students applying to the concurrent Graduate Program (Type 2) must be enrolled in a Carleton master\u2019s or doctoral program. Students applying to another Carleton graduate program should apply to add the diploma after they have been accepted to their main program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Diploma (Type 3, Direct Entry):<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students must have completed a 4-year undergraduate university degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an accelerated pathway?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An accelerated pathway is a \u201cflexible and individualized\u201d plan of graduate study for students who are in their third year of their undergraduate degree. For most pathways, graduate courses completed in your 4th year can count for both your undergraduate and your graduate degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*<\/strong>Please note that participation in a graduate pathway does not guarantee your admission into the graduate program, but if you are admitted, your advanced standing will reduce your credit load in graduate studies and may shorten your time to completion. If you are interested, please consult both with your undergraduate advisor and the Migration and Diaspora Studies Program Director, ideally before you commence your third year of studies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The accelerated pathway to the Master of Migration and Diaspora Studies is open to any Carleton undergraduate student in a humanities, social science discipline or interdisciplinary program.  Students commencing their third-year of study in an undergraduate program should consult with both their academic supervisor and the Migration and Diaspora Studies Program Director to determine if the accelerated pathway is appropriate for them and to confirm their selection of courses.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be eligible, students must complete at least 0.5 credits in MGDS courses at the 5000-level with a grade of B+ or higher and have a minimum overall CGPA of 10.5. Students may receive advanced standing with transfer of credit of up to 1.0 credit in MGDS courses which can reduce their time to completion of the MA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What funding is available?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

All applicants to the MDS MA program who apply for full-time studies will be automatically considered for admissions funding, in the form of Teaching Assistantships and scholarships. Part-time MA students are not eligible for admissions funding. There are also possibilities for Research Assistantships through individual faculty member’s research projects. Funding is competitive. Please note that funding for international students is extremely limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also apply for external funding. See Carleton\u2019s external awards webpage here.<\/a> External scholarships include the Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)<\/a> and the Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS, administered through SSHRC)<\/a>. Review Carleton\u2019s webpages for the OGS<\/a> and SSHRC<\/a> awards. Note that deadlines are early<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applicants to the stand-alone Graduate Diploma are not eligible for admissions funding and most external grants. Concurrent students electing the graduate diploma as a complement to another MA or PhD program would have access to funding through their main graduate program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on financial support for your degree including government programs such as OSAP, please see: here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If my first language is not English, how can I demonstrate my language proficiency?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Please review the following information on English Proficiency from Carleton Graduate Studies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

English as a Second language<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I apply?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n