Admissions FAQ: MA Programs

All students entering the MA or MA/JD program must have a four year undergraduate degree or the equivalent. As we are an interdisciplinary program, we will accept students from a wide variety of backgrounds such as political science, international relations, global affairs, law, public policy, sociology, anthropology and economics. We welcome students with other backgrounds, for instance in science, English or arts, but encourage them to take a few undergraduate courses in international affairs to prepare for NPSIA.

Under current practice, at least a high honours standing (B+ or 77% minimum) is normally required to be considered for admission to the program. In some circumstances, GRE scores may be considered if they are available, however it’s not necessary for students to write the GRE.

Carleton University uses a twelve-point GPA scale. Please visit the How to Calculate your GPA page for more information on the scale and grade point equivalents.

Students admitted to the NPSIA MA program must have successfully completed a 1.0 credit standard first year course in introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics, with a minimum grade of B- before starting the program (ECON 1001 and ECON 1002 at Carleton, or an equivalent). Students can be made a conditional offer of admission to complete this requirement during the summer, prior to the first day of classes. Not all economics courses or grades are accepted, so please contact the School if you have any questions.

All students who enter the program and whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following ways:

• Fill out the Confirmation of Language Proficiency Form to include with your application; or
• Provide official documentation of a satisfactory English proficiency test score. Minimum scores for the MA and MA/JD program are:
  • CAEL: 70;
  • TOEFL (internet-based test): 100, with a minimum score of 25 on each component, or 250 (computer-based);
  • IELTS: 8, with a minimum of 7.5 in each band score

Your statement of intent should be between 1-2 pages in length and should indicate the issues and the professors whose research you are interested in, as well as your future career goals and your interest in international affairs. If you intend on doing a research essay or a thesis, please indicate the topic you would like to address as well as any faculty member you think could supervise it.

Applicants should upload their completed application no later than January 31 of the year they are applying for. For example: If you would like to be admitted for Fall 2024, the first round deadline is due January 31, 2024. Late applications are typically accepted until August 31 of the year an applicant is applying for, if space remains. NPSIA only offers fall admission, and not winter or summer admission.

Please note that students applying to the MA/JD program will also have to apply to the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Common Law Section via the Ontario Law School Application Service and abide by its deadlines for their application to the University of Ottawa.

Each applicant is automatically considered for possible funding opportunities, such as teaching and research assistantships, departmental scholarships, and entrance scholarships. Please note that there are limited funding opportunities for students who apply after the January 31 deadline. Students are also encouraged to seek additional external funding apart from any funding they may receive from the School [ie. Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS) or Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)].

For more information on tuition fees and other costs, please visit the Graduate Admissions cost and fees page.

Your application status is available in Carleton Central, and will be updated as your application moves through the various stages. Here is a full list of application status definitions, such as Preliminary Review Required, Review in Progress, or Recommended for Assessment.

The admissions committee will review files after the January 31 deadline. Assessment time depends on the number of applications received, but we aim to have admission decisions out to first round applicants throughout March. Second round offers are distributed on a rolling basis until August 31.

Our GPA calculation for the last two years–a key metric in our selection process–will take into account the disruptions that took place during the Winter 2020 semester, and the semesters following. For instance, our admission assessment will not penalize students who received Pass grades as a result of COVID-19. Reference letters that speak to academic performance also play a role in admission consideration. Please note, however, that any other condition of admission–for instance, introductory economics–remain in place, as they are crucial to your success in the program.

If you are a prospective student, please send inquiries to international.affairs@carleton.ca.