NPSIA MA – FAQ

Students should complete their economics prerequisites – namely Introduction to Microeconomics and Introduction to Macroeconomics – before the start of the program as per our Admission Requirements.  

To fulfill this requirement, the micro and macroeconomics courses should be at the same level as the standard introductory economics courses that students would take in a university major or honours economics degree program.  [I.e. these courses should provide the economics content for students to advance to intermediate level (second or third year) university economics courses.]  

As course codes and descriptions change, and given the different universities attended by our students, we cannot keep a complete list of courses that meet the entrance requirements. If you are not certain that the courses you have taken meet the required standard, please check with your home university’s economics department or course calendar to ensure that they are the introductory courses for students enrolled in economics degree programs, or the equivalent.  

If you have any questions about the suitability of your undergraduate economics courses, please contact internationalaffairs@carleton.ca.   

If students need to complete their economics prerequisite, we strongly recommend students take Carleton University’s ECON 1001 and ECON 1002.  Spaces are reserved for NPSIA students in the summer ECON 1001/1002 course offerings.   

If a student fails to complete the economics requirement prior to the start of the NPSIA program, it will negatively impact on their progression through their MA program.  Students without the economics prerequisite will not be allowed to register in the mandatory NPSIA economics course. Note that these mandatory economics courses are only offered in the Winter term. Failure to complete the mandatory NPSIA economics course will affect the student’s ability to participate in the coop program and the timeframe for degree completion.  

We strongly recommend students take Carleton University’s ECON 1001 and ECON 1002 in the summer before the NPSIA program begins. 

Carleton’s summer sessions of ECON 1001/1002 are taught online, in an asynchronous format.  Please note that the final exam for these courses is ‘in person.’  Students can arrange for distance e-proctoring for a fee.  The fee schedule is outlined here:  Exam Services – Service Pricing and Late Fees – Exam Services

For students admitted with an economics condition, we have reserved spaces in these summer sessions of ECON 1001/1002.

Please note that conditions are removed on a rolling basis before registration opens

To fulfill the economics requirement, any micro and macroeconomics courses should be at the same level as the standard introductory economics courses that students would take in a university major or honours economics degree program.  [I.e. these courses should provide the economics content for students to advance to intermediate level (second or third year) university economics courses.]  

Please note that any economics courses taken outside of Carleton are subject to a review by NPSIA’s Associate Director.  For students without their economics prerequisite, the easiest way to fulfill that prerequisite is to take the online (asynchronous) ECON 1001/1002 at Carleton the summer prior to the NPSIA program.  

If you do not have any background in international relations, you may wish to take undergraduate courses in international relations, international political economy or other global studies courses.  

Students should ensure that they have their micro and macroeconomics prerequisites completed during their undergraduate degree.  Please see information specific to the economics prerequisite. 

Prior to registration for your first year of NPSIA, all incoming MA and JD/MA students must submit an official transcript to the Office of Graduate Studies indicating they have completed their undergraduate degree.

The degree must be sent directly from the Undergraduate institution to the Office of Graduate Studies (Graduate.Studies@carleton.ca) and it must have a degree conferral date.

The provision of this transcript will ensure that the conditions on offers of admission are removed.

Failure to provide these transcripts will delay the ability to register in courses.

Students with late convocations or who graduate in late summer will need to provide the Office of Graduate Studies with a letter from their undergraduate institution and an unofficial transcript showing all courses have been completed/graded. Such a letter will temporarily permit Fall term registration. However, Winter term registration will not be permitted until the Office of Graduate Studies receives an official transcript with a degree conferral date.

Please note that admission conditions are removed on a rolling basis.

Advanced Standing without Credit: This refers to the recognition that students have fulfilled certain program requirements in previous programs without the transfer of credit. Students are not required to take certain courses if they can demonstrate subject competence earned at the graduate level through academic transcripts and course outlines. However, students will still need to complete 5.0 credits to earn their degree.

Please note that many of NPSIA’s courses have content specific to an international affairs program, so advanced standing is rarely granted and considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the MA Associate Director if you would like to discuss advanced standing.

Advanced Standing with Transfer of Credit:  As per Graduate Studies Regulation 6.1, transfer credits refer to graduate credits earned outside NPSIA/Carleton that count towards the 5.0 credits required to obtain the MA degree.  As outlined in Carleton’s Graduate Studies regulations, graduate courses completed at another institution or at Carleton University that have not been used to fulfill the requirements of another degree program may be accepted in partial fulfillment of Carleton’s degree requirements.

Master’s candidates may be permitted to transfer the equivalent of up to 40 per cent of their coursework credit requirements on admission. If a Master’s candidate is granted transfer of credit for 40 per cent of their coursework credit requirements, their remaining credits at Carleton must be at the 5000 level and must be INAF courses.

Transfer of Credit will be determined upon admission on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of NPSIA. No form is required; please email the MA Administrator to request that these courses be considered.

Advanced Standing for Economics Courses: Students admitted to the IEP field will be exempt from taking one or both of the field-required economics courses (INAF 5308 and INAF 5309) if they have previously completed an equivalent one. They will receive advanced standing without transfer of credits for those courses and will replace them with alternative economics courses from NPSIA or another department (fourth year and up), selected with the approval of the M.A. Program Supervisor based on their relevance to the chosen program of study.

A Field course is an approved class that is part of a specific Field. Please see Carleton’s Graduate Calendar – Programs – International Affairs for the list of Field courses, and consult the course timetable to identify those courses being offered in a given term. Students have priority registration only in their own Field courses.
 

An elective is a course that is not part of a students’ designated Field.

There are time limits for withdrawal from graduate courses.  These time limits will impact on course fees and determine if the course (and its grade) shows up on the student’s university transcript.

Students should pay close attention to the dates for withdrawal from courses.  These dates are listed on the academic calendar for graduate students, found here: https://calendar.carleton.ca/academicyear/

Registration for classes typically opens mid-summer.  Please consult our Registration and Course Information page for more information.

All full time first-year students are required to take at least 1.5 credits in the Fall and Winter terms.

The Fall term consists of your required courses: Statistics INAF 5016 (0.5 credit), Law and International Affairs INAF 5018 (0.25 credit), and International Policymaking in Canada INAF 5018 (0.25 credit) plus one INAF elective (0.5 credit).

The Winter term consists of your required Field economics course (0.5 credit) plus two INAF Field/elective courses (1.0 credits).

Please see the NPSIA pathway document for guidance on the timing of program elements.

We recommend all first year students do not exceed 1.5 credits in their first year, however, students can register in a maximum of 2.0 credits.

Please review the Registration Package you received via email for a detailed breakdown of your first-year courses.

You can submit an override request to be considered for a waitlist.

Enter the CRN number (ex. 21664) into one of the blank boxes below your registration worksheet and select “Add Course.”

Once you have done this the course should be listed on your worksheet, and you can select “proceed to registration.”

You should get a failed attempt message.

When you return to the Override Request page it should allow you to proceed.

Please note that you can review the status of your Override Request on Carleton Central. If the request is approved, you will receive an email with the approval as well as detailed registration instructions.

Please see detailed instructions here: https://carleton.ca/registrar/registration/override-requests/

You will not be able to register until you have met all your conditions. Please arrange for them to be cleared as soon as possible.

All students must submit a registration override request to register in your winter term Field economics course.

These courses have restrictions in place to reserve space for INAF students in a specific Field and so that we can ensure students have satisfied their economics pre-requisite conditions.

All non-NPSIA courses must be approved by the Associate Director before they can count towards your degree.  There will be no retroactive approvals for non-NPSIA courses.  If you take a course outside NPSIA without receiving permission from the department, it will not count towards your degree. 

The determination of whether non-NPSIA courses are eligible to count towards your degree is at the discretion of NPSIA. The Graduate Calendar states that INAF students can take 1.5 credits in courses offered outside of NPSIA, with a maximum of 1.0 credits from a single department. This rule facilitates international exchanges; it does not mean that students have the ‘right’ to take non-NPSIA classes.  

The following criteria will be used to assess non-NPSIA course requests:

• The course subject matter is international in scope;
• The course subject matter is not offered within NPSIA courses, AND the subject matter is essential for student research or to develop a specific area of expertise;
• The student is on a co-op, exchange, or work duty outside of Ottawa and NPSIA online options are not available or suitable for the student.

Please note that fourth-year courses are not approved without meeting the above criteria, as well as an agreement with the course instructor that course assignments will be equivalent to a NPSIA graduate-level seminar. 

Students must submit a request for non-NPSIA courses using this form.  This request must include a justification that reflects the above criteria, as well as the course outline.  If the course outline is unavailable, students must include the course description. 

All non-NPSIA courses must be approved by the Associate Director to count towards your degree.  Students must submit a request for non-NPSIA courses using this form.  The criteria outlined above for non-NPSIA classes will apply to University of Ottawa courses.   

As per Section 7.15 of Carleton’s Graduate Regulations, Carleton has an agreement with the University of Ottawa that facilitates students enrolling in University of Ottawa courses.  Students submit this form, the non-NPSIA course request form, and a copy of the course outline to request permission to enroll in University of Ottawa graduate courses.  NPSIA students cannot take more than 1.5 credits of non-NPSIA courses and 1.0 credits of non-NPSIA courses from any one department.  

All non-NPSIA courses must be approved by the Associate Director to count towards your degree.  Students must submit a request for non-NPSIA courses using this form.  The criteria outlined above for non-NPSIA classes will apply to University of Ottawa courses.   

Ontario universities participate in an Ontario Visiting Graduate School (OVGS) program that enables graduate students to register in graduate courses in other universities in Ontario.  Students pay tuition at their home university and are hosted at another university.  

NPSIA students interested in participating in this program are responsible for obtaining permission from the host university, and for ensuring that the necessary paperwork is completed.  

Students will submit the OVGS form, the non-NPSIA course request form, and a copy of the course outline to obtain the approval of the Associate Director to enroll in University of Ottawa graduate courses.  NPSIA students cannot take more than 1.5 non-NPSIA courses and 1.0 non-NPSIA courses from the same department. 

All non-NPSIA courses must be approved by the Associate Director to count towards your degree.  Students must submit a request for non-NPSIA courses using this form.  The criteria outlined above for non-NPSIA classes will apply to University of Ottawa courses.   

If students Students can enroll in graduate courses in universities outside Ontario, but they must register as a special student and pay fees to take those courses.  Students are still required to obtain approval from the MA Associate Director for these courses by submitting a non-NPSIA course request form and a copy of the course outline. NPSIA students cannot take more than 1.5 non-NPSIA courses and 1.0 non-NPSIA courses from the same department.  

Once a student has completed NPSIA’s MA program requirements, they will be asked by Graduate Studies to apply for graduation.  

If a student wishes to take additional courses after completing the MA program requirements, they can return to Carleton as a special student.  

The student would apply to graduate, register in these additional classes, and inform NPSIA and Graduate Studies that they would like their student status to transition to a ‘special student’ once the Graduation Lists are approved by the Senate.

The university regulations that apply to graduate students are set by Carleton’s Office of Graduate Studies.  These rules and regulations can be found here:
https://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradregulations/
General academic policies can be found here:
https://gradstudents.carleton.ca/resources-page/forms-policies/#academic-policies

If you are feeling well, you should attend class.

At the graduate level, much of the learning revolves around the discussion of the concepts with your professor and your classmates during seminars.  The class environment is enriched by the presence of all graduate students, as each of you has unique perspectives on the course material.  By not attending class, you will miss this important learning opportunity and could potentially also miss pertinent information related to the course requirements. Your absence will also be reflected in your final grade.

If you do have to miss a class, it is a courtesy to inform your professors that you will be absent.

Collaborative Specializations utilize various departments across Carleton to provide an interdisciplinary, in-depth knowledge of a topic. Each Specialization requires a core foundational course that students take in the first year of the program, as well as other specific courses that provide students with knowledge and analytical skills relevant to the topic of the Specialization.  Click Here for more Information about NPSIA’s Specializations.

Students apply to Collaborative Specializations after they have been admitted to NPSIA and before their first term at NPSIA. Please note that enrollment in a Specialization is not part of your admissions offer.  An email is sent to all incoming students inviting these applications to Specializations. Enrollment in Specializations is limited. Students will be admitted to these Specializations based on the strength of their admission file.

Fields are specific to NPSIA and reflect key subject areas of international affairs research and policy. Fields provide students with general knowledge of a particular subject area.  The mandatory economics class that students take in their first year (Winter term) is tailored to their Field. 

Students rank their preferences for Fields during the application process.  Students are assigned a Field with their offer of admission.  Students can request a change of Field after the start of the program. If space is available, students can transfer to another Field.

To graduate with a Field Designation, students must take three courses (1.5 credits) associated with the Field.  The list of Field courses is available in Carleton’s Graduate Calendar – Programs – International Affairs.

Please note that students do not need to secure a Field Designation to graduate from the program. If students fulfill the other mandatory requirements, they are eligible for graduation.

Should you complete both a Field Designation and a Specialization, both cannot appear on your diploma.

Upon graduation, you can request a letter from the MA Associate Director or the NPSIA Director that states completion of your Field Designation, Specialization and/or Co-op designation.

Each Specialization has specific and unique course requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of these program requirements.

Students must apply to these Specializations prior to beginning the first year of their program. Expressing interest in Specialization in your NPSIA application form does not constitute admittance to a Specialization.

NPSIA will send an email to all first-year students prior to the start of the Fall term with an application form for the Collaborative Specializations.

NPSIA is given a quota for each Specialization, therefore, spaces are limited. Applications will be evaluated based your application file.

Students who are admitted into a Specialization will be notified via email.

If you are admitted to a Specialization, your audit will reflect that Specialization once your degree requirements are completed.

More information on each Collaborative Specialization can be found here.

The Specializations are designed with required courses in the Fall term of the student’s first year.  Students are therefore not allowed to enroll in a Specialization after they have begun their program. 

You will be notified of your Field with your offer of admission.

Students can request a change of Field during their program.  If space is available in another Field, these requests are typically granted.

Please note that students must have completed the relevant Field economics course to fulfill their Field requirements.

Students who wish to change Fields should therefore request that change prior to completing their economics course.

Graduate Students tuition fees are based on student status (full or part time) and not the number of registered credits, as outlined in Section 7.9 of the Graduate Calendar.

Student Accounts offers a Tuition Fee Estimator, where you can estimate your student fees based on your program criteria.

Please note that NPSIA does not manage student accounts or tuition fees.

Students with issues related to their student account balance (fees and tuition) or require fee reimbursements should contact Student Accounts for assistance.

The Office of Graduate Studies has information on Financial Aid.

Students requiring assistance with OSAP or other government financial aid should contact the Awards and Financial Aid Office.

Funding is awarded to NPSIA students based on the strength of their application package.  Each student’s funding package is outlined with their offer of admission. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Studies –  Financial Assistance for further information.

Once students have begun their program, additional funding, awards and bursaries are available to NPSIA’s students. NPSIA will send out email reminders with application instructions and deadlines for additional funding opportunities including OGS and SSHRC funding.

Please consult the Office of Graduate Studies – Awards and Funding for further information about these funding opportunities.

Only full-time students can be teaching assistants.  Students who receive a teaching assistantship with your offer of admission must remain full-time students and ensure that they are available between Mon-Fri during normal business hours.

Assignments are managed through your TA profile in Carleton Central.

Assignments are issued at the beginning of each term and no later than the end of the second week.

TA Orientation is held by the Office of Graduate Studies and highly recommended for all new TA’s.  Please review NPSIA’s TA information page for complete TA details and requirements.

Students who did not receive a TA position can apply for an Outside Priority TA (OPTA) through their Carleton Central Account. (Main menu, look under TA Management, then choose TA Outside Priority Applications and follow the instructions)

If you received a Research Assistantship with your offer of admission, students will be assigned to a NPSIA faculty member at the beginning of the fall term. Please reach out to us for your RA assignment.

Students must be registered as full time students to access funding, including TA assignments. 

Please note that students will lose their “student status” if they remain unregistered for three continuous terms (twelve months). 

As outlined in Carleton’s Graduate Regulation 7.9 on ‘Status’, student status is determined at the time of registration:

Full- or part-time status is established at the time of admission to a program. Graduate students admitted and registered as full-time students will be required to continue in and complete their program as full-time students and will be assessed full-time fees for the duration of their program. Graduate students admitted and registered as part-time students will be required to continue and complete their program as part-time students and will be assessed part-time fees for the duration of their program.

For students admitted as full time students, they will be considered as full time students – and charged full time student fees – regardless of the number of courses in which they are enrolled.

Students must be registered as full time students to access funding, including TA assignments.

If students want to change their status to part time – either temporarily or permanently – they must meet the requirements for this change of status (see below) and apply for a change in status.

Students will lose their student status if they remain unregistered for three continuous terms (twelve months).

NPSIA is designed as a two-year, full-time, in-person master’s program. Our expectation is that students should be able to attend classes in person during the day.  All of the required courses for the program are only offered during the day.

The program has a part-time option. Part time students are required to complete the same requirements of the full-time program and are given 6 years to complete the MA degree with a maximum of 1.25 credits per term.

Part time students must register for a minimum of one term in three and must successfully complete INAF 5016, INAF 5017, INAF 5018 and their economics course requirement within their first 2.5 program credits.  Part time students must be able to attend classes in-person during the day.

The Office of Graduate Studies will permit a student to temporarily change their status to part time for one to two terms if the student is enrolled in the coop program and is taking a course.

Please note students are enrolled in the coop program are allowed to take one course (0.5 credit) offered in the evening.

Please note that coop students with funding packages will not receive funding while on part-time status. Their funding, including TA funding, is moved to the next full-time term.

Once coop students return to full time status, their funding package will resume.

The Office of Graduate Studies will permit a student to permanently change their status to part time if:

• The student has received a full-time permanent work contract that would prevent them from studying full time; or,
• The student has received a full-time work contract that will extend a year or longer, preventing them from studying full time.

Please note that students with funding packages who permanently change their status to part-time will lose their funding.

Part time students must register for a minimum of one term in three and must successfully complete INAF 5016, INAF 5017, INAF 5018 and their economics course requirement within their first 2.5 program credits.

NPSIA uses Carleton’s grading system, outlined in Section 10 of the Graduate Studies Regulations.

Please see our grading table on this page

As per Carleton’s Graduate Studies Regulations 11.3, NPSIA’s program requires its students to obtain a grade of B- or better in each course that counts towards their degree.  NPSIA does not permit exceptions to this rule.

Students should pay close attention to the dates for withdrawal from courses and withdraw from courses if there is a risk that they will not obtain the necessary B- grade.  These dates are listed on the academic calendar, found here: https://calendar.carleton.ca/academicyear/

As per Carleton’s Graduate Studies Regulations 11.3, NPSIA’s program requires its students to obtain a grade of B- or better in each course credited towards their master’s degree.

Failure of a Single Course:

If you receive a grade of C+ or less in a single course, it is a ‘failed course’ and cannot count towards your degree.

You will receive a letter after the end of the term indicating that you have failed a course.  The letter will outline two options.

• You may repeat and successfully pass the failed course should you wish for it to count for credit.
• You may replace the failed course with another eligible course. If you select this option, the failed course code and the grade will be listed as “extra to your degree” on your transcript.
• When you repeat a course, the attempt with the best grade will count in the audit and be included in your CGPA calculation. The attempt with the lower grade will be bumped out of your degree and moved to a section of your audit called “COURSES SET ASIDE”. Both grades will always appear on your transcript.

Failure of Two or More Courses:

You will receive a letter after the end of the term indicating that you have failed two courses. Students will be withdrawn from the program if they receive two grades below B-.

NPSIA accepts the official languages of the United Nations, namely Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

NPSIA also accepts other languages that are taught on a regular basis by Carleton’s School of Linguistics and Language Studies (SLALS), namely American Sign Language (ASLA), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese.

NPSIA will consider – on a case-by-case basis – other languages to fulfill the second language requirement if two conditions are met.  First, students must be undertaking research that requires proficiency.  And second, SLALS must have ability to test for proficiency.

Please note that it will facilitate your employment opportunities in Canada to be able to work in both official languages.

All students must provide proof of second language proficiency prior to the completion of their program.

We recommend students complete this requirement as soon as possible. Do not leave it until the end of their degree or you will experience graduation delays.

As outlined here, students have various options to fulfill the second language requirement.

Students with no prior knowledge in a second language are encouraged to contact the Language Advisor (Cristina Trevisan) during their first term to discuss their options for completing the language requirement. All students must begin their language training no later than the first semester of their second year in the program.

If students complete a language course at Carleton to obtain their second language requirement, the course grade will be listed on the transcript, but will not count towards their degree requirements or towards their CGPA.

Yes, NPSIA offers a Rosetta Stone Package to all incoming students in September of each year. We will send out an email to students prior to the start of the fall term to enroll in the Rosetta Stone Program. Note, this option is only available in September and will not be available after the enrollment deadline. Students can complete the requirement through Rosetta Stone on their own, however, you will need to coordinate your completion of the program and language test with Cristina Trevisan (Cristina.Trevisan@carleton.ca).

Important: Please be aware that your Rosetta Stone license will expire after one year.

Please fill out this language form and submit by email to Carleton’s language advisor, Professor Trevisan (Cristina.Trevisan@carleton.ca).

We recommend students complete this requirement as soon as possible. Do not leave it until the end of the degree or you will experience graduation delays.