Carleton’s location in the nation’s capital gives you unique access to a wide range of resources in the public service. You will benefit from a wealth of research facilities and libraries as well as the departments and agencies of the federal government and the embassies of other nations.
Ottawa is also home to the offices of national and international nonprofits, cultural institutions, think tanks, consulting firms and industry associations. Public affairs are the lifeblood of the city. As a student, you can immerse yourself in this environment and greatly enhance your educational experience.
The school leverages its location by bringing policymakers to the classroom and helping students connect with events, conferences and informal policy discussions around town. We host several special lectures by high-profile experts throughout the year which give students a chance to interact with the members of our extended SPPA family.
Exploring Ottawa
Ottawa is also highly liveable. The city is part of the spectacular National Capital Region, which spans the Ontario-Quebec border, crisscrossed by the Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau Rivers. You can explore the region year-round on foot, bicycle or skis, along hundreds of kilometres of trails and multi-use paths. The Rideau Canal — a designated UNESCO World-Heritage site — is just steps from Carleton’s campus, so you can paddle or skate to the heart of the city to explore Parliament Hill, national museums and galleries and the tastes and sounds of the Byward Market. Ottawa is also known for its many festivals such as Bluesfest, Tulip Festival, Winterlude and much more.
The greater Ottawa region covers more land area than Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal combined. Ottawa has the largest tech park and federal employment node in Canada. It’s home to a young, vibrant, entrepreneurial workforce, with a bilingual rate of 44%, and more engineers, scientists and PhDs per capita than any other city in Canada. For graduate students who choose to study here, Ottawa offers invaluable research facilities and work opportunities at the numerous agencies, institutions and businesses located in the city — no matter where your tastes and interests lie, you’ll find something here for you!
