About the university
Carleton University was founded in 1942 and is a public research university in Ottawa, Canada's capital. It has about 30,700 students across five faculties: Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering and Design, Public and Global Affairs, Science, and the Sprott School of Business.
Carleton is known for engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, public affairs, journalism and architecture. Its campus sits close to federal government departments and Ottawa's technology sector in Kanata, which gives co-op students access to employers in software, telecoms, defence and the public service.
Indian students look at Carleton for its computing and engineering degrees, its large co-op programme and a tuition freeze: international undergraduate tuition is fixed for 2026/27 to 2028/29. Fees are high for computing and engineering (CAD 55,000 a year), so compare the total cost carefully with other Ontario universities.
Ottawa is a bilingual, mid-sized city with lower rents than Toronto or Vancouver, a light-rail line that stops on campus, and long, cold winters.
- Founded
- 1942
- Type
- Public research university in Ontario, with five faculties including the Sprott School of Business
- Total students
- 30,713 (25,119 undergraduate and 5,594 graduate), Carleton Institutional Overview 2025-26
- International students
- 3,646 in fall 2024 (11.9% of students), from more than 160 countries
- Campus
- One main campus in central Ottawa, between the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal
- Intakes
- September for all bachelor's programmes; January 2027 for some (Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Journalism, BA)
- Co-op
- 150+ co-op programmes, degrees and streams
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
801–850 in the world
Maclean's University Rankings (mid-size universities) 2027
4th in Canada
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS)
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years (Honours); co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Data Science (BDS)
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years (Honours)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning stream
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years (Honours); co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Software Engineering
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years; co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Electrical Engineering
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years; co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Mechanical Engineering
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years; co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Aerospace Engineering
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years; co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Civil Engineering
- Fee / year
- C$55,000
- Duration
- 4 years; co-op option
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86; PTE 55; Duolingo 120
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) | 4 years (Honours); co-op option | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Data Science (BDS) | 4 years (Honours) | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Computer Science – Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning stream | 4 years (Honours); co-op option | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Software Engineering | 4 years; co-op option | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Electrical Engineering | 4 years; co-op option | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Mechanical Engineering | 4 years; co-op option | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Aerospace Engineering | 4 years; co-op option | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Civil Engineering | 4 years; co-op option | C$55,000 | ≈ ₹36.9 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Carleton University with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- Undergraduate (international)
Automatic Entrance Scholarships
Value: CAD 1,000–3,000 a year
Eligibility: Considered automatically at admission, based on your academic results. Renewable each year if you keep an A- standing (annual GPA of 10.0).
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate (September 2027 entry)
President's Welcome Award for International Students
Value: CAD 2,000–5,000, first year only
Eligibility: Based on your grades at admission; no separate application listed.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate
Prestige Scholarships
Value: CAD 5,000–14,178 a year
Eligibility: Admission average over 90%; separate application by 1 March.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Class 12 (CBSE, CISCE or state board) with the subjects your programme lists; computing, data science and engineering need strong Mathematics (and Physics or Chemistry for engineering).
- Carleton does not publish a fixed India percentage for most programmes; meeting the minimum does not guarantee an offer, and competitive programmes need higher grades.
- Prestige Scholarships need an admission average over 90%.
- September is the main intake; a few programmes (Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Journalism, BA) also open in January.
Postgraduate
- Master's: a four-year Indian bachelor's degree (BTech, BE, BPharm, BArch, MBBS), or a three-year degree plus a master's.
- Three-year bachelor's holders from institutions with a CGPA of 3.01–4.00 or an NAAC 'A' rating, or from an IIT, may be considered for a master's, subject to the programme.
- Minimum grade for master's admission: first class (65–74%, CGPA 6.50–7.99); this does not guarantee admission.
- Graduate tuition is charged per billing hour and most graduate programmes need summer registration, which raises annual fees; use Carleton's fee estimator for your programme.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (undergraduate)
- Degree transcripts and degree certificate (graduate)
- English test score (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or CAEL), unless you qualify for a waiver
- Statement of intent and reference letters where the graduate programme asks for them
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for the study permit, issued after you accept your offer, unless IRCC exempts you
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, minimum 6.0 in each band (direct undergraduate admission) |
| TOEFL iBT | 86 (22 in writing and speaking, 20 in reading and listening) for tests before 21 January 2026; 4.5 (4.0 in each band) on the new scale |
| PTE Academic | 55, minimum 47 in each communicative skill |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 (110 in writing, reading and speaking; 105 in listening) |
| Waiver | Three years of full-time study where English was the main language of instruction can meet the requirement; ESL courses do not count. Carleton may still ask for a test. |
Accommodation and living costs
Carleton has traditional, suite-style and graduate residences on campus. First-year residence fees cover September to April and include the All Access meal plan in most buildings. Most graduate students and upper-year students rent off campus in Ottawa.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional double room with All Access meal plan2026-27 residence fees | C$13,802–14,790per academic year (8 months) | ≈ ₹9.2 lakh – ₹9.9 lakh |
| Traditional single room with All Access meal plan2026-27 residence fees | C$15,414–16,766per academic year (8 months) | ≈ ₹10.3 lakh – ₹11.2 lakh |
| Suite-style room with All Access meal planDouble suite to studio, 2026-27 | C$15,726–19,886per academic year (8 months) | ≈ ₹10.5 lakh – ₹13.3 lakh |
| Off-campus housing and meals (Carleton estimate)Plus about CAD 1,400 books and CAD 3,000 personal costs | C$16,000per 8 months | ≈ ₹10.7 lakh |
| UHIP health insurance (graduate students, single)1 Sept 2026 to 31 Aug 2027 | C$948per year | ≈ ₹63,516 |
Campus and location
Carleton's single campus sits on a triangle of land between the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal, about 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa. Most buildings are linked by underground tunnels, which help in the Ottawa winter.
- The O-Train Trillium Line stops on campus, linking it with downtown and the rest of the city.
- The Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becomes a skating rink in winter.
- Ottawa's technology cluster in Kanata hosts software, telecoms and defence firms that hire co-op students.
- Ottawa has a growing Indian community, with temples, gurdwaras and Indian grocery stores.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Carleton runs one of Ontario's largest co-op programmes across computing, engineering, business and public affairs. Co-op placements are competitive and not guaranteed. For work rights during and after study, see our Canada country guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Graduates employed six months after graduation | 88.4% | Carleton Institutional Overview 2025-26 |
| Co-op programmes, degrees and streams | 150+ | Carleton Institutional Overview 2025-26 |
| Sponsored research funding (2023-24) | CAD 111.5 million | Carleton Institutional Overview 2025-26 |
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is Carleton tuition for an Indian undergraduate?
International tuition is CAD 55,000 a year for computer science, data science, engineering, IT and architecture, CAD 45,000 for commerce and accounting, and CAD 39,000 for arts, economics, health sciences and journalism. Miscellaneous fees of about CAD 2,500 are extra.
Will my fees go up each year?
Carleton has frozen international undergraduate tuition for 2026/27 to 2028/29. Miscellaneous fees are not frozen. International graduate tuition can rise by 5% to 8% a year.
Does Carleton accept a three-year Indian degree for a master's?
Sometimes. Carleton may consider a three-year degree from an institution with an NAAC 'A' rating (or CGPA 3.01–4.00) or an IIT, subject to the programme. Otherwise you need a four-year degree or a three-year degree plus a master's.
Can I start in January?
For a few undergraduate programmes, yes: Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Journalism and some BA majors open in January 2027. Engineering and computer science start in September.
What scholarships can Indian students get?
You are considered automatically for entrance scholarships of CAD 1,000–3,000 a year and the President's Welcome Award of CAD 2,000–5,000. Students with an average over 90% can apply for Prestige Scholarships of up to CAD 14,178 a year.
Sources
- Carleton: USA and international costs (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton Student Accounts: Fall 2026/Winter 2027 international undergraduate fees (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton Student Accounts: international graduate fee table 2026-27 (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton: English language requirements (ESL) (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton: January admissions (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton Graduate Studies: India admission requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton Graduate Studies: cost and fees (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton Housing: residence fees (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton Institutional Overview 2025-26 (opens in a new tab)
- Carleton: Maclean's 2027 rankings (opens in a new tab)
- QS: Carleton University profile (opens in a new tab)
Official website: carleton.ca (opens in a new tab)
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