Scholarships and Bursaries

Scholarships

Carleton University has one of the most generous scholarship and bursary programs in Canada. Last year, more than 13,500 scholarships and bursaries totalling over $27.7 million were awarded to undergraduate students.

Entrance Scholarships

If you have been admitted to Carleton for fall entry with an admission average of 80 per cent or better, you will automatically be considered for a renewable Entrance Scholarship at the time of admission. You may be offered a renewable Entrance Scholarship provided you are entering Carleton for the first time from high school or CÉGEP and have no previous attendance at post-secondary educational institutions. To be considered for an Entrance Scholarship, we must receive your complete application for admission and all required grades by June 15. Offered for fall entry.

Scholarships for college/university transfer students: If you are an excellent student from a college program or transferring from another university to an undergraduate degree program at Carleton University, you will be considered for one of our general in-course scholarships after you complete one full academic year of study as a full-time student at Carleton University.

Prestige Scholarships

Our highest awards are our Prestige Scholarships. You will be considered for a Prestige Scholarship only if you are entering Carleton directly from high school or CÉGEP with an admission average of 90 per cent or better. The selection committee will also assess the range of your community or secondary school extracurricular activities. An application and letter of reference are required by March 1.

Additional Entrance Scholarships

Carleton Capital Scholarship

Up to 13 students will be selected annually, with one recipient for each province and territory, to receive a $2,000 award in their first year. The Carleton Capital Scholarship is awarded in addition to other Entrance Scholarships. To be eligible for the Carleton Capital Scholarship, students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons entering the first year of a degree program and pursuing post-secondary studies for the first time. Students must also demonstrate participation in extracurricular activities and a strong academic background (with a minimum admission average of 90 per cent). An application is required. Deadline is March 1.

Page Program Entrance Scholarships

Up to 15 scholarships will be awarded to students in the House of Commons Page Program who are entering an undergraduate degree program at Carleton. Valued at $1,000, the scholarship is awarded in addition to other Entrance Scholarships.

Arthur Kroeger College National Scholarships

Up to 10 scholarships will be awarded to students entering the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management program. Two students (minimum admission average of 90 per cent) will be selected from each of the following five regions:

  • Atlantic Canada
  • British Columbia and Northern Canada
  • Ontario
  • Prairies
  • Quebec

Valued at $2,000, the scholarship will be awarded in addition to other Entrance Scholarships.

The Law Scholarship in Architectural Studies

A $10,000 scholarship is available annually to an outstanding full-time undergraduate international student entering the Bachelor of Architectural Studies. Eligible students must be admitted from a high school in China/Hong Kong. An application is required.

W.H. Collins Entrance Scholarships of Excellence

Value $3000. Awarded to the top five outstanding students entering a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Sciences. To be considered, students must be entering in the fall term and pursuing post-secondary studies for the first time. This scholarship is renewable for one additional year provided the student maintains enrolment in a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Sciences and achieves an annual GPA of 10.0. This scholarship may be awarded in addition to other Entrance or Prestige scholarships. No application is required. Established in 2024.

Bursaries

A bursary is a monetary award similar to a scholarship in that you are not expected to repay it, but is awarded primarily on financial need rather than academic achievement.

Carleton University Entrance Bursary

A Carleton University Entrance Bursary will provide you with additional funds and will help you meet the direct education costs of your first-year studies. To be considered for an Entrance Bursary, apply online by June 30.

Leadership Entrance Bursary

High school students who have taken a leadership role in their school’s extracurricular activities and in community service may also be considered for a Leadership Entrance Bursary. An application is required.

Other funding

Working on campus

A great way to offset the expense of university is to have a part-time job on campus. At Carleton, most campus units hire students throughout the academic year. Senior students can often find positions with departments as research assistants. A part-time job not only puts extra money in your pocket, but also provides valuable job experience at the same time. Carleton’s Career Services provides students with job search support and on-campus career counselling.

Work Study Program

Every year, we help hundreds of undergraduate students finance their studies and gain valuable work experience by offering employment through our Work Study Program. To qualify, you will need to demonstrate financial need.

Government Student Aid

For Ontario residents, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) may help cover the cost of your post-secondary studies. For information on OSAP and instructions on how to apply, visit carleton.ca/osap. Similar programs also exist in other provinces and territories.