Tuition and living costs
How much you can expect to pay as an international student in an academic year at Carleton University.
Fees by program in CAD
| Program | Tuition fees per academic year (September-April) in 2026/2027, 2027/2028 and 2028/2029* | Miscellaneous fees (estimate)** |
| Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Cognitive Science Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies Bachelor of Economics Bachelor of Health Sciences Bachelor of Humanities Bachelor of Mathematics Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Social Work Bachelor of Global and International Studies Bachelor of Journalism Bachelor of Journalism and Humanities Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management | $39,000 | $2,500 |
| Bachelor of Accounting Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Entrepreneurship Bachelor of Media Production and Design | $45,000 | $2,500 |
| Bachelor of Architectural Studies Bachelor of Computer Science Bachelor of Cyber Security Bachelor of Data Science Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Industrial Design Bachelor of Information Technology | $55,000 | $2,500 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing with RN Prescribing | $39,000 | $4,300 |
*Tuition fees are frozen in the following academic years: 2026/2027, 2027/2028, 2028/2029.
**Miscellaneous fees are additional mandatory fees that include UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan), U-Pass city transit pass, on-campus health care services, Athletics pass (gym), program-specific fees, etc. The amount is approximate and subject to change.
Living expenses in CAD
| Living costs | Books and supplies | Personal expenses | |
| On-campus residence and meal plan (8 months) | $14,010 | $1,400 | $3,000 |
| Off-campus housing and meal estimate (8 months)*** | $16,000 | $1,400 | $3,000 |
***Estimate based on shared accommodation, utilities, food, and internet/wifi
Note that personal expenses, books and supplies are estimates and therefore subject to personal choice and preferences.
Use our fee calculator to plan your total budget for the first year of studies, including living expenses, scholarships and awards.
Scholarships for international students
Carleton University has one of the most generous scholarship and bursary programs in Canada.
Automatic Entrance Scholarships
Entrance Scholarships are automatically offered to all high school students who meet our academic and language requirements. The scholarship amount is based on the applicant’s previous academic performance. These merit-based scholarships are renewable each year with an A- standing (annual GPA of 10.0). If the A- standing is not achieved, the original scholarship can still be regained in future years if the required GPA is obtained.
Value: $1,000 – $3,000 a year
President’s Welcome Award for International Students
International undergraduate students applying for September 2027 will be automatically considered for the President’s Welcome Award for International Students, a value of $2,000 – $5,000 CAD, depending on their grades at the time of admission. This award is offered in addition to other Entrance Scholarships. It is available only to international students entering directly from high school and paying international student fees.
Value: $2,000 – $5,000 for the first year only
Prestige Scholarships
Students with an admission average over 90 percent are eligible to apply for one of our Prestige Scholarships, our highest awards. These competitive scholarships are awarded based on both a student’s admission average and participation in community and secondary school activities (leadership, community service, and extracurriculars). The values of the Prestige Scholarships range from $5,000 to $14,178 CAD per year, and they are renewable based on maintaining a minimum A- (10.0 GPA) in full-time studies.
An application is required. Deadline: March 1.
Value: $5,000 – $14,178 a year
Fee and scholarship calculator. Calculate your budget
Use our international tuition and scholarship calculator to plan your annual budget as an international student at Carleton University.
Note: Be cautious if working with a study abroad agency to represent you in the admissions process. All fee payments should be made payable to “Carleton University” through our approved payment channels and not to a third party.
International fees FAQs
What fees are frozen at Carleton University?
Carleton has frozen international undergraduate tuition fees (for bachelor’s degree programs). These fees are locked in for three academic years starting from Fall 2026 through Fall 2028, allowing you to plan your budget with confidence.
What are miscellaneous fees?
Miscellaneous fees are mandatory non-tuition fees that all students pay. They include:
- University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP),
- U-Pass city transit pass,
- On-campus health and mental health services,
- Campus services
- Athletics and recreation fees (gym pass), and
- Any program-specific fees
These fees are not frozen and may increase slightly from year to year. For 2027, these mandatory fees are listed at approximately $2,500 (amount varies by program).
How much will international tuition increase after the freeze?
We expect any increases after the freeze ends in 2028 to remain reasonable within 3-8% and aligned with keeping programs competitive for international students.
I want to prepay my fees before I apply for study permit. How much should I pay?
You will only know your exact tuition amount once you register for classes. However, we recommend you apply for your study permit as soon as you have accepted your offer and received your provincial attestation letter (PAL). At Carleton we allow you to prepay an estimated amount to support your study permit application.
A practical way to estimate your prepayment is to use this formula:
Tuition amount listed in your Offer of Admission
– $2,000 tuition deposit that you should have already paid (Please note you can’t receive a PAL without paying the deposit first. Learn more about PALs and deposit here.)
– Any entrance scholarships or awards listed in your Offer of Admission
= Suggested prepayment amount
If you overpay, the extra amount will remain as a credit on your student account. If you underpay, you can simply pay the remaining balance after course registration.
Is there a recommended amount I should put aside for living expenses?
While living expenses vary, the IRCC study permit application requirement asks a single applicant to show they have at least $23,448 for living expenses, in addition to their first year of tuition and travel costs. Please refer to the IRCC website and our study permit information page for more details.
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