How to Apply to Biology at Carleton University: The BSc with Five Concentrations, a BA in Biology, Related Biochemistry and Biotechnology Programs, and Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Carleton University is in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. Biology-related undergraduate programs sit mainly in the Faculty of Science and lead mostly to the Bachelor of Science; Biology is also offered as a Bachelor of Arts. The program page describes Biology as among the most diverse and exciting sciences, with core science courses, options suited to individual interests, and extensive lab-based learning. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, for Canadian applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students.

Degrees and concentrations

• Biology (BSc): five concentrations: Biodiversity, Natural History and Conservation Science; Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour; Health Science; Molecular and Cellular Biology; and Physiology. Combined options in Neuroscience and Biology, and Humanities and Biology, are also available.
• Biology (BA): the program page mentions a Bachelor of Arts in Biology; its course structure is not published on the pages read for this article.
• Biochemistry: a separate Science program studying enzyme reactions, gene regulation, chemical signalling pathways and cellular structure; the page says its experiential learning offers training for entry into medicine and other health-related professional programs. Sample courses: BIOC 2200 (Cellular Biochemistry) and BIOC 3101 (metabolism, enzymes and control).
• Biotechnology: a separate Science program applying chemistry, biochemistry and biology, including genetic and metabolic engineering, regenerative medicine and applied microbiology and fermentation; students choose a practicum or consulting project as part of the degree. Sample courses: BTEC 2301 and BTEC 4602 (Biotherapeutics and Vaccines).
• Biomedical Sciences: on the admissions site this is a concentration of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), covering genetic, biochemical, immunological, physiological and developmental aspects of human health, with a paid summer research internship and a research-based capstone. Health Sciences is mentioned only in passing here; see its program page.
• Choosing a program: applicants choose a program on the application. When and under what conditions a major is confirmed or changed after entry is not published on the pages read for this article.
• First year and labs: sample courses include BIOL 1103 (Foundations of Biology I, the scientific process at the cellular level: cell organization, metabolism, genetics and reproduction) and BIOL 3305 (Human and Comparative Physiology). The full first-year common course list is not published on the pages read for this article.
• Co-op: the Biology and Biochemistry program pages list a Co-op option; the work-term schedule and places were not on the pages read.
• Accreditation and research project: the program pages do not mention accreditation by a professional society or a required research project; this is not published on the pages read for this article.
• Outside this article: medicine, nursing, pharmacy and similar degrees are not covered; see the official site.

Prerequisites and admission averages

• Specific prerequisite courses: each program page has an “Admission Requirements” tool. You choose your education background (Ontario high school, other Canadian provinces, CEGEP, American high school, IB, international high school, transfer and so on), your province and your curriculum (including Chinese High School, IB, UK A Levels and US high school), and only then does it show the prerequisite courses and grades for the program. They are not published on the pages this article draws on, so please check the tool for your own background rather than assuming another program’s requirements.
• Admission averages: not published on the pages read for this article. The admissions site says most programs admit on a rolling basis, assessing an application as soon as it and sufficient grades are in; most offers are conditional, with the conditions stated in the offer letter.
• Order of choices: a direct application allows two program choices and OUAC three; Carleton says it offers admission to only one program at a time, giving the first choice if you qualify and telling you whether you also qualify for others. A high-school applicant who does not meet a program’s requirements may be held for updated grades or offered a related program.

International applicants (including applicants from China)

General requirements

• Two ways to apply: through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), with a fee of CAD 166 covering three Ontario universities/programs, suited to people applying to several Ontario universities or studying an Ontario-curriculum high school; or directly to Carleton through a Carleton360 account, CAD 100 for two programs at Carleton, recommended for those applying to only one or two Ontario universities. Current Ontario-curriculum high school students must use OUAC. The fee is non-refundable.
• Documents: details of previous studies (institutions and dates) and transcripts from the highest level of education with courses and grades; English test scores if applicable; a credit card for the fee. Unofficial copies can be uploaded for the first assessment, with official final transcripts to follow. Uploads must be PDF, maximum 2 MB. Whether essays or letters of recommendation are required is not published on the pages read for this article; please check with Carleton.
• Turnaround: Carleton says a decision usually takes 4 to 6 weeks after all documents arrive, depending on the time of year.

Applicants from China

• Curriculum category: the admission requirements tool lists “Chinese High School” as a separate curriculum option, which brings up requirements for that background. Their content is not published on the pages read for this article; please check the tool.
• Gaokao: whether and how gaokao results are used is not published on the pages read for this article; ask via the tool or at international@carleton.ca.
• Country page and interviews: not published on the pages read for this article. The admissions site lists recruitment events in Chinese cities (for example Guangzhou and Xiamen); check the events page for sessions.
• English: see below; mainland China is not on Carleton’s list of countries that may qualify for the English exemption.

English language requirements

• Exemption: full-time study for the past three years in a Canadian high school taught in English, or in a high school, college or university taught predominantly in English in one of the countries or territories on Carleton’s list (ESL course time does not count; letters from educators do not waive the requirement).
• Scores for admission with no further ESL requirement: IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT 86 for tests taken before 21 January 2026 (22 in writing and speaking, 20 in reading and listening) or 4.5 on the new scale (4.0 in each band) for later tests; Duolingo 120 (110 writing, reading and speaking, 105 listening); PTE Academic 55 (47 in each skill); CAEL 70 (60 in each band); Cambridge C1/C2 176 (169 in each component); AP English Language or Literature grade 4; IB English A (Literature, or Language and Literature) grade 4, while IB English B Higher Level is not accepted. Scores must be sent electronically using institution code 0854 (CAEL and Duolingo through the test account). The table was updated on 8 January 2026.
• Admission with an ESL requirement: lower scores can lead to an offer with Academic ESL courses (ESLA 1300/1500/1900, up to three terms) taken alongside a limited number of degree courses, for example IELTS 5.0 (4.5 in each band), TOEFL 51 (old scale) or 3.0 (new scale, 2.5 in each band), Duolingo 80, PTE 31, CAEL 40. Carleton lists programs such as Health Sciences, Nursing, Journalism and Information Technology that students admitted with an ESL requirement cannot enter.

Application timeline (fall 2027 entry)

The dates below come from the admissions site’s “Dates and Deadlines” page, which says it is based on the 2026–2027 academic year and lists these dates for 2027. Some programs have earlier deadlines and additional admission material; please confirm on the official site.

• September 2026: OUAC application opens; the direct application for international students opens in Carleton360.
• 15 January 2027: deadline for Ontario high school students applying through OUAC.
• 1 March 2027: Prestige Scholarship application deadline; some programs have their own deadlines (5 March for additional admission material).
• 1 April 2027: main deadline for international students whose transcripts originate outside Canada and the US.
• 1 May 2027: Leadership Entrance Bursary deadline.
• 1 June 2027: general fall deadline for students whose transcripts originate in Canada or the US; deadline for Ontario high school students to accept an offer.
• 7 June 2027: deadline to accept a residence offer and pay the Residence Advance Payment.
• 30 June 2027: Entrance Bursary application deadline.

Application fee: see the international section above (OUAC CAD 166, direct CAD 100). The fee for Canadian applicants is not published on the pages read for this article; check with Carleton and OUAC.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents

• How to apply: online through OUAC; current Ontario high school students must use OUAC.
• Ontario versus other provinces: prerequisites and averages are listed in the tool by education background and province (Ontario high school, other provinces, CEGEP and so on). They are not on the pages read for this article.
• Tuition (2026–27, including compulsory ancillary fees such as the U-Pass, labs and library): Ontario residents CAD 7,580 to 14,515, Canadian residents outside Ontario CAD 9,212 to 17,935, depending on program. Carleton points to carleton.ca/fees for program-level figures, which was not read.
• Residence: on-campus residence with meal plan (8 months) from CAD 14,010.36 (traditional double, guaranteed); Carleton estimates off-campus housing at CAD 12,000 to 24,000 a year.
• Other pathways: the Enriched Support Program (for students whose grades do not reflect their potential; a year of courses, then entry to a degree program on a required GPA) and the Indigenous Enriched Support Program.

Transfer students (including college transfers)

• How to apply: Ontario college or university transfers apply through OUAC; current Carleton students changing program use the Internal Application in Carleton360; international applicants can also apply directly. The transfer GPA and prerequisite courses are not published on the pages read for this article; use the requirements tool and choose the college or university transfer background.
• Transfer credit: assessed case by case after you apply, depending on degree, grades and program requirements; sometimes official course descriptions or syllabi are needed. Carleton says it will transfer as much credit as it can, but this depends on GPA, course level and relevance to the degree; studies at accredited Canadian institutions are assessed automatically, and some IB, GCE (A-Level) and AP results earn advanced standing. The credit tables are on sub-pages of the transfer credit page, which were not read.
• Deadlines: see the timeline above; Carleton also lists 15 November 2026 (transcripts from Canada or the US) and 15 October 2026 (other countries) for the January 2027 term.

Costs and scholarships

• International tuition: Bachelor of Science CAD 39,000 per year, frozen for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29; miscellaneous fees are estimated at about CAD 2,500 a year (UHIP health insurance, U-Pass, campus health services, athletics and so on) and are not frozen. Carleton expects increases after the freeze of 3% to 8%. Bachelor of Health Sciences falls in the same CAD 39,000 band.
• Living costs: on-campus residence and meal plan (8 months) CAD 14,010; off-campus housing and meals (8 months) about CAD 16,000; books about CAD 1,400; personal expenses about CAD 3,000. For a study permit IRCC asks a single applicant to show at least CAD 23,448 for living expenses, on top of first-year tuition and travel.
• Automatic entrance scholarships: for high school students who meet the academic and language requirements, based on previous grades, CAD 1,000 to 3,000 a year, renewable with an A- (annual GPA 10.0).
• President’s Welcome Award for International Students: for international students applying for September 2027 who come directly from high school and pay international fees; CAD 2,000 to 5,000 for the first year only, depending on grades at admission, on top of entrance scholarships.
• Prestige Scholarships: for an admission average over 90%, judged on grades plus leadership, community service and activities; application required by 1 March; CAD 5,000 to 14,178 a year, renewable with an A-.
• Bursaries: Entrance Bursary (30 June) and Leadership Entrance Bursary (1 May).
• Co-op and work: Carleton’s international student employability page describes co-op as paid full-time work placements during studies, with up to two years of experience before graduation; international students may work off campus part-time up to 24 hours a week in term and full-time during breaks, and can apply for a post-graduation work permit for up to three years of Canadian work experience. Whether co-op is available is stated on each program page; for the work-permit details ask the International Student Services Office (ISSO).

Sources: Carleton University, Biology; Biochemistry; Biotechnology; Biomedical Sciences; Programs; Science for international applicants; Dates and deadlines; How to apply; International application; English requirements; International costs and scholarships; Domestic costs; Transfer credit; International student employability