How to Apply to Psychology at Carleton University: Choose Psychology Directly in the BA or BSc, and Requirements and Timeline for Canadian and Chinese High School Students and Transfer Students

Carleton University is in Ottawa, Canada’s capital. Psychology can be studied as a Bachelor of Arts (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) or a Bachelor of Science (Faculty of Science); the main difference is electives, with social sciences and humanities in the BA and natural sciences in the BSc. You choose the psychology major directly within the BA or BSc when you apply. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Carleton’s official information, for students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students and international students in Canada), students at high schools in China, and transfer students.

1. Program highlights

• Five concentrations: Cognitive, Developmental, Forensic, Health, and Social/Personality Psychology. There is also a Mental Health and Well-Being stream, which Carleton says is unique to the university.
• Applied learning: co-op, practicum courses and volunteering in psychology labs.
• Honours: both the BA and BSc have honours degrees (20.0 credits). Carleton uses a 12-point GPA scale: third-year honours seminars require a major CGPA of at least 9.00, and the thesis course requires at least 10.00.
• Introductory courses: PSYC 1001 and 1002 are prerequisites for most later psychology courses.

2. Academic requirements: Canadian high schools

• General requirements for BC students: a high school diploma with four academic Grade 12 courses, prerequisites at Grade 12 with no grade below 60%, and Grade 12 English recommended for all degrees. Both the overall and prerequisite averages count; the required average is set each year by program, all programs have limited enrolment and admission is not guaranteed.
• BA in Psychology: English 12 or English First Peoples 12.
• BSc in Psychology: Pre-Calculus 12 and two of Anatomy and Physiology 12, Chemistry 12 or Physics 12; Calculus 12 is strongly recommended.
• For reference: the calendar notes that an overall average of at least 70% is normally required to be considered, and cut-offs may be considerably higher; programs with high demand require more.
• How to apply: Canadian high school students apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), then track their application and upload documents in Carleton360.

3. Academic requirements: high schools in China

• Average: calculated using all nine academic subjects at the highest level taken; prerequisites must be presented at Grade 11 or 12.
• BA in Psychology: English; math is recommended.
• BSc in Psychology: math and two of biology, chemistry or physics.
• Finalizing admission: offers are finalized on receipt of final grades and the official graduation certificate, which should be verified by CSSD.
• Application route: international students can apply through the OUAC or directly through Carleton’s international application in Carleton360.

4. English requirements

• Exemption: three years of full-time study at a Canadian high school taught in English, or in a country where English is the primary language (ESL courses do not count).
• Scores with no further ESL requirement:
  • IELTS Academic 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each band;
  • TOEFL 4.5 (at least 4.0 in each band) for tests after January 21, 2026, or 86 (22 in writing and speaking, 20 in reading and listening) for earlier tests; institution code 0854;
  • Duolingo 120 (110 in writing, reading and speaking, 105 in listening); PTE 55 (47 in each skill); CAEL 70 (60 in each band); Cambridge C1/C2 176 (169 in each component);
  • AP English at 4 or IB English A at 4, among others.
• Admission with an ESL requirement: lower scores can bring an offer that includes Academic ESL in the first term(s), taken with a limited number of degree courses for credit, for example IELTS 5.0 (4.5 in each band), TOEFL 3.0 (2.5 in each band) or Duolingo 80.

5. Transfer students

• Transfer is possible from Canadian universities and colleges, provided you meet the degree’s prerequisites (English is recommended for all degrees). Carleton does not publish a fixed transfer GPA; requirements are set each year by program, and some programs have additional GPA requirements for upper-year entry.
• Transfer credit: assessed upon admission, sometimes with detailed course descriptions. Carleton aims to transfer as much credit as possible, depending on GPA, course level and relevance to your program.
• Dates: as for high school students, June 1 for fall; November 15, 2026 for winter (limited programs).

6. Timeline for fall 2027 entry

• September 2026: the OUAC and Carleton’s direct international application open; offers begin in October on a rolling basis.
• January 15, 2027: OUAC deadline for Ontario high school students.
• March 1, 2027: Prestige Scholarship deadline.
• April 1, 2027: main deadline for international students whose transcripts originate outside Canada or the US.
• May 1, 2027: Leadership Entrance Bursary deadline.
• June 1, 2027: general fall deadline for students whose transcripts originate in Canada or the US, including BC students; some programs close earlier.
• June 7, 2027: deadline to accept residence and pay the Residence Advance Payment. Canadian high school students admitted by May 31 are guaranteed residence; international students admitted from high school by mid-May are automatically offered a room.
• June 15, 2027: your complete application and all grades must be in to be considered for entrance scholarships.
• June 30, 2027: Entrance Bursary deadline.

7. Tuition and scholarships

• International tuition: CAD $39,000 a year for the BA and BSc, frozen for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29. On-campus residence and meal plan (eight months): about CAD $14,010.
• Domestic tuition (2026–27, including ancillary fees): about CAD $9,212 to $17,935 for Canadians from outside Ontario, depending on the program.
• Automatic entrance scholarships: high school applicants with an admission average of 85% or more are considered automatically, for CAD $1,000 to $3,000 a year, renewable with an A- (annual GPA of 10.0).
• President’s Welcome Award for International Students: international students entering in September 2027 are considered automatically for CAD $2,000 to $5,000 based on grades at admission, first year only, in addition to entrance scholarships.
• Prestige Scholarships: for admission averages of 90%+, based on grades and activities, with an application and reference letter by March 1; worth CAD $5,000 to $14,178 a year, renewable with an A-.

Checklist

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply through the OUAC to the BA or BSc in Psychology by June 1 (earlier is better with rolling admission)
• BC: English 12 for the BA; Pre-Calculus 12 and two sciences for the BSc (Calculus 12 strongly recommended), with at least 60% in each prerequisite
• With 90%+, apply for a Prestige Scholarship by March 1; submit all grades by June 15

Students at high schools in China:

• Average based on nine academic subjects; the BSc needs math and two sciences
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band), TOEFL 4.5 or Duolingo 120; lower scores may bring an offer with an ESL requirement
• Apply by April 1; have your graduation certificate verified by CSSD
• International tuition of CAD $39,000 a year (frozen for three years), with automatic consideration for the President’s Welcome Award

Transfer students:

• Meet the degree prerequisites and apply by June 1
• Transfer credit is assessed after admission; course descriptions may be required

Sources: Carleton University, Psychology (BA); Psychology (BSc); Canadian high school (outside Ontario); International applicants; Canadian university transfer; Transfer credit; English language requirements; Dates and deadlines; Scholarships; USA and international costs; Domestic costs; Calendar: Psychology. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Carleton for the latest details.