The Carleton University Scholarships 2027 can help students reduce the cost of starting an undergraduate degree in Ottawa, Canada. For international students entering directly from high school, two awards are especially useful: a renewable entrance scholarship based on admission grades and a first-year President’s Welcome Award.
- Carleton University Scholarships 2027 Details
- Benefits of Carleton University Scholarships 2027
- Eligibility for Carleton University Scholarships 2027
- Required Documents
- Step-by-Step Application Process
- Carleton University Scholarships 2027 Deadline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Are Carleton University Scholarships 2027 fully funded?
- Do international students need a separate scholarship application?
- What grades are needed for an automatic entrance scholarship?
- Can I receive both the welcome award and an entrance scholarship?
- Can transfer students receive these entrance awards?
- When should I apply for a Prestige Scholarship?
- Apply Now and Official Website
The welcome award is automatically considered for eligible international applicants starting in September 2027. Eligible students are also automatically considered for the renewable entrance scholarship. Carleton offers separate, competitive Prestige Scholarships, but those require an application.
That difference is easy to miss when comparing scholarships. Before you spend an evening drafting an essay, find out whether the award you want has a separate form. This guide breaks down each route, the amounts Carleton currently lists, and the dates you need to track.
Carleton University Scholarships 2027 Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| University | Carleton University |
| Location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Study level | Undergraduate |
| Main intake covered | September 2027 |
| Automatic renewable entrance scholarship | CAD 1,000–3,000 per year for an eligible four-year honours degree |
| President’s Welcome Award | CAD 2,000–5,000 in the first year for eligible international students |
| Prestige Scholarships | Separate competitive awards with varying values |
| Automatic awards application | No separate scholarship form |
| Prestige application | Separate application and reference letter required |
| Prestige deadline | March 1, 2027 |
| Main international admission deadline | April 1, 2027, for applicants whose transcripts originate outside Canada or the US; some programs have earlier deadlines |
| Application status | Admission applications open; 2027–28 Prestige applications are scheduled to open in October 2026 |
These are partial awards, not a promise of fully funded study. Your exact scholarship offer depends on eligibility and Carleton’s assessment of your application.
Benefits of Carleton University Scholarships 2027
Renewable entrance scholarship
Carleton automatically considers eligible high school applicants for a renewable entrance scholarship when they are admitted with an average of 85% or higher and meet the language requirements. For a four-year honours undergraduate degree, the current award levels are:
| Admission average | Annual award | Maximum over four years |
|---|---|---|
| 95–100% | CAD 3,000 | CAD 12,000 |
| 90–94.9% | CAD 2,000 | CAD 8,000 |
| 85–89.9% | CAD 1,000 | CAD 4,000 |
Renewal requires an annual GPA of 10.0, equivalent to A- standing in Carleton’s published guidance. You must continue to meet the award’s conditions; receiving an entrance scholarship does not guarantee every later payment regardless of academic performance.
One detail I would pay attention to: Carleton determines the entrance scholarship amount from the grades available when you are admitted. Its guidance says offers are not reassessed using final high school grades. Send the required grades on time and make sure the university has the most relevant results for its admission decision.
President’s Welcome Award
International undergraduates applying to begin in September 2027 are automatically considered for Carleton’s President’s Welcome Award for International Students. The first-year value is CAD 2,000–5,000, depending on grades at admission.
This award is for students entering directly from high school and paying international student fees. Carleton says it can be offered in addition to another entrance scholarship. It is a first-year award, so do not add it to every year of a four-year budget.
Prestige Scholarships
The Carleton University Scholarships 2027 also include competitive Prestige awards for students entering directly from high school or CEGEP. Applicants need an admission average of at least 90%, a record of extracurricular or community involvement, a separate application, and a reference letter.
These awards have different values and terms. Carleton lists, for example, the Chancellor’s Scholarship at CAD 32,000 over four years. The Riordon Scholarship covers tuition up to the Canadian domestic full tuition amount, which is especially important for international applicants to understand: that cap does not mean it covers the full international tuition bill.
If you are comparing Canadian undergraduate awards, our SFU Scholarships 2027 guide covers a different university and application process.
Eligibility for Carleton University Scholarships 2027
The rules depend on which award you want.
For the automatic renewable entrance scholarship, eligible international high school students must be entering Carleton for the first time, have no previous attendance at a post-secondary college or university, meet the applicable language requirements, and have an admission average of at least 85%. Carleton offers these entrance scholarships for fall entry.
For the President’s Welcome Award, you must be an international undergraduate applicant beginning in September 2027, enter directly from high school, and pay international student fees. Carleton considers eligible students automatically based on their admission grades.
For a Prestige Scholarship, you generally need to enter directly from high school or CEGEP, have an admission average of 90% or higher, and demonstrate leadership or meaningful involvement outside the classroom. Previous college or university attendance makes applicants ineligible for these entrance awards.
If you are transferring from another post-secondary institution, do not assume the awards above apply to you. Carleton says excellent transfer students may instead be considered for general in-course scholarships after completing a full academic year of full-time study at the university.
My practical advice is to choose an undergraduate program first, then check your scholarship fit. A large award is less useful if the degree itself does not match what you want to study. Students looking at another Canadian university can also compare our University of Waterloo Scholarships 2027 guide.
Required Documents
For undergraduate admission, prepare the documents Carleton requests for your education system and chosen program. These commonly include:
- Academic transcripts and recent high school grades
- Proof of graduation or expected graduation, where applicable
- Evidence that you meet Carleton’s English-language requirements
- Any extra material required by your chosen degree, such as a portfolio or audition
- Personal and educational details needed for the application
Check your Carleton360 account after applying. It shows the additional materials Carleton needs to assess your specific application. Submit documents in the format and by the date shown there.
The automatic entrance scholarship and President’s Welcome Award do not require separate scholarship essays or forms. They are considered through the admission process. That saves time, but it makes an accurate, complete admission file especially important.
A Prestige Scholarship is different. Carleton requires a separate application and a signed reference letter. Its instructions say to include your student number when emailing the completed application and reference letter to the Awards Office. The 2027–28 application is scheduled to open in October 2026, so use the form published for that cycle.
For students comparing awards that involve a school nomination, our Lester B. Pearson Scholarship 2027 guide explains a different Canadian application route.
Step-by-Step Application Process
You can approach the Carleton University Scholarships 2027 in two tracks: apply for admission to be considered for automatic awards, and apply separately if you want a Prestige Scholarship.
Step 1: Choose your undergraduate program. Check its academic prerequisites, English-language rules, and any extra requirements. Some programs have earlier deadlines than Carleton’s main international admission date.
Step 2: Create a Carleton360 account. Carleton recommends doing this so you can see information related to your program choices and monitor your application.
Step 3: Submit your admission application. International applicants can review Carleton’s direct application route and the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre route. Current Ontario curriculum high school students must apply through OUAC. Follow the route Carleton specifies for your circumstances and pay the applicable admission application fee.
Step 4: Upload the required documents. Check Carleton360 for your document list and requests. Do not assume that submitting the form alone makes your file complete.
Step 5: Receive automatic award consideration. If you qualify, Carleton assesses your admission grades for the renewable entrance scholarship and, for eligible September 2027 international students, the President’s Welcome Award. Look at your admission offer for any scholarship information.
Step 6: Prepare a Prestige application if eligible. Once the 2027–28 form opens, complete it using Carleton’s instructions. Ask for a signed reference letter early. Describe your leadership or community activities through things you actually did and the results you helped achieve.
Step 7: Submit the Prestige materials by its deadline. Carleton instructs applicants to email the application and signed reference letter to awards@carleton.ca, including their student number. Check the official instructions again when the form becomes available.
If the scholarship amount is central to your decision, calculate what you would still need for tuition and living costs. An award can make a real difference while leaving a substantial balance to plan for.
Carleton University Scholarships 2027 Deadline
There is no single deadline for every award and applicant. The key published dates are:
- October 2026: The 2027–28 Prestige Scholarship application is scheduled to open.
- March 1, 2027: Prestige Scholarship application deadline.
- March 1, 2027: Deadline for certain programs with program-specific application dates.
- March 5, 2027: Deadline for some additional admission materials.
- April 1, 2027: Main admission application deadline for international students whose transcripts originate outside Canada or the US.
- June 1, 2027: General fall admission deadline for applicants whose transcripts originate within Canada or the US, subject to earlier program deadlines.
The automatic awards do not have their own separate scholarship form. You still need to meet the admission and document deadlines that apply to you. If your program lists an earlier date, follow that date.
It is worth making a small checklist with three columns: your admission application, outstanding documents, and any separate scholarship application. That can prevent a strong applicant from missing an award simply because one reference letter was overlooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Carleton University Scholarships 2027 fully funded?
The automatic entrance and welcome awards are partial funding. Prestige awards vary, and applicants should check each award’s terms. Budget for any remaining tuition and living expenses.
Do international students need a separate scholarship application?
Not for the automatic renewable entrance scholarship or the President’s Welcome Award. Prestige Scholarships require a separate application and reference letter.
What grades are needed for an automatic entrance scholarship?
Carleton currently lists an 85% or higher admission average, along with its other eligibility and language requirements, for automatic consideration.
Can I receive both the welcome award and an entrance scholarship?
Yes, Carleton says the President’s Welcome Award may be offered in the first year in addition to other entrance scholarships, if you qualify.
Can transfer students receive these entrance awards?
Students with previous post-secondary attendance generally do not qualify for the high school entrance awards described here. Carleton says eligible transfer students may be considered for in-course scholarships after one full academic year of full-time study.
When should I apply for a Prestige Scholarship?
Carleton says the 2027–28 application will open in October 2026, with a submission deadline of March 1, 2027. Check the form and instructions when they are published.
Apply Now and Official Website
The Carleton University Scholarships 2027 are most useful when you understand which awards are automatic and which take additional work. Apply to a degree that fits your goals, submit your grades and documents on time, and make a separate plan for Prestige funding if you qualify.
For one more Canadian undergraduate option, you can read our University of Calgary Scholarships 2027 guide. Compare the actual remaining cost at each university before choosing where to study.
