Academic Requirements
Master’s Programs
While each program has its own minimum requirements, the following will give you a guideline to determine your eligibility to submit an application.
- 4-year (honours) bachelor’s degree
- B+ or better in your major subjects
- B- or better overall
Program Requirements
- 4-year (honours) bachelor degree or equivalent professional degree
- Minimum B+ (77%) average over last 2 years of study (or last 20 one-term courses)
- One (1) university-level course in statistics
Those who wish to be considered for the Advanced Entry pathway (1-year course-based MSc in HSTP) must also demonstrate at least three years of consecutive full-time professional work experience in a health-related field.
Note: Applicants judged to be generally acceptable but deficient in some aspect of preparation may be asked to complete course-work in addition to the program requirements.
The Graduate Program Committee will provide the terms of reference (conditions of admission) for the program for each student by defining any courses required to overcome deficit(s) and whether these courses will be part of the degree (electives) or extra to degree. Given the broad range of disciplinary backgrounds that students applying to the program are expected to represent, these decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Please review the proposed HSTP Interdisciplinary Health Research Project descriptions here. If you wish to be considered for the Research Pathway you will need to rank your preference for each project and outline the qualifications you have to contribute to these projects in your Statement of Experience (see Required Documents below) at the time of application.
Required Documents
After you have submitted your online application and your application fee has been processed, you will be instructed on how to upload your required documents in Carleton Central. For complete information regarding required documents, please visit the Graduate Admissions website.
| Document/Forms | Details |
| Transcript(s) | All post-secondary transcripts are required (undergraduate and graduate, if applicable) |
| Letters of Reference | Two (2) are required and should be submitted by former professors (preferably your project/thesis supervisors), or qualified persons at your place of employment. An academic referee is a faculty member with whom you have studied and is able to assess your potential for graduate level study and research. References from non-academic supervisors may be accepted in certain cases i.e. professional references or for professional programs.NOTE: References from family members, friends, students, former or current classmates, employees, colleagues and/or Teaching Assistants are not accepted.Contact your referees before you apply online to confirm their availability.When filling in your online application, you are asked to include email addresses for your referees.NOTE: Valid institutional or organizational email addresses are required. Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo, etc. are not accepted and will be verified. |
| Statement of Intent | Your Statement of Intent will consist of two (2) parts. 1 – A 750 word Statement of Intent indicating how you envision the program will further your career goals. It will be used to assess the program’s ability to meet those goals2 – A 1000 word Statement of Experience detailing your specific skills in research design, analysis, and writing; your ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams; and your previous experience that will ensure your success in this interdisciplinary program. |
| Health Research Projects Preference Form | If you wish to be considered for the Research Pathway in the MSc in HSTP you must include a ranking of your top 3 choices of proposed Interdisciplinary Health Research Projects. You must also include a brief statement (max 250 words each for these 3 ranked projects) to explain the qualifications and experience that you have achieved and you feel will contribute toward the project (e.g. courses taken, especially graduate-level statistics where relevant; evidence of background expertise through undergraduate specialization and/or work-related experience). At the beginning of your brief statement, also be sure to indicate the project title and supervisor’s name. Please note that the list of proposed projects will be posted by the end of November. Applicants can include their project rankings directly into the online application form, otherwise please complete the Health Research Project Preference Form – MSc in HSTP and uploaded into the Statement of Intent section of the application in the Carleton Central system. |
| CV/Resumé | One (1) is required. |
| Letter of Employment (Advanced Entry Pathway ONLY) | A Letter of Employment is required to verify the required minimum 3 years of consecutive full-time work experience in a health-related field, from a current (or former) employer. |
| Language Proficiency (ESL Test Scores) | Required, if applicable. For Carleton’s ESL requirements and policies, please visit the ESL Requirements website. |
Language Requirements
The language of instruction at Carleton University is English. For admission into Carleton’s graduate programs, you will need to demonstrate that your knowledge and use of English are strong enough for graduate studies at an English-language university.
If your first language is not English, you can demonstrate your language proficiency by:
- presenting one of the official Language Proficiency (ESL) test scores as defined in the table below;
- showing that you have completed ESLA 1900 or ESLA 1905 at Carleton University with a final grade of B- or higher; or
- presenting official certification (transcripts) that you have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a university in any country in which the primary language is English, where the language of instruction in the relevant educational institution was English, and the language of instruction in their most recently completed undergraduate or graduate degree was English.
Applicants who present their most recent degree and transcripts from a Canadian institution are exempt from language proficiency requirements, unless otherwise required by an individual program.
Note: Letters from your universities stating the medium of instruction is English are not acceptable.
Minimum Language Proficiency (ESL) test score requirement:
| Language Proficiency Test | Score |
| Canadian Academic English Language Test (CAEL, CAEL-CE) | 70 (minimum 60 in each band) |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | Overall score of 125, with minimum 120 in each integrated sub-score |
| IELTS, IELTS Online (Academic) | 6.5 IELTS (minimum 6.0 in each band) |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) including PTE Online (Academic) | 60 overall (minimum 60 in each Communicative Skill) |
| TOEFL iBT (including iBT Home Edition) | For exams taken before January 21, 2026: 86 (20 in reading and listening; 22 in speaking and writing) For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026: 4.5 overall (minimum 5.0 in writing, 4.5 in reading, listening and speaking) |
IELTS One-Skill Retake is accepted
TOEFL MyBest Scores is accepted
Please note that some graduate programs may require a higher level of understanding of the English language and will have higher ESL requirements. It is your responsibility to review and meet the minimum requirements of the program to which you are applying. Graduate Studies reserves the right to require further documentation or additional testing if they feel it necessary to demonstrate the required level of English language proficiency.
Carleton University is committed to ensuring that all students have fair access to English Language testing, including those students who require accommodations to complete the test. All tests accepted by Graduate Studies offer accommodations to students who require it, including but not limited to students with disabilities, and nursing mothers. Please note that arranging accommodations for an ESL test may take up to six weeks.
DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors. The listed minimum requirements are a guideline and do not guarantee admission. Do not worry, we will notify you of any changes during the application process.
