Carleton University Prestige Fully-funded Scholarships 2027–2028 for Bachelor’s Admissions
Can an international student receive a fully funded undergraduate scholarship at Carleton University in Canada?
The honest answer is not quite. Carleton University’s Prestige Scholarships are among its largest undergraduate entrance awards, but most provide between CAD 20,000 and CAD 32,000 over four years rather than complete funding. The Riordon Scholarship offers full tuition for four years, but its value is capped at the Canadian domestic tuition rate. International students must therefore expect a substantial remaining tuition bill, plus accommodation and other living expenses.
That funding limitation should not discourage strong applicants. These are still highly valuable renewable awards for academically outstanding school-leavers who can prove that their achievements extend beyond examination results.
What Scholarships Are Available for 2027–2028?
Carleton will use one Prestige Scholarship application to consider candidates for all six awards.
| Prestige Scholarships | Number Available | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| Chancellor’s Scholarship | 10 | CAD 32,000: CAD 8,000 annually |
| Richard Lewar Entrance Scholarship | 7 | CAD 21,500 |
| Carleton University Scholarship of Excellence | 3 | CAD 20,000: CAD 5,000 annually |
| Carleton University SHAD Scholarship | 2 | CAD 20,000: CAD 5,000 annually |
| Jay Woo and CAA Scholarship | 1 | CAD 20,000: CAD 5,000 annually |
| Riordon Scholarship | 1 | Full domestic tuition for four years |
All awards are renewable, but renewal is conditional rather than automatic. Recipients must maintain an annual Carleton GPA of at least 10.0, equivalent to an A- standing.
Are These Carleton Scholarships Really Fully Funded?
No—applicants should treat them as tuition-reduction scholarships, except for the limited domestic-tuition coverage of the Riordon Scholarship.
Carleton has frozen international undergraduate tuition for the 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029 academic years. Annual tuition is approximately:
- CAD 39,000 for arts, science, health science, journalism and several related degrees;
- CAD 45,000 for accounting, commerce and international business;
- CAD 55,000 for engineering, computer science, architecture, cybersecurity, data science and related technology degrees.
Mandatory miscellaneous fees are additional. Carleton also estimates approximately CAD 14,010 for an eight-month residence and meal plan, CAD 1,400 for books and CAD 3,000 for personal expenses.
An international engineering student winning the CAD 8,000-per-year Chancellor’s Scholarship could therefore still face around CAD 47,000 in tuition and mandatory fees before living expenses. Even the Riordon Scholarship is capped at the domestic tuition amount, meaning it does not automatically pay the much higher international tuition rate. It also does not advertise a living stipend, airfare, visa costs, books or health-insurance allowance.
Calling the entire scheme “fully funded” would consequently give international applicants the wrong financial impression.
Who Can Apply for Carleton University Scholarships?
You can apply for any prestige scholarship at Carleton in 2027 when all the following statements are true:
- You are entering Carleton directly from high school or CEGEP.
- You are beginning post-secondary education for the first time.
- You have not previously attended a college or university.
- Your calculated admission average is at least 90%.
- You can demonstrate sustained extracurricular participation and leadership during secondary school.
- You are applying for an undergraduate degree at Carleton.
International high-school students are eligible for Carleton’s scholarships. However, transfer students and applicants who have already enrolled at a post-secondary institution are not eligible for the Prestige competition, even when they possess excellent grades.
The 90% average is an eligibility threshold—not a winning score. With only 24 awards listed, a candidate presenting exactly 90% but little evidence of leadership will likely be less competitive than someone who combines strong grades with measurable community impact.
What Extracurricular Activities Can Strengthen an Application?
Carleton does not require one particular type of activity. The committee assesses the range of school and community involvement and a strong application should therefore explain:
- what responsibility you held;
- how long you remained involved;
- how many people benefited;
- what problem you helped solve;
- what changed because of your work.
Being a club member is weaker than leading a project. “Volunteered at school events” is weaker than explaining that you organized a tutoring programme, recruited 20 volunteers and supported 100 pupils.
Depth also matters. Three years of meaningful service will generally tell a stronger story than collecting ten certificates during the final month before the deadline.
Do International Applicants Need IELTS to Apply for Carleton in 2027?
IELTS is not compulsory when you satisfy Carleton’s English requirement through another accepted route.
For unrestricted undergraduate admission, Carleton currently accepts IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 and no band below 6.0. Alternatives include Duolingo English Test 120, PTE Academic 55, CAEL 70 and accepted Cambridge, IB, GCSE, IGCSE, GCE or AP English qualifications.
An applicant may also qualify through three years of full-time English-language education in an eligible country where English is the primary language. However, a simple letter claiming that your school used English as the medium of instruction does not automatically produce a waiver, and Carleton retains the right to request a test from any applicant.
Lower results, including IELTS 5.0 with no band below 4.5, may lead to admission with compulsory academic English courses. That route is unavailable for several programmes, including Architecture, Health Sciences, International Business, Journalism, Information Technology, Nursing and Public Affairs and Policy Management.
How to Apply for the Prestige Scholarships?
First apply for undergraduate admission and obtain your Carleton student number. International applications for September 2027 are expected to begin near the end of September 2026, while the Prestige Scholarship form will open in October 2026. Applicants can apply directly to Carleton or through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
Next:
- Download the Prestige Scholarship application and open it in Adobe.
- Complete the single form used for all six scholarships.
- Obtain a signed reference letter.
- Attach both the application and reference letter to an email.
- Include your Carleton student number.
- Send the complete application.
The scholarship application is separate from the admission application. Receiving admission does not mean you have automatically applied for a Prestige Scholarship.
Can the Scholarship Be Lost After First Year?
Yes. Recipients must complete at least 4.0 credits during the Fall/Winter session, maintain an annual GPA of 10.0 or higher and avoid an F, UNS or NR grade. Scholarships are assessed using the annual GPA rather than only the cumulative GPA. A student falling below 10.0 loses the award for the following year, although it may be regained during a later eligible year after the requirements are restored.
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the Carleton University Prestige fully funded Scholarships 2027–2028 is March 1, 2027. Applicants should not wait until the final day because a missing signature, reference letter, attachment or student number can leave an otherwise strong application incomplete.