The processing time for admission decisions at Carleton University varies depending on the applicant type and program applied for. However, the general timeframe for receiving an admission decision is as follows:

Undergraduate Admissions

• Domestic applicants: 4 to 6 weeks from the submission of their application
• International applicants: 6 to 8 weeks from the submission of their application

Graduate Admissions

• Domestic applicants: 1 to 3 months from the submission of their application
• International applicants: 3 to 4 months from the submission of their application

Please note that these are just general guidelines, and the actual processing time may vary depending on the specific program and the volume of applications received.

Referees / Letters of Reference

Can I submit a referee from my employer?
Maybe. A referee is typically 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, such as your place of employment, may be accepted in certain cases i.e. professional references or for professional programs. We recommend providing an academic referee with your application.

My referees said they submitted their online reference, but I don’t see it in Carleton Central. What do I do?
Wait. It could take up to 2 business days before being displayed in Carleton Central.

How do I change a referee?
You can not. Once you have submitted your online application containing email addresses for your referees, you cannot change that information. You may, however, add a referee to your application by completing the Add a Referee form. You must have your Carleton User ID (10XXXXXXX) to submit this form.

How do I add a referee to my application?
Requesting additional referees beyond what is required for the program to which you are applying will not benefit your application. However, if for reasons beyond your control you would like to add a new referee, please complete the Add a Referee form. You must have your Carleton User ID (10XXXXXXX) to submit this form.

My referee(s) have not received an email from Carleton. What can I do?
Ask your referee(s) to check their spam or junk mail folders. The email is sent from graduate.studies@carleton.ca with the subject line “Carleton Referee for Admission.” If you would like the email resent to your referee(s) you can contact the department to which you have applied. You should ensure you include your Carleton User ID (10XXXXXXX) as well as the email address of your referee.

I have submitted an incorrect email address for one of my referees or they have changed their email address. How do I correct this?
Send an email to graduate.studies@carleton.ca with the following information:

• Subject Line: Change of Referee Email Address
• Carleton User ID (as sent to you via email from Carleton):
• Program:
• Term to which you have applied:
• Referee Name:
• Old Referee Email Address:
• New Referee Email Address:

Note: If you do not have your Carleton User ID yet, please wait until you receive it before making this type of request.

Can I submit a paper copy of my reference letter?
No. Referees are automatically sent an email requesting that they complete an online reference form. Paper copies of reference letters are not accepted. Referees are encouraged to send an email to graduate.studies@carleton.ca directly if they are experiencing difficulty or have problems with this process.

Can my referees submit their online reference after the admission deadline?

Yes, however it is your responsibility to follow up with your referees to ensure they have received the email and that they submit the reference before the application deadline. Referee submissions posted after the admission deadline may be too late for consideration.