Bachelor Programme
Public Affairs and Policy Management
BPAPM combines public policy with political science, economics, law and history to study what governments do and how policy can be improved, on issues such as climate change, housing, health care and global affairs. Students choose a concentration such as development and human rights, international policy or public policy and administration, start policy work in first year through Kroeger Policy Connects, and can add co-op or an exchange.
University
Carleton University
Country
Canada
Level
Bachelor
Field
Public Policy
Duration
4 years (20.0 credits, Honours); optional co-op work terms are added on top
Language
English
Campus
Ottawa
Degree
Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (BPAPM) Honours
Intake
September
Application Deadline
September 2027 entry: Ontario high school students apply through OUAC by January 15, 2027; international students whose transcripts come from outside Canada and the US by April 1, 2027; other applicants with Canadian or US transcripts by the general deadline of June 1, 2027. Applying early is recommended because all programs have limited enrolment
Tuition Information
Carleton's 2026-27 fee tables list first-year fees for the Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management (fall and winter terms, including compulsory ancillary fees and the U-Pass transit pass) of about CAD 9,238 for Ontario residents, CAD 11,299 for Canadian residents from other provinces and CAD 41,384 for international students. For international students Carleton has frozen tuition at about CAD 39,000 a year, plus about CAD 2,500 in miscellaneous fees, for 2026-27 through 2028-29. Students in the co-op option also pay a co-op fee of CAD 540.64 per term. Domestic fees for 2027-28 are not yet published.
Admission Requirements
- Apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC); international applicants whose transcripts come from outside Canada and the US can also use Carleton's direct application in Carleton360
- Ontario: OSSD with at least six 4U/M courses; no specific prerequisite courses. To keep a conditional offer: an overall average of at least 80%
- High schools outside Ontario (Carleton's Group B chart): an overall average of at least 80%, with no specific prerequisites
- IB Diploma: at least 28 points, with no specific prerequisite subjects
- US high school: Grade 12 with at least four academic units and at least 16 academic units across Grades 9 to 12, with a B- average as Carleton's general minimum (Honours and limited-enrolment programs can need more). SAT or ACT scores are encouraged but not required
- Co-op is optional: students can be admitted straight into the co-op option in first year if they meet its cut-off (which can be higher than the program minimum) and are eligible to work in Canada, and the job market can limit co-op places
- Applicants who would need English as a Second Language courses on admission are not eligible for this program, so English proficiency must be fully met
- The averages above are the minimums Carleton lists for keeping a conditional offer of admission for 2027-28. Carleton sets each program's cut-off every year and competitive programs can require considerably higher averages; meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission. Unless stated otherwise, every prerequisite needs at least 60% (or an IB grade of 4)
- English proficiency: met by three years of recent full-time study in English at a Canadian high school or in an English-speaking country, or by a test such as IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 86 (at least 22 in writing and speaking and 20 in reading and listening; 4.5 with no band below 4.0 for tests from January 21, 2026), Duolingo 120 (110 in writing, reading and speaking, 105 in listening), PTE Academic 55 (47 in each skill), CAEL 70 (60 in each band), Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 176 (169 in each component), or a grade of 4 in IB English A (HL or SL). Slightly lower scores can lead to an offer with English as a Second Language courses, but not for every program