Program

Our programs offer the opportunity to:

Get started on first-year university in a full-time program, earning credits that will count toward your degree
Take up to three first-year university courses (one First-Year Seminar and two electives)
Take a First Year Seminar, taught by our faculty and supported by Mentors
Receive academic support in small, weekly workshops that help you make the transition to university-level work
Benefit from individual academic and time management support in the form of academic coaching
Get advice from advisors who will help you in exploring academic goals and options
Build a basis for admission to a degree

program structure graphic: 3 credit courses supported by 2 non-credit workshops, and mentoring, advising and coaching support

Please email us at esp@carleton.ca if you have any questions about this process

Pathways

ESP offers unique pathways to help you qualify for a variety of degree programs.

Arts and Social Sciences Stream
Business Stream
Computer Science Stream
Engineering Stream
Science Stream
Other Programs

ESP Arts & Social Science students enroll in:

One first year seminar credit course
Two First-year elective courses, chosen from a list of first-year courses supported by ESP
Two non-credit workshops designed to build the skills needed to excel in university studies

Click here for more information about our Arts & Social Sciences Stream.

Students who successfully complete the ESP Arts & Social Science Stream with an overall minimum CGPA of 6.0 (C+ 67-69%) are eligible for admission to most of Carleton’s Bachelor of Arts*, Cognitive Science, Communication and Media Studies, Economics*, Global and International Studies, and Media Production and Design*. Other programs such as the Bachelor of Humanities, Journalism, Public Affairs & Policy Management and Social Work have higher CGPA requirements and/or other requirements. *Some majors may require high school prerequisites.

See our ESP to Degree sheet for details on degree admission requirements for ESP students.

Click here for more information on Carleton’s grade point scale and here for how a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is calculated.
Please note: students with previous university studies will have different requirements. Please consult esp@carleton.ca or admissions@carleton.ca for advice.

ESP Business Stream

ESP Business students enroll in:

A first-year seminar credit course
First-year Economics
First-year Calculus* and an Introduction to Business course
Two non-credit workshops designed to build the skills needed to excel in university studies

*Prerequisite Subjects: 4U Advanced Functions (min. 60%), 4U Calculus and Vectors recommended

Click here for more information about our Business Stream.

Admission to Business after ESP

Students who wish to earn admission to a Business major must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be considered:

Complete 3.0 credits in ESP with an overall minimum average of B- (7.0), and
Earn a minimum of C+ in 3 of the following 4 courses: ECON 1001, ECON 1002, MATH 1009, and BUSI 1800, with no grade lower than C-

Click here for more information on Carleton’s grade point scale and here for how a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is calculated. See our ESP to Degree sheet for more information.

Please note: students with previous university studies will have different standards. Please consult esp@carleton.ca or admissions@carleton.ca for advice.

ESP Computer Science Stream

ESP Computer Science students enroll in:

A first-year seminar credit course
First-year Introduction to Computer Science
First-year Calculus and Linear Algebra
Two non-credit workshops designed to build the skills needed to excel in university studies

Prerequisite Subject: 4U Advanced Functions (min. 60%), 4U Calculus and Vectors recommended

Click here for more information about our Computer Science Stream.

Admission to Computer Science after ESP

Students who wish to earn admission to a Computer Science program must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be considered:

an overall minimum CGPA of 7.0 (B- 70-72%)
a minimum grade of 4.0 (C- 60-62%) in each of MATH 1007, MATH 1104 and COMP 1006

Click here for more information on Carleton’s grade point scale and here for how a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is calculated. See our ESP to Degree sheet for more information.

Please note: students with previous university studies will have different standards. Please consult esp@carleton.ca or admissions@carleton.ca for advice.

ESP Engineering Stream

ESP Engineering students enroll in:

One first year seminar credit course
First-year Introduction to Chemistry
First-year Calculus and Linear Algebra
Two non-credit workshops designed to build the skills needed to excel in university studies

Prerequisite Subjects: 4U Advanced Functions (min. 60%), 4U Chemistry (min. 60%), 4U Physics (Physics may be taken concurrently, min. 60%), 4U Calculus and Vectors recommended

Click here for more information about our Engineering Stream.

Admission to Engineering after ESP

Students who wish to earn admission to an Engineering program must successfully complete the ESP Engineering stream with:

an overall minimum CGPA of 7.0 (B- 70-72%)
a core GPA of 7.0 (B- 70-72%) – the core average is calculated across all science and math courses taken in ESP as well as grade 12 Advanced Physics
Note: the cut-off varies by program; most engineering programs require higher overall and core CGPA’s.

Click here for more information on Carleton’s grade point scale and here for how a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is calculated. See our ESP to Degree sheet for more information.

Please note: students with previous university studies will have different standards. Please consult esp@carleton.ca or admissions@carleton.ca for advice.

ESP Science Stream

ESP Science students enroll in:

One first year seminar credit course
First-year Introduction to Chemistry (fall and winter) or a combination of Introduction to Chemistry (fall) and Neuroscience (winter)
First-year Calculus and Linear Algebra
Two non-credit workshops designed to build the skills needed to excel in university studies

Prerequisite Subjects: 4U Advanced Functions (min. 60%), 4U Chemistry (min. 60%), 4U Calculus and Vectors recommended

Click here for more information about our Science Stream.

Admission to Science after ESP

To earn admission to a B.Sc. General: Students must successfully complete the ESP Science Stream with an overall minimum CGPA of 6.0 (C+ 67-69%) for admission to a major science degree (3-year program)
To earn admission to a B.Sc. Honours: Students applying to Honours (4-year) programs must successfully complete the ESP Science Stream with an overall minimum CGPA of 7.0 (B- 70-72%) and also require one of: 4U Biology, Earth and Space Science or Physics (not offered in ESP, min 60%)
- and a core CGPA of 7.0 (B- 70-72%) – the core average is calculated across all science and math courses taken in ESP as well as the additional grade 12 Advanced science course (4U Biology, Earth and Space Science or Physics).

Other programs

To qualify for other programs through ESP, such as Architecture, Industrial Design, Information Technology, Humanities, Journalism, Public Affairs & Policy Management, and Social Work, please consult with Admissions Services 613-520-3609 or admissions@carleton.ca or reach out to an ESP Advisor esp.advising@carleton.ca.