NPSIA (Carleton) – MA International Affairs Fall 2026 Admissions

[MJHawke]

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m starting this thread for anyone applying (or who has already applied) to Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) for the MA in International Affairs – Fall 2026 intake.

I submitted my application at the end of August 2025, and my referees submitted their references on September 2nd.
My application status stayed at “Preliminary Review Required” until October 23rd, when it changed to “Review in Progress by Department.”
It’s been sitting at that stage since then — so now I’m waiting (and refreshing Carleton Central a bit too often 😅).

I thought it would be nice to connect with others in the same boat — to share our updates, timelines, and experiences, and maybe make some future classmates or friends along the way!

If you’ve applied, feel free to post when you submitted, what your current status says, and how you’re feeling about the wait. Looking forward to hearing from everyone and keeping each other updated through the admissions cycle!

[overunder4]

Hey!

Thanks for getting this started! Seems like a forum hasn’t been made in a few years and I’ve been anxiously combing over old ones lol.

I finished my application mid September and my final reference letter was submitted September 26th, which is when my app was officially market complete. My application status sat at “preliminary review required” for close to a month, sometime within the last week it has switched to “review in progress by department” 

If NPSIA is following a similar admissions timeline to previous years (that is, acceptances starting to roll out 1.5 months after the date they claim applications start being reviewed)  it seems like some of us might start hearing back about decisions in mid November! 
 

Side note: I just looked on the NPSIA website and saw they concentrated the field specializations which is interesting, my top choice was IIA so I’m most anxious about we reaching the stage of application status where NPSIA discloses what specialization we are being considered for.

Best of luck!!

[Bohm]

Hey guys, thanks for setting up this form! I also have been scanning this form but only seeing threads from years ago. 

I submitted on October 19th, all references were submitted by October 30th, and yesterday my status also changed to "review in progress by department".

It would be so great to hear back a decision before the new year, truly so great. I am hoping we get more updates soon! 

Thanks for highlighting the merging of the specializations lol... My top choice for specialization was Security and Defense Policy (SDP) which now is no longer an option. Second choice was Intelligence and International Affairs (IIA) which now seems to translate to the stream National Security, Intelligence and Defense (NSID). I hope that discrepancies does not have any impact on our applications! 

[Bohm]

Thinking about the change in specialization mores... is anyone planning on reaching out to admissions to see if they need anything updated?

In my statement of intent I specifically named Security and Defense Policy... 

[MJHawke]

On 11/4/2025 at 10:07 PM, overunder4 said:

Hey!

Thanks for getting this started! Seems like a forum hasn’t been made in a few years and I’ve been anxiously combing over old ones lol.

I finished my application mid September and my final reference letter was submitted September 26th, which is when my app was officially market complete. My application status sat at “preliminary review required” for close to a month, sometime within the last week it has switched to “review in progress by department” 

If NPSIA is following a similar admissions timeline to previous years (that is, acceptances starting to roll out 1.5 months after the date they claim applications start being reviewed)  it seems like some of us might start hearing back about decisions in mid November! 
 

Side note: I just looked on the NPSIA website and saw they concentrated the field specializations which is interesting, my top choice was IIA so I’m most anxious about we reaching the stage of application status where NPSIA discloses what specialization we are being considered for.

Best of luck!!

Hi overunder4. 
I always knew their official date begin reviewing apps was October 1st, which I knew nothing might happen right away, and so I waited (impatiently so) until the 9th and sent them an email to ask when we might hear anything back. I got this response:
"Thank you for your email. Application for Fall 2026 is now open. Admission is on a rolling basis, and students are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible. We keep reviewing files and will send out admission offers on a rolling basis until the program is filled. Please note that the application will not be reviewed until all required documents have been submitted. Applications typically start being reviewed towards the end of October."

This doesn't say much, but the new date of "the end of October" seems promising.

[MJHawke]

52 minutes ago, Bohm said:

Thinking about the change in specialization mores... is anyone planning on reaching out to admissions to see if they need anything updated?

In my statement of intent I specifically named Security and Defense Policy... 

Hey Bohm  
I attended an Online MA Information session on October 28th. Not sure if you were there?
That's where I heard for the first time about the merge of the specializations into only four. They said not to worry if we mentioned the old ones in our statements, as all the faculty and students were still to be informed of the new structure, so it didn't sound like this would be a problem. They are not expecting for us to be experts on such a recent change.

[Bohm]

1 minute ago, MJHawke said:

Hey Bohm  
I attended an Online MA Information session on October 28th. Not sure if you were there?
That's where I heard for the first time about the merge of the specializations into only four. They said not to worry if we mentioned the old ones in our statements, as all the faculty and students were still to be informed of the new structure, so it didn't sound like this would be a problem. They are not expecting for us to be experts on such a recent change.

Thanks so much for the reply! I didn't make it to the session on the 28th - but this info is so helpful and gives a lot of relief. All is well