Carleton University offers BA/BS in Industrial Design, a bachelor's degree in Applied Design programme in Ottawa, Canada. The programme runs for 4 years, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 55,832 per year (CAD 11,323 per year for local students).
At a glance
Degree:Bachelor's Degree
Field:Applied Design
Duration: 4 years
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 11,323 / year
International tuition: CAD 55,832 / year
Information for the 2027/28 academic year · Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This program leads to a Bachelor of Industrial Design, a four-year studio-based degree delivered in Ottawa. Coursework covers the theory and history of design, including manufacturing processes, alongside form organization and design methodology, and extends into product, service, and systems design with an emphasis on human-centred and sustainable approaches. Students carry out real-world projects with government, industry, and community partners, and have access to wood, plastic, and metal prototyping labs, a soft-goods lab with industrial sewing machines, a digital fabrication lab for laser cutting, 3D scanning, and CNC machining, and a maker space with 3D printing equipment. A co-op option offers work terms of 4, 6, 8, 12, or 16 months. Admission requires a portfolio and an early application, and the program accepts applicants from Ontario and other Canadian high schools, international students, college graduates, transfer students, and mature applicants. It suits students interested in designing physical products and systems who want hands-on prototyping experience alongside design theory.
Requirements
Admission Requirements: Ontario secondary school applicants to the Bachelor of Industrial Design (BID) apply through OUAC with an OSSD plus six 4U/M courses at the 4U level with no individual grade below 60%. Carleton's admission chart requires Advanced Functions and Physics, plus a portfolio submitted by March 5 alongside an application deadline of March 1. The program's three-year admission-average cut-off has ranged 75-77%. International applicants apply through Carleton360 or OUAC 105 with transcripts equivalent to an Ontario secondary diploma and must meet Carleton's English-language proficiency standard unless exempt: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 per band), TOEFL 4.5 overall (minimum 4.0 per band; 86 for tests taken before 21 January 2026), Duolingo 120, PTE Academic 55, CAEL 70, or Cambridge C1/C2 176. Ontario secondary students apply via OUAC by January 15; documents from outside Canada/US are due April 1, with a June 1 general deadline for Canada/US transcripts.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:Application deadline March 1, 2027, with portfolio submission due March 5, 2027, for Fall 2027 entry; an early application deadline and portfolio apply to this program.
