About

Offered by the School of Linguistics and Language Studies (SLALS), the PhD in Linguistics focuses on work with Indigenous and minority languages to develop tools to preserve, maintain, and revitalize them. It is an interdisciplinary PhD that combines theoretical linguistics (investigating structural properties of language) and applied linguistics (working with language as part of culture and community). Students will apply their linguistic knowledge in documentation projects involving classifying, annotating and analyzing linguistics data, and/or in creating materials to be used by the linguistic community in maintaining and revitalizing their language.

The SLALS faculty have expertise in a wide variety of languages including Inuktitut, Cree, Saami, Nauruan, Kurdish, Mennonite Plautdietsch and Tsuut’ina. Find a list of our renowned faculty here.

At the graduate level, we also offer an MA and Graduate Diploma in Linguisitics, a PhD in Linguistics and an MA and PhD in Applied Linguistics & Discourse Studies.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Master’s / graduate degree equivalent: Master’s Degree
Minimum requirement overall (B+): Very good or 89, B+

English Program Requirements

English as a Second Language

The language of instruction at Carleton University is English. For admission into Carleton’s graduate programs, you will need to demonstrate that your knowledge and use of English are strong enough for graduate studies at an English-language university.

If your first language is not English, you can demonstrate your language proficiency by:

presenting one of the official Language Proficiency (ESL) test scores as defined in the table below;
showing that you have completed ESLA 1900 or ESLA 1905 at Carleton University with a final grade of B- or higher; or
presenting official certification (transcripts) that you have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a university in any country in which the primary language is English, where the language of instruction in the relevant educational institution was English, and the language of instruction in their most recently completed undergraduate or graduate degree was English.

Applicants who present their most recent degree and transcripts from a Canadian institution are exempt from language proficiency requirements, unless otherwise required by an individual program.

Note: Letters from your universities stating the medium of instruction is English are not acceptable.

Minimum Language Proficiency (ESL) test score requirement:

Language Proficiency Test

Score

Canadian Academic English Language Test (CAEL, CAEL-CE)

70 (minimum 60 in each band)

Duolingo English Test (DET)

Overall score of 125, with minimum 120 in each integrated sub-score

IELTS, IELTS Online (Academic) *

6.5 IELTS (minimum 6.0 in each band)

Pearson Test of English (PTE) including PTE Online (Academic)

60 overall (minimum 60 in each Communicative Skill)

TOEFL iBT (including iBT Home Edition) **

For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
86 (20 in reading and listening; 22 in speaking and writing)
For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
4.5 overall (minimum 5.0 in writing, 4.5 in reading, listening and speaking)

* IELTS One-Skill Retake is accepted

**TOEFL MyBest Scores is accepted

Please note that some graduate programs may require a higher level of understanding of the English language and will have higher ESL requirements. It is your responsibility to review and meet the minimum requirements of the program to which you are applying. Graduate Studies reserves the right to require further documentation or additional testing if they feel it necessary to demonstrate the required level of English language proficiency.

Carleton University is committed to ensuring that all students have fair access to English Language testing, including those students who require accommodations to complete the test. All tests accepted by Graduate Studies offer accommodations to students who require it, including but not limited to students with disabilities, and nursing mothers. Please note that arranging accommodations for an ESL test may take up to six weeks.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

5,025 / year