Why study at uOttawa?

Degrees obtained from the University of Ottawa are recognized worldwide and graduates enjoy successful and prosperous careers. All academic programs offered by the University are regularly reviewed to ensure the highest quality standards. The University of Ottawa is proud to welcome a large community of international students every year.

uOttawa at a glance

• Among the 10 most research-intensive universities in Canada and ranked as one of the top 200 universities in the world.
• The largest English-French bilingual university in the world—you can study in English, French or both.
• 10 faculties offering more than 450 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs to some 40,000 students from across Canada and 150 countries.
• Offers more than 160 graduate studies programs (diplomas, master’s and doctoral).
• Holds over 160 research chairs.
• Has more than 1600 researchers authorized to supervise theses.
• Has over 5000 registered graduate students, and is growing every year.
• Is located in the heart of Canada’s capital, our students have access to world renowned labs and institutions.

A downtown campus right in Canada's capital
Ottawa, Canada’s capital is located in the province of Ontario on the border with the province of Quebec, in central Canada. Its location, 350 kilometres east of Toronto, 200 kilometres west of Montreal, and just a short 90-minute flight from New York or Boston, makes travel to other centres easy.

The National Capital Region has a population of over one million. It is the country’s fourth-largest city and one of Canada’s most bilingual communities—nearly half a million people speak both English and French.
And Ottawa isn’t just a government town. It’s a high-tech city, a tourist city, a big-time sports city, and a university city. Make yourself at home!

Study in English, French or both
All courses at the University of Ottawa are given in either English or French or in both languages. To gain admission, you must, therefore, demonstrate proficiency in either one of these languages. You are not required to speak both languages to study at uOttawa.

Co-operative education: Alternate between work and study
Take your academic training to the next level by engaging in paid, professional, career-related, employment opportunities specific to your discipline. By taking part in the CO-OP program, you can both work and study. Your work terms, allow you to explore different work environments and career options in your field. They alternate with study terms. You have a valuable learning experience while fulfilling your graduate studies requirements

Opportunity to do a cotutelle
A cotutelle doctoral program offers you the opportunity to complete your doctoral studies at the University of Ottawa as well as at another university (outside of Ontario, and outside of the Ottawa-Gatineau region). In a cotutelle doctoral program you are jointly supervised by a thesis supervisor at each institution and you attend the two universities alternately. You need to take a single comprehensive examination, and you work on a thesis to be defended only once in front of a jury chosen by the two partner universities. Once you have completed your doctoral program, each university confers a separate degree, with a mention of the cotutelle collaboration on the degrees.