University of Ottawa
Université d'Ottawa
The world's largest English-French bilingual university, a short walk from Parliament Hill in Canada's capital.
- Students
- 49,864
- 41,897 undergraduates
- International
- 16%
- of students
- Tuition
- CA$43,335
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1848
About uOttawa
The University of Ottawa began in 1848 as the College of Bytown and today describes itself as the largest English-French bilingual university in the world. In fall 2025 it enrolled 49,864 students, 41,897 of them undergraduates; about two-thirds study in English and a third in French. The main campus sits in Sandy Hill, across the Rideau Canal from downtown Ottawa and within walking distance of Parliament Hill.
Teaching is organised into faculties of Arts, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law (Civil Law and Common Law sections), Medicine, Science and Social Sciences, plus the Telfer School of Management. Social Sciences is the largest faculty by far, which fits the setting: federal departments, embassies and national institutions are on the doorstep, and 61% of undergraduate co-op work terms in fall 2025 were in the public and para-public sector.
uOttawa is a U15 research university that ranks 4th in Canada for research intensity. It suits students who want a big-city campus in a capital, those who want to study partly or wholly in French (80 programs offer a French Immersion Stream), and those planning paid co-op terms: 8,057 undergraduates were enrolled in 74 co-op programs in fall 2025.
Deus scientiarum Dominus est
“God is the master of the sciences” — university motto
Why students choose uOttawa
You can study in English, in French, or add the French Immersion Stream and take a third of your courses in French, with a French Studies Bursary of $1,000 a year for eligible students taking courses in French.
The optional co-op program spans 74 undergraduate programs and places many students in federal and public-sector jobs in Ottawa.
International students admitted to eligible English-language programs with an 80% average automatically receive $7,500 per term, up to $60,000 over a four-year degree.
International students in French-language programs or the French Immersion Stream can receive the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship, which cuts fees by $12,500 to $18,000 per term.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
uOttawa received 77,605 undergraduate applications and enrolled 10,638 new undergraduates in fall 2025 (excluding Medicine); it does not publish an offer count. Each program sets a minimum admission average, for example 75% for Psychology, Economics and History, 80% for Commerce and Biomedical Science, 84% for Mechanical Engineering, 85% for Health Sciences, 87% for Software Engineering and 90% for Computer Science and Nursing. Entering Ontario high school students averaged 86.8% (fall 2023).
Typical entry requirements
| Ontario Secondary School Diploma (minimum admission average, six 4U/4M courses) | Psychology, Economics, Criminology, History 75%; Commerce and Biomedical Science 80%; Mechanical Engineering 84%; Health Sciences 85%; Software Engineering 87%; Computer Science and Nursing 90% (Computer Science also needs Advanced Functions and Calculus and Vectors 4U) |
|---|---|
| International Baccalaureate | E.g. 30 points for Commerce and Health Sciences, 31 points for Computer Science, with English A and Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL or HL) or Applications and Interpretation HL where maths is required |
| US high school diploma | Same percentage minimums as Ontario, e.g. 90% for Computer Science with English 12 and Calculus (at least 70% in Calculus); five academic subjects including prerequisites; GED not accepted |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 86 Direct entry: IELTS Academic 6.5 with 6.5 in writing; TOEFL iBT 86 with 22 in writing for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 overall and 4.5 in writing on the new scale; Duolingo 120 with 120 in literacy. With IELTS 6.0 you can start your program with extra ESL courses, and lower scores can lead to conditional admission through the English Intensive Program. |
Deadlines
- Applications open (fall and winter 2027) Non-binding PassedSeptember 17, 2026
Programs can close once full, so uOttawa urges you to apply as soon as the portal opens.
- Winter 2027 entry Non-binding Next deadline · In 11 daysOctober 17, 2026
Documents by November 1, 2026. Only some programs admit in January; Engineering and Health Sciences do not.
- Recommended deadline; competitive programs Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 15, 2027
Deadline for all applicants to Nursing, Health Sciences, Acting and Engineering programs such as Mechanical and Software Engineering, and for international applicants to Computer Science; documents by February 15, 2027.
- International applicants, most other programs Non-binding In ~7 monthsMay 1, 2027
E.g. Commerce, Psychology, Economics, History, Biomedical Science; programs can close earlier when full.
- Canadian applicants, programs with late deadlines Non-binding In ~8 monthsJune 1, 2027
E.g. Computer Science and Commerce; documents by June 15, 2027.
Deadlines vary by program and applicant type; check each program's page. Canadian deadlines apply to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and to international students at Ontario high schools. uOttawa recommends applying before January 15, 2027 and submitting documents by February 15, 2027 or within 30 days of applying.
How to apply
Most direct-entry programs use a single OUAC application (Ontario Universities' Application Centre). Within a week you receive a uOttawa student number and access to the uoZone portal to track your file and upload documents. Some cases (spring-summer entry, certificates, former uOttawa students) use uOttawa's own application form with a $104 fee. Medicine, Law and Education have separate processes run by their faculties.
What admissions looks for
- Your admission average in the program's prerequisite and top final-year courses, measured against the program's minimum.
- Completion of the required prerequisites, such as Advanced Functions and Calculus and Vectors for Computer Science.
- Proof of English (or French) proficiency where your schooling was not in that language.
- For programs such as Acting, an audition in addition to grades.
Tips for applying to uOttawa
- 1 Apply soon after September 17, 2026: uOttawa reviews early applications first and competitive programs such as Engineering and Health Sciences fill up.
- 2 Treat the posted minimum averages as floors: uOttawa states they do not guarantee admission in competitive programs.
- 3 If you are an international student comfortable in French, look at the French Immersion Stream or French-language programs: the tuition exemption scholarship is worth $12,500 to $18,000 per term.
- 4 International applicants to English programs should aim for at least 80%, the threshold for the automatic $7,500-per-term International English Admission Scholarship.
- 5 Watch your uoZone portal after applying and send IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo scores electronically; a TRF number alone is not accepted.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in CAD
Canadian students with an admission average of 85% or more automatically receive the University of Ottawa Admission Scholarship ($1,000 to $3,000). International students in eligible English programs automatically get the International English Admission Scholarship ($7,500 per term, up to $60,000) with an 80% average, and 100 International English Academic Excellence Scholarships of $10,000 go to those with 95% or more. International students in French-language programs or the French Immersion Stream can receive the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship.
- $3,000 (95-100%), $2,000 (90-94.9%), $1,000 (85-89.9%)
- University of Ottawa Admission Scholarship (Canadians)
- $7,500 per term, up to $60,000 over four years (80% average)
- International English Admission Scholarship
- $12,500 per term (most faculties), $16,000 (Telfer), $18,000 (Engineering)
- Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship
- $127.2 million
- Financial aid to undergraduates, 2024-25
Academics
Academic calendar: Three terms: fall, winter and spring-summer
Computer Science (BSc)
A 90% minimum admission average (tied with Nursing for the highest posted), with co-op and French Immersion options; 31 IB points.
Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing
A 90% minimum and a fixed four-year course sequence with no direct entry to second year.
Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences
Health Sciences is one of the largest faculties (5,389 undergraduates in fall 2025), with a January 15 deadline.
Bachelor of Commerce (Telfer School of Management)
80% minimum, options such as Finance, and dual degrees with a JD or a master's in management.
Conflict Studies and Human Rights (BSocSc)
One of the Social Sciences programs that draw on Ottawa's national institutions, with a combined master's option in Security and Defence Studies.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting
An audition-based program in the Faculty of Arts with a January 15 deadline.
Research
- uOttawa ranks 4th in Canada for research intensity and 7th for total research funding (Research Infosource 2025).
- It holds 94 Canada Research Chairs and one Canada Excellence Research Chair.
- A satellite campus in the Kanata North tech park connects researchers and students with technology companies.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Law (Civil Law Section)
- Faculty of Law (Common Law Section)
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Telfer School of Management
In fall 2025, 8,057 undergraduates were enrolled in 74 co-op programs; 61% of undergraduate work terms were in the public and para-public sector and 39% in the private sector. 86.1% of students took part in at least one experiential learning activity.
Student life
uOttawa is a downtown campus where English and French are both heard in classrooms, clubs and residences. Residence has over 4,100 beds, from traditional rooms to suites and apartments, and 3,909 students lived on campus in fall 2025. Sports teams compete as the Gee-Gees in U Sports. In the fall 2025 student survey, 87% said they were satisfied with their overall experience and 74% with their social experience. Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal are within walking distance.
- Bilingual campus: 67.3% of students study in English and 32.7% in French.
- Gee-Gees varsity teams compete in U Sports.
- Residence is guaranteed for eligible first-year students who meet the deadlines.
- 86.1% of students take part in at least one experiential learning activity.
Housing. Residence is guaranteed for first-year Canadian students admitted full-time for fall who apply and pay the deposit on time, and for newly admitted international students who accept their offer, pay the admission deposit and apply for residence by the deadlines.
Location
Ottawa is Canada's capital, home to the federal government, embassies and national institutions, with a tech sector centred on Kanata North. The main campus is in Sandy Hill, just across the Rideau Canal from downtown, so students can walk to Parliament Hill. The city sits on the Ontario-Quebec border, so French is widely spoken, and winters are cold and snowy.
Nearest airport: Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Notable alumni
- AT Alex TrebekHost of Jeopardy!; philosophy graduate (1961)
- RW Richard WagnerChief Justice of Canada; Bachelor of Social Sciences in political science (1978)
- SB Samantha BeeComedian and host of Full Frontal; studied at uOttawa
- PF Philippe FalardeauFilm director and screenwriter; studied political science
- AH Angela HewittConcert pianist known for Bach; studied piano at uOttawa
- AH Ahmed HussenFederal cabinet minister; law degree from uOttawa
- DW Dafydd WilliamsCanadian Space Agency astronaut and physician; family medicine residency at uOttawa
Frequently asked questions
What average do you need to get into the University of Ottawa?
It depends on the program: minimums range from 75% (e.g. Psychology, Economics, History) to 90% (Computer Science and Nursing). Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission in competitive programs.
Do I have to speak French to study at uOttawa?
No. You can take your whole degree in English. Many programs are also offered in French, and 80 programs offer a French Immersion Stream where you take a third of your courses in French.
When is the uOttawa application deadline for fall 2027?
It varies by program. Applications open September 17, 2026; uOttawa recommends applying by January 15, 2027, which is the deadline for competitive programs such as Nursing, Health Sciences and Engineering (and for international applicants to Computer Science). Many other programs close May 1, 2027 for international applicants and June 1, 2027 for Canadians.
How much is tuition at uOttawa for international students?
For 2026-27, full-time first-year tuition is about CA$43,335 a year for Arts, Science, Social Sciences and Health Sciences, about CA$53,184 for Telfer Commerce and about CA$63,164 for Engineering and Computer Science. Increases for continuing students are capped at 7% a year.
Does uOttawa give scholarships to international students?
Yes. International students in eligible English programs with at least 80% automatically get $7,500 per term (up to $60,000), and those in French-language or French Immersion programs can get a tuition exemption scholarship worth $12,500 to $18,000 per term.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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