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University of Ottawa

Ottawa, Canada

  • Cost of LivingCAD 19,872
  • Tuition Fee FromCAD 7,080
  • Country Rank-
  • Batch Strength35,791
  • Global Diversity22%
  • Gender Ratio58 : 42

Overview

About

The University of Ottawa, sometimes known as uOttawa or U of O, is a multilingual public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Its French name is Université d'Ottawa. The College of Bytown was the university's original name when it was founded in 1848 as the Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa's first bishop, Joseph-Bruno Guigues. It was given the name College of Ottawa in 1861 after being under the control of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Five years later, a royal charter granted it university status. It is the largest bilingual university in the world that speaks both English and French. It is worth noting that the University of Ottawa's acceptance rate stands at 35% making it very competitive for students to get into.  

 

The university offers a wide range of academic programs managed by 10 faculties, including the Telfer School of Management, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Law. There are 12 locations of the University of Ottawa Library, which houses a collection of more than 4.5 million books. The primary campus of the institution is located in Sandy Hill (Côte-de-Sable). The ByWard Market neighbourhood, Sandy Hill's residential area, and Nicholas Street, which runs beside the Rideau Canal on the western part of the institution, all abut the main campus to the north, east, and southwest, respectively.

 

U of O is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. It runs fall/winter and spring/summer intakes according to a semester structure. The university has always viewed itself as promoting bilingualism in English and French. The Government of Ontario passed An Act respecting Université d'Ottawa via the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1965, making bilingualism an official university policy.

 

The cooperative education program at the university offers students the opportunity to participate in paid work placements as a component of their academic curriculum. The course is available for several graduate programs as well as undergraduate ones. More than 250,000 Notable Alumni from the uni are part of its global alumni network. Some of the prominent alumni are Wayne D. Angell (Retired Governor of the Federal Reserve Board) and Trent Franks (U.S Representative and Member of the Republican Party).

Ranking

QS World University Ranking 2024:

University of Ottawa has shown excellence by securing =177 spot on the global scale.


Numerous university rankings have The University of Ottawa in them. The university was ranked 201-300 globally and 9–12 in Canada in the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities. It was placed eighth in Canada in the 2023 QS World University Rankings. Ottawa was ranked 137th in the world and eighth in Canada in the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The university matched with the University of Waterloo for eighth place in Canada and 199th overall in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking. In Maclean's rankings of medical doctoral universities for 2023, the university came in sixth overall. Let us see some of the most recent University of Ottawa rankings below:

  • THE (Times Higher Education) - University Ranking 2022: #162
  • ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) - Universities Rankings 2021: #201-300

 

Course Rankings

The university offers more than 350 courses among which many of them are ranked by world-renowned agencies. Let us see various courses and their rankings below.

Business Courses

  • QS - Global MBA 2022: #201-250
  • THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Business and Economics 2022: #301-400

Engineering Courses

  • THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Engineering and Technology 2022: #301-400
  • QS - Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering Rankings 2021: #301-350

Computer Courses

  • THE (Times Higher Education) - PG Computers 2021 #301-400

Science Courses

  • THE (Times Higher Education) - Life Sciences Rankings 2022: #201-250
  • THE (Times Higher Education) - THE - Psychology Rankings 2022: #251-300

Year

QS Ranks

US News Ranks

2025

#189

-

2023

#237

#215

Facilities

When it comes to the University of Ottawa facilities; there is something for everyone at the university. The Library is a system of twelve sites with a budget of CA$15 million, including about two million printed books, one million e-books, 423,986 maps, 87,216 musical instruments, and more. The Geographic, Statistical and Government Information Center, along with the Media Center, Archives and Special Collections, and the Main Library, are all located in Morisset Hall. The institution includes eleven student dormitories, even though the majority of students live off-campus. These dorms are a great option for first-year students.

 

Numerous accommodation alternatives are available through the institution. Of the seven homes, four have standard single and double bedrooms. While 90 University is a two-bedroom suite-style dwelling, Brooks and Hyman Soloway are two to four-bedroom apartment-style homes.

Notable Alumni

Peggy Tseng
Peggy Tseng
Actress
Mark Hyman
Mark Hyman
American physician
Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings
Canadian-American journalist

Courses

Admission

University of Ottawa Entry Requirements

When it comes to the University of Ottawa entry requirements; only during the fall and winter intakes does the university accept applications from prospective international students. International applicants are urged to submit their applications as soon as possible because, depending on their country, it may take up to six months to get a student visa to study in Canada. Let us see some of the general entry requirements below:

  • Applicants must submit their application online via the university website
  • The application fee is 90 USD for international students which is non-refundable
  • You must have a CGPA of at least 4.00 to qualify for a bachelor's

English Language Requirements

An official score from one of the English language exams must be submitted by international students who are applying to English-language programs but have not yet completed at least three years of full-time study in an institution where English is the only language of instruction. 

  • IELTS: 6.5
  • TOEFL iBT: 88

French Language Requirements

At the university, competency in French is required for some courses. Below is a list of tests that were accepted with minimal scores.

  • DALF: C1/C2
  • DELF: B2
  • TEF Etudes: B2
  • TCF: B2

 

University of Ottawa Fees

The University of Ottawa fees differ from one course to another. However; international students can save a marginal cost on their tuition if they choose to apply for aid. There are multiple sources of funding that a student can benefit from. Popularly, students frequently apply for education loans as they cover the whole cost of studying at a particular university. Similarly, scholarships and grants are other sources from which students can partially cut down on the cost. These scholarships are a great option for students who have high merit. Let us now look at the fees of popular courses to understand the estimated cost of studying at the Univerity of Ottawa. 

  • Master of Business Administration [M.B.A]: CAD 64,724
  • Master of Computer Science: CAD 8,427
  • Master of Engineering [M.Eng] Engineering Management: CAD 9,101
  • Master of Science in Nursing: CAD 10,450
  • Bachelor of Applied Science [B.ASc] Computer Engineering: CAD 28,148
  • Bachelor of Commerce [B.Com] Accounting: CAD 22,080

 

University of Ottawa Placement

When we talk about the University of Ottawa placements; the university's graduates have a 97% employment rate. There is a global network of 250,000 alumni from the university. With support and programs, the university aims to help its students get the best start possible for life after graduation. The Center provides tools and services to aid students in preparing for the working world. This includes resources for job searching as well as career counseling, employment fairs, and networking activities. The Career Development Program for International Students is another option. This consists of many programs where students can learn about networking, interviews, employability in Canada, job search tactics, immigration, and more. These workshops are offered in both English and French.

Students have the option of enroling in a CO-OP program that alternates between academic work and job placements. In addition to earning money to pay for their studies, they will acquire 16 months of real-world industrial experience. These assignments are fantastic chances to hone skill sets, expand professional networks, and gain knowledge of the working world.

Scholarship

Regardless of the program you are studying, there are several scholarship opportunities provided by University of Ottawa as well as other organisations. With so many scholarships available now, overseas students can significantly lower the financial burden of studying in a new country. You can apply for scholarships to study at the university through UniScholars. You can find the following types of scholarships based on your academic performance and financial situation:

 

  • Merit-based scholarships

  • Need-based scholarships

  • Country-specific scholarships

  • College-specific scholarships

  • Student-specific scholarships

Finances

Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds in order to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the University of Ottawa. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!

Accommodation

There are several student housing options available for students planning to attend University of Ottawa. You may select from a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.

 

UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from a wide range of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are more inexpensive and student-friendly.

 

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Ottawa differs for each student. Your spending habits have a huge impact on your budget. The most expensive expense is accommodation. Once you've got your housing under control, you may cut back on items like entertainment and food. We recommend that students look for financial aid, such as scholarships, to help alleviate some of their expenditures while attending our university. We also recommend that students make a budget plan so that everything is in order before their stay. To make things easier and give you an idea of what you could anticipate paying, we've included the approximate prices of a few needs below.
 

Items

Cost

Off-Campus Accommodation (monthly)

CAD 550

On-Campus Accommodation (monthly)

CAD 1,194

Transportation (monthly)

CAD 124

Food Cost (monthly)

CAD 720

Utilities (monthly)

CAD 163

Entertainment (monthly)

CAD 60

Markets (monthly)

CAD 60

Clothes (monthly)

CAD 142

Health Insurance

CAD 75

Total cost of living in off-campus accommodation (per month)

CAD 1,894

Total cost of living in on-campus accommodation (per month)

CAD 2,538

Annual Cost of living

CAD 30,456