University of Ottawa is ranked #237 globally by QS World University Rankings 2023. It is a bilingual public research university located in Ottawa, Canada. The University of Ottawa has a diverse student population of over 40,000 students from around the world. Admission to the University of Ottawa has an acceptance rate of 12% which makes the admission process for students quite competitive.

To secure admission in uOttawa, an applicant must have a minimum score of GPA of 3.0 i.e 83% to 86%. In 2022, the average GPA of admitted students was 3.11 GPA or higher. The average cost to attend the University of Ottawa is 45,000 CAD (27.90 lakhs) including a tuition fee of 22.85 lakhs. 

Looking to gain insight from a student's perspective on the University of Ottawa? Collegedunia reached out to Arman Velani a student of M. Eng in Mechanical Engineering at University of Ottawa. Mentioned below are the major points of interest we gathered by interviewing her:

Admission: Arman secured admission in M. Eng in Mechanical Engineering at University of Ottawa with a GPA of 8.4 (~ ) and an IELTS score of 7.5 (Speaking: 7, Writing: 7.5, Reading: 8.5, Listening: 7.5). Some of the other important points for admission to University of Ottawa were: 

  • Obtaining high-quality LORs from professors is crucial. Arman successfully secured 3 LORs from esteemed Ph.D. professors of Mumbai University.
  • When writing your SOP, emphasize your academic background and express yourself clearly how you plan to contribute to the field by pursuing the chosen course.

Student Experience: The University of Ottawa Campus is located in close proximity to the Parliament and other government buildings, It is quite likely that one may come across a government official while traveling on the metro.

  • Every semester, career fairs provide job seekers with valuable opportunities to connect with potential employers. The January 2023 career fair drew a large crowd, with an impressive turnout of approximately 50-60 companies in attendance.
  • Although Ottawa is often labeled as a dull city, it can prove to be an excellent choice for international students, provided they know how to make the most of it. For instance, the University of Ottawa boasts a society named "Desi Dancers". 

Tips for Indian Students: Arman with his valuable student experience at University of Ottawa, shared some useful tips for Indian students in the followings pointers:

  • People think a Canadian degree is valuable. But not just any degree. The key is choosing a degree that fits your career goals and obtaining it from a reputable institution.
  • Engage with alumni and professionals on LinkedIn to explore potential opportunities. Build a good network of contacts and don't miss any chance that can help you grow your career. Taking advantage of opportunities can help you succeed.

University of Ottawa Rankings

University of Ottawa ranks at #237 QS World University Rankings 2023. Mentioned below are some of the other ranks achieved by the university by other ranking sites:

Ranking Agency Ranking 2023
QS World University Rankings #237
Best Global Universities US News #215
World University Rankings THE #137
Best Global Universities in Canada, US News #9

University of Ottawa Ranking Comparison

Linguistics is one of the top-ranked programs of the University of Ottawa at #=63 according to QS WUR Ranking By Subject 2022. Mentioned below is the program ranking comparison between University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University:

Programs University of Ottawa Dalhousie University
Nursing #51 -
Medicine #111 #151
Law and Legal Studies #101 #201
Psychology #201 #251
Computer Science and Information Systems #201 #401
Electrical and Electronic Engineering #251 #451

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The UOttawa’s main campus is spread over 37.1 hectares and Alta Vista Campus has 7.2 hectares of space. A total of 126 buildings are on campus used for offices, Classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, residential halls, study, and recreational spaces beside the open spaces, parking facilities, and sports facilities.

  • The campus has 302 classrooms and seminar rooms, 263 Labs, and 823 research labs. A network of 12 locations, situated in Morriset hall the UOttawa library has one of the largest collections of printed and ebooks.
  • The campus also hosts a museum and art gallery with some antique artifacts and a collection of unique things of history and religion.
  • You can choose from over 175 different clubs and societies to interact with your niche. For sports heads, there are 45 intramural leagues to become a part of.
  • You can also enjoy comedy nights at Cafe Nostalgica on-campus, be a part of University’s Got Talent, and watch free movie screenings on-campus. 
  • For bookworms, there are over 2,425,000 print books, 74,000+ E-journals, 20,000 digitized French books, 13,000 theses, and more at the uOttawa library.
  • Hence, an international student of any interest can find it easy to live a content life while studying at University of Ottawa.   

University of Ottawa Accommodation

The main campus of the university provides housing and six different categories of residences to the students. Those students who wish to stay on campus for more than a year generally prefer these apartments. The campus also has independent houses to provide an off-campus living experience and these cater to the senior students already completed 2 years in the university.

On Campus Accommodation

Residence Hall Annual Cost (in CAD) Annual Cost (in INR)
Apartment (Annex) 11,721- 20,171

7.26 lakhs to 12.60 lakhs

Apartment (45 Mann) 12,215- 20,337

7.57 lakhs to 12.60 lakhs

Apartment (Hyman Soloway) 8,910- 10,514

5.52 lakhs to 6.51 lakhs

Suites (90u) 15,510 9.61 lakhs
Suites and studios (Friel) 7,584- 10,668

4.70 lakhs to 6.61 lakhs

traditional (Leblanc, Stanton, Marchand, Thompson) Single: 13,890 | Double: 12,519 Single: 8.61 lakhs | Double: 7.76 lakhs
traditional plus (Henderson) 15,447 9.57 lakhs
traditional plus (Rideau) Single: 10,518 | Double: 8,597 Single: 6.52 lakhs | Double: 5.33 lakhs

University of Ottawa Off-Campus Accommodation

The Off-Campus Housing team at University of Ottawa is always available to help its students in their search for off-campus housing in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Average monthly rents for students at University of Ottawa are mentioned below:

Accommodation Category Annual Rent in CAD Annual Rent in INR
Bachelor Ottawa- 1,032
Gatineau- 750
Ottawa- 63 thousand
Gatineau- 46 thousand
1-bedroom apartment Ottawa- 1,262
Gatineau- 838
Ottawa- 78 thousand
Gatineau- 51 thousand
2-bedroom apartment Ottawa- 1,529
Gatineau- 1,050
Ottawa- 94 thousand
Gatineau- 65 thousand
3-bedroom apartment Ottawa- 1,962
Gatineau- 1,256
Ottawa- 1.21 lakhs
Gatineau- 77 thousand
4-bedroom house Ottawa- 2,489
Gatineau- 1,714
Ottawa- 1.54 lakhs
Gatineau- 1.06 lakhs

University of Ottawa Admissions

Online applications for admission to the University of Ottawa are accepted by the university through OUAC application or UOZone from all the international students. 

University of Ottawa UG Admission

Category Requirement
Application Portal OUAC Application
Application Fee 90 CAD (~ 5,580 INR)
Academic Requirement 3.11 on a scale of 4.0 or 77.75%
English Proficiency Test Scores IELTS: 6.5 | TOEFL iBT: 86 
Standardized Exam Scores ACT: 18 - 22 | SAT: 900 on 25th percentile or 1080 on 75 percentile
Admission Requirement Statement of Purpose | Letters of Recommendation | Audition/ Portfolio | Academic Resume
Admission Deadline Fall: April 1, 2023 | Winter: October 15, 2023

University of Ottawa PG Admission

Category Requirement
Application Portal OUAC Application or Uottawa Application  
Application Fee 110 CAD (~ 6,822 INR)
Academic Requirement A 4-years bachelor’s degree with an overall average of 70% in last 20 courses
English Proficiency Test Scores IELTS: 6.0 | TOEFL iBT: 79
Standardized Exam Scores GMAT: 628 | GRE: 310
Additional Requirement 2 Letters of Recommendation | Letters of Intent | Resume or CV | Interview (by invitation)

University of Ottawa Cost of Attendance

The applicants may have a glance at what it will cost to attend the college through the table given below. The fees differ from program to program, in view of this candidates are requested to visit the program details for the exact amount payable.

University of Ottawa Tuition 

UOttawa offers more than 450 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It also offers various Doctorates, Certificates, and Associate programs through its 10 faculties. Top-ranked programs at the University of Ottawa according to US News & World Reports are #19 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, #40 in Optics, #74 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems and #98 in Clinical Medicine.

Cost of Living in Canada

Expense Cost of Living in Canada in CAD Cost of Living in Canada in INR
Books and Material (yearly) Up to 1,665 Up to 1 lakh
Health Insurance (monthly) 550- 915 33,000 to 55,000
Food (monthly) 250 15,000
Transport (monthly) 30- 65 2,000-4,000
Entertainment (monthly) 135 8,000
Phone & Internet (monthly) 30 2,000

University of Ottawa Scholarships

The university offers Admission Scholarships based on academic percentages and the scales and award amounts are 4,000 CAD for 95% and above, 3,000 CAD for 90 to 94.9%, 2,000 CAD for 85 to 89.9%, and 1,000 for 80 to 84.9%. The university also helps the students to apply for state and government scholarships and provide need-based financial aid too. Some of the scholarships offered by Uottawa to international students are: 

Scholarship Award Eligibility
President Scholarship valued 30,000 CAD for those who have scored more than 92% in their academic record
Chancellor Scholarship 26,000 CAD students with an excellent academic and overall record
Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship Varies All eligible students will receive this scholarship automatically when they enroll.
Student mobilit award 1000 CAD per term to students who enroll in study abroad programs

Work-Study at University of Ottawa

The Work-Study Program at the University of Ottawa is a wonderful way to combine work and education. Students can work part-time during the academic year and full-time over the summer. Students who work on campus save time getting to and from class and benefit from a flexible schedule that allows them to focus on their academics.

The following are the eligibility conditions for enrolling in the work-study program at the University of Ottawa:                                               

  • Fill out the Work-Study Navigator's financial questionnaire to demonstrate financial need at the University of Ottawa.
  • Students must be enrolled in at least nine units of courses as undergraduate student or full-time as graduate student.
  • Maintain a good academic standing.

There are almost 1,700 open vacancies in faculties and services at the University of Ottawa for work-study program. With a wide range of jobs available, students can generally find one that is related to their subject of study. Work-study supervisors are familiar with students' course schedules and can work around them. Some of the jobs available on campus are: 

  • Student Ambassador
  • Assistant fundraising officer                          
  • Assistant Editor
  • Student mentor
  • Theatre costume assistant
  • Research Assistant

                                         Source: https://www.uottawa.ca

University of Ottawa Alumni

The university has more than 210,000 alumni members all over the world and keeps a connection and works for promoting the college. The members of alumni also join hands to help the students by contributing to the need-based scholarships. Refresh-Reconnect and rediscover is the motto of the UOttawa alumni and it arranges for reunions, seminars, and live sessions to inspire the students through their success stories and help them in their future endeavors.

University of Ottawa Notable Alumni: 

Alumni Name Profession Achievement
Samantha Bee Comedian, TV Host Hosted her own late-night satirical show "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" and was a correspondent on "The Daily Show"
Clark Johnson Actor, Director Starred in the TV series "Homicide: Life on the Street" and directed several episodes of "The Wire"
Mishael Morgan Actress Best known for her role as Hilary Curtis on "The Young and the Restless"
Alex Trebek TV Host Hosted the game show "Jeopardy!" for over 30 years, winning multiple Emmy Awards
Andrew Scheer Politician Served as the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Canada
Maxime Rémillard Businessman, Producer Founder of the production company Remstar Studios and a prominent figure in the Quebec entertainment industry

University of Ottawa Placements

The university has a dedicated career center for its students and assists its students in getting suitable placements by online and offline resources. The center functions from Monday to Friday from 8.45 to 4.30 pm. It university’s center provides information for job postings and volunteer opportunities and also works to enhance professional skills by conducting Resume writing, Mock Interviews, and Career coaching.

The University has a 97% employment rate for graduates. MBA at University of Ottawa is the highest paying degree, with alumni earning an average salary of INR 8,213,000. Mentioned below are the average salary of some of the top degrees of Ottawa: 

                                                                                                                                            Source: https://telfer.uottawa.ca/en/mba/

The University is one of the best 15 research universities in Canada and comes in the u15 group. Furthermore, UOttawa has the distinction of being the introducer of the world’s first French immersion undergraduate program and its co-operative education program is ranked in the top 5 programs of the country. With an Alumni community of over 180,000 members spread across the globe, University of Ottawa is highly recognized for a large variety of subject areas it offers. 

FAQ’s

Ques. Is uOttawa hard to get into?

Ans. The undergraduate acceptance rate at the University of Ottawa is 12.7%, while the graduate acceptance rate is 12.5%. An candidate must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, or 83% to 86%, to be admitted to uOttawa. The average GPA of admitted students in 2022 was 3.11 or higher.

Ques. Is University of Ottawa a top school?

Ans. The University of Ottawa has climbed 49 places in the prestigious QS World University Rankings for 2022, putting it among the world's top postsecondary schools. uOttawa jumped to 230th place, putting it in the top 20% of higher education institutions worldwide.

Ques. Does University of Ottawa require IELTS?

Ans. The official IELTS results must be emailed to us directly from the testing center. Students can also submit TOEFL scores to demonstrate their English proficiency.

Test Overall Score
IELTS 6.5
TOEFL iBT 88

Ques. Is University of Ottawa expensive for international students?

Ans. Tuition fees for international students enrolling in their first year will be approximately 7% more than in 2021-2022. International students returning to the University will pay 5.5% more in tuition than they did in 2021-2022. Tuition at uOttawa for international students ranges from 13.18 lakhs to 32.53 lakhs.

Ques. What are the admission requirements at uOttawa?

Ans. The basic admission requirements at uOttawa for international students are as follows: 

  • Official transcripts 
  • Standardized exam scores
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of Recommendations
  • English proficiency scores
  • Interview (by invitation)