This page contains important information that will help you prepare to apply for admission to graduate studies at the University of Ottawa.
The application process takes place entirely online. You don’t need to submit paper copies at this point.
The University of Ottawa offers microprograms, graduate diploma, master’s, short-duration master’s, and PhD programs. Explore our graduate programs to find the one that’s right for you.
Make sure to meet the application deadlines. Application deadlines vary by program and can be as early as 10 months before classes begin. The fall, winter and spring-summer terms begin in September, January and May, respectively.
Submit your application and all required documentation by the deadline specified in the program requirements .
To find deadlines, select the program you are interested in on the program admission requirements webpage and view the application deadline in the table.
Master’s and graduate diploma programs:
Some graduate programs have additional admission requirements, such as a higher average, other documentation to be provided or specific tests.
Admission to our programs is highly competitive and meeting the minimum requirements doesn't guarantee admission.
You must understand and fluently speak the language of the program you are applying for (English or French) and must provide, on request, your results in one of the language proficiency tests approved by the University of Ottawa. Language requirements are not based on citizenship, they are based on your country of study.
Below are examples of minimum requirements for the tests most often used to assess admission applications to graduate programs. Some programs require a higher test score. To find out the score you require for your particular program, please consult the specific requirements page .
| Test | Minimum Required Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL (Internet-based/Home Edition/Paper) | 84 (overall); 24 (writing); no partial score below 20 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 (overall); 6.5 (writing); no partial score below 6 |
| Cambridge English Proficiency Tests (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency) | 170 (overall); no partial score below 160 |
| PTE (Pearson Test of English) | 60 (overall); no partial score below 59 |
| CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Test) | 70 (overall); no partial score below 60 |
| Test | Minimum Required Score |
|---|---|
| DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) | C1/C2 |
| TCF (Test de connaissance du français) | B2 (overall); no partial score below B2 |
| TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français) | B2 (overall); no partial score below B2 |
You may be eligible for an exemption from an English or French language test if you have completed your studies in one of the locations listed below, as long you have completed at least two years of full-time studies in an institution where English or French, respectively, is the only language of instruction.
If you are not sure whether you must pass a language test, contact your academic unit . The University of Ottawa reserves the right to request the results of a language test at any time and to refuse a language test exemption request.
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Eritrea
Falkland Islands
Fiji
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guam
Guyana
Hong Kong
Ireland
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Liberia
Malawi
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Micronesia
New Zealand
Nigeria
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Saint Maarten (Dutch part)
South Africa
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales)
United States
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Andorra
Algeria
Belgium
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon (Francophone education system only)
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo
Ivory Coast
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
France
French Guiana
Gabon
Guinea
Haiti
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritius (Francophone education system only)
Senegal
Seychelles
Togo
Tunisia
Zaire
For more information on language proficiency requirements, contact your academic unit .
If you are applying to a master’s program (research paper or thesis option) or to a PhD program, you must choose a thesis supervisor who will guide you throughout your studies.
For more information, see our thesis supervision webpage, and review the list of academic units for the program that interests you to find the names of professors who can oversee graduate research.
The Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) handles admission applications for all Ontario universities, including the University of Ottawa.
You’ll have to create an OUAC account if you’re applying for admission to a university program in Ontario for the first time.
Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, audiology and speech-language pathology programs (offered in French only)
You can apply for admission to occupational therapy (OT), physiotherapy (PT), audiology (AUD) and speech-language pathology (SLP) programs through the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs (ORPAS) website. Go to the ORPAS website to apply for admission to one of the above programs.
Important
Before you submit your application, make sure the information you’ve provided is accurate and complete. Declare all current and previous postsecondary studies (completed or not), even if they’re unrelated to your current application. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your application or your offer of admission.
Non-refundable fees are charged for all admission applications. Pay the fees on the OUAC website. The total amount is shown under “Total amount owing.”
You’ll receive an email confirmation from OUAC after you’ve submitted your application.
If you’re an international student, always check with our official international recruitment team if you have any questions.
