University of Ottawa
Canada's bilingual university - ideal for students targeting federal careers or French fluency.
The University of Ottawa is Canada's largest bilingual (English-French) university and sits in the heart of the nation's capital. Its proximity to Parliament Hill, federal departments, and national institutions makes it uniquely positioned for students interested in law, political science, public policy, and government.
What average do you need to get into uOttawa?
There is no single uOttawa acceptance rate - admission is program-by-program. Top competitive programs like Common Law (JD) require LSAT + GPA dependent, while programs at the more accessible end admit students with averages around mid 70s. A competitive overall average for most uOttawa programs is roughly the mid-80s and up. Check the per-program admission averages below to find your target.
Key Facts
- Location: Ottawa, ON
- Founded: 1848
- Students: 49,000
- Maclean's ranking: #5
- QS World ranking: #219
- Approximate domestic tuition: $10500/year
- Co-op available: Yes
Top Strengths
- Law (Common Law & Civil Law)
- Political Science
- Health Sciences
- Engineering
- Social Sciences
- Education
Admission Averages by Program
Real admission average ranges for uOttawa programs, from most accessible to most competitive:
- Common Law (JD) — admission average: LSAT + GPA dependent (One of Canada's top public and constitutional law programs.)
- Civil Law (LLL - French) — admission average: LSAT + GPA dependent (Canada's only bijural program combining civil and common law.)
- Computer Science — admission average: high 80s (Growing program with federal government and Ottawa tech co-op placements.)
- Software Engineering — admission average: high 80s-low 90s (Strong co-op, bilingual options, good Ottawa tech connections.)
- Electrical Engineering — admission average: high 80s (Strong research program, federal government connections.)
- Mechanical Engineering — admission average: high 80s (Good co-op outcomes in Ottawa's engineering sector.)
- Health Sciences (BHSc) — admission average: high 80s-low 90s (Strong program, good pre-med pathway.)
- Nursing (BScN) — admission average: high 80s-low 90s (Competitive, bilingual stream available, strong Ottawa hospital placements.)
- Biochemistry — admission average: high 80s (Strong research, good pre-med and graduate pathway.)
- Political Science — admission average: high 70s-low 80s (Exceptional given Ottawa's political context - federal internships everywhere.)
- International Studies — admission average: high 70s-low 80s (Strong for diplomacy, NGO, and international organization careers.)
- Criminology — admission average: high 70s-low 80s (Strong program with federal justice system connections.)
- Psychology — admission average: high 70s-low 80s (Large program with research and clinical tracks.)
- Education (BEd) — admission average: mid 70s (Teacher certification, bilingual stream available.)
- Social Work (BSW) — admission average: high 70s (Strong program with Ottawa community organization connections.)
Things to Know
- Being bilingual (English-French) genuinely elevates your candidacy at uOttawa and opens federal career doors.
- Ottawa co-op placements often include federal government departments - unmatched for public policy students.
- The law school has two programs: Common Law (English) and Civil Law (French/bijural) - both excellent.
- Living costs are lower than Toronto but the capital city offers exceptional professional networking.
Notable Alumni
- Mark Carney
- John Turner
- Alexandre Bilodeau