Higher education in Ottawa, Ontario 2025

• Bilingual Instruction: Foreign students can attend courses in English or French. Prior to entering, there is a requirement concerning confirmation of language proficiency through exams such as DELF, DALF, TEF, TCF, and TESTCan for French, and TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE for English. 
• Diverse Academic Fields: Foreign students can choose diverse directions of studying which include engineering, architecture, anthropology, business, languages, computer science, economics, law, mathematics, political science, sociology, and journalism.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What firstly should be considered when choosing a university?

It depends on the student - everyone determines the most important criteria for himself. I would advise you to take several rankings and compare them with each other, plus take into account the cost of the course, the location of the university and its scale, the percentage of graduates' employment. See where graduates continue their studies or where they go to work.

• Wide Range of Degrees: Ottawa universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in finance, education, psychology, history, financial management, accounting, communications, and marketing, including distance learning options.

Career Prospects Post Higher Education in Ottawa

• Strong Local Economy: Ottawa's economy is anchored in public services, high technology, healthcare, finance, and administration, with major employers like 3M, Adobe Systems, Bell Canada, and IBM.

• Excellent Job Opportunities: Upon completing studies, graduates usually get a prestigious job.

The Structure of Higher Education in Ottawa

• Bachelor's Degree: Studying usually lasts for 3-5 years.

• Master's Degree: Studying takes two years. Students can specialize in humanities or sciences. To enter, it is necessary to provide a bachelor's degree.

• Doctoral Programs: Ranging from 3-6 years, requiring a master's degree and proficiency in English/French.

• Admission Requirements:  It is required to provide academic performance reports for the last 2-3 years.The academic year consists of two semesters. On average, the cost of studying amounts to 20,000 CAD$.

• Scholarship Opportunities: Students may apply for scholarships, and remote education options are increasingly popular.

• Language Test Results: English proficiency (TOEFL – minimum 85 iBT, IELTS – minimum 6.5) is required; French requirements are less common.

• Documentation: A completed application and copies of academic records are necessary.

• Guardianship for Minors: Students under 18 need an official guardian in Ottawa.

• Application Timeline: Universities accept applications 9-12 months before the start date.

• Financial Aid: Foreign students may be awarded scholarships and grants, allowing them to cover up to 100% of tuition fees. Also these financial aid programs stipulate support for research.

  Deciding on pursuing higher education in Ottawa, students are guaranteed a rich and diverse academic environment, which stipulates a wide range of programs, competitive fees, and excellent career opportunities. The universities in Ottawa have gained popularity due to the high quality of education, experienced teaching staff. All these factors make Ottawa a core destination for foreign students to study.