Application Process

The Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Design – Experiential Learning seeks to attract a diverse set of students and, as such, admission does not solely depend on grades, which are used simply as a threshold. We also use a video assessment and evaluate a portfolio to gain a more complete understanding of each applicant.

This program is looking for students with unique backgrounds and interests who want to make a difference in the world while working at the intersection of technology and other fields.

We are looking for applicants to demonstrate the following attributes:

• Authenticity
• Drive and motivation
• Creativity and innovation
• Open mindedness
• Organization
• Integrity
• A sense of caring and compassion

Once they have applied, students log into the Kira Talent platform to undergo a virtual assessment and share their portfolios.

Depending on your current status, there are two ways to request admission into the Multidisciplinary Design program.

Students not currently enrolled at uOttawa

To apply to any Ontario University, you must first complete the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) application process

To apply for admission to the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Design - Experiential Learning, you must provide your personal and contact information and academic background to the OUAC, and also complete an online video assessment and submit a portfolio to apply through the Kira Talent platform.

Please note that if you have experienced life circumstances that have negatively affected your studies or academic performance, you may complete a Declaration of Personal Experience form which will inform the admissions decision.

Note: When you register on the Kira Talent platform, you must use the same email address that you used when applying for the University of Ottawa through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). We use your email address to link your Kira platform answers to your University of Ottawa application. If we cannot match your email address in Kira to your email address in the University of Ottawa system, we cannot consider your application.

Student currently enrolled at uOttawa

If you’re a current uOttawa student and you meet the program admission requirements, you can request a program change (starting March 1).

You must then complete an online video assessment and submit a portfolio through the Kira Talent platform.

The purpose of the portfolio is to provide us with examples of what you have done and of who you are. Your portfolio should highlight the attributes that make you uniquely you. It is a collection of work that represents your individual creative and technical experiences, and your accomplishments: it should represent who you are.

Since you must use the Kira platform to submit your portfolio as a link, we recommend that you have your portfolio ready before you begin the video interview.

Your portfolio could include (but is not limited to):

• Images, videos, and descriptions of your projects or experiences, or of you in action
• A list of your key attributes and skills, along with examples of your work
• Other examples of things that make you amazing

Your portfolio can take on many forms; let your creativity shine! These include (but are not limited to):

• An e-portfolio webpage (e.g. WordPress, Wix, Google, Squarespace, Weebly, or custom site)
• A LinkedIn page
• A shared Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive link

We have recorded these questions ourselves to give you a sense of our culture and values, as well as what we are looking for in our top candidates. We look forward to meeting you, if only virtually for now, to learn more about who you are and what you care about.

You will need a desktop or laptop computer with a functioning webcam, microphone, and internet connection.

Once you register on the Kira platform, you will have a chance to answer some practice questions as many times as you like to help you become more comfortable with using Kira. These practice questions are similar in style to the actual interview questions. The system allows for unlimited practice sessions, but once you start the actual interview, you only get one chance to answer each question: this allows us to capture your candid answers.

During the actual video assessment, you can take breaks between questions. You can even exit the Kira system and return to it later. The one thing that you cannot do is answer an interview question a second time.

At the start of the Kira video interview process, you will share a link to your portfolio, that highlights uniquely who you are. Therefore, it is best to have your portfolio ready before you begin the video interview. This is essential if you are submitting files but is also a good idea even if you are just providing a link.

See Kira’s Applicant Help Centre for what to expect, tips, and best practices.

If you need technical support, or if you have questions about the assessment process, please use the Applicant Help Centre or contact Kira directly: click the Help button on the Check-In page for 24/7 support and FAQs, or send an email to Kira with your questions.

For general inquiries about the admission process, contact Jason Foster at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Ontario) and with University Policy 90, your personal information is collected under the authority of the University of Ottawa Act, 1965. The personal information provided during this registration will be used by the University of Ottawa for the purposes of and those consistent with the administration of your candidacy at the Faculty of Engineering. 

Read the Kira Talent Privacy Policy to learn more about the information collected. If you have questions about the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information, please contact Jason Foster at the Faculty of Engineering.