Language Requirements

All courses at the Faculty of Medicine are taught in English, French, or both. To be eligible for admission, you must be able to study in the language used in your program.

Language Proficiency Proof

You must provide proof of language proficiency if:

• your first language is not English or French, or
• you did not complete full-time studies at an institution where English or French was the primary language of instruction.

Proof must be provided through an approved language proficiency test in the language of instruction for your program.

Language Test Exemptions

You may be exempt from submitting a language test if you have completed at least two years of full-time studies at an institution where English or French was the only language of instruction.

To request an exemption, you must submit one of the following documents with your admission application:

1. An attestation letter from your previous post-secondary institution confirming that the language of instruction was English or French.
2. An official transcript confirming your postsecondary studies were completed at an English or French-language university.  

The University of Ottawa can request language test results at any time and may refuse a language test exemption request.

Accepted Language Tests

Find more information about accepted English language proficiency tests for English-based programs

• TOEFL (University of Ottawa Institution Code: 0993)
• IELTS

Find more information about accepted French language proficiency tests for French-based programs.

• DALF(Diplôme approfondi de langue française)
• TCL (Test de connaissance du français)
• TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)

We do not accept Duolingo or tests other than the ones listed above.  

Need Help?

If you are unsure whether you need to take a language test or not, contact us at  [email protected]

All of the graduate programs offered at the Faculty of Medicine share the same IELTS and TOEFL score requirements.

Language test results are valid for a period of two years. You may retake a test to improve your score. Only your most recent score will be considered for admissions.