Visiting Research Students interested in coming to the University of Ottawa must confirm their eligibility and submit a completed application package to IREX a minimum of five weeks before their intended date of arrival. Step by step instructions are provided below. Please consult the application section for important updates to the procedures.

Objectives

The procedure for Visiting Research Students has been put in place to assist students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an international or Canadian university who are coming to the University of Ottawa to conduct research activities under the supervision of a full-time faculty member.

Visiting Research Students are not entitled to the conferring of a degree from the University of Ottawa, nor do they pay tuition fees.

NOTE: Candidates interested in becoming a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa must follow this registration procedure.

Overview

A Visiting Research Student internship must constitute a minimum of 280 hours1 (approx. two months), and the stay in Canada can not exceed 12 months in duration. A non-credit course code is granted, denoting a full-time research visit at the University of Ottawa. Visiting Research Students are required to maintain registration at their home university for the duration of their research internship at the University of Ottawa.

Both the supervisor and the Visiting Research Student are required to ensure that the research internship follows ethics regulations and animal care as applicable, that appropriate training is provided, according to the specifics of the research project (e.g. lab safety training, hazardous materials, animal care), and that the Visiting Research Student will have appropriate supervision while using university facilities and equipment.

1 Visiting Research Students who plan a research project of less than 280 hours are not eligible to enroll at the University of Ottawa and do not need to follow the registration procedure described below under Step 3. Such Visiting Research Students are still required to follow the ethics and training regulations mentioned below and should contact their prospective host supervisors with any questions before their visit.

Application

All research internships begin with a key relationship. It is the responsibility of a prospective Visiting Research Student to identify a qualified supervisor working in a research area related to their interest and who is willing to commit the time and energy required for supervision. 

Important updates to the Procedure for Visiting Research Students:

  • Prospective Visiting Research Students must provide proof of enrolment at their home institution as part of the application.
  • Visiting Research Students are required to pay an application fee of $315. Please pay the fee through the uOttawa eStore and send an email to [email protected] to confirm your completed payment.
  • The UHIP office will contact you by email when your health insurance card is ready, and will ask you to complete the payment. Please note that coverage under the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) must be paid within one week of being contacted by the UHIP office. To make the UHIP payment, please visit the Human Resources reception (Tabaret Hall room 019, basement level). Please be sure to identify yourself as a Visiting Research Student.
    • DO NOT pay for UHIP online or at InfoService - doing so will cause delays.
  • Visiting Research Students are no longer eligible to purchase a U-PASS for transit services. Information on how to purchase a public transit pass can be found here:

      Ottawa OC Transpo 
      Gatineau STO

Contact

Still haven't found what you are looking for?

For issues or questions not answered in the above procedure and that cannot be resolved by the University of Ottawa supervisor and other university resources, contact [email protected]