Students in FSS lobby.

About French Immersion

Located in the heart of Ottawa, which is the national capital and an officially bilingual city, the University of Ottawa has been a bilingual institution for more than 150 years. Immersion students have multiple opportunities to learn French in a wonderful cultural context and an innovative learning environment whose efficiency and successfulness has been proven.

Our vision

The uOttawa French Immersion Stream offers a unique experience. It gives students the opportunity to pursue part of their university studies in French while receiving individualized support in order to develop competencies in their field and in their second language, French. Graduates from the French Immersion Stream are able to function in both official languages and are able to hold a bilingual job or pursue graduate studies in French.

Our stream

Established in 2006, the University of Ottawa French Immersion Stream is designed for Anglophone and Allophone students who wish to pursue part of their university studies in French. Students who have attended high school in a language other than French and have followed a French-as-a-second-language program are eligible. The program is offered in more than 75 programs in the six direct-entry faculties: Arts, Engineering, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Science and Telfer School of Management.

Students who meet the French Immersion requirements receive the designation “French Immersion” on their diploma.

At graduation, students who enrolled in the French Immersion Stream will have developed skills, knowledge, attitudes and values in three areas:

French Immersion Stream graduates will be able to:

  • communicate confidently and effectively in French, both orally and in writing, in social, university and professional settings
  • work in French in their field of study
  • pursue graduate studies in French in their field

French Immersion Stream graduates will be able to:

  • better understand other people
  • recognize the cultural references – values, beliefs, judgments – that are tied to a language and its uses
  • facilitate cross-cultural communication and understanding

French Immersion Stream graduates will be able to:

  • adjust their actions and values to include linguistic diversity
  • adapt to various social, cultural and professional linguistic environments
  • adopt a positive attitude to problem-solving while considering the critical factors in a given setting

Resources and services

Two students studying.

Resources that support you

French Immersion Stream offer a diversity of support services to students:

Students sitting on the steps of Tabaret Hall.

Other opportunities

The University of Ottawa offers loads of opportunities to use your French outside of the classroom: