1. Move into your accommodations
If you’re moving into residence, the uOttawa Housing team will contact you directly with your move-in date and the information you need to prepare.
If you’re living off campus, confirm your move-in arrangements with your landlord, including when and how you’ll receive your keys. Get to know your neighbourhood and plan your route to campus.
Learn more about what to pack for living on campus
Learn more about moving into residence
2. Pick up your uOttawa student card
You’ll receive an email once your uOttawa student card is ready for pickup. Make sure to bring valid government-issued ID. Your student card also serves as your transit pass (U-Pass), valid for public transit in Ottawa and Gatineau.
Learn more about the uOttawa student card
3. Attend your faculty’s welcome session
Our faculties offer welcome sessions in early September to help new students prepare for the start of their program. Your faculty will email you the session date, time and details. It’s an opportunity to get important information about your program, your course schedule and faculty resources. It’s also a chance to meet some of your professors and connect with other new students in your program.
Some faculty sessions are compulsory. The email you receive will specify this.
4. Pay your fees
Your statement of account reflects the official status of your uOttawa account. It’s updated regularly as payments or adjustments are processed. Review it carefully to understand which fees you need to pay and make sure to check our website for important deadlines.
Find out how and when to pay your fees
5. Take part in Welcome Week
Start your university experience with Welcome Week. This series of events and activities is designed to help you get to know the campus, meet fellow students and feel at home from day one.
Each September, Welcome Week offers a variety of opportunities to connect with others, explore student support services and start building friendships. You’ll receive more details as the week approaches.
6. Explore academic support services
Explore the academic support services available to you. Your faculty mentoring centre will connect you with upper‑year students who know your program and can offer practical, experience‑based academic guidance. The writing mentors at the Academic Writing Help Centre are available to help at any stage of the writing process, from understanding your assignment to using sources correctly to reviewing your text. There are many other academic resources available at the University, so feel free to reach out for support.
Learn more about academic support and mentoring
7. Complete your required uOttawa training modules
Complete two key training modules on Brightspace: on academic integrity and on sexual consent.
You’ll be automatically enrolled in the mandatory academic integrity module, which covers the honest work, proper citation and responsible collaboration expected of you.
The sexual consent module reflects uOttawa’s commitment to fostering a respectful and supportive campus environment. It covers the policies and regulations regarding consent that you agree to abide by while at the University of Ottawa, as well as information on intervening when you see something wrong and supporting survivors. The module can be found on the Discover tab of your Brightspace.
