This page is for students who have completed a year or more of a college certificate or diploma program, or who have a college diploma (from outside of Quebec).

student on a laptop

If you are in a Bachelor’s degree program, your application will be evaluated as a university transfer applicant. Please click here for more information.

1. Make sure you're ready to apply

If you have your college diploma, start by checking the admission average, prerequisite courses and additional requirements you need for your chosen uOttawa program by clicking on the drop down menus below.

If you do not have your college diploma, but have completed at least two terms (one year) in the same college program and have the prerequisites for your chosen uOttawa program, you could qualify for admission. However, you must have a high school diploma, your college average must be 5% to 10% higher than indicated in the drop down menus and you cannot receive advanced standing (see step 5 below).

If you have completed less than one year of college, you might be admitted based on your high school grades.

You can apply as a University Transfer if you have completed a 4-year bachelor’s program at a college.

Check below the admission average you need for the program(s) you’re interested in. Your admission average is based on all your college courses.

Check the prerequisite courses and additional requirementsYou must have taken these prerequisites in secondary school, or their college equivalents. Please note that if you have completed your prerequisites in secondary school, they will not be counted in your admission average. Your average will be calculated based on your college courses.

Please note that the requirements listed are minimum requirements only and are subject to change. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

  • For some programs you may have to provide additional supporting documents or pass an audition or exam.
  • If you have been studying in Canada for less than three years, you may have to pass a language test. We may also request the results of a language test if we consider this necessary.
  • While most programs accept admission applications until June 1, some programs have different deadlines. It’s important for you to check application deadlines and available programs before applying.
  • We reserve the right to stop accepting applications before the deadline.
  • At the University of Ottawa, we believe that grades don’t always tell the whole story. Maybe your academic history is unusual or you’ve faced personal challenges. You can now improve your chances of admission by filling out a Declaration of Personal Experience if your academic average is below the minimum average listed for the program that interests you. A declaration can only be submitted by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or those having refugee status.
  • In some programs, you can apply to the Co-operative Education Program or French Immersion Stream. Just indicate your choice on the application form.

2. Apply online

  • Apply online through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).

  • On the form, declare all current and previous postsecondary studies, completed or not, even if they are not related to your current application. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your application or the withdrawal of your offer of admission at any time.
  • You must pay application fees for all admission applications. Visit the OUAC website to find out which fees you need to pay.
  • OUAC is not part of the University of Ottawa. It handles applications to Ontario universities and transfers your application to us.

3. Log into uoZone to track your status

  • You should receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application within one week of applying. Keep an eye on your junk mail inbox just in case. If you do not receive it within two weeks, email [email protected].
  • Be sure to save the acknowledgement of receipt email. It tells you how to log into the uoZone student portal to track the progress of your application. It also includes your student number, user ID and password.
  • Once you have logged into uoZone, check your Admission file for the list of supporting documents you need to submit to complete your application.
  • For technical assistance, including with your uoAccess ID or uoZone password, please contact our IT Service Desk.
  • Juris Doctor applicants: Send  your application documents through the Ontario Law School Application Service.  While you can use uoZone to track the status of your application, you can’t submit documents via uoDoc.

4. Submit necessary documents

If you have studied at an Ontario college, complete the Transcript Request Form (105) on the OUAC website. Your interim or final grades will then be sent to us.

If you are studying in a college in another province or territory, submit your transcripts through uoDoc (in uoZone). Also, please note:

  • If you are currently taking courses that do not appear on your transcript, you must submit their course codes and titles through uoDoc.
  • Transcripts submitted through uoDoc are not considered official. If you are admitted, you must submit your official transcript with final grades.
  • An official transcript must be printed and stamped with an official seal and sent by the institution in question, or a copy certified by a notary, lawyer or commissioner of oaths.

If you have taken the prerequisite courses for your program in secondary school, we require your secondary school transcripts.

Submit your documents on time. Learn more about deadlines and available programs.

The University of Ottawa may request any other document necessary to evaluate your file. All documents become property of the University and will not be returned to applicants. You are responsible for ensuring that we receive all requested documents by the deadline.

5. Know about advanced standing

If you have completed four semesters (two years) of full-time study in the same Canadian college diploma program, we might grant you advanced standing, depending on the program you are applying to, as per the table below. If you are in a Bachelor’s degree program, please refer to university transfers.

Advanced standing is granted after an applicant has accepted an offer of admission.

If you are applying after one year of college in a certificate or diploma program, we will not grant you any advanced standing.

Faculties that grant advanced standing do so based on your discipline, courses completed and length of studies.

Faculty Number of units
Arts, Sciences and Social Sciences Up to 30 units
Telfer School of Management

With a two or three-year non-business diploma: 15 units

With a two-year management diploma: Up to 30 units

With a three-year management diploma: Up to 45 units

Engineering

For Computer Science: Up to 30 units

For other disciplines: Very limited advanced standing

Health Sciences

Up to 30 units except for Nursing (Up to 21 units)

Our College Agreements

Thanks to our agreements with many Canadian colleges, you can transfer in to the following University of Ottawa programs with some credits already earned.

If you have this from a college…

You can transfer in to this uOttawa program…

How to apply

Term of entry

Two-year diploma
in a business- related field


Honours Bachelor of Commerce
Telfer School of Management
Credits awarded: 30
Required average: 70%
 

OUAC

Fall

Three-year diploma
in a business- related field


Honours Bachelor of Commerce
Telfer School of Management
Credits awarded: 45
Required average: 70%
 

OUAC

Fall

Two-year or three- year
non-business diploma


Honours Bachelor of Commerce
Telfer School of Management
Credits awarded: 15
Required average: 70%
 

OUAC

Fall

If you have this from a college…

You can transfer in to this uOttawa program…

How to apply

Term of entry

Public Relations

Honours Bachelor in Public Relations
Faculty of Arts
Credits awarded: 60
Required average: 70%

uOttawa Form

Fall

Journalism

Honours Bachelor in Digital Journalism
Faculty of Arts
Credits awarded: 60
Required average: 70%

uOttawa Form

Fall

Nursing

Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Ottawa)
Faculty of Health Sciences
This is a four-year integrated nursing program.
Required average: 75%

OUAC

Fall

If you have this from a college…

You can transfer in to this uOttawa program…

How to apply

Term of entry

Music - Performance Diploma

Honours Bachelor of Arts with Specialization in Music or the Bachelor of Arts with Major in Music Studies Faculty of Arts

Credits awarded: 51

Required average: 75%. Final grade point average of B or higher, obtained at least B in each of the courses recognized for equivalencies.

OUAC

Fall

Music - Performance Diploma

Bachelor of Music Faculty of Arts

Credits awarded: 39

Required average: 75%. Final grade point average of B or higher, obtained at least B in each of the courses recognized for equivalencies.

OUAC

Fall

Learn more

Contact information

InfoAdmission

Tabaret Hall  (map)
75 Laurier Avenue East, Room 109
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
Canada

See wait times and secure a spot in our virtual line for all services. 

Send us a request

Office hours

September 1 to May 31:
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

June 1 to August 31:
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For admission to Common Law or Medicine, contact the faculties offering these programs. For graduate studies, contact the academic unit of the faculty offering the program you are applying to.