Enrolment
Advanced standing
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What is advanced standing?
Advanced standing means recognition of a course you’ve passed in another education institution as counting for units as part of a program of studies at the University of Ottawa.
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What conditions do I have to meet to be granted advanced standing?
The University will consider granting advanced standing for courses taken at other postsecondary institutions, provided that:
- the courses correspond to the courses in the program for which you are applying
- the units for these courses were earned while you were taking units in a comparable program at a recognized university or college
- you have earned a passing grade in these courses
- the number of units you claim for the course is not greater than the number of credits corresponding to the course offered at the University of Ottawa.
To meet University of Ottawa residency requirements, you must complete at least 50% of the units required for your degree at the University of Ottawa. For the Faculty of Education undergraduate programs, 50% of the practica requirements must be completed at the University.
Exemptions
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What is an exemption?
An exemption is not advanced standing. Exemptions are granted when the University recognizes that, as a group, all the courses passed at another institution meet the educational objectives of a course required for a University of Ottawa program. You don’t have to take the course you’re exempted from, but you must replace the units with units from another course (in the same discipline or an elective).
Course enrolment
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What is the deadline to enrol in my courses?
To take courses, or to take part in activities such as discussion groups, labs or internships, you must enrol by the deadline indicated on the Important academic dates and deadlines page. You will not receive the units or a grade for a course or an activity, if you are not enrolled nor can you enrol or change your enrolment after the deadlines indicated.
Start and end of classes
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What time do courses start and finish?
Professors must start courses at the time indicated on the course timetable and finish ten minutes before the time indicated. See the Course Timetable
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When do the terms run?
The Fall term runs from September to December, the Winter term runs from January to April and the Spring/Summer term runs from May to August. See the Important academic dates and deadlines page for the start and end dates for the current year.
Syllabus or course outline
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What is a syllabus or course outline?
Your professor will give you a syllabus or course outline during your first class of the term. The terms "course outline" and "syllabus" are interchangeable.
A syllabus includes, among other things:
- a course description
- the general and specific course objectives
- the teaching methods
- how you will be assessed and how your grade will be calculated
- a list of required and suggested readings
- the dates of course activities and evaluations (tests, exams)
- the professor's contact information and office hours
- the teaching assistant's contact information and office hours
- mention of the University's regulation on plagiarism and academic fraud
Changing your program of studies
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How can I change my undergraduate program of studies?
If you want to change your undergraduate programs, we recommend that you first consult the list of undergraduate programs and courses as well as the understanding your undergraduate program page. Also, make sure that you meet the particular admission requirements for the program you are interested in.
All program change requests (inside your faculty or to a new one) are submitted by the through form found on uoZone (under Applications, click on Program Change Request Form). Details concerning the steps to follow are on the Make changes to your undergraduate program page.
All your courses are retained to calculate your average.
Note: This process is for undergraduate students who want to make changes to their current bachelor’s program offered in a direct-entry faculty (Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences or the Telfer School of Management).
Maximum course load per term/year
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What’s the maximum number of courses I can enrol in during a term?
If you’re an undergraduate student or in a direct-entry faculty (Arts, Engineering, Health Sciences, Science, Social Sciences or the Telfer School of Management), you can enrol in a maximum of 15 units per term unless your program requires more.
Generally, a course that lasts for one term is worth three units. If you want to enrol in more units than the maximum number allowed by your faculty, you must have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 6.00 or higher and have permission from your faculty.
Re-enrolment in a course
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Can I repeat a course?
If you want to pass a course or simply improve your grade, you can repeat the course, if you are enrolled in an undergraduate program (except for the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law, the undergraduate medical education program or the Faculty of Education).
This is subject to specific requirements of certain programs (e.g., work terms).
The following conditions apply:
- All courses taken and repeated appear on your transcript.
- All courses, whether passed or failed, can be repeated only once. Your most recent grade replaces your previous grade and is included in your average. A failing grade can replace a previous passing grade.
Courses in another faculty
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Can I enrol in a course offered by another faculty?
Yes. To meet your program’s requirements, you may have to take a certain number of electives (courses that you choose among all courses the University offers). To see what’s available, see the Courses offered at the University of Ottawa or the Electives without prerequisites. Keep in mind that for certain courses, you must have met the prerequisites and that there are limited places in certain courses for students from outside the faculty.
Courses taken at other universities
Can I take courses at another university while I'm studying at the University of Ottawa?
Yes, it’s possible to do so.
If you’re an undergraduate student:
The University of Ottawa has agreements with Carleton University, Saint Paul University and Dominican University College allowing students to take courses at these institutions without having to pay additional tuition fees. However, if the course you want to take at one of these institutions is also offered at uOttawa during the same term, your request will not be approved. Other rules may also apply. Please contact your faculty for more information.
If you wish to take a course at a university for which no such agreement is in place, you must submit a letter of permission form (administrative fees apply) to your faculty and receive approval before enrolling in the course. Tuition fees are paid directly to the institution in question.
If you're a graduate student:
If the university is in Ontario, first check whether it is part of the Ontario Visiting Graduate Students (OVGS) Program. If so, please complete and submit the student application form found on the OVGS website.
If the institution is not part of the OVGS program or is outside Ontario, you must submit a letter of permission form (administrative fees apply) to your faculty and receive approval before enrolling in the course. Tuition fees are paid directly to the institution in question.
What is the difference between a letter of permission and an agreement?
A letter of permission allows you to make a request to take courses at a university with which the University of Ottawa doesn’t have an agreement.
When there is an agreement between the University of Ottawa and another institution, you don’t need a letter of permission to take courses. You just need to have your request approved by your faculty and by the institution where you will be taking courses. The procedure is different for each institution.
How can I take courses at Carleton University?
To take courses at Carleton University, you must:
- Complete the Exchange Program University of Ottawa-Carleton University (Undergraduate) form.
- Have the form approved by your faculty.
- Have the form approved by the Carleton University Registrar’s Office and meet the Carleton enrolment requirements.
- Bring the approved form to InfoService to complete your enrolment and to pay the fees for your courses at both universities.
It is important that you complete this process before the enrolment deadlines.
How can I take courses at Saint Paul University?
To take courses at Saint Paul University, enrol in person at your faculty.
How can I take courses at Dominican University College?
- Complete the exchange form (which you can get from your faculty).
- Have the form approved by your faculty.
- Have the form approved by the Dominican University College Office of the Registrar and meet the college’s enrolment requirements.
- Bring the approved form to InfoService to complete your enrolment and pay the fees for your courses at both universities.
It’s important to complete this process before the enrolment deadlines.
Can I take any course at another institution?
You can only take courses that meet your program requirements.
How do I get a letter of permission to take a course at another university?
To get a letter of permission, you must first meet your faculty’s academic standing requirements. Your faculty must receive your request for a letter of permission before April 15 for the Spring-Summer term, before August 15 for the Fall term and before December 15 for the Winter term.
If you take a course at another university without receiving a letter of permission, the course will not be recognized, except in exceptional circumstances.
Are there other requirements or limitations?
Please be aware that grades you receive from Carleton University, Saint Paul University, Dominican University College, and courses taken in partnership with the Ontario Visiting Graduate Students (OVGS) program are included in your University of Ottawa cumulative grade point average. Grades you receive from other universities aren’t included in your grade point average. You receive a CR (credited course) or NC (no credit) grade on your transcript.
Furthermore, in order for these courses to be credited, you must obtain a minimum grade of 60% (all courses in Nursing and Nutrition Sciences require 65%). At the graduate level, the minimum grade required is 65% or more, depending on the program.
If the required minimum grade is not obtained, an NC grade will appear on your transcript.
You must have an official transcript sent to your University of Ottawa faculty at the end of the term. Otherwise, you will receive an NC grade on your transcript. This does not apply if you are taking courses at Carleton University, Saint Paul University or Dominican University College.
Your official transcript of the results obtained in courses for which a letter of permission was issued must be received by your faculty before May 15 if you are registered for spring convocation and before September 15 if you are registered for fall convocation.
If you drop your course(s) or decide not to enrol in one or more of them, you must inform your University of Ottawa faculty in writing by the stipulated deadline. Otherwise, you will receive an NC grade on your transcript.
Courses you take at another university with a letter of permission don’t count towards the University of Ottawa residency requirements, that is, the number of units you’ve received for courses taken at the University of Ottawa.
International exchange programs
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Can I do an internship or a term of studies abroad while I’m at the University of Ottawa?
You can do an internship or a term of studies abroad as part of an international exchange program approved by the University of Ottawa.
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What do I have to do?
The content and hours of instruction of the courses you want to take abroad must meet University of Ottawa requirements and you must get them approved before your departure.
You have to enrol in the equivalent of a normal full-time University of Ottawa course load. As well, the number of units you’re taking must be fully applicable towards your program. Therefore, you must be sure that you have a sufficient number of units left to complete before you start the administrative procedures necessary to go on an exchange.
If you receive a passing grade for one or more courses you’ve taken at a university abroad, you automatically receive units for the course(s) in question.
For more information on international exchanges, visit the International Office website.
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What impact does my exchange have on my scholarship or bursary?
If you’re enrolled full time and you’ve passed all your courses at a foreign partner institution, the University will renew your scholarship or bursary even if it is one that is renewed only if you maintain a specific grade point average.