_ grad.uottawa.ca > Admission and Registration > FAQ _____________________
How do I apply?
It is best to contact the academic unit offering the particular program that interests you (for example, if Law is your chosen field, contact the Graduate Academic Assistant in the Faculty of Law). The Director of the Program to which you are applying will send you the relevant application forms, instructions and information for admission (deadlines, number of anticipated openings, funding possibilities, areas of interest of professors, language of instruction and so on).
Completion of the one-page application form should take no more than ten minutes. Assembling your letters of recommendation, transcripts and letter of intent (if required) will take longer. So try to allow yourself sufficient time.
How much does it cost to apply for admission?
In 2002, the application fee is $60.00, in Canadian funds.
Is it possible to register as a special student?
You should contact the Secretariat for the graduate program offering the course that interests you to see if you might be allowed to register with "special student" status.
Can courses taken as a special student count towards a graduate program?
A maximum of six credits taken as a special student can subsequently be transferred to a graduate program.
May I register for an undergraduate course during my graduate program?
If an undergraduate course is relevant to your graduate program, you could add it to your registration as a graduate student. Remember that any course taken on that basis counts in your program. If you fail it, it counts as a failure in your program. If the undergraduate course is unrelated to your graduate program, you can take it with "out-of-program" status.
Is the offer of admission good for any entry point?
Some offers of admission are valid for three sessions (that is the maximum); some are valid for one session only.
If I turn down the offer of admission but change my mind afterwards, will I need to reapply?
The answer depends on how recently you applied. If it has been more than one year, you will have to submit all documents again. If it is less than that, you should contact the Secretariat of the program for which you are applying.
How many students are there at the University of Ottawa and, of those, how many are graduate students?
In September 2002 there were 27,462 students registered and of these 3,795 (13.8%) were at the graduate level.
Where do I find information about graduate programs?
The information appears on the website of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS). A hard copy of the calendar description of each graduate program is also available. You can pick these documents up on campus, at either InfoService, the FGPS (Hagen Hall, 115 Séraphin Marion Street) or the department offering the program.
Why consider graduate studies at the University of Ottawa?
We offer excellent programs, in a highly stimulating intellectual milieu, within the capital of Canada where you will have access to a host of resources. Consider that the main campus is within walking distance of the National Library and Archives of Canada, of the National Research Council, of the National Gallery and numerous other museums, of the Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI), and the Supreme Court of Canada. The Health Sciences campus is located in a complex that includes three of Ottawa's major hospitals. The region is one of North America's major high-technology centres, and includes the entire range of municipal and federal government departments.
How long do graduate studies take?
Master's: one year minimum full-time; in general, four years maximum.
Doctorate: On average, four years; six years maximum.
There is considerable variation among disciplines and individuals.
Where can I get further information about being a graduate student at the University of Ottawa?
Go to the website of the academic unit offering your program, to that of the Graduate Students' Association (GSAÉD), get in touch with the Director of Graduate Studies in your academic unit. Seek an opportunity to speak to graduate students currently registered, come and visit if possible. You may also fill out our Information Request Form which will redirect your query to the appropriate department.
My first language is not English but the program that I am interested in is offered mainly in English. Do I need to demonstrate proficiency in the language of instruction?
Yes. For details go to Admission and Registration. Please note that a TOEFL (or other language test) score is valid for two years only.
Do I have to submit a GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) score?
No.
Do you have any course to prepare me for university teaching?
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, in cooperation with the Centre for University Teaching, provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with an opportunity for formal training in university teaching through a course and practicum (ESG 5300 and ESG 8300). These activities are recorded on the official transcript. Further information is available from the Centre for University Teaching. The centre also provides other (non credit) instructional development workshops and seminars
www.uottawa.ca/services/tlss/cut.
How do I find accommodation?
Some residence spaces are available on campus and there is a wide range of apartments in Ottawa or across the Ottawa River in Gatineau. Please consult Housing Services