Courses at the University of Ottawa are given in English, French or both languages. You must master one of the two languages to be admitted. We reserve the right to request the result of a language test at any time if necessary.
If you’re applying for a French-language program and have not completed at least three years of full-time study in an institution where French is the only language of instruction (aside from in language courses) in a country where French is an official language, you must submit your official score in one of the following language tests.
In order to be considered for a program offered in French at the University of Ottawa, you must demonstrate that you are sufficiently proficient in the language to follow a postsecondary academic program. Please note that citizenship is not considered when evaluating French proficiency. To show that your French proficiency is at the academic level required for university studies, provide proof of either:
Remember: Language requirements are not based on citizenship. They are based on your country of study.
You do not have to pass a French language test if you have completed your studies in one of the locations listed below, as long you have completed three years of full-time studies in an institution where French is the only language of instruction.
If you are not sure whether you must pass a language test, contact the admissions office .
Remember: The University of Ottawa reserves the right to request the results of a language test at any time and to refuse a language test exemption request.
Algeria
Belgium
Benin
Burkina Faso
Benin
Burundi
Cameroon (francophone education system only)
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo
Ivory Coast
Djibouti
France
Equatorial Guinea
French Guiana
Gabon
Guinea
Haiti
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritius (francophone education system only)
Monaco
Niger
Senegal
Seychelles
Switzerland
Togo
Tunisia
We might offer you an exemption if you meet, or are in the process of meeting, one of the following conditions:
If you are in the process of meeting one of these requirements, you must provide interim/final grades.
If you believe you meet one of these requirements and that the University should exempt you from having to submit the results of a French language proficiency test, email [email protected] .
The University of Ottawa reserves the right to refuse exemption requests.
You must achieve the scores below for all programs offered in a direct-entry faculty. Even if you achieve the required score, we reserve the right to have you take language courses if we feel that your knowledge of one of our two official languages is not satisfactory. All language proficiency tests must be completed less than two years before the beginning of the term indicated on your application for admission to the University of Ottawa.
You must submit your French test results through the uOdoc application in your uOzone account.
| Test | Required score |
|---|---|
| DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) | C1 or C2 |
| DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) | B2 (A score of 16/25 is required in Production écrite) |
| TCF (Test de connaissance du français) |
*The three mandatory sections are required.
If you’re applying for an English-language program and have not completed at least three years of full-time study in an institution where English is the only language of instruction (aside from in language courses) in a country where English is an official language, you must submit your official score in one of the following language tests. The official results must be sent directly to us online from the test centre.
In order to be considered for a program offered in English at the University of Ottawa, you must demonstrate that you are sufficiently proficient in the language to follow a postsecondary academic program. Please note that citizenship is not considered when evaluating English proficiency. To show that your English proficiency is at the academic level required for university studies, provide proof of either:
Remember: Language requirements are not based on citizenship. They are based on your country of study.
We also offer language test exemptions. See below.
You do not have to complete an English language test if you have completed your studies in one of the locations listed below, as long you have completed three years of full-time studies in an institution where English is the only language of instruction.
If you are not sure whether you must pass a language test, contact the admissions office .
Remember: The University of Ottawa reserves the right to request the results of a language test at any time and to refuse a language test exemption request.
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
Cameroon (English education system only)
Canada
Dominica
Eritrea
Falkland Island
Fiji
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guam
Guyana
Hong Kong
Ireland
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Liberia
Malawi
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Micronesia
New Zealand
Nigeria
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
The Philippines
Puerto Rico
Rwanda
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
South Africa
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sudan
Tanzania
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Wales)
United States
Virgin Islands
Zimbabwe
Zambia
We might offer you an exemption if you meet, or are in the process of meeting, one of the following conditions:
If you are in the process of meeting one of these requirements, you must provide interim grades. A proof of registration may be required.
If you believe you meet one of these requirements and that the University should exempt you from having to submit the results of an English language proficiency test, email [email protected] .
The University of Ottawa reserves the right to refuse exemption requests.
Important note:
You must achieve the scores below for all programs offered in a direct-entry faculty. Even if you achieve the required score, we reserve the right to have you take language courses if we feel that your knowledge of one of our two official languages is not satisfactory. All language proficiency tests must be completed less than two years before the beginning of the term indicated on your application for admission to the University of Ottawa. Please also note that only the latest scores will be considered.
| Test | Overall score | Writing section |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic/ IELTS (Academic) One Skill Retake | 6.5 | 6.5 |
The University of Ottawa is authorized to receive test scores electronically. However, keep the following in mind: Your official IELTS results must be sent to us electronically directly from the test centre. Be sure to include our institution name in the STED RO section of your request as well as our institution code (code 0993) with the option to electronically transmit test scores.
| Test | Overall score | Writing section | Listening section | Reading section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL IBT Internet-based | 86 | 22 | n/a | n/a |
| TOEFL Home edition | 86 | 22 | n/a | n/1 |
| TOEFL Essentials . This test also has a speaking section. An 8 is required | 8.5 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Your official TOEFL results must be sent to us electronically directly from the test centre. The institution code to enter for your score to be sent to us is 0993.
The University of Ottawa is authorized to receive test scores electronically.
However, keep the following in mind:
| Test | Overall score | Literacy |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | 120 | 120 |
Your official Duolingo results must be sent to us electronically directly from the test centre. Be sure to share your results with the University of Ottawa through the Duolingo Dashboard.
The University of Ottawa is authorized to receive test scores electronically. However, keep the following in mind:
| Test | Overall score | Writing section |
|---|---|---|
| PTE | 60 | 60 |
| Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 180 | n/a |
| CAEL A score of 60 is required in the reading, speaking and listening performance sections. | 60 | 60 |
Please note that you must also email your PTE, CAE or CAEL scores to [email protected] .
If you’ve completed a language test and your results are below our required scores for direct admission into the program, submit your results anyway.
You can always take the test again and request a re-evaluation by email at [email protected] (provided that we receive your scores weeks prior to course enrolment).
Please note that you must pass the same test for an updated offer. For example, if you’ve submitted an IELTS, you must submit another IELTS. However, we might still consider your other test results when we re-evaluate your application.
Depending on your language test scores, you might be admitted with language conditions. You may be required to enrol in one or two English-as-a-second-language courses during first year or complete the English Intensive Program (EIP).
If your offer of admission includes a requirement to take one or two English as a second language courses, you can complete those courses while starting your program of study.
The English Intensive Program is a great way to improve your English language skills and prepare to enrol at the University of Ottawa. You might have to enrol in and pass the EIP before you can start your program. If you pass the most advanced EIP course (ESL 0140) with a final grade of B or higher, you will not have to pass one of the above language tests.
Note: Students who have applied for admission to the Bachelor of Integrated Food Sciences, any Bachelor of Music or the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) are not eligible for the English Intensive Program.
Overall score of 60 and writing score of 20
Overall score of 70 and writing score of 16
Overall score of 4.5 and writing score of 5
Overall score of 5 and writing score of 4.5
Overall score between 48-55 and writing between 45-48
Overall score between 40-47 and writing between 53-57
Please note:
Contact the EIP:
Centre for Language Learning
Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute
[email protected]