What Grades Do I Need to Get Into University of Ottawa?

Is your post-secondary goal to attend University of Ottawa? As one of Canada’s most well-known post-secondary institutions, millions of domestic and international students apply to University of Ottawa every year — and 2025 is no different. 

But before you apply, you must first become familiar with the admission criteria and what grades are required per program. Keep reading to find out what grades you need to be accepted into the prestigious University of Ottawa, a program-by-program breakdown. 

University of Ottawa: Overview

Aptly named, University of Ottawa is located in the heart of Canada’s capital city. It is the world’s largest bilingual university and home to Canada’s first French immersion undergraduate program. Founded in 1848, the university has a rich history, originally being known as the College of Bytown before Canadian Confederation in 1861.

With over 550 across ten faculties, the school is best known for their political science, law, business, and language programs. University of Ottawa’s campus is a 15-minute walk from the parliament buildings, enabling many opportunities to work in parliament for student co-ops or internships. Additionally, their law program is one of the largest in Canada. 

University of Ottawa’s Notable Alumni

• Michael A. Chambers: Former president of the Canadian Olympic Committee who earned a commerce law degree from University of Ottawa.
• Caleb Apochi Agada: Basketball player for Avtodor who played on the University of Ottawa basketball team from 2012 to 2017. 
• Daniel Lamarre: CEO of Canada’s well-known Cirque du Soleil, studied communications at University of Ottawa. 
• Chuck Rifici: Former CFO of the Liberal Party of Canada who was originally a University of Ottawa engineering student.
• William John Shannon Elliott: Has worked in the government of Canada for several years, but is best known for his role as the 22nd commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Studied Common Law at University of Ottawa. 
• Louise Charron: Was appointed to be a Supreme Court judge in the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004. She graduated from University of Ottawa’s law school in 1975. 

What Is the Acceptance Rate for University of Ottawa?

University of Ottawa does not provide data on their acceptance rates, but it is speculated to be around 45-50%. This would be a low acceptance rate compared to most Canadian post-secondary institutions (for reference, TMU has an acceptance rate of 80%+). However, it isn’t as low as the highly-competitive McGill or UofT, which have an acceptance rate of 39% and 43% respectively. 

The acceptance rate is calculated by the ratio of how many students are accepted into the school versus how many students applied. A 50% acceptance rate would mean that half of those who apply are not accepted. 

Requirements to Become a University of Ottawa Student

Outside of program-specific requirements, these are the general requirements needed to attend University of Ottawa. Please ensure you meet (or will meet) all the requirements below before applying:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or an equivalent.
• The completion of at least six 4U/4M high school credits. 

 

Academic Requirements for University of Ottawa Programs

These requirements are usually tailored to Canadian students coming straight out of high school, mature students and international students should visit University of Ottawa’s website for more information. 

Please note that meeting the academic requirements does not guarantee admission to any of the programs below. Admission depends on the competitiveness of the program, and highly-competitive applicant pools might cause your application to be rejected – even if you meet all the requirements listed here. 

Below is a list of some of the top programs offered by UOttawa and their admission requirements.

Commerce

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Advanced Functions 4U (MHF4U)
• Calculus and Vectors 4U (MCV4U)
• Academic Average: 80%

Political Science

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Academic Average: 75%

Nursing

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Biology 4U (SBI4U)
• Chemistry 4U (SCH4U)
• Either Functions 3M (MCF3M), Functions 3U (MCR3U), or another Mathematics 4U course
• All prerequisite courses must meet a combined 65% grade average. 
• Academic Average: 85%

Psychology

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Academic Average: 75%

Civil Engineering

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Advanced Functions 4U (MHF4U)
• Calculus and Vectors 4U (MCV4U)
• Chemistry 4U (SCH4U)
• Physics 4U (SPH4U) 
• All prerequisite courses must meet a combined 70% grade average. 
• Academic Average: 80%

Economics

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Advanced Functions 4U (MHF4U)
• Academic Average: 75%

Communication

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Academic Average: 75%

History

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Academic Average: 75%

Public Relations

• English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U)
• Academic Average: 75%

What If I Don’t Meet the Academic Average?

Do your grades and courses not align with the prerequisites for your desired program? Not having the minimum requirements significantly lowers your chance of being accepted into University of Ottawa. 

Before you start reconsidering your post-secondary options, Pathways offers online high school courses and academic upgrading programs designed to boost your academic profile. We can help you open up new educational pathways and opportunities through tailored, supportive learning. 

• Academic average too low? Our simplified online high school courses can act as a GPA booster and allow you to retake prerequisite courses (schools will only consider your highest grade if you’ve taken the same course twice). 
• Missing prerequisite courses? Pathways offers several University level online high school courses to meet these prerequisites. 
• Feel unprepared for University life? We’ve designed a university preparation program which aims to help students strengthen their core academic skills for post-secondary success. 

Book a 1-on-1 with one of our experienced guidance counselors and we’ll help you create a plan that gives you confidence and complete control over your academic journey. Let’s help get you into your dream school!

Meet with a Guidance Counselor