Language requirements
Source: https://www.uottawa.ca/study/undergraduate-studies/language-requirements
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.
French language requirements if applying to a program offered in French
English language requirements if applying to a program offered in English
French-language programs
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:
- Postsecondary studies in French; or
- Last three years of high school taken in French (Grades 10, 11 or 12)
Remember: Language requirements are not based on citizenship. They are based on your country of study.
Countries eligible for a French language test exemption
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.
Countries eligible for a French language test exemption
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
Other possibilities of exemptions
We might offer you an exemption if you meet, or are in the process of meeting, one of the following conditions:
- passing the International Baccalaureate French A course with a minimum grade of 4
- achieving an interim or final grade of 80% or higher in an Français 4U course while working towards your Ontario Secondary School Diploma
- completing the French Baccalaureate – Français with a combined score of 10/20 in Oral and Writing.
- successfully completing between 12 and 16 CEGEP courses in a French cégep situated in Canada.
- successfully completing a minimum of two years in a French program in a Canadian French College
- successfully completing one year at a French Canadian university as a full-time student (minimum of 10 courses excluding ESL and technical courses) in a program offered fully in French.
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.
Language tests
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. Only the TCF Tout Public and the TCF DAP are accepted for admissions purposes. | B2* |
| TEF – Autres usage, avec 5 épreuves | B2 |
English-language programs
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:
- Postsecondary studies in English; or
- Last three years of high school taken in English (Grades 10, 11 or 12)
Remember: Language requirements are not based on citizenship. They are based on your country of study.
We also offer language test exemptions. See below.
Countries and regions eligible for an English language test exemption
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
Other possibilities of exemptions
We might offer you an exemption if you meet, or are in the process of meeting, one of the following conditions:
- achieving an interim or final grade of 80% or higher in an English 4U course while working towards your Ontario Secondary School Diploma at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Ottawa Catholic School Board
- successfully completing one year at a Canadian university as a full-time student (minimum of 10 courses excluding ESL and technical courses)
- successfully completing a minimum of two years in a program offered in English in a Canadian College
- successfully completing between 12 and 16 CEGEP courses in an English cégep situated in Canada.
- passing the International Baccalaureate English A course with a minimum grade of 4
- passing a GCE A or AS Level English (non-ESL) course with a minimum grade of B. O Level or GCSE/IGCSE English is not sufficient for an exemption.
- passing the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition course with a grade of 4
- achieving a score of 31 on the SAT writing section (paper version)
- achieving a score of 550 in the Reading and Writing section of the SAT Digital version
- passing the CBSE or CISCE senior (12th) English subject with a final grade of 75% (Indian grading scale). If you are currently attending secondary school, interim grades (for example, pre-board exam results) will be used.
- Completing the English Intensive Program offered by the University of Ottawa.
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:
- Please note that the completion of a Bridging program at another institution does not qualify you for an exemption.
- Please note that if a language test is submitted, it will be considered, even if you meet the requirements for an exemption.
Good to know
- All English language test results must be sent to us electronically from the testing centre.
- If you retake your language test after receiving an initial offer and want your conditions to be re-assessed after admission, email [email protected].
- The Telfer School of Management reserves the right to ask you to take another language test, even if you’ve achieved the required score for admission or received a language test exemption. If your results show that you don’t have satisfactory knowledge of one of the two official languages, you might have to complete extra language courses. These courses will count as electives within your program of study.
- ESL 2121 and ESL 2361 are non-credit courses.
- Countries/cultures that don’t formally use a last name: If you come from a country or culture that doesn’t traditionally use surnames (last names) — such as Myanmar, Indonesia (Javanese), parts of southern India, or Iceland — your language test results might not load correctly in our system. This is because our system expects both a given name and a surname to match your application. To help us accurately process your documents:
- use one of your given names as a last name when submitting your application to uOttawa
- make sure the name on your application matches the name used on your test registration
This will ensure your test results are properly linked to your file, preventing delays in the application process.
Language tests accepted
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.
English Intensive Program (EIP)
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 any Bachelor of Music or the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) are not eligible for the English Intensive Program.
Learn more about the English Intensive Program (EIP)
Contact the EIP:
Centre for Language Learning\ Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute \ [email protected]
Language tests accepted
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- Duolingo English Test
- Other tests
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.
- Submitting your TRF (test report form) number is not sufficient to send your results.
- Be advised that we only accept IELTS Academic test results.
- We accept IELTS (Academic) One Skill Retake.
- Ensure that the name, email address, and date of birth indicated on your test is the same as what you entered on your University of Ottawa application; otherwise, your results will not be added to your file.
Required score for direct entry
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted with no language conditions.
| Test | Overall score | Writing section |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.5 |
Please note that achieving an overall score of 6.0 on the IELTS allows you to begin your program of study directly, with extra ESL courses.
Required scores for the English Intensive Program (EIP)
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted on the condition that you complete our English Intensive Program.
| Required test | Minimum score for conditional admission with enrolment in the English Intensive Program (EIP) |
|---|---|
| IELTS | Overall score of 4.5 and writing score of 5 or Overall score of 5 and writing score of 4.5 |
Please note: If you receive a score of 4.0 in any other band in the IELTS, you won't be considered for admission. You'll need to improve your English proficiency before applying again.
If you’re admitted into the English Intensive Program, you’ll need to complete between 8 and 42 weeks of Intensive ESL courses.
- ESL 0120 = 14 weeks
- ESL 0130 = 14 weeks
- ESL 0140 = 8 to 14 weeks
| IELTS test score | English Intensive Program (EIP) required |
|---|---|
| Overall score of 4.5 and writing score of 5 or Overall score of 5 and writing score of 4.5 | ESL0120 (14 weeks) ESL0130 (14 weeks) ESL0140 (14 weeks) |
| Overall score of 5.5 and writing score of 5 or Overall score of 5 and writing score of 5.5 | ESL0130 (14 weeks) ESL0140 (14 weeks) |
| Overall score of 5.5 and writing score of 6 or Overall score of 6 and writing score of 5.5 (Summer intensive program offered) | ESL0140 (8 or 14 weeks) |
No additional application to the EIP is required.
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:
- We only accept TOEFL internet-based (IBT), Special at Home Edition and TOEFL Essentials test results.
- We accept MyBest scores for the TOEFL IBT test.
- Ensure that your name, email address and date of birth indicated on your test are the same as what you entered on your University of Ottawa application; otherwise, your results won’t be added to your file.
Required score for direct entry
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted with no language conditions.
| Test | Overall score | Writing section | Listening section | Reading section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL IBT Internet-based (for tests taken before January 21, 2026) | 86 | 22 | n/a | n/a |
| TOEFL (for tests taken after January 21, 2026) | 4.5 | 4.5 | n/a | n/a |
| TOEFL Home edition | 86 | 22 | n/a | n/a |
Required scores for the English Intensive Program (EIP)
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted on the condition that you complete our English Intensive Program.
| Required test | Minimum score for conditional admission with enrolment in the English Intensive Program (EIP) |
|---|---|
| TOEFL Internet based | Overall score of 60 and writing score of 20 or Overall score of 70 and writing score of 16 |
| TOEFL (starting January 21, 2026) | Overall score of 3.5 and writing score of 4.5 or Overall score of 4.0 and writing score of 3.5 |
If you’re admitted into the English Intensive Program, you’ll need to complete between 8 and 36 weeks of Intensive ESL courses.
- ESL 0120 = 14 weeks
- ESL 0130 = 14 weeks
- ESL 0140 = 8 to 14 weeks
| TOEFL test score | English Intensive Program (EIP) required |
|---|---|
| Overall score of 60 and writing score of 20 or Overall score of 70 and writing score of 16 | ESL0120 (14 weeks) ESL0130 (14 weeks) ESL0130 (8 or 14 weeks) |
| Overall score of 60 and writing score of 22 or Overall score of 70 and writing score of 18 | ESL0130 (14 weeks) ESL0140 (8 or 14 weeks) |
| Overall score of 70 and writing score of 22 or Overall score of 78 and writing score of 18 | ESL0140 (8 or 14 weeks) |
No additional application to the EIP is required.
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:
- Ensure that the name, email address and date of birth indicated on your test are the same as what you entered on your University of Ottawa application; otherwise, your results won’t be added to your file.
- If you’ve already submitted your application through OUAC, enter your OUAC reference number when completing your Duolingo English Test. You can enter your OUAC reference number after choosing “University of Ottawa Undergraduate” in the Duolingo sharing flow.
Learn more about how to send your Duolingo test results to institutions.
Required score for direct entry
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted with no language conditions.
| Test | Overall score | Literacy |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | 120 | 120 |
Required scores for the English Intensive Program (EIP)
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted on the condition that you complete our English Intensive Program.
| Required test | Minimum score for conditional admission with enrolment in the English Intensive Program (EIP) |
|---|---|
| DUOLINGO | Overall score of 85 and literacy score of 85 |
If you’re admitted into the English Intensive Program, you’ll need to complete between 8 and 36 weeks of Intensive ESL courses.
- ESL 0120 = 14 weeks
- ESL 0130 = 14 weeks
- ESL 0140 = 8 to 14 weeks
| Duolingo English test score | English Intensive Program (EIP) required |
|---|---|
| Overall score of 85 and literacy score of 89 | ESL0120 (14 weeks) ESL0130 (14 weeks) ESL0130 (8 or 14 weeks) |
| Overall score of 90 and literacy score of 99 | ESL0130 (14 weeks) ESL0140 (8 or 14 weeks) |
| Overall score of 100 and literacy score of 119 | ESL0140 (8 or 14 weeks) |
No additional application to the EIP is required.
The University of Ottawa also accepts the LanguageCert Academic test, the Michigan English Test, the Pearson Test of English (PTE), the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam (CAE) and the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Test.
You must email your scores to [email protected].
Required score for direct entry
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted with no language conditions.
| 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 |
Required scores for the English Intensive Program (EIP)
You must achieve the following scores to be admitted on the condition that you complete our English Intensive Program.
| Required test | Minimum score for conditional admission with enrolment in the English Intensive Program (EIP) |
|---|---|
| CAEL | Overall score of 40 and writing of 30 |
| PTE | Overall score between 48-55 and writing between 45-48 or Overall score between 40-47 and writing between 53-57 |
Scores below the level required or refusal
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.
Language tests we don’t accept for admission
We don’t accept the following language proficiency tests for admission to undergraduate programs since these tests are designed for immigration or non-academic purposes — they focus on functional or general language ability rather than academic proficiency:
- IELTS for UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration)
This version of the IELTS is tailored for UK immigration processes. It doesn’t meet the academic language requirements for university admission.
- TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada)
This test is intended for Canadian immigration applications. It’s not recognized for academic admission purposes.
- TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada)
While widely used for immigration (e.g., Express Entry), this version of the TEF is unsuitable for university admissions because it doesn’t align with academic proficiency standards.
- CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
- Bright Language test
Contact information
InfoAdmission
Tabaret Hall\ 75 Laurier Avenue East, Room 129\ Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5\ Canada
Secure a spot in our virtual line for all services or send us a request.
Stay connected
Continue to learn more about uOttawa by joining our mailing list and connect with other future students online.
Helpful links
- Guidance counsellors' zone
- Fees and financial support
- Campus tours and events
- IT support
- Location and hours of operation
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.
Register now for our Open House on March 21 !