Note: The University of Ottawa has made extensive changes to several academic regulations, these changes took effect on September 1, 2016. A grandfather clause applies to Academic Regulation B-8 - Conditions for Obtaining a Degree, Certificate or Diploma.
(Approved by the Senate on September 21, 2020, and effective on January 1, 2021)
The Senate of the University confers a degree, certificate or diploma upon a student who has fulfilled all the requirements of the program or programs leading to that degree and has complied with all applicable academic regulations. A student with an outstanding balance or other financial obligations to the University cannot obtain any official document from the University (certification, transcript, diploma, etc.) attesting to the completion of a degree, certificate or diploma.
B-7.1. Conditions for obtaining a bachelor’s degree
Approved by the Senate on September 23, 2019 - effective immediately)
To obtain a bachelor’s degree consisting of 90 units from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science or Faculty of Social Sciences, students must:
- complete the total number of units required in the program, with no more than 45 units at the 1000 level;
- have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 4.0
To obtain a bachelor’s degree consisting of 120 units from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science or Faculty of Social Sciences, students must:
- complete the total number of units required in the program, with no more than 48 units at the 1000 level;
- have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 4.0.
Students who have already completed the maximum 45 or 48 1000-level units can take an additional 1000-level course only if it is a requirement of their program or to meet the admission requirements of a professional or graduate program.
B-7.2. Conditions for obtaining an honours bachelor’s degree
(Approved by the Senate on September 23, 2019 - effective immediately)
To obtain an honours bachelor's degree, students must:
- complete the total number of units required in the program, with no more than 48 units at the 1000 level;
- have a cumulative grade point average of 5.0
Students who have already completed the maximum 48 units at the 1000 level can take an additional 1000-level course only if it is a requirement of their program or to meet the admission requirements of a professional or graduate program.
B-7.3. Other conditions
(Approved by the Senate on April 17, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
Faculty of Education, certificate programs
Conditions for obtaining a B.Ed. after obtaining a Certificate in Education from the University of Ottawa
Graduates of the University of Ottawa Aboriginal Teacher Education Certificate Program who submit proof of an undergraduate degree, including 15 full courses or the equivalent, within ten years of receiving their certificate, will also receive a Bachelor of Education degree.
University of Ottawa graduates of the Certificate in Education, Technological Education Program, who submit proof of an undergraduate degree, including 15 full courses or the equivalent, within eight years of receiving their certificate, will also receive a Bachelor of Education degree.
Requirements for an undergraduate doctorate
To earn an undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy degree, a student must:
- Complete the total number of units required in this program.
- Have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 5.0 on the numerical scale.
- Achieve the expected level of cross-curricular competencies.
B-7.4. Conditions for obtaining a certificate
(Approved by the Senate on January 11, 2010)
Programs leading to a certificate and graduation requirements must be submitted to the Senate for approval.
The list of candidates to receive a certificate must be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Senate for approval.
The minimum CGPA required for a certificate is 3.5.
Candidates who have qualified for a certificate are presented at convocation.
Students holding a certificate who subsequently wish to enrol in a degree program may be granted advanced standing toward the degree, subject to Senate and faculty regulations.
B-7.5. Obtaining a second diploma from the University of Ottawa
(Approved by the Senate on January 20, 2020, and effective May 1, 2020)
Students holding a first bachelor’s degree or honours bachelor’s degree (honours, honours with double major, honours with major and minor) from the University of Ottawa may obtain a second one by completing at least 30 units beyond the normal requirements of their first degree.
A second bachelor’s degree can be completed in a discipline other than the one of the first bachelor’s degree, or in the same discipline if additional courses of this same discipline are needed to meet the requirements of the second bachelor’s degree. For example, a student who has obtained a bachelor’s degree X with a minor in Y could enrol in the honour’s bachelor in Y.
To obtain a certificate, students must complete at least 50 percent of the units required for the certificate beyond the requirements of the bachelor's degree.
Students holding a certificate from the University of Ottawa may obtain a second certificate or a bachelor’s degree. To do so, they must meet the requirements of the second program and obtain at least 50 percent of the units required for the second diploma beyond the requirements of the first certificate.
At least 50 percent of the additional units received as part of the second program must be taken at the University of Ottawa.
B-7.6. Residence requirements
(Approved by the Senate on February 28, 2017)
The number of units a student must complete at the University of Ottawa is determined by the faculty concerned, taking into account the advanced standing granted.
For bachelor's programs involving the equivalent of three or four years of full-time study, including the Honours Bachelor in Translation (2 years) and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Registered Nurses, faculties must require that at least 50 percent of the units be completed at the University regardless of specific requirements, except in the case of formal Senate-approved agreements between the University of Ottawa and other institutions.
For programs involving the equivalent of one or two years of full-time study (B.Ed. and certificates), faculties must also require that 50 percent of the bachelor’s or certificate program be completed at the University of Ottawa.
B-7.7. Duration of studies
(Approved by the Senate on April 17, 2023, effective May 1, 2023)
- Duration of undergraduate studies
When students have not obtained a degree after eight (8) years of study, the faculty may require them to take additional courses in order to fulfill their program requirements.
At the undergraduate level, for the Common Law and Civil Law sections, the maximum duration of studies is six (6) years from the initial enrolment date.
In some programs, these requirements may be subject to rules governing professional accreditation.
Faculty of Medicine
A student enrolled in the MD program must complete all degree requirements within seven (7) years from the initial enrolment date. A student who does not complete all degree requirements within this timeframe will be withdrawn from the program. Students wishing to return must present a new application for admission and are subject to the admission requirements in force at that time.
A student enrolled in the undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy degree must complete all degree requirements within seven (7) years of initial enrollment in the program. A student who fails to complete all degree requirements within the prescribed timeframe will be withdrawn from the program. A student who wishes to re-enter the program will be required to reapply for admission and will be subject to the requirements in effect at the time of application.
Faculty of Education
The maximum duration of studies for the Formation à l’enseignement program and the Teacher Education Program is four (4) years from the initial enrolment date for full-time students, and six (6) years for the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program.
The maximum time allowed to complete the requirements of part-time programs offered in French (B.Éd en mode alternatif et Éducation technologique) is six (6) years from the initial enrolment date.
For the Formation à l’enseignement (B.Éd) program blended with a program from another faculty, when students have not obtained a degree after eight (8) years of study, the faculties in question may require them to take additional courses in order to fulfill their program requirements.
B-7.8. Registration for degree
(Approved by the Senate on October 16, 2023, effective immediately)
Students who expect to complete their degree requirements must fill in the Registration for Degree and Request for Diploma form. The Faculty recommends the granting of the degree to the Senate for final approval.
Students planning to graduate after completing degree requirements in the spring/summer term must submit the Degree Registration and Application form to the Registrar's Office by September 15. Students planning to graduate after completing degree requirements in the fall or winter term must submit the Degree Registration and Application form by March 31. This will ensure their participation in the convocation ceremony.
All final grades needed to complete the degree requirements must be received by the faculty before September 15 for students aiming to graduate after completing degree requirements in the spring-summer term, and before May 15 for those aiming to graduate after completing degree requirements in the fall or winter term.
Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all their degree requirements.