Students in Ontario overlooking Quebec

Département de français

Our department will help you to develop your expertise in French-language literature from around the world and gain writing and communication skills that are rare and highly valued in today’s world.

Welcome

Generally, you study geography to become a geographer, history to become a historian, philosophy to become a philosopher. So what can you do with a degree from the Département de français, which offers both literature and writing courses? The word “literaturist” doesn’t exist and the term “writer” can mean anything! But that undefined space itself has unlimited possibilities, and it’s where our study interests lie.

After a journey where you’re introduced to French-language literature (from every century, genre and background), to the history of the language, to the art of writing, to creative writing and to text editing, you’ll be able to find your own path. Our alumni now teach French or literature; write texts for politicians or magazines; edit government documents; publish novels, essays, plays or poetry; create blogs for the public; work in publishing houses or in the comedy scene; and much more.

Throughout your undergraduate or graduate program, you’ll be supported by caring, skilled professors who have received numerous awards and distinctions, run major grant-based projects and held research chairs. You’ll be able to take part in the life of our very active department, which, in addition to courses, offers symposiums, lectures by visiting professors, meetings with writers and all kinds of literary events.

The Département de français is a lively place in one of the country’s rare bilingual universities, located in an environment that’s made for learning.

We look forward to seeing you.

Contact the Département de français
Horses statue in the Simard and Hamelin courtyard
Stylo plume sur un calepin vierge

Centre de rédaction du Département de français

L’objectif du Centre d’aide à la rédaction est d’apporter un appui au développement de compétences en rédaction aux étudiantes qui sont actuellement inscrites dans un cours au Département de français.
Plus d'informations
Lettres françaises students
Student testimonial

“During my time at uOttawa, I made friends and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. I am particularly grateful to the Faculty of Arts.”

Nikita Kamblé-Bagal

— B.A. (Lettres françaises avec mineure en psychologie) 2020

Christian Guay-Poliquin

OUR WRITER IN RESIDENCE

Each year, our department invites a new francophone writer to come and share his or her experience and expertise with the student community. This year, we welcome Christian Guay-Poliquin!
Christian Guay-Poliquin was born at a time when environmental issues were summed up as the hole in the ozone layer and acid rain. If his works evoke the codes of post-apocalyptic fiction, it's not so much to tell of another end of the world, but rather to put into perspective the strength and fragility of our social relationships. His novels Le fil des kilomètres (2013), Le poids de la neige (2016) and Les ombres filantes (2021) were originally published by La Peuplade and have been translated into several languages around the world.
His thesis in literature (UQAM) focuses on the hunting story in contemporary literature and cinema. His essay will soon be published by Éditions du Boréal.
View his publications !
Léa Nolet
Nov 13

Léa Nolet's Master's thesis defense (French only)

The Department of French invites you to Léa Nolet's Master's thesis defense, this Wednesday, November 13, at 3:00 pm, in the Hamelin Pavilion (MHN), r…

Leonard Cohen
Oct 28

Invitation to Chistophe Lebold’s conference (French only)

Christophe Lebold's Conference (French only)

Écrire à l’air du temps
Mar 14

Écrire à l’air du temps: s’inscrire dans son époque par le biais de la littérature (in french only)

Ce colloque propose d’étudier la manière dont la littérature de langue française entre en dialogue avec son époque.La littérature n’est pas étanche au…

Faculty of Arts
Open house
Faculty of Arts
Pencil
Faculty of Arts

Concours de création littéraire 2025

Le Département de français de l’Université d’Ottawa, en collaboration avec la Faculté des arts de l’Université d’Ottawa, a le plaisir de convier les é…
Faculty of Arts
Mix of letters and signs in different colors on a pink and blue background
Faculty of Arts

Exquisite corpses at the SLO 2024

As part of the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais (SLO) 2024, the Département de français is hosting a daily game of Exquisite Corpse. Discover the final t…
Research
Centre de recherche sur les francophonies canadiennes
Research

French-language research centre boosts connection with Canada’s francophones

As its 65th anniversary approaches, the Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française (CRCCF), the oldest research centre studying the lite…
Faculty of Arts
91st Acfas congress poster for call for communications.
Faculty of Arts

Acfas - Département de français' Call for Communications

Professor Claudia Bouliane is organizing an Acfas conference to be held in May 2024 at the University of Ottawa: "Une place à table : échanges intercu…
Faculty of Arts
Portraits of Eve Bilodeau, Myriam Legault-Beauregard and Nikita Kamblé-Bagal
Faculty of Arts

Département de français' microcredit courses

The Département de français will be offering a new type of course this year: microcredit courses. These are half-courses (1.5 credits) focusing on a c…

In the media

Faculté des Arts
Claudia Bouliane
Faculté des Arts

Early Researcher of the Year Award

Claudia Bouliane’s major contributions to research and her exceptional ability to mobilize and inspire the next generation make her a first-rate researcher. We are very proud of our colleague !
media
France Martineau
media

La palatalisation est-elle encore vivante en français au Canada ?

La spécialiste de sociolinguistique historique France Martineau décortique le phénomène de la palatalisation. Cela consiste en la modification d'une articulation d'une lettre dans un mot.
media
Kevin Lambert
media

La possibilité d’un Goncourt pour Kevin Lambert

Kevin Lambert, écrivain en résidence de 2022-2023, est en lice pour le prestigieux prix Goncourt !

Contact us

Secretariat

Harry Kisoka and Elizabeth White

Pavillon Hamelin 4th and 5th floor
70 Laurier avenue E
Ottawa ON Canada K1N 6N5
Map

613-562-5797
[email protected]

Office hours:
Monday to Friday
9 a.m. to noon and 1p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(June and August: close at 3:30 p.m.)

Academic Office

Undergraduate studies
Simard Hall, room 128
How to reach us
Fax.: 613-562-5973
[email protected] 

Graduate studies 

Simard Building, room 416
613 562-5800 ext. 5439
[email protected]  

Administrative Agent

Myriam Bahri
Simard 216
613-562-5800
[email protected]

Directrice du Département de français

Mawy Bouchard
Simard 215
613-562-5800, poste 5923
[email protected]

Directrice des études de premier cycle

Geneviève Boucher
Simard 313
613-562-5800, poste 1105
[email protected]

Directrice des études supérieures

Claudia Bouliane
Simard 214
613-562-5800, poste 1109
[email protected]