In keeping with our commitment to the French-speaking world, the University of Ottawa offers a Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship to international Francophone and Francophile students enrolled as of September 2021 in a bachelor’s or master’s program given in French, or in the French Immersion Stream. This major assistance in funding your studies reduces your tuition fees considerably.
Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship
This scholarship is for international students studying in French.
Our commitment
Undergraduate programs
Scholarship values per term
The value of the scholarship depends on your program and the term for which you are admitted. For example, if you enrol in the Faculty of Arts and tuition fees for international students are $21,667.54 for the Fall term (as in 2024–2025), you’ll receive a scholarship of $12,500. This means you pay $9,167.54 in tuition fees.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship, you must:
- accept an offer of admission to a program offered in French, and
- be enrolled full time and take at least three courses taught in French per term (9 units).
OR
- accept an offer of admission to a program offered in English with a French Immersion Stream option
- meet the admission requirements of the French Immersion Stream, and
- be enrolled full time and take at least three courses taught in French per term (9 units).
Conditions for keeping your scholarship
Should the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship amount change, your scholarship will be renewed at the original amount indicated in your offer of admission, as long as you continue to meet the conditions below.
To continue receiving a Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship until the end of an undergraduate program (maximum of 12 per-term payments), you must:
- be enrolled full time every term
- enrol in at least three courses taught in French per term (9 units), and
- remain enrolled full time in an approved undergraduate program in French or in French Immersion.
Please note that CO-OP students aren’t eligible for this scholarship during their work terms.
Eligibility for Spring-Summer term
Students enrolled full time for the Spring-Summer term receive a scholarship of full value, as long as they meet the renewal criteria.
The scholarship can also be renewed at 50% of its value if you enrol part time for the Spring-Summer term and meet the following criteria:
- enrol in at least two courses (six units) for the term
AND
- take at least six units (two courses) per term taught in French
A renewal at 50% of the value counts as one full payment among your 12 possible payments.
Master’s and graduate diploma programs
Value of award
The value of the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship depends on your program. For example, if you enrol in the Faculty of Science and tuition fees are $8,490.60 for the Fall term, you receive a scholarship of $5,500. This means you pay $2,990.60 in tuition fees.
| Faculty | Program | Value of the scholarship per eligible term |
| Telfer School of Management | Business Administration — Intensive MBA (in English) | $11,000 |
| Telfer School of Management | Business Administration — Professional MBA (in French) | $5,500 |
| Telfer School of Management | Business Administration — Professional MBA (in English) | $5,500 |
| Telfer School of Management | Management | $7,000 |
| Telfer School of Management | Health Administration — Fast-track program | $4,000 |
| Telfer School of Management | Health Administration — Full-time program | $7,000 |
| Telfer School of Management | Health Systems | $7,000 |
| Faculty of Arts | All eligible programs | $5,500 |
| Faculty of Health Sciences | All eligible programs | $5,500 |
| Faculty of Social Sciences | All eligible programs | $5,500 |
| Faculty of Science | All eligible programs | $5,500 |
| Faculty of Law | All eligible programs | $5,500 |
| Faculty of Medicine | All programs (including graduate diplomas) except Public Health | $5,500 |
| Faculty of Engineering | Master of Engineering (MEng) programs | $934 per unit |
| Faculty of Engineering | Other programs | $734 per unit |
| Faculty of Engineering | Thesis based | $5,500 |
| Faculty of Education | All programs | $7,000 |
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship, you must:
- accept an offer of admission to a program of study offered only in French
OR
- hold a secondary or postsecondary diploma attesting to a minimum of two years of study in French, and
- for programs that offer compulsory courses in both official languages (English and French), enrol in the courses offered in French.
The differential tuition fee exemption scholarship can’t be combined with the Education Bursary for International Master's Students.
The following programs are only offered in French:
- Audiology (MHSc)
- Occupational Therapy (MHSc)
- Lettres françaises (MA) (including specializations)
- Speech-Language Pathology (MHSc)
- Physiotherapy (MHSc)
- Social Work (MSW)
Conditions for keeping your scholarship
Should the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship amount change, your scholarship will be renewed at the original amount indicated in your offer of admission, as long as you continue to meet the conditions below.
To continue to receive a Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship until the end of your program (a maximum of two years or six per-term payments), you must:
- be enrolled full time every term
- for programs that offer compulsory courses in both official languages (English and French), enrol in the courses offered in French, and
- remain enrolled in a faculty each term until the end of your program.