Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

You may choose Qualitative Grades (i.e. "Pass/Fail," or, at uOttawa, "Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory") instead of letter grades for up to 8 classes taken in French in your first two years. Qualitative Grades mean that the mark you receive for a course will not affect your grade point average, which makes it easier to maintain average-based scholarships (or just impress your parents!). You may use these grades for ANY course taught in French; in the case of an Immersion Course, the qualitative grade may be attributed to the content course taught in French, to the accompanying language course, or to both!

NOTE: Students in the Faculties of Science and Engineering cannot receive qualitative grades, in accordance with these faculties' instructions. 

To request a Qualitative Grade, You must complete the online request or complete the request form (PDF, 502KB) and submit it to your Faculty or to the French Immersion Studies office before the deadline in the University's Important Dates and Deadlines calendar.

Once your qualitative-grade request has been approved, you will no longer be able to view your letter grade for the course. However, if you want to know how you did, or if you are enrolling in a master’s or professional program that needs all your grades, you may obtain this information upon request at the French Immersion Studies office.

Yes! You can take your 14 French courses in any order or arrangement. Taking 2 courses each term is recommended as the easiest way to meet the FI requirements and still obtain the French Studies Bursary, but it’s not the only way to meet your diploma requirements.

To graduate with the French Immersion designation on your diploma, you are required to take at least 2 courses (6 units) at the 1000 level (excluding FLS courses). Feel free to take extras if you want to, though!

Yes! The French Immersion Stream tries to accommodate students interested in taking part in the Stream. When you apply, you will take two admissions tests, and if your ranking on the admissions tests are below the level required for French Immersion, you can take basic FLS (grammar, writing, speaking) courses until you are ready for the content courses.

No. There are currently no mandatory FLS courses – some students complete their entire degree without ever taking one. However, if you have room in your schedule they are a great elective and a good way to improve your French. We strongly recommend them to help reinforce key French language components such as grammar, speaking, comprehension, listening, and writing. Keep in mind that the Second Language Certification, FLS 3500, is required for graduation.

FLS 3500 is a mandatory part of the French Immersion Stream. The course is considered an “independent learning” course and attendance is not mandatory, you just need to pass the written and oral exams at the end of the term. The course does not count towards your GPA since it isn’t university credits, but it does count towards your French Studies bursary requirements as one of your 2 courses per term.

Only intermediate and advanced FLS courses (FLS 2513 or higher) will be counted towards the requirements to graduate with the "French Immersion" designation on your diploma. To learn more about the FLS course levels, view OLBI's infographic here.

FLS2581 and 3581 are accompanying language courses designed to accompany a ‘content course’ like psychology, biology, economics, etc. A French second-language professor attends the content course with the French immersion students, and later in the week holds a credited course to go over the material to ensure comprehension. The goal is to better understand the French in your content course, so that you can better understand and succeed in that course. The results show that this approach works !

Yes. Even though it’s only 1.5 hours a week, you get a full 3 credits!

Yes.

Email mentor.imm@uottawa.ca we can do it for you! Sometimes the course registration system can be difficult.