Study in Ottawa

When it comes to study abroad destinations for international students, Canada is one of the most popular countries in the world. Within Canada, there are several options but Ottawa being the capital city has a lot to offer, not just as a rich city itself, but also in terms of studying there as well!

About Ottawa:

It has a population of over one million and is one of the largest cities in Canada. About the population, almost 25% of the local residents in Ottawa are born outside of Canada.

    • It is geographically located in the Eastern region of Ontario and is culturally and historically enriched with architecture from the twentieth century along with a modern touch to them. There is also a lot of influence from European culture over there. 
  • There are 2 official languages: French and English.
  • Ottawa weather: The summers in Ottawa are warm and humid and the winters are cold. Daytime temperatures during the summer are 30 degrees centigrade while in the winters, the temperatures range between -2 and -5 degree centigrade. The winters are pretty snowy each year. 
  • There are also a significant number of attractions for locals and tourists as well, like art galleries, parks, museums and much more. The public places hold ongoing festivals throughout the year.

Top 5 reasons that you should Live in Ottawa, Canada:

Its perfect location should be your key priority

Ottawa is ideally located near the banks of the Rideau and Gatineau Rivers, lying in the southeastern part of Ontario. Also, it shares a border with Quebec, one with Montreal, Toronto and another with the NY city, United States. This easy access to a few of the best cities in the world makes Ottawa an accessible gateway to many opportunities that are just a driving distance away! These include weekend tours, travel trips, and studying and job opportunities as well.

The Education system is one of the highest ranking in the world

Top universities like the University of Ottawa, University of Carleton, etc are located in Ottawa. Canada is the second best county for education in the entire world, with Ottawa being one of its most educated cities. Many people from around the world want to go to Canada for University also because the public education system and the curriculum are very well developed there.

Activities throughout every season are available

In Ottawa, there are unending activities during both summer and winter. These include boating on the Ottawa river, skiing at Gatineau, and the Cobblestone Tours during winter. Also, the longest skating rink in the world is present there which is on the Rideau Canal. In addition to this Ottawa holds around 60 world-famous festivals like Bluesfest, the northern lights sound and light show, Canada Day and also interlude celebrations.

This city serves as a safe living space for you

One of the main concerns of an individual and his/her parents as well while moving out is the safety and security of a new city. Ottawa is easily one of the safest cities in Canada, providing the most ideal living conditions in terms of easy and reliable commutes at all times of the day. The lifestyle there is slow-paced and easygoing. The study by Mainstreet and Postmedia even lists Ottawa as Canada’s safest city.

Ottawa offers a growing diversity in available cuisine options

In recent years, people from around the world moved to Canada, carrying their cultures, traditions and local tastes with them. Many Indian, Italian and even Turkish restaurants have come into existence to cater to the needs of the locals as well as to give tourists a variety of options to choose and try from. All while giving a very local touch to every dish. As for students, the choices are endless even with restricted budgets.

Ottawa is home to diverse interests of different people from all over the world, with its perfect balance between city and country life. Also, some of the highest ranked universities in the world make Ottawa a very good study abroad destination.

Choosing Ottawa for your further studies

Most of the major universities and colleges in Ottawa offer a diverse range of excellent courses for students to choose from, according to their own study interests as well as their study level like undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

You should first start by deciding on your interest in order to choose a program. Then you can list down all the universities offering your particular program, to be able to then dig deeper into details like eligibility criteria, living and transportation expenses, food options and expenses available there, etc.

Once you are done with satisfactory research, it is time to start filling in the application forms for each of the universities to which you want to apply to. Then you will have to pay an application fee, which is mostly around $180. Fast forward to when you have secured your admission to some university in Ottawa, one of the last things you’ll need is a Canadian study permit.

Keep reading ahead for university-specific details if you think that Ottawa is the place to be.

Top Universities in Ottawa:

University of Ottawa

Estimated Tuition Fee: $27,243

This depends on the program you choose and hence varies a lot. Need-based financial aid of some sort is given to 86% of full-time undergraduate students each year. This grant averages $5,033.

  • Number of Students: 36,500
  • Number of Faculty members: 2,911

Living Cost:

  • Rent: the on-campus rent is between $8,200 and $10,700.
  • Food: $10-$16 per meal
  • For transportation, an on-campus shuttle service is available

“The student-faculty ratio at Ottawa University is 10:1, and the school has 62.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.” According to usnews.com.

“We are the largest bilingual university in the world, a place where students can study in French or English, or both.” This written on the front page of the University of Ottawa website shows that a number of students from around the world apply each year because of the diversity, in terms of culture, language and environment that it offers. In Canada, it is one of the top 10 research-intensive universities, offering degrees and other opportunities in sciences, humanities, social sciences etc. It is also ranked as the 25th most sustainable university in the world, according to the UI Green Metric World University Ranking.

The University of Ottawa has an educational structure of experiment-based learning, which they implement by offering several workshops, labs, camps, and many clubs. There is also a first-class sports complex present on campus, accessible to all students.

Saint Paul University

Estimated Tuition Fee: $13,271

This again depends on the program you choose and hence varies a lot. There is no application fee for any program.

Here, students have an option to choose from 15 different fields including Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Business, Management, Marketing etc.

  • Number of Students: 511
  • Number of Faculty members: 2,911

The student-faculty ratio is 24-to-1. 

Living Cost:

  • Rent: the on-campus rent is between $750 and $1000.

Carleton University

Estimated Tuition Fee: $28,942

This depends on the program you choose and hence varies a lot. 

In the 2022 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, Carleton ranked at number 9.

  • Number of Students: 24,400
  • Number of Faculty members: 4,787

The student-faculty ratio at Carleton College is 8:1.

Living Cost:

  • Rent: The off-campus rent is around $11,775.
  • For transportation, an on-campus shuttle service is available

Where you should start:

  • Use this website for a side-by-side comparison of universities specified to a field of study, location and even the degree level.
  • Go through all the General Requirements for International students to Study in Canada, as well as the program-specific requirements and prerequisites.

General Requirements for international students to Study in Canada are:

  • Copy of a valid passport
  • Academic Transcripts
  • ACT/SAT/LSAT for UG Programs
  • GMAT/GRE for PG Programs
  • English Proficiency scores 
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Updated CV
  • Candidates need to submit a language proficiency test at the time of application. This needs to be in the language that they wish to study. For English, the acceptance tests are TOEFL, IELTS and PTE.

Job Opportunities:

A Canadian international student can work up to 20 hours per week and 40 hours per week during vacation. The average salary of a student in Canada is $17.85 per hour or approximately $34,743 per year.

Ottawa’s economy is well-developed and sustaining. There are job opportunities in fields like:

  • Communication technology 
  • Software development 
  • Finance 
  • Sales
  • Health care.

Even International students have internship opportunities in these fields, which are mostly paid as well.

If you think you fit the above study requirements in Canada, and Ottawa’s environment is all you need, then get searching for your perfect university! And if you require help from a professional then do contact Edvice Hub Consultants and they will guide you through the whole process in the easiest way possible.