Glossary
Definitions
3
3+2 ou 3+1+2 student (also known as 3+3 student)
Étudiant 3+2 ou 3+2+1 (aussi appelé étudiant 3+3)
An exchange student who has completed three years of study at his or her home university (a University of Ottawa partner) who then registers at the University of Ottawa to complete a preparatory year for a master’s, before undertaking a master’s (one to two years, depending on the program). The partner university awards the bachelor’s and the University of Ottawa the master’s.
A
Academic year
Année scolaire
Normally, the period from the start of the Spring-Summer session (May 1) to the end of the Winter session (April 30).
Admission
Admission
The authorization to register for a program of study at the University of Ottawa. Your offer of admission is only valid for the session indicated and is cancelled if you do not register.
Asymmetrical student mobility
Mobilité étudiante asymétrique
Activities students take part in at a host university for credit or for volunteer, research or work experience, particularly abroad. They are made possible through bilateral, non-reciprocal student exchange agreements.
B
Bachelor's degree
Baccalauréat
An undergraduate degree conferred upon completion of a three- or four-year program of study (90 or 120 credits, respectively).
C
Collaborative Program: 3+2 or 3+2+1 programs (also known as 3+3)
Programmes collaboratifs: programmes 3+2 ou 3+1+2 (aussi appelé 3+3)
A program allowing an exchange student who has completed three years of study at his or her home university (a University of Ottawa partner) who then registers at the University of Ottawa to complete a preparatory year for a master’s, before undertaking a master’s (one to two years, depending on the program). The partner university awards the bachelor’s and the University of Ottawa the master’s.
Community service learning - CSL (Centre for Global and Community Engagement)
Apprentissage par l'engagement communautaire - AEC (Centre d'engagement mondial et communautaire - CEMC)
An academic program and a form of experiential learning where students contribute to their community by participating in professor-approved community service placements related to course learning objectives, and then produce reflection papers related to these goals. Students must complete 30 hours of CSL for fall and winter courses, and 20 hours for summer courses.
Consortium
Consortium
A group made up of all the partners (universities and other postsecondary institutions) taking part in a joint project.
Cotutelle doctoral program
Cotutelle de doctorat
A cotutelle doctoral program makes it possible to study at both the University of Ottawa and another university (outside of Ontario). Doctoral candidates are supervised jointly by a thesis supervisor at each university and alternate time at the two universities. Candidates usually only write one comprehensive examination and a thesis, and only defend the thesis once before a jury named by the two partner institutions. When the doctorate is completed, candidates receive a degree recognized by both universities, with mention of the cotutelle on the diplomas.
D
Dual degree
Double diplôme
A degree that meets the requirements of both the home and host universities, allowing students to receive two different degrees, one from each university.
E
Exchange student
Étudiant d'échange
A student from a partner university taking part in an exchange at the University of Ottawa. The exchange is based on an agreement between the student’s home university and the host university (the University of Ottawa).
Expression of interest
Déclaration d'intérêt
A written expression of interest in a potential partnership signed by an interested party confirming its intention to provide deliverables or act on plans.
F
Faculty
Faculté
One of the ten main University of Ottawa academic units:
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Law (Common Law and Civil Law sections)
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences Telfer School of Management
Faculty (direct entry)
Faculté d'accueil
An academic unit students can be admitted to without having completed some postsecondary studies. There are six direct entry faculties at the University of Ottawa:
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences Telfer School of Management
Field research courses
Cours de recherche terrain
Courses in which students can carry out independent studies, as well as attend classes, conferences and activities dealing with issues related to the country. The courses are worth six credits for undergraduate students and three for master’s students.
G
General Bachelor's degree
Baccalauréat général
Undergraduate degree for which a student must complete the equivalent of three or four years of studies and 90 or 120 credits, respectively and obtain the required cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for the program.
Offered in the faculties of Arts, Science and Social Sciences, the degree provides a general university education in a three-year (with or without a minor) or four-year (with a major or a double minor) stream.
Grading system
Évaluation / Notation
Scheme used to assign grades at the University of Ottawa
Letter grade Numerical value Percentage value A+ 10 90-100 A 9 85-89 A- 8 80-84 B+ 7 75-79 B 6 70-74 C+ 5 65-69 C 4 60-64 D+ 3 55-59 D 2 50-54 E 1 40-49 F 0 0-39 ABS 0 Absent EIN 0 Failure/Incomplete Other non-numerical grades (do not affect the student's average): P - Pass S - Satisfactory NS - Not satisfactory Graduate (1-4 years)
Deuxième et troisième cycles (1-4 ans)
University studies leading to a graduate studies certificate, a master’s or a PhD. You can begin graduate studies after you complete an undergraduate program at a recognized institution. They can lead to the following:
- Diploma (1 year): A shortened program of 15 university credits that allows you to get right to the crux of a subject. Courses extend over an academic year, that is, two sessions.
- Master’s (1-2 years): Degree conferred upon the completion of a master’s level program. You must already have a bachelor’s to be admitted to a master’s. Program length is approximately two years, though it varies based on whether you choose to do a thesis, research paper or internship. Usually, the first year is spent on courses connected to the program. The following year is spent writing your thesis or research paper.
- PhD (4-5 years): Degree conferred upon the completion of a program of study at doctoral level. A PhD follows a master’s and is the highest level of studies you can attain. It takes four to five years to complete. The first two years are typically spent on courses connected to your area of study. In the final two or three years, you write your thesis.
H
Honours bachelor's
Baccalauréat spécialisé
Undergraduate degree requiring the equivalent of four years of studies and at least 120 credits with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and diploma grade point average (DGPA), except in specific cases that have been approved by the Senate .
- An honours bachelor’s with double major is an intensive program of study in two disciplines or two main areas of study requiring a minimum of 42 credits per discipline or area of study.
- An honours bachelor with major and minor is an intensive program of study in one discipline with another area or sub-area of study added.
Honours bachelor's with specialization
Baccalauréat spécialisé approfondi
Degree conferred upon completion of a program requiring in-depth training in a single discipline or in an interdisciplinary area of studies with a minimum of 54 credits in the discipline or interdisciplinary area.
I
International exchange agreements (student mobility agreements)
Ententes d'échanges internationaux (ententes de mobilité étudiante)
Agreements furthering education-related cooperation enabling students from the University of Ottawa and partner universities to participate in exchanges over one or two sessions.
International internship
Stage à l'étranger
A prerequisite internship completed in a professional setting, where the main goal is training. The internship may or may not be paid and/or for credit.
Internationalization of the curriculum
Curriculum internationalization is the process of integrating global, international and intercultural perspectives into a curriculum, in terms of content, pedagogical approach and learning outcomes, with the aim of training professionals and global citizens. - (adapted from: Betty Leask, Internationalization of the curriculum, Routledge 2015)
uOGlobal Recognition Course (3 units)
The uOGlobal course - Global citizenship and skills in action will be offered in 2 parts: GLO 49011 in the Fall and GLO 49012 in the winter. Since May 2020, these two elective courses give the right to a total of 3 credits.
- Add the courses of the uOGlobal certificate (GLO 49011 and GLO 49012) to the elective course offering on your faculty or departmental website.
- Consider integrating these 3 credits into the sequence of optional or mandatory courses in your programs.
- Moreover, uOGlobal has demonstrated over the past two years that its diverse, respectful and inclusive space promotes the integration of students into the university community (see testimonials below). By promoting uOGlobal in your networks, you encourage respect for diversity and a healthy and sustainable environment.
International and intercultural learning activities
- Visit the uoExperience page to find out about international experiences available to students on campus and abroad. Some activities are available in virtual (remote) mode.
- Check out what your colleagues are doing on campus!
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
- Quick Guide - How to COIL uOttawa (Word)
- Ready to COIL or already COILing? Meet top university partners who are looking for COIL partners and share your success with our Partnerships and Collaborations team !
- COIL experiences at uOttawa: Testimonial of Professor Jenepher Lennox-Terrion and her students
- Jon Rubin, Founder of the SUNY COIL Center, presents this approach at the Panel on Internationalization at Home at the University of Ottawa (November 2017) - start viewing at 12:30.
- Explanatory COIL video, available with English and French subtitles thanks to a collaboration between the University of Ottawa and Florida International University.
Internationalizing the curriculum - Where to begin?
Do you want to integrate internationalized learning objectives into your courses or programs of study in your faculty?
Are you looking for intercultural and international learning activities to guide your students' learning?
- Be inspired by the uOGlobal recognition's life-long learning objectives. These learning objectives have been developed based on rigorous research into current trends in international and intercultural competency development, diversity and inclusion, and experiential learning by an enthusiastic team of experts representing most of the University of Ottawa's departments and faculties, including the Teaching and Learning Support Service, the International Office, faculty members, Co-op and Careers, partner organizations and employers, as well as students.
- Consult educational resources to facilitate the internationalization of the curriculum - a collaboration of the Teaching and Learning Support Service (TLSS) and the International Office.
- Join the uOttawa Teaching and Learning Community and follow the #internationalisation channel and more!
- Landorf et al., Making Global Learning Universal: Promoting Inclusion and Success for all Students, Nafsa, 2018.
- Betty Leask, Internationalization of the curriculum, Routledge, 2015
- Accessibility Hub resources
- Universal Design
- Prof. Allison Flynn, University Research Chair in Teaching and Learning, Developing a Growth Mindset
- Growth & Goals - a course-integrated module designed to help you learn-to-learn within a course.
Request a meeting with a representative from the International Office!
Internationalizing the curriculum - Why?
Comprehensive internationalization
Warch the conference given by our guest speaker, John Hudzik, at Internationalization Day at the University of Ottawa on January 20, 2020. He explains in detail the process of integrating an international and intercultural dimension into the teaching and learning, research and service functions of universities and post-secondary institutions.
Internationalization at home
“Internationalisation at Home is the purposeful integration of international and intercultural dimensions into the formal and informal curriculum for all students, within domestic learning environments.” Josh Beelen & Elspeth Jones, The European Higher Education Area: Between critical reflections and future policies, European Parliament, 2015.
International student
Étudiant international
A student from a country other than Canada, neither a Canadian citizen nor permanent resident, who must pay international tuition fees. A differential tuition fee exemption for new international students registered full time in a French-language program means that their tuition fees can be reduced to those paid by Canadian citizens and permanent residents as of the 2014–2015 academic year, according to the following conditions:
- Undergraduate programs (bachelor’s): You must be admitted and registered full time in a program offered in French and take at least nine credits (three courses) per session in French.
- Graduate programs (master’s and doctorate): You must be admitted and registered full time and have completed secondary school or a postsecondary program in French of at least two years, or be admitted to a program of study at the University of Ottawa offered only in French.
International volunteering
Bénévolat à l'international
An unpaid student internship abroad that can be organized by a third party. Volunteering abroad is different from community service learning abroad because the main goal is not necessarily student learning.
J
Joint Honours bachelor's degree
Baccalauréat bidisciplinaire
A four-year undergraduate program of 36 credits in two disciplines, allowing for a dual specialization (e.g. philosophy and political science).
L
Letter of permission
Lettre de permission
A document authorizing students to transfer temporarily to another university and to receive credits that can be transferred to their home university. Tuition fees are paid to the host university.
M
Memorandum of understanding
Protocole d'entente général
An agreement signed between two parties including rights and obligations for each. It is accompanied by a more detailed mobility agreement to implement specific student and faculty mobility activities or programs.
N
National and international exchange program
Programme d'échange national et international
A program available to students at the University of Ottawa that allows them to study at another Canadian university or abroad for one session or an entire academic year.
National or international CO-OP placement (internship)
Stage COOP national ou international
A placement arranged through the University of Ottawa Co-operative Education Programs. It allows students to apply concepts learned in class through paid work placements in Canada or abroad. After just over four years of study, you will have not only a diploma that indicates you participated in a CO-OP program but also approximately 16 months of experience in your field of study and a network of valuable contacts.
P
Partner institutions
Établissements partenaires
Foreign postsecondary institutions that have signed exchange agreements with the University of Ottawa.
Postdoctoral fellowship
Stage postdoctoral
Fellowships are a period to gain experience for a full-time academic or research career and not a source of continuing employment. Research is conducted under the supervision of a faculty member at the University or one of its affiliated institutes. Fellows are funded either through a stipend received from their supervisor or a fellowship. They are free to publish the results of their research or scholarship conducted during the period of their appointment. The minimum length of an appointment is generally six months. Those wishing to register for a fellowship must do so no later than four years after receiving their PhD.
Professional program
Baccalauréat professionnel
Undergraduate program of study generally providing training that meets the requirements of a professional association or a college, such as medicine, engineering, teaching. The program contains a high proportion of discipline-specific courses.
Length of study varies among disciplines (one year for education, three years for law and medicine and up to four years for engineering and commerce). Acceptance into professional programs in law, medicine and education requires prior university studies.
R
Registration
Inscription
The action through which you formally enrol in one or more courses. You can register online using Rabaska or with the help of a University of Ottawa staff person.
Research agreement
Convention de recherche
The main agreement or an appendix to a memorandum of understanding specifying details related to joint research between partner institutions.
S
Sandwich PhD
Étudiant Ph.D. "Sandwich"
A doctoral student who takes a break from studies at his or her host university to spend 3 to 12 months at the University of Ottawa and then returns to the host university. The student must complete part of his or her research at the University of Ottawa. He or she then receives a PhD from his or her home university.
Satellite campus
Campus satellite
A campus removed from the main campus. It can be located in another city, province or country and is usually smaller than the main campus. Satellite campuses might share the same administration but have separate budgets, resources and governing bodies.
Special student
Étudiant spécial
A student who has received permission from the University to register for undergraduate courses in order to receive university credits but who is not seeking an undergraduate degree, certificate or diploma from the University.
Sponsored Student Program (SSP) - International Office
Programme des étudiants parrainés (PEP) - Bureau international
The University of Ottawa’s Sponsored Student Program (SSP) at the International Office is a centralized initiative that facilitates communication between sponsored students, sponsors and University departments and faculties.
Sponsored student
Étudiant parrainé
A student whose studies at the University of Ottawa are funded in whole or in part by his or her government or by a third party. This financial support often includes tuition, incidental fees, health insurance and living expenses.
Staff mobility
Mobilité du personnel administratif
Activities support staff take part in at a host university for work experience in order to discover best practices and enhance their skills and knowledge regarding international matters. Time abroad can run from one to two weeks and take various forms, including job shadowing, workshops or internships organized by the partner institution.
Student mobility agreement
Convention de mobilité étudiante
An agreement or an appendix to a memorandum of understanding between partner institutions setting out details of student and faculty mobility. The agreement can be one of the following types:
- Framework: An agreement open to all disciplines and faculties (with the occasional exception of the Faculty of Education, Health Sciences or Medicine, or the Telfer School of Management). This type of agreement is the one most frequently signed by the University of Ottawa.
- Restricted: An agreement restricted to a discipline or faculty.
- Marco Polo: An agreement restricted to one discipline with courses predetermined by the relevant University of Ottawa academic unit. Students who are not studying the discipline in question can’t go on an exchange under this type of agreement.
Summer exchange program
Programme d'échange d'été
A program that allows students to take part-time courses outside the country during the summer without having to pay the tuition fees normally charged to international students.
Symmetrical student mobility
Mobilité étudiante symétrique
Activities students take part in at a host university for credit or for volunteer, research or work experience, particularly abroad. They are made possible through bilateral, reciprocal student exchange agreements (symmetrical mobility) with regards to the number of students the partner institution sends and hosts.
T
Teach abroad program for PhDs
Programme d'enseignement à l'étranger pour les candidats au doctorat (PEED)
This program allows participants to teach abroad and gain experience outside of the traditional campus teaching assistantship. As students are required to take on the role of a visiting professor abroad, these internships prepare them to become professionals, giving them added value as future professors and researchers. No credits are offered for participation in this program.
Thesis co-supervision (doctorate)
Codirection de thèse (doctorat)
Shared academic supervision by a director and co-director. The co-supervisor has the same rights and responsibilities as the thesis supervisor. It is not necessary to name a thesis co-supervisor.
U
Undergraduate (3-4 years)
Premier cycle (3-4 ans)
University studies leading to a bachelor’s degree or an undergraduate certificate. Undergraduate studies are the next step after you receive your secondary school diploma (or the equivalent if you have studied outside of Canada).
On completion of your program, you receive one of the following:
- Bachelor’s (3-4 years): A degree received at the end of a three of four year (90 or 120 credit) undergraduate program. It can be a general, joint, professional or honours bachelor’s.
- Certificate: A standalone undergraduate program of at least 30 credits that entitles you to earn a diploma (undergraduate certificate) conferred by the Senate of the University. A certificate allows you to gain knowledge in a particular field but does not lead to a bachelor’s.
V
Visiting student researcher
Étudiant chercheur invité
A student who is completing a research internship at the University of Ottawa who comes from another educational institution (Canadian or foreign).
Y
Year of study
Année d'études
Period usually equivalent to 24 completed credits (or two terms of full-time study) but that can vary depending on the program or faculty.
- 1st year: 0-23 completed credits
- 2nd year: 24-53 completed credits
- 3rd year: 54-80 completed credits
- 4th year: 81-120+ completed credits