Are you thinking about going back to school to switch careers, gain new skills to further your employment options, or invest in personal development? Canada truly values education, and higher learning is not just for recent high school graduates. Be advised that Ottawa universities are some of the best in Canada. No matter what your age, if you are interested in furthering your education, you will find a highly encouraging atmosphere.

In Ontario, the post-secondary educational structure is quite rich, and full of options, no matter what your interests or ambitions. Within the province, you will find a binary system of both colleges and universities. To give you a quick rundown, there are 24 colleges in the public college system, as well as three institutes of technology and advanced learning. Additionally, Ontario has 22 universities in the public university system, and some of these include federated or affiliated colleges that are considered part of that system. Ontario is home to 17 private religious universities and upwards of 500 private career colleges.

Fun fact, Ottawa is home to more students per capita than any other city! Students come to this cosmopolitan city from more than 150 countries! Ottawa has five wonderful public post-secondary education options, including two colleges and three universities. Here is some information about them.

Ottawa Universities:

The University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa holds the distinction of being the largest bilingual French and English university in the world! The campus is located in the safe and central Sandy Hill neighborhood, adjacent to the Rideau Canal. Students can study in French, English or both languages. The university offers more than 400 unique programs of study, in more than 100 disciplines and there are options to study in the classroom, online or both. The University of Ottawa offers modern facilities and technology, as well as a world-class library and museum,  study abroad options, and campus housing. This large university is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best. To learn more, check out our specific blog on University of Ottawa.

Carleton University

A favorite of the Ottawa Universities, Carleton University is smaller than The University of Ottawa, but it still has lots to offer! Here, you can choose from 65 academic programs across a wide range of disciplines. The university gains particular notice for its strength in the engineering, industrial design, humanities, international business and Faculty of Public Affairs. Student life is rich and includes unions, athletics, clubs, fraternities and sororities and arts and media outlets. Studies at Carleton University are conducted in English.

Saint Paul University

Saint Paul University is a bilingual Christian University located on Main Street in Ottawa. Its four faculties include Human Sciences, Philosophy, Theology and Canada Law, and programs in 19 disciplines range from the bachelors to doctoral level. This university has a reputation for small class sizes, personalized service, and a diverse and international student population. In addition to academics, students enjoy support and guidance, symposiums, conferences, workshops,  a student residence, and a wonderful library.

Ottawa Colleges:

Algonquin College

This publicly funded English language college has its primary campus right in Ottawa. It is an ideal option for students who wish to study technology or enhance their workplace skills. Here you will find more than 180 programs, including 18 apprenticeship programs, 16 co-op programs, and five bachelor’s degree programs. On-campus housing is available and there are also international campuses in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and partner institutions in India, Montenegro, and China.

La Cité Collégiale

La Cité Collégiale, a French-language college, ranks highly in student satisfaction, graduate employment rate and usefulness of the knowledge and skills learned by students. Here, you can choose from more than 90 programs in the fields of administrations, arts and design, electronics, media, legal services, tourism and leisure, computers and more. If you are looking to conduct your studies in French, this option may be perfect for you.

To search Ontario and Ottawa universities and colleges, use this online ServiceOntario tool. 

We hope you’ve learned a little something from this article, and if you’re hungry to learn more, perhaps you’ll consider applying to one of these great institutions. And for more information about all the great reasons to study in Canada, and how you can do it, check out our popular article on Moving to Canada as a student.