University of Ottawa

University of Ottawa (uOttawa) is a bilingual public research university located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The University of Ottawa was founded in 1848 as the College of Bytown by the first Roman Catholic bishop of Ottawa, Joseph-Bruno Guigues. He entrusted administration to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

In 1861, the college was renamed the College of Ottawa and received university status five years later through a royal charter. On 5 February 1889, the university was granted a pontifical charter by Pope Leo XIII, elevating the institution to a pontifical university.

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate administered the university until 1965, when it became a provincially funded secular institution.

The University of Ottawa is a proud member of the U15, a group of Canada's leading research universities. It is also a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Canadian Bureau for International Education, and the International Association of Universities.

The University of Ottawa is a dynamic and growing institution with a rich history. It is committed to providing its students with a high-quality education and to conducting research that makes a difference in the world.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, University of Ottawa is positioned as the #189 top university in the world, which makes it the #9 top university in Canada. The university's global rank is improved by 14 points from last year.