Back to school 2012!

As the world’s largest bilingual university, the University of Ottawa welcomes an impressive mix of new and returning students every fall. This year is no exception, as across our three campuses, our classrooms, research labs, University Centre and libraries will once again be bustling with more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all over Canada and around the world. 

To keep students involved in campus life, the Community Life Service (CLS), in collaboration with the faculties and services, hosts Welcome Week, a whole week of activities for students to acquaint themselves with the programs and services offered all year, while meeting new people and discovering the many amenities our campus offers.

CLS has created a Welcome Week website with lots of information on the first week of the academic year, including an event calendar filled with activities put on by CLS, the Student Federation and other university services. In addition, the website provides easy-to-use forms to register for faculty information sessions and the free airport shuttle! Make sure to explore the whole website, as it is a valuable information resource.

The Housing Service will be playing a vital role in the monumental task of moving 2,500 students into the University's residences over the first weekend of September.

My Prep Week is a one-stop shop where you can take care of many of your important administrative transactions before classes begin. This includes picking up your student card and getting financial aid and awards advice from experts, among other things.

While we can’t forget that academic success is at the heart of any university, social life is also a key component of the student experience. The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) and the Graduate Students' Association (GSAED) also serve up a stellar lineup of events, giving students plenty of opportunities to get to know each other throughout the academic year.