Steps to make changes to your program of studies

1. Prepare to make your request

Make sure you understand your program.

Since many different combinations of study modules are possible, knowing what type of program you’re registered in and learning all about the program you’re interested in will help you understand what the program structures will allow or require you to do. If you don’t know about the type of program you’re in, check your academic record in Rabaska.

See the Understanding your program of study page.

Extra step if you’re currently registered in the CO-OP program

When you change your main study module discipline, your CO-OP option doesn’t automatically remain part of your program:

If you’re in first year and your new discipline offers the CO-OP program, you don’t have to apply for CO-OP again. The CO-OP office will automatically consider your application and will email you its decision in October of your second year.
If you’re in second year or higher, contact the CO-OP office before requesting a change to your program of studies, because the change could have an impact on your academic progress.

Check if the change you want to make is possible and worthwhile.

Is the change possible?

Programs aren’t all offered in both languages, nor do they all include CO-OP, French Immersion Studies or the Extended French Stream. As well, certain types of specializations, like majors or minors, aren’t offered in every discipline. Check the program and eligibility criteria to be sure that the program you’re interested in has the language, options and study modules you want.

Is the change worthwhile?

Given that degree requirements can vary from one program to another, changing your program of studies can affect the number of credits you have to complete for your degree. Test different program scenarios by using the Program search function in Rabaska. You can check if the courses that you’ve taken or have received advanced standing for can be applied to your new program and if the courses you’re planning to take can meet the requirements of other programs.

Be sure that you:

Are registered part or full-time at the University of Ottawa in an undergraduate program
Are in good academic standing:
- If you’re registered in an honours bachelor’s: 4.5 CGPA
- If you’re registered in a general bachelor’s: 3.5 CGPA
Intend to add or change one or more study modules while transferring to or remaining in a bachelor’s in a direct-entry faculty
Meet the admission requirements for your intended program (see the program and eligibility criteria)

If you don’t meet all of these conditions and you want to make a change to your program of studies, contact your faculty.

2. Submit your request

Make sure this is the change you want.

We only look at one program change request at a time. If you submit a second request while we’re still looking at the first, we’ll only look at your most recent request, and we’ll cancel the other.

Make your request.

Students can complete a program change request in uoZone, under the Applications tab.

If you have any questions about the process to make changes to your program, the form, or if the study module combination you want is possible but does not appear on the form, please contact the Office of the Registrar at pcr@uOttawa.ca.

If you have any questions about your academic direction, please contact your faculty.

Submit your request before March 31 (for most programs).

By meeting this deadline, you ensure that you’ll be able to register for courses in your new program for the upcoming Fall and Winter sessions. It is possible to submit a change request online as late as August 31 for the Fall session or from October 1 to November 30 for the Winter session, but if you do so, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to register in the courses for your new program during the next registration period.

Some programs have deadlines that fall before the deadlines indicated above. Please see the program and eligibility criteria to see if this applies to you.

4. Get your decision from the University

Generally, there are three possible types of decisions.

We’ve accepted all of your changes:

The changes will be automatically made to your academic record and will appear in Rabaska during the next registration period. Check your record when the next registration period starts to be sure that your new program is shown.
If you’ve completed a college or university level course that you think the University should grant you advanced standing for, contact your new faculty and request an advanced standing reassessment.
For the next registration period, see the Undergraduate course registration page.

We have not accepted your changes:

Make an appointment with an academic advisor in your faculty to discuss other options before making another program change request.

We need to defer the decision:

If you are currently completing prerequisite courses for your new program, we will defer our decision until we receive the official grades for the missing courses, shortly after the end of the session.