Steps to make changes to your program of studies

Make sure you understand your program.

Since many different combinations of study modules are possible, knowing what type of program you’re enrolled 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 My Academic Requirements in uoZone.

See the Understanding your program of study page.

Extra step if you’re currently enrolled 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 programs, 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 units (credits) you have to complete for your degree. Test different program scenarios by using the What-If Report in uoZone. 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.

If you are about to finish your degree and would like to pursue an additional undergraduate degree in a direct-entry faculty, you must apply to the desired program by completing the Application for Undergraduate Admissions form.

Be sure that you:

• Are enrolled part or full-time at the University of Ottawa in an undergraduate program
• Are in good academic standing:
  • If you’re enrolled in an honours bachelor’s: 5.00 CGPA
  • If you’re enrolled in a bachelor’s: 4.00 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.

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 enrol in courses in your new program for the upcoming Fall and Winter terms. It is possible to submit a change request online as late as July 31 for the Fall term or from October 2 to November 30 for the Winter term, but if you do so, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to enrol in the courses for your new program during the next enrolment 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.

After you make your request for changes to your program, you’ll receive an acknowledgement of receipt by email from the University, including your request details. Generally, we will email you a decision within 20 business days of your request.

Requesting a change to your program doesn’t guarantee that the change will be accepted, even if you meet all of the eligibility requirements.

Generally, there are three possible types of decisions.

We’ve accepted all of your changes:

• The changes will be automatically made and shown in My Academic Requirements and will appear in the Enrol application in uoZone during the next enrolment period. Check your record when the next enrolment 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 enrolment period, see the Undergraduate course enrolment 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 term.