Ottawa / Interview
The Ottawa interview
No admissions interview. Here is how it works and how to prepare.
No admissions interview
No interviews offered for standard undergraduate admissions; grades-based decisions. Exception: Music programs require an audition plus interview; Medicine uses CASPer and a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).
How to prepare for Ottawa
- Admission is primarily grades-driven via OUAC, so focus on achieving the program's required average (typically 75-85%+ depending on faculty) and meeting any prerequisite course requirements.
- If applying to Medicine or Music, prepare specifically for those program requirements , the MMI for medicine is a structured, multi-station interview format that rewards clear ethical reasoning and communication over medical knowledge.
- Demonstrate interest through visiting campus or attending uOttawa information sessions, as this bilingual university values students who understand and embrace its French-English environment.
- If your grades fall near the cut-off, a strong supplemental statement (where accepted) and evidence of relevant extracurriculars can help differentiate your file, even without a formal interview.
Practice before the real thing
Rehearse real admissions-interview questions and get an honest read on your answers, what an interviewer hears, where you sound generic, and what to sharpen. We coach you; we never script you.
Practice interview questionsStill building your Ottawa application?
Back to Ottawa