Admissions Criteria
The Law School is interested in creating a vibrant and diverse academic environment and in preparing competent and compassionate professionals. To ensure that the student body represents the fullest possible range of social, economic, ethnic and cultural perspectives in our society, we consider many factors. Among these are significant achievements in extracurricular activities and community involvement while attending university; outstanding qualities or achievements in previous careers; linguistic, cultural or other factors that add to an applicant's overall academic achievement; and personal success in overcoming challenges such as a disability or financial hardship. Applicants may use the Personal Statement to discuss how these aspects of their lives relate to their interest in law studies. Any information provided will be considered in a manner consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Admission to the University of Ottawa is highly competitive. To give you an idea, the table below provides some historical data on admissions to the English J.D. program. In addition to the General category, it is possible to apply as a discretionary applicant in one or more of the following four categories: Mature, Aboriginal, Access and Special Circumstances.
| Year | Places Available | Applications Received | Offers of Admission | Average GPA of Registrants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 140 | 1605 | 481 | 79% |
| 2002 | 140 | 1855 | 454 | 80% |
| 2003 | 140 | 2176 | 387 | 80% |
| 2004 | 200 | 2733 | 686 | 81% |
| 2005 | 200 | 3159 | 670 | 81% |
| 2006 | 200 | 3456 | 617 | 83% |
| 2007 | 200 | 3532 | 599 | 82.8% |
| 2008 | 230 | 3598 | 605 | 83% |
| 2009 | 280 | 3469 | 721 | 83% |
When applying for admission, applicants must be at least in their third year of undergraduate studies (having completed 90 credits or 30 half-courses prior to beginning law school). Students are strongly encouraged to complete their undergraduate program of studies in full prior to beginning law school.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT), a personal statement, two reference forms and official transcripts of all post-secondary studies are also required of all applicants and must be sent to OLSAS directly.
Check application deadlines carefully as the school does not accept late applications for entry into the first year of the J.D. program.
We remind you that admission decisions cannot be appealed. Therefore, all decisions of the Admissions Committee are final.
ENQUIRIES : comlaw@uottawa.ca or 562-5800 ext. 3270.
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