Compared to other similar Canadian establishments, more University of Ottawa students benefit from financial support. They receive on average $8,600 per year, which is $1,000 higher than the national average.
These statistics are drawn from a national survey, completed by nearly 500 first-year uOttawa students last winter. The triennial survey, produced by the Canadian Undergraduate Survey Consortium, targets the opinions of the first-year student population in 27 Canadian academic institutions. For comparison purposes, the survey classified the University of Ottawa among universities offering graduate and undergraduate, as well as professional programs.
The average financial assistance at the University remains lower than the $14,000 required by a student living in residence to cover the cost of an academic year, noted Pierre Mercier, assistant vice-rector institutional research and planning. According to the survey, more than 40 per cent of students worked off campus and the majority indicated that they spent between 11 and 20 hours per week at work in addition to the time they dedicated to their studies.
Most students said they applied to more than one university. About 70 per cent of University of Ottawa respondents said this university was their first choice. The University's main competitors, according to the survey, are Queen's, McGill, Guelph and Toronto.
Mercier noted the importance of the World Wide Web for contacting university applicants. “The way we promote ourselves electronically is very significant, because students actively use this tool for their research (on institutions),” he said.
Compared to other Canadian universities, the University of Ottawa came out ahead with students in terms of its co-operative education programs, its residences and its financial support. The University is also making significant progress in terms of its reputation, as 51 percent of respondents said they chose Ottawa for this reason, which represents an increase of 11 percent in three years. Lastly, at least 81 per cent of respondents indicated they were satisfied with the quality of the education they were receiving.
Detailed results of the survey will be available soon. To obtain copies, contact Hélène Lacroix, at 562-5954 or hlacroix@uOttawa.ca.
