Bachelor of Science [BS] (Biology)
$31,200 /Yr
The University of Ottawa Bachelor of Science [BS] Biology runs 4 years full-time on-campus at the Ottawa main campus. International applicants need a Class 12 average of 80% plus IELTS 6.5 for entry. Tuition sits at CAD 43,263 (INR 29.07 Lakhs) per year for the September 2027 intake.
The programme trains students for research, health-science and biotechnology careers through 120 units across biology, chemistry, statistics and electives. It lets undergraduates pick between three specialisations and complete a compulsory independent research project inside a Faculty of Science lab. Ideal applicants are Indian science students eyeing medical school prerequisites, research pathways or a Canadian PGWP.
- The co-operative education option adds up to 16 months of paid Canadian work terms across the four-year degree.
- The automatic International English Admission Scholarship pays CAD 7,500 (INR 5.04 Lakhs) per term and renews for up to 12 instalments.
- Ottawa hosts federal science agencies including the National Research Council, opening internships rarely available outside the Canadian capital.

Current Admission Status
Applications for the September 2027 intake are Not Yet Open. International student deadline: 1 April 2027 (Expected, based on prior cycle).
The Fall 2026 international application deadline of 1 April 2026 has already closed. Indian applicants should target the Fall 2027 cycle and file by the recommended date of 15 January 2027 to secure early scholarship review.
Also Check: University of Ottawa Admission 2027
University of Ottawa BS Biology Fees and Living Costs 2027
The University of Ottawa charges international BSc Biology students CAD 43,263 (INR 29.07 Lakhs) per year in Faculty of Science tuition for 2026 to 2027. Ancillary fees, mandatory University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) and Ottawa living costs push the total closer to CAD 60,000 (INR 40.31 Lakhs) per academic year.
Programme Fees Breakdown
| Component | Amount (CAD) | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, Year 1 (International, Faculty of Science) | 43,263 | 29.07 Lakhs |
| Tuition, Years 2 to 4 (unchanged flat rate) | 43,263 per year | 29.07 Lakhs per year |
| Ancillary and incidental fees (indicative) | 1,500 | 1.01 Lakhs |
| UHIP health insurance (annual) | 756 | 50,800 |
| 4-year tuition total (indicative) | 173,052 | 1.16 Crore |
| 4-year total with UHIP and ancillaries | 182,076 | 1.22 Crore |
Source: University of Ottawa Faculty of Science international tuition schedule, 2026-2027.
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of CAD 1 = INR 67.19 as of July 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
- The Faculty of Science flat annual tuition applies to Honours BSc Biology and does not change between Year 1 and Year 4.
- UHIP coverage is mandatory for every international student across the full length of enrolment.
- Ancillary and incidental fees vary by course load; verify final billed amounts at uOttawa international tuition before applying.
Cost of Living in Ottawa for BS Biology Students
Ottawa is Canada’s capital and one of the more affordable large student cities compared with Toronto or Vancouver. Shared off-campus rent, groceries and OC Transpo transit make up the largest monthly line items for Indian students.
| Expense | Monthly (CAD) | Monthly (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room, off-campus rent | 900 | 60,470 |
| Groceries | 350 | 23,520 |
| OC Transpo U-Pass transit | 125 | 8,400 |
| Utilities and internet share | 125 | 8,400 |
| UHIP health cover (annualised) | 65 | 4,370 |
| Personal, phone, entertainment | 200 | 13,440 |
| Monthly total | 1,765 | 1.19 Lakhs |
| Annual total (12 months) | 21,180 | 14.23 Lakhs |
Source: University of Ottawa student cost estimator and OC Transpo student pass rates, 2026.
ROI reality: The 4-year programme runs Indian students roughly INR 1.22 Crore before scholarships; the automatic CAD 60,000 admission scholarship, if renewed for all 12 instalments, cuts the tuition bill to about INR 82 Lakhs.
Read More: Study in Canada Cost and Universities
University of Ottawa BS Biology Admission
Indian applicants need a Class 12 CBSE, ISC or state board average of at least 80% including English, Chemistry, Biology and one advanced-level Mathematics course. Fall (September) is the primary intake, and admission is offered on a rolling basis until seats close.
Intake Windows
| Intake | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2027 (September) recommended | 15 January 2027 | Expected |
| Fall 2027 (September) application close | 1 April 2027 | Expected |
| Fall 2027 documents submission | 2 May 2027 | Expected |
| Fall 2027 offer acceptance and deposit | 1 June 2027 | Expected |
Academic Eligibility
| Requirement | Indian equivalent |
|---|---|
| Class 12 overall average of 80% or higher | Approximately 80% to 85% on the CBSE, ISC or state board scale, or CGPA 8.0 to 8.5 on 10 (approximate; WES sets official equivalence) |
| Grade 12 English (compulsory) | English Core or Language Class 12 |
| Grade 12 Chemistry and Biology | Class 12 Chemistry and Biology |
| Grade 12 Advanced Functions | Class 12 Mathematics (any stream) |
English Language Proficiency
Every accepted English test must meet both the overall band and the per-component floor. Quote the test scale exactly, since the university has not published a self-conversion table.
| Test | Overall minimum | Per-component minimum |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | No band below 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT (0 to 120 scale) | 86 | Writing 22 |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | No subscore below 105 |
| PTE Academic | 60 | Not published |
| CAEL | 70 | Not below 60 in any band |
Note: TOEFL iBT moved to a 1.0 to 6.0 band scale on 21 January 2026. University of Ottawa currently lists the 0 to 120 requirement shown above; both scales are reported during the 2026 to 2028 transition. Verify the current requirement on the official admissions page before applying.
- Indian applicants who score 6.0 overall on IELTS can still enrol through the English Intensive Programme (EIP) pathway with extra ESL courses.
- Duolingo remains the fastest home-based option; most Indian applicants clear the 120 threshold with 8 to 10 weeks of targeted prep.
- The writing sub-band on TOEFL trips most Indian applicants; budget one dedicated round of writing practice tests before booking.
Tip for Indian students: Book the IELTS or Duolingo at least three months before the January 2027 recommended date so a resit is possible if the writing band falls short of 6.0.
University of Ottawa BS Biology Application
Indian applicants submit the Bachelor of Science admission through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC 105) using the international applicant form. The application fee is CAD 156 (INR 10,480) non-refundable, plus a university supplement paid to uOttawa on submission.
Application Timeline for Fall 2027
| Stage | Expected Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|
| OUAC 105 opens | Mid-October 2026 | Expected |
| Recommended submission | 15 January 2027 | Expected |
| Final application deadline (Fall 2027) | 1 April 2027 | Expected |
| Document upload deadline | 2 May 2027 | Expected |
| Offer acceptance and deposit | 1 June 2027 | Expected |
Documents Indian Applicants Must Upload
- Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and passing certificates from CBSE, ISC or the state board.
- Official IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE or CAEL score report sent electronically to uOttawa.
- Copy of the passport bio-data page valid for at least the full length of the study permit.
- Statement of purpose covering academic interests, target specialisation and career goal.
- Financial declaration showing tuition plus CAD 22,895 GIC (INR 15.38 Lakhs) minimum for the study permit.
How Applicants Are Assessed
The Faculty of Science reviews the top six Grade 12 marks, with the required prerequisite subjects mandatory in that set. Extracurriculars, olympiads and research exposure are secondary but tie-break borderline files.
Application tip: File the OUAC 105 before 15 January 2027 to qualify for automatic entrance scholarship review, and email the international admissions office once documents are uploaded to confirm receipt.
University of Ottawa BS Biology Scholarships
The University of Ottawa runs two automatic scholarships for international BSc Biology students studying in English, plus a differential tuition waiver for the French-immersion stream. All three are awarded on admission, not on a separate application.
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| International English Admission Scholarship | CAD 7,500 (INR 5.04 Lakhs) per term, up to CAD 60,000 (INR 40.31 Lakhs) over 4 years | Admitted to an English-language undergraduate programme in Science for Winter 2026 or later | Renewable for up to 12 instalments with full-time enrolment and CGPA |
| International English Academic Excellence Scholarship | CAD 10,000 (INR 6.72 Lakhs) per year, up to CAD 40,000 (INR 26.88 Lakhs) over 4 years | Admission average of 90% or above | Automatic on full-time enrolment each year |
| Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship | Waives the international differential portion of tuition | Enrolled in a French-language or French-immersion BSc Biology stream | Continuous while enrolled full-time |
The two English-stream awards can be stacked with external grants such as the Vidyasaarathi India merit scholarship. Indian applicants with a 90%+ Class 12 aggregate should therefore see a combined CAD 100,000 (INR 67.19 Lakhs) tuition reduction across the degree.
- Both English-stream awards are notified inside the admission offer letter, not through a separate portal.
- Renewal requires the CGPA threshold the offer letter states; miss it and the instalment stops for that term.
- External Indian awards such as JN Tata Endowment and KC Mahindra loan scholarships stack on top of the university awards.
Scholarship reality: A 90%+ Class 12 file automatically triggers both English-stream awards, dropping the effective tuition to roughly INR 46 Lakhs across the four years before external grants.
Also Check: University of Ottawa Scholarships 2027
University of Ottawa BS Biology Salary
Canadian federal Job Bank labour market data marks biologist demand as broadly in line with supply across 2024 to 2033. Ottawa itself pays a premium because the National Research Council, Health Canada and Environment Canada headquarter labs are hiring hubs.
| Role | Entry salary (CAD) | Mid-career (CAD) | Entry (INR) | Mid-career (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biologist (Ontario) | 65,713 | 104,466 | 44.14 Lakhs | 70.19 Lakhs |
| Research Associate, Life Sciences | 50,000 | 75,000 | 33.59 Lakhs | 50.39 Lakhs |
| Clinical Research Coordinator | 52,000 | 78,000 | 34.93 Lakhs | 52.41 Lakhs |
| Biomedical Scientist | 43,000 | 76,500 | 28.89 Lakhs | 51.40 Lakhs |
| Molecular Biology Technician | 48,000 | 68,000 | 32.25 Lakhs | 45.69 Lakhs |
Source: Government of Canada Job Bank, PayScale Canada and ERI Salary Expert Ontario, 2026.
Take-home pay for a new graduate in Ottawa on a CAD 65,000 salary lands near CAD 4,000 (INR 2.69 Lakhs) monthly after federal and Ontario tax. Confirm net figures using the Government of Canada payroll calculator before signing an offer.
- The co-op stream typically converts to a full-time return offer at the same employer for two-thirds of Faculty of Science graduates.
- Ottawa federal science labs prefer Honours graduates with a research thesis, which the compulsory 4000-level project satisfies.
- Indian graduates who exit into biotech corridors in Toronto or Montreal report a CAD 5,000 to CAD 8,000 salary bump over Ottawa base rates.
ROI reality: Effective tuition post-scholarship at INR 46 Lakhs breaks even inside 30 months at Ottawa mid-career biologist rates of INR 70.19 Lakhs, once PGWP-era Canadian income tax is applied.
Canada Visa BS Biology
Indian applicants need a Canadian study permit before travel, and IRCC closed the Student Direct Stream (SDS) on 8 November 2024. Every BSc Biology applicant now files through the regular study permit stream, which takes 8 to 14 weeks on the current IRCC timeline. On graduation, the University of Ottawa qualifies you for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of up to three years.
- Minimum Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) rose to CAD 22,895 (INR 15.38 Lakhs) for applications on or after 1 September 2026.
- PGWP for a Bachelor’s degree from a public DLI is exempt from field-of-study restrictions and stays at three years.
- PGWP applicants must show a CLB 7 language score in all four skills through an IRCC-approved test less than two years old.
- Dependent spouses of BSc Biology students remain ineligible for open work permits under the current rules; verify before travel.
Visa reality: Refusal rates for Indian applicants rose sharply in 2025; a genuine study plan, tight funds documentation and a clear course-to-career narrative are the three files that turn most refusals into approvals.
Check Out: Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit Guide
University of Ottawa BS Biology Ranking 2027
Biology at uOttawa sits inside the broader Life Sciences and Medicine rankings, where the university’s health-science research lifts it well above its overall global rank. Indian applicants targeting biology-adjacent research or graduate school should read the subject numbers, not the composite world rank.
| Ranking system | Category | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Overall | #228 globally, #10 in Canada |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | Overall | #187 globally, #8 in Canada |
| QS Subject Rankings 2026 | Medicine | #93 globally |
| QS Subject Rankings 2026 | Anatomy and Physiology | #51 to #100 globally |
| QS Subject Rankings 2024 | Life Sciences and Medicine (broad) | #167 globally |
| ARWU Shanghai 2025 | Public Health | #24 globally |
| Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 | Overall | #142 globally, #10 in Canada |
The Public Health, Anatomy and Physiology and Medicine ranks all sit more than 100 positions above the overall world rank. For biology students eyeing a medical or public-health graduate pathway, that subject-side lift is the decision-critical number.
Honest take: uOttawa is a discipline-led brand, not an overall top-100 brand; the case for choosing it for BSc Biology is the biomedical subject stack and Ottawa’s federal science lab access, not composite league position.
Read More: University of Ottawa Rankings
The University of Ottawa BSc Biology is a fit for Indian applicants who want a research-heavy Canadian science degree with a compulsory lab thesis, three specialisation tracks and a paid co-op cycle. The single strongest decision-driver is the automatic INR 40.31 Lakhs admission scholarship stacked with Ottawa’s federal science-lab access, which no larger-brand Canadian university replicates at this tuition band.
FAQs
Ques. What is the total 4-year cost of the University of Ottawa BSc Biology for an Indian student?
Ans. Tuition alone is CAD 173,052 (INR 1.16 Crore) at the current flat rate; add UHIP, ancillaries and Ottawa living costs and the working budget lands near INR 1.22 Crore before scholarships, or roughly INR 82 Lakhs after the automatic CAD 60,000 Admission Scholarship if renewed for all 12 instalments.
Ques. Does the University of Ottawa BSc Biology include a co-op or paid work term?
Ans. Yes, the Honours BSc Biology has a co-op stream that adds up to 16 months of paid Canadian work terms, provided you carry a full-time load, hold a CGPA of 6.0 or higher and complete first-year requirements before applying to co-op.
Ques. Which specialisation should Indian applicants pick inside the BSc Biology?
Ans. Cellular and Molecular Biology is the strongest track for applicants targeting medical school prerequisites or biotech; Physiology suits pre-health and rehab pathways; Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour suits conservation, environmental research or field biology careers.
Ques. Is IELTS 6.0 enough for the University of Ottawa BSc Biology?
Ans. An overall 6.0 does not clear the direct-entry bar of 6.5, but you can still enrol by completing the English Intensive Programme or one to two ESL courses inside first year; the Faculty of Science then keeps you on the standard 120-unit path.
Ques. Can a BSc Biology graduate from uOttawa apply to Canadian medical school?
Ans. The compulsory prerequisites of the BSc Biology cover roughly 80% of the coursework Canadian medical schools require, but MD programmes including uOttawa Faculty of Medicine reserve seats for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, so Indian graduates typically use the BSc as a bridge to MSc or PhD tracks first.
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- Application Deadline for Fall Intake - Apr 1, 2027
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| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $31200 (CAD 43334) |
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| rhEkXj | Znqz7Q |
|---|---|
| Living Expenses | $11346 (CAD 15758) |
| Health Insurance | $363 (CAD 504) |
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| 2025 | $31149 (CAD 43263) |
| 2024 | $30282 (CAD 42059) |
| 2023 | $27858 (CAD 38692) |
| 2022 | $13929 (CAD 19346) |
| 2021 | $21680 (CAD 30111) |
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|---|---|
| Application Deadline for Fall Intake | Apr 1, 2027 |
| Document Submission Deadline for Fall Intake | May 2, 2027 |
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- Class 10 & 12 marksheets/transcripts
- School leaving certificate / passing certificate
- Passport copy
- English proficiency test (IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo) if required
- Program prerequisite subjects (e.g. Math for Engineering/CS)
- Extra documents for some courses: Portfolio, Audition, Resume/statement

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| GkV5N/ | k/jX7I | vvWrCI |
|---|---|---|
| Excellence scholarship | $70,000 over 4 years ($17,500 per year) | Applicant must have admission average of 90% or higher. |
| Entrance scholarship | $40,000 over 4 years ($10,000 per year) | Merit Based |
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| 8MIU1T | S2h7Mt | BxsfMK | uN65io | bwRvnp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD 37,440 /Yr CAD 52,000 /Yr |
| |||
B.H.S, University of Ottawa4 years | Application Deadline for Fall Intake (1st Mar 2027) Document Submission Deadline for Fall Intake (30th Mar 2027) | USD 31,200 /Yr CAD 43,334 /Yr |
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-- | USD 32,232 /Yr CAD 44,767 /Yr |
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