uOttawa Biomedical Science admission requirements: 85% minimum, calculus, co-op and Fall 2027 dates

uOttawa asks Ontario students for English 4U (ENG4U) or Français 4U (FRA4U), Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U) and two of Biology (SBI4U), Chemistry (SCH4U), Physics (SPH4U) or Earth and Space Science (SES4U). You need an Ontario diploma with at least six 4U, 4M or DU courses.

Your science and math prerequisites must have a combined average of at least 70%. If you do not have MCV4U, uOttawa lets you take a replacement course at the university, either the summer before you start or in your first term. uOttawa also says students with a strong base in biology, chemistry and physics tend to do better, so taking all three is wise even though only two are required.

Grade 12 co-op, career and work experience courses do not count toward admission. Summer, online and private school courses count if a recognized school grants the credit. Plan your Grade 12 timetable with our course planner.

uOttawa lists a minimum admission average of 85% for Biomedical Science. The catalogue adds that admission is competitive and that higher averages are required. uOttawa does not publish a cut-off above the minimum or a program acceptance rate, so treat 85% as a floor, not a target. Our University of Ottawa acceptance rate page explains what the school does share.

For the final decision, uOttawa uses your top six 4U, 4M or DU grades, including the prerequisites. When math is required, it always counts the highest level of math you attempted. If you repeat a course, it uses your best mark. Use our Top 6 average calculator to check where you stand.

uOttawa runs two programs that health-minded students compare. Biomedical Science is a Faculty of Science BSc focused on anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry and biochemistry. The Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc, OUAC code OKC) sits in the Faculty of Health Sciences and adds more population health and social science content.

The course lists differ. Biomedical Science needs both MHF4U and MCV4U. Health Sciences needs SBI4U and SCH4U, plus one of MHF4U, MCV4U or SPH4U. If you lack calculus, Health Sciences may fit your timetable better. If you are not taking both Biology and Chemistry, Biomedical Science may be your option. Read our uOttawa Health Sciences guide for that program.

uOttawa reviews Ontario high school applicants in three rounds. Round one runs from mid-November to the end of January and uses your best five final grades from Grade 11 and Grade 12, with at least one math and two sciences. Round two runs from mid-February to mid-April and uses six grades, at least two from Grade 12. Round three runs from mid-May to August and uses six Grade 12 grades, including all prerequisites. Denials and alternative offers only go out in round three.

For Fall 2027, the prerequisites tool lists a June 1, 2027 application deadline and a June 15, 2027 document deadline for Canadian applicants, and May 1, 2027 for international applicants. That is later than the January 15, 2027 date uOttawa shows for Health Sciences. Applying through the OUAC well before January lets you be considered in round one. Please confirm the date with uOttawa before you plan around June. uOttawa also lists a winter intake for Canadian applicants. See our Ontario university application deadlines page for other schools.

Biomedical Science offers co-op, but not at the point of admission. uOttawa's co-op admission page says you cannot add co-op on your first application for biomedical science, health sciences, human kinetics or translation. Instead, you apply through uoZone once you are a student. The Biomedical Science co-op page lists the deadline as April 30 of your second year.

To qualify you need full-time status, a cumulative GPA of at least 6 at uOttawa and all first and second year courses done. Spots are limited, and the highest CGPAs are admitted first. The default sequence puts your first work term in the winter of third year, with four work terms in total and a five-year finish. Past employers include Health Canada, the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, CHEO and the National Research Council. For 2026-27, optional co-op costs $896 per matched work term for Canadians and $1,125 for international students.

The degree takes four years and 120 units, in English or French, with a French immersion stream. First year includes ANP 1111 and ANP 1115 (human anatomy and physiology), BIO 1141 cell and molecular biology, CHM 1311 and CHM 1321 chemistry, MAT 1330 and MAT 1332 calculus for the life sciences and PSY 1101. Later core courses include BCH 2333 biochemistry, BIO 2133 genetics, PHI 2396 bioethics, STA 2392 biostatistics, BIO 3124 microbiology and BIO 3170 molecular biology.

After second year you either pick a minor or choose an option. The Faculty of Science page lists Biostatistics, Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience options. The 2026-27 catalogue lists Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Bioanalytical Science, Medicinal Chemistry and Biostatistics. The two pages differ, so confirm the current list with uOttawa.

For 2026-27, full-time Biomedical Science tuition is $3,104.96 a term for Canadians living in Ontario, $3,594.37 for Canadians from other provinces and $21,667.54 for international students. A fall and winter year is two terms, so about $6,210, $7,189 or $43,335 by our arithmetic, before ancillary fees and books.

The uOttawa Admission Scholarship for 2027-28 is automatic. It pays $3,000 at a 95 to 100% average, $2,000 at 90 to 94.9% and $1,000 at 85 to 89.9% for eligible full-time Canadian students. A French Studies Bursary of $1,000 a year is also automatic for students who take enough courses in French.

uOttawa lists biomedical researcher, biotechnologist, forensics analyst, pharmaceutical scientist and clinical lab technologist as career paths. It also names medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and graduate research as next steps. The program page notes access to national research centres, government agencies and hospitals in Ottawa.

Medical and dental schools look at your university GPA and their own tests, not your program name. Pick the program whose courses you will enjoy and do well in. Compare with our Western Health Sciences and Guelph Biomedical Science guides.

Admission is based on grades only. There is no essay, interview or Casper test listed. The key planning step is Grade 12 calculus: your child needs both MHF4U and MCV4U, though uOttawa offers a catch-up course if MCV4U is missing.

Co-op is not part of the first-year offer. Students apply in second year, and a high first and second year CGPA decides who gets a spot. The scholarship is automatic from 85%. Read our University of Ottawa guide for campus life and costs.