University culture

There are very few Canadian universities that teach both Canadian legal systems—the civil and common law systems. At the University of Ottawa, you’ll be exposed to both systems on a daily basis. The knowledge you bring with you of the legal system(s) in your own country will provide a unique perspective as you study Canada’s legal systems. During your studies here, you’ll be in the Faculty of Law’s Civil Law Section (undergraduate studies).

Exchange students say our professors are ready to listen, interesting, open to dialogue and available outside class hours (see professors’ individual schedules for office hours). Students can ask questions and speak freely in class, which leads to very interesting discussions. Discussions between students and professors are strongly encouraged, and the presence of international exchange students in the classes adds an international perspective to these exchanges.

The student-teacher ratio at the Civil Law Section of the Faculty of Law is 21 to 1*. In other faculties of law, the ratio can be as high as 40 to 1*. In addition, professors can meet with you to go over what was presented in class if you have difficulty understanding the material.

Attendance is mandatory for all classes. Some professors will assign a portion of the final mark to attendance and participation. If for some reason you’re unable to attend a class, send an email to your professor ahead of time explaining you’ll be absent. Our students say the atmosphere in class is professional and serious…but enjoyable nonetheless!

Les Canadiens français tutoient beaucoup. De prime abord, s'adresser ainsi peut indiquer un manque de respect. Mais le tutoiement est souvent un signe de rapprochement. À l’Université, ne soyez pas surpris d'entendre les gens se tutoyer plutôt que de se vouvoyer : les étudiants se tutoient entre eux et il arrive souvent aux membres du personnel administratif et du corps professoral de faire de même. Normalement, on vouvoie les personnes que l’on ne connaît pas et celles que l’on connaît et qui ne demandent pas à être tutoyées. Dans un environnement professionnel, le monde juridique en particulier, le vouvoiement est de mise.

North American universities often schedule courses in the evening. At the University of Ottawa, evening classes can take place from 4 to 7 p.m., 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. or 7 to 10 p.m. The University of Ottawa offers a foot patrol service for individuals who would like to be accompanied to their destination after class. Simply contact the Foot Patrol Service at 613-562-5800, extension 7433.

The syllabus contains important information on the course such as the professor’s name, the course description, topics to be covered, (format of the lectures, class presentations, etc.), how students will be evaluated (presentations, written assignments, exams, attendance, etc.), tools and resources the students consult (legislative instruments, websites, documents, bibliographies, etc.) and any other pertinent information. You can usually access the syllabus online by clicking on the course code.

Exchange students purchase the textbooks, photocopies and other documents necessary for their courses, which usually run about $200 per term. Be sure you set aside this amount for the beginning of the term so you can purchase any material you need for your courses when your courses begin. Professors are increasingly posting documents and other resources in Virtual Campus, the online student portal you’ll have access to once you’re registered in your courses. There is usually no charge to access the materials in Virtual Campus. You may also be able to purchase your textbooks from students who have completed the course or to sell your textbooks to other students once you’ve finished the course.

At the beginning of a course, the professor provides a course syllabus. The syllabus outlines the course topics and how students will be evaluated (written assignments, presentations, etc.). In order to avoid losing marks for handing work in late, be sure to review each course syllabus and plan your work according to the various due dates. The secret to success at the Civil Law Section is to be prepared, work hard and be diligent. Stay on top of your readings and take time to review documents and readings again whenever possible. Because some of the documents you’ll need to consult are written in English, it’s an advantage if you have at least a passive knowledge of English.

“Open-book” and “take-home” exams are quite common in the Civil Law Section. But don’t be fooled…these exams are often more difficult and require you to be very familiar with Quebec’s Civil Code and other reference materials so you can quickly put your finger on the information you need during an exam. University of Ottawa does not have oral examinations that are worth 100% of your final grade (a few exceptions exist).

Students normally submit an assignment (essay or other) during the exam period when they register in a course with a take-home exam.

Some courses do not have a final exam. In such cases, students submit a series of assignments during the semester and they do an oral presentation in class.

All exchange students registered in the Civil Law Section are subject to the same academic policies as regular students in the Section. Please be sure that you read and understand the University’s Policy on Academic Fraud. Each year, exchange students are caught plagiarizing.  And remember, you can always talk to your professors if you have any questions or are uncertain about a particular situation.

Most classrooms are not too large and are equipped with the newest multimedia technology. The majority of students use laptops in class for taking notes and consulting documents. If you plan to use a laptop in class, we ask you to please refrain from checking your email and social media accounts while in class out of respect for the professor and your fellow students.

Fauteux Hall is home to both the Faculty of Law and the Brian Dickson Law Library. The library, located on the 4th floor, is a valuable resource for law students and contains an extensive collection of works. It offers quiet spaces perfect for studying. Study rooms are available as well so you can meet with other students to work on group projects. The law library is open in the evening and on the weekends. During exams, the library offers extended hours. You can borrow multiple items and for extended periods, if necessary.

The Regulation on Bilingualism at the University makes it possible for exchange students to write their exams and course assignments in either English or French. Please feel free to read the complete Regulation on Bilingualism at the University of Ottawa.