Doctorate in Philosophy Education at University of Ottawa - Program overview

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes

Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

+33

Program overview

The Doctorate in Philosophy Education at the University of Ottawa is designed for those aspiring to become expert educators, school administrators, research leaders, or program evaluators. With a vibrant community of approximately 1,600 students and 150 faculty members, the Faculty of Education provides a rich environment for academic growth and professional development. This program emphasizes the integration of coursework and research, allowing students to tailor their educational journey in collaboration with their thesis supervisors. The program is offered in both English and French, reflecting the bilingual nature of Canada's capital, Ottawa.

Program structure

The Doctorate in Philosophy Education program is structured to provide a comprehensive educational experience that spans a minimum of six courses. Students may have the option to reduce their course load to five courses with the approval of the Admissions Committee and their thesis supervisor. The program includes:

Individualized program of study prepared in collaboration with a thesis supervisor.
Compulsory courses focusing on contemporary issues in education and epistemology.
Elective courses that allow students to explore various topics in education.
Comprehensive examination to assess mastery of the field.
Thesis proposal and doctoral thesis as a culmination of research efforts.

Additionally, the program encourages early exploration of research topics to ensure that coursework and research are interrelated, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Featured Experiences

The Doctorate in Philosophy Education program offers several unique features and experiences that enhance the learning journey:

Participation in the collaborative program in Canadian Studies at the PhD level.
Access to research facilities and laboratories dedicated to various educational projects.
Opportunities for students to engage in innovative research projects alongside faculty members.
Annual events such as the Jean-Paul Dionne Symposium, showcasing student and faculty research.
Access to a wide range of resources and support for thesis supervision and research development.

Career Options

Graduates of the Doctorate in Philosophy Education program can pursue a variety of career paths in Canada, including:

University Professor: Teaching and conducting research at post-secondary institutions, contributing to academic knowledge and mentoring students.
Educational Administrator: Overseeing educational institutions or programs, managing staff, and implementing policies to enhance educational outcomes.
Research Leader: Leading research initiatives in educational settings, focusing on innovative practices and policy development.
Program Evaluator: Assessing educational programs and initiatives to determine their effectiveness and areas for improvement.
Consultant: Providing expert advice to schools, educational organizations, or government bodies on educational practices and policies.

These roles allow graduates to make significant contributions to the field of education, influencing teaching practices and educational policies across Canada.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors.

Visit University of Ottawa official website

Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Education, PhD

Degree Offered: PhD

Available Options for Program

Student status

Full-Time:	Yes
Part-Time:	No

Language

English:	Yes
French:	Yes

Minimum Requirements

Hold a master's degree with thesis in Education or the equivalent with an overall average of 75% (B+).

Be proficient in either English or French.

See the admission requirements for details.

Average time to completion

16 terms

Your complete admission package must include

Application Fee:	CA$125.00 (non-refundable)
Recommendation letter(s):	2 It is highly recommended that you contact your referee prior to submitting your application to confirm their email address and their availability to complete your letter of recommendation.
Transcript(s):	1 You must upload copies of all transcripts from universities you have attended by using the uoDoc application. Transcripts must cover all courses and programs at any university you have attended, including regular programs (whether completed or not), exchanges, letters of permission, online or correspondence courses, courses taken as a non-degree student or visiting students, etc. If your transcript and degree certificate are not in English or French, you must submit a copy of a certified translation. Once you've received your offer of admission, if the offer contains any conditions for submitting official documents, you will need to upload them to uoDoc. Some exceptions apply. Previous or current Ottawa students do not need to submit a transcript of their studies at the University of Ottawa. Professional programs in rehabilitation require all transcripts, including those from uOttawa.
Language requirements (if applicable) Language proficiency test scores equivalencies:	French Program: DALF C1, C2/ TCF C1/C2 (note globale)/ TEF C1/C2 (Note globale) (Internet-based) English Program: TOEFL 100/New TOEFL 5 (Internet-based) Program where the language of instruction is English: IELTS: A score of 7 in three individual tests and 6 in the fourth test. CAEL: 70 (overall and individual)
Required document(s):	Letter of Intent Resume required. Approval of thesis/MRP supervisor form Please note that non required admission documents will not be consulted, conserved or returned to the student. These documents will be destroyed according to our administrative procedures.

Language Requirements

Program-Specific English Requirements

French Program: DALF C1, C2/ TCF C1/C2 (note globale)/ TEF C1/C2 (Note globale) (Internet-based)
English Program: TOEFL 100/New TOEFL 5 (Internet-based)

Program where the language of instruction is English:

IELTS: A score of 7 in three individual tests and 6 in the fourth test.

CAEL: 70 (overall and individual)

General Graduate English Requirements

English proficiency test chart

Test	Minimum Required Score
TOEFL iBT Internet-based/Home Edition/Paper (for tests taken before January 21, 2026)*	84 (overall); 24 (writing); no partial score below 20
TOEFL iBT Internet-based / Home Edition/ Paper (for tests taken after January 21, 2026)*	4.5 or 86 (overall); 4.5 or 21 (writing); 4.5 or 22 (reading); 4.5 or 20 (listening); 4 or 20 (speaking)
IELTS Academic/ IELTS Academic One Skill Retake	6.5 (overall); 6.5 (writing); no partial score below 6
Cambridge English Proficiency Tests (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency)	170 (overall); no partial score below 160
PTE (Pearson Test of English)	60 (overall); no partial score below 59
CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Test)	70 (overall); no partial score below 60

* Effective January 21, 2026, TOEFL is changing its grading system to a 1-6 band scale instead of a 1-120 band scale. Score reports will include results on both scales for the next two years.

The University of Ottawa accepts TOEFL MyBest^®scores for the TOEFL iBT test.

French proficiency test chart

Test	Minimum Required Score
DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française)	C1/C2
TCF (Test de connaissance du français)	B2 (overall); no partial score below B2
TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)	B2 (overall); no partial score below B2

Where the program-specific and general graduate requirements above differ, whichever score is higher (stricter) applies.

DISCLAIMER: The information above is subject to change. For the latest updates, please contact LOA Portal's advisors. The listed minimum requirements are a guideline and do not guarantee admission. Do not worry, we will notify you of any changes during the application process.

Not meeting the minimum language requirements?

You may still be able to apply!