Doctorate in Philosophy Philosophy at University of Ottawa - Program overview

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes

Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

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Program overview

The Doctorate in Philosophy at the University of Ottawa is a comprehensive program designed for students who have completed a Master’s degree in Philosophy. This program is offered in both English and French, allowing students to pursue their studies in their preferred language. The PhD program emphasizes research excellence and is structured to prepare students for academic and non-academic careers. Students will engage in a variety of philosophical topics and methodologies, culminating in a thesis project that showcases their research capabilities. The program is governed by the academic regulations for graduate studies, ensuring a rigorous academic environment.

Program structure

The Doctorate in Philosophy program is structured to provide a thorough grounding in philosophical research and thought. The key components of the program include:

Program Length: The program typically spans several years, culminating in the completion of a doctoral thesis.
Completion of six one-term courses.
A comprehensive examination to assess the student’s knowledge and readiness for research.
Development and defense of a thesis project.

Additionally, students have the option to participate in collaborative programs, such as Women’s Studies and Medieval and Renaissance Studies, enhancing their academic experience. The program also encourages proficiency in both French and English, which is beneficial for engaging with a wider range of academic resources and activities.

Featured Experiences

The Doctorate in Philosophy program offers several unique experiences that enrich the academic journey of its students:

Participation in collaborative programs that allow for interdisciplinary study.
Opportunities for research in various philosophical fields, including ethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy.
Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and resources at the University of Ottawa.
Engagement in seminars that focus on advanced philosophical topics and methodologies.
Possibility of accelerated entry into the PhD program for MA students who meet specific criteria.

Career Options

Graduates of the Doctorate in Philosophy 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.
Researcher: Engaging in philosophical research for think tanks, non-profits, or governmental organizations, focusing on ethical, social, and political issues.
Policy Analyst: Analyzing and developing policies for government or private sectors, utilizing philosophical frameworks to address complex societal issues.
Consultant: Providing expert advice on ethical practices and decision-making processes in various industries, including healthcare and technology.
Writer/Editor: Producing scholarly articles, books, or content for publications, focusing on philosophical topics and contributing to public discourse.

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

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Last updated on 2026-10-05

Program overview

Admission Requirements

Philosophy, PhD

Degree Offered: PhD

Available Options for Program

Student status

Full-Time:	Yes
Part-Time:	No

Language

English:	Yes
French:	Yes

Minimum Requirements

B+ in a MA in Philosophy

Average time to completion

16 terms

Area(s) of specialization

History of Philosophy/Metaphysics, Epistemology/Value Theory: Political Philosophy, Ethics

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 B2 (note globale)/TEF B2 (Note globale) (Internet-based) English Program: TOEFL 84/New TOEFL 4, 24 (Writing); 20 (Individual)/IELTS 6.5, 6.5 (Writing); 6 (Individual) (Internet-based)
Required document(s):	Resume (must include chronological academic history) A sample of written work: clean copy of an essay or paper written for a master’s level course in Philosophy Letter of intent Format: 500 words Font size –Times New Roman 11 Content: 1. Your motivations to pursue graduate studies in the discipline 2. Provide a brief outline of your academic background 3. The problem or question you are interested in 4. The objectives of your research. Explain why you believe it is important to undertake this research. 5. The context of your research in relevant literature. Demonstrate how your research is an original contribution to the field. 6. Your methodological approach (if applicable) 7. The names of potential supervisors (in Uniweb, click on ‘professors’ in the Academic titles’ section) you are interested in working with 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

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both French and English is strongly encouraged so that students may take advantage of the full range of activities — lectures, personal contacts, and courses — available in the Department (graduate courses are normally not duplicated in the two languages).

Transfer from Master's to PhD

In addition, for those enrolled in the MA in Philosophy, the Department offers an accelerated entrance to the PhD on the condition of having completed four courses with a minimum "A" average. The decision for acceptance into this accelerated program will be made by the Graduate Studies Committee on the basis of recommendations by at least two professors who have taught the candidate in the four courses, the agreement of a member of the department to supervise the candidate in the PhD program, and a dossier that meets the standard requirements of admission into the PhD. Application must normally be made within sixteen months of initial enrollment in the Master's, with the successful applicant enrolling in the PhD program by the 4th term at the latest. Following the transfer, all the requirements of the doctoral program must be met. The total number of course units required is 30 (12 at the master’s and 18 at the doctoral level). Students who take this option do not receive an MA degree. However, students who transfer but do not complete the PhD can receive an MA by fulfilling all the requirements of the MA program.

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!