University of Ottawa (reviews)

Studying the Master of Engineering in Electrical & Computer Engineering at University of Ottawa has been a valuable learning experience. The program offers a good balance of advanced theory and practical applications, helping students build strong technical and problem-solving skills.

The courses are challenging but rewarding, especially for those interested in areas like electronics, communication, and computer systems. I enjoyed learning from experienced professors and collaborating with students from diverse backgrounds.

Overall, it is a great program for anyone looking to expand their engineering knowledge and prepare for a career in the technology field. The journey requires hard work, but the skills and experience gained are truly worthwhile.

I went into the MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering at uOttawa wanting a coursework-based degree that would get me job-ready faster than a thesis route, and that’s exactly the trade-off it delivers. The program runs through the Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Electrical and Computer Engineering, a joint setup between uOttawa and Carleton University, so course options end up broader than what either school offers alone. That gave me access to electives in areas like optical communications, electromagnetic compatibility, and stochastic systems that I wouldn’t have found in a smaller programme.
Being in Ottawa is a genuine advantage if you’re aiming at telecom, defence, or government-adjacent tech work. There’s a dense cluster of companies and federal research labs nearby, and it shows in the guest lectures and the kind of projects professors tend to assign. The bilingual character of the university is also worth mentioning: you can complete assignments and exams in French or English, which matters if you’re building a career in Canada and want that flexibility on your record.
Workload-wise, the coursework was demanding but manageable, and because it’s course-based rather than thesis-based, the pace felt more structured and predictable than a research degree. The tradeoff is that if you’re hoping for deep research exposure or a strong thesis to point to for PhD applications, this isn’t the track for that; a MASc suits that goal better.
If I had one criticism, it’s that some of the more specialized electives weren’t offered every term, so scheduling around them took some planning. Overall though, for anyone wanting a practical, technically rigorous ECE master’s with strong industry proximity, this program delivers well.

Overall, I had a great experience at the University of Ottawa, especially in the Master’s of Engineering program.

One of the biggest strengths of the program is the part-time professors and industry consultants who teach many of the courses. Since they actively work in their respective fields, they bring practical knowledge, and current industry practices into the classroom.

On the other hand, some of the senior professors still rely on teaching methods and course materials that have changed very little since the 1980s or 1990s. In Civil Engineering, in particular, a few courses use the same slides year after year, and some of the content does not fully reflect current industry practices.

That said, the networking opportunities, and the practical experience gained through industry-connected instructors made the program worthwhile.

The campus is situated in downtown Ottawa close to many amenities. Due to the size it is sometimes difficult to get from one side to another, if your classes are on opposite ends of the campus. The university COOP program is very good and they have high match rate for students and potential careers. Campus life is good – there are three residences. However getting into the residences for parties you need to know someone staying there.