Why Ottawa?
When people talk about Ӱԭ, they often mention “the Capital advantage”. What exactly is “the Capital advantage”?
Ottawa is a city that rewards curiosity. As a graduate student at Ӱԭ, you’ll find yourself living and studying in a place that genuinely punches above its weight — a compact, walkable, bilingual capital city with world-class cultural institutions, stunning natural landscapes, and a remarkably unpretentious character.
Seven of Canada’s nine national museums are right here: the , the , the , the , the , the , and the . Add to that the , the , , and the , and you start to get a sense of what’s on your doorstep.
The itself sits at a genuinely beautiful intersection of the Rideau River, Dow’s Lake, and the historic — a where you can explore by boat in summer and skate the world’s longest naturally frozen rink in winter. When you want to get out of the city, the are close by for hiking, skiing, and paddling.
Ottawa’s metropolitan area is home to over one million people, with an extensive cycling network, reliable transit, and the kind of walkability that makes daily life genuinely pleasant. Summers reach the low 30s; winters are brisk and snowy in the best possible way; spring and fall settle into a comfortable 16 to 20 degrees.
The city has real depth, and you’ll have plenty of room to explore it.