Admission

Admission Criteria

You must meet the following criteria to be admitted into the Master of Health Administration program:

Academic qualifications: A Canadian bachelor’s degree, or equivalent from a school outside Canada, with a minimum average of B (70%). The admission average is calculated in accordance with the graduate study guidelines (the last 60 units earned on Canadian or American transcripts, or the last 20 courses taken on international transcripts). All post-secondary studies are considered at the time of admission, with the most recent studies considered first.
Work experience: A minimum of 3 years of full-time work experience is required. In general, preference is given to applicants who have greater work experience, particularly when there is evidence of career progression. If you have over 7 years of work experience, please consider the online Executive MHA program.
Admission test: A minimum score of 75% in the required Harvard Modules:
- International applicants: Harvard Online Math Module and Harvard Communication Module
- Canadians, permanent residents, and American applicants: Harvard Online Math Module
- Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree or master's degree at the University of Ottawa or other Canadian universities with an average of 75% (B+) or above (calculated using the last 60 units) at the time of application, will not be required to pass the Harvard Math Module.
- Applicants who have valid competitive GMAT or GRE test results may submit official test reports in lieu of the Harvard Modules.
Language proficiency: Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English. If your first language is not English, you must submit one of the following to the Telfer Graduate Office to demonstrate proficiency in English:
- A score of at least 100 (on the Internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) ; or
- A score of at least 7 in at least three of the four Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) and at least 6 in the fourth (The Telfer School cannot accept General Training IELTS test results); or
- A score of at least 68 on the Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE Academic)
- Exceptionally, you may be considered for a language test waiver when one of the following conditions is met.
  - Proof of completion of a previous degree program at an English-language university within the past five years; or
  - Proof of recent prolonged residence, and exercise of a profession, in an English-speaking country (normally at least four years over the past six years)
Personal interview: A member of the Telfer School of Management Admissions Committee may contact an applicant for an interview. The interview will seek to explore the applicant’s background in a team-based working environment, their objectives for pursuing an MHA, and their ability to communicate effectively.

Application Process

Complete the following steps to ensure that your application can be reviewed by the Telfer School of Management Admissions Committee:

Complete the online OUAC application form. Your application will be submitted once you pay the non-refundable application fee. Within 3-5 days after, you should receive an email from uOttawa with credentials (an ID and password) to log into uoZone, uOttawa’s student platform. You will then be able to upload the required documents.
Prepare the following documents for your application:
- Curriculum vitae (resume): Outline your managerial and professional experience, as well as any relevant volunteer work.
- Letter of intent: State your reasons for pursuing a graduate program and how you would contribute to the program given your background and experience. This letter should be at least 500 words in length.
- Admission test scores: A copy of your successful completion certificates from the Harvard Modules or admission test scores (GMAT or GRE).
  - Harvard Modules certificates are valid for 2 years.
  - GMAT or GRE scores are valid for 5 years
  - GMAT Institution code: 4BZ-76-78
- Transcripts: Please upload one unofficial transcript from each post-secondary institution you attended. The Telfer admissions office will request any transcripts from the University of Ottawa. Keep in mind that you will need to provide official transcripts if you receive an admission offer.
  - If you who have completed your studies in China, you must submit official translations (transcripts and diplomas) certified by the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC). They must be sent directly to our institution.
  - Transcripts from non-Canadian or non-American institutions should include the grading scale, often found at the bottom or back of the transcript. If the grading scale is not on the document itself, you will need to obtain it from the institution and include it with your transcript.
  - If the transcript is not in English or French, you will need to submit a certified translation of it.
  - Note: You will need to send official, recent transcripts if you receive an offer of admission. Please have these documents delivered to the following address:
    Telfer School of Management
    55 Laurier Avenue East, Room 4160
    Ottawa ON K1N 6N5 Canada
- Official language proficiency test scores: Test scores from one of the following tests need to be submitted, if applicable: TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic. To be valid, the test score must be dated no more than two years at the time of application. To speed up the evaluation process, please upload a copy of your language test report. Ask an officer from ETS (TOEFL) or IELTS to send the results electronically to the Telfer Graduate Office.
  - TOEFL institutional code is 0993.
Add professional referees: Log into uoZone to add the contact details of at least two referees, who should be employers or professional contacts. Your referees will receive an email from the University of Ottawa with a link to complete a recommendation form, which they will submit online.

If you are having problems uploading your documents via uoZone, please contact the Telfer Graduate Programs Office by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

International Applicants

Visit the uOttawa International Office website for valuable information specifically for international students about housing, health insurance, and budgeting for your studies. For all immigration questions, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.

Application Deadline

International applicants: February 1^st
Canadians and permanent residents, and American applicants: May 15^th

Offers of admission and admission scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis. Complete applications will be reviewed as early as September 1st. We strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible to increase your chances of being considered for a scholarship.

Admission Tests

The MHA program requires successful completion of the required Harvard Modules. If you have taken the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE), you may submit these scores in lieu of the Harvard Modules.

Harvard Modules

You must achieve a minimum score of 75% to receive a successful completion certificate.

Harvard Mathematics for Management Online Module - Open Available Aug 30, 2024 - Aug 30, 2025

Duration: 14 hours

Costs: $45 USD

Learning Objective: Review the key mathematics concepts that students should be familiar with in order to solve quantitative problems in the MBA and MHA curriculum. A secondary objective is to illustrate and teach students the Microsoft Excel functions and formulas that facilitate the application of these math concepts.

Harvard Management Communication Online Module - Open Available Aug 30, 2024 - Aug 30, 2025

Duration: 20 hours

Costs: $55 USD

Learning Objective: The Management Communications Online Course provides students with the skills and guided practice necessary to master fundamental concepts in business communication, including planning, writing, and presenting. Students learn how to manage and lead more effectively by organizing and executing successful business communication strategies.

GMAT

An overall score within at least the 50th percentile is required, with scores within at least the 45th percentile in verbal and quantitative sections.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination)

A minimum overall score of 310, with scores within at least the 45th percentile in verbal and 40th percentile in quantitative sections.

Note GRE Subject Tests will not be accepted.

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