Life in Ottawa: A Student-Friendly Student Full of Opportunities

Learn what makes the nation's capital such a special place for students of all kinds!

Photo by Emilie Lauzon on Unsplash

Ottawa: on the cutting edge

Ottawa provides rich opportunities for those looking for work experience or a career after graduation.

Inside and outside the classroom, students benefit from Carleton University's connections to Canada's federal government, and the region's many knowledge-based businesses in sectors such as clean technology, digital media, aerospace, and software.

A large percentage of Canada's major medical, clinical, and life sciences research centres are located in the Ottawa area, as well as a technology industry with over 1,900 companies. Companies such as Shopify, Corel, and Mitel got their start in Ottawa, and multinational companies such as Nokia and IBM also have offices in Ottawa.

Ottawa is also home to over 130 embassies and high commissions from around the world, as well as some of Canada's most influential government and non-governmental organizations.

Natural beauty, with plenty to do!

Ottawa is also one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, with many neighbourhood parks and tranquil green spaces, waterways that wind through the city, and historical and architectural landmarks.

The magnificent Gatineau Park (pictured above), which features 165 kilometres of hiking trails, is located just across the river in Quebec.

The historic Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs through the city, where residents run, walk, cycle, cruise, paddle, and skate, enjoying the canal all year long.

Along with popular spots like Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market, Ottawa also offers endless bike paths (PDF) that weave through a city, with many hidden gems to explore — such as the Arboretum, Major Hill's Park, and Hog's Back Falls.

Reaching Ottawa from afar

As the capital of Canada, Ottawa is well-connected locally, nationally, and internationally. Ottawa is home to an international airport, a train station, and is serviced by local public transit. Ottawa is in Ontario, with Quebec just on the other side of the Ottawa River. Ottawa's a two hour drive (or train ride) from Montréal, a four-and-a-half hour drive from Toronto, and a one hour drive to the state of New York.

You can also use our resources to find a great place to stay during your visit.

Discover the Carleton campus

Due to the recommended public response to COVID-19, most campus tours will be virtual for the time being. You can check our events calendar to learn more about in-person tours, or you can take a virtual campus tour here.

You are also invited to attend one of our many upcoming virtual events! We'd love to see you. Check out our events schedule for info.