Cutoffs

Ottawa GPA scale

University of Ottawa grades on a 10-point scale: an A+ is 10, an A is 9, and the table below is the registrar's own, with the passing grade and how the average is computed.

This is the scale you are graded on once you arrive. It is not the average you are admitted on — Ontario universities admit on your Grade 12 percentage average, and Ottawa’s admission requirements are on their own page.

10

top of the scale

GPA

what the transcript carries

11

letter bands

1

affiliates on this scale

The scale, as the registrar prints it

From Academic Regulation A-3 — Grading System (approved by Senate February 12, 2024; effective May 1, 2024), read 2026-08-22. The source.

LetterGrade pointsPercentageNote
A+1090–100
A985–89
A−880–84
B+775–79
B670–74
C+565–69
C460–64
D+355–59
D250–54
E140–49failure with the right to supplemental examination in certain faculties
F00–39

What passes at Ottawa

“The minimum passing grade is D for all courses at the undergraduate level, except as explicitly stated below.” C for all undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Education, the Undergraduate Medical Education Program and the Doctor of Pharmacy; C+ for all undergraduate nursing courses.

How Ottawa computes your average

“The University of Ottawa's official grading system is alphanumeric.” Grade points are the course's units multiplied by the numeric value of the letter; the CGPA divides the total by units attempted.

Worth knowing before first year

  • There is no B− or C− at uOttawa: the ladder steps A+, A, A−, then B+, B, C+, C. A 72 and a 70 are both a B (6).
  • An E (40–49) is a fail that can carry a right to a supplemental exam in some faculties; an F (0–39) cannot.

The same scale applies at Saint Paul.

The same mark at other campuses

Where a 95, 85, 78, 72, 65 lands at Ottawa and at the other universities that publish percentage bands. Useful when comparing scholarship-renewal or program-entry thresholds written in different currencies.

Campus95%85%78%72%65%
Ottawa10-pointA+ · 10A · 9B+ · 7B · 6C+ · 5
McMaster12-pointA+ · 12A · 11B+ · 9B− · 7C · 5
Queen's4.3A+ · 4.3A · 4.0B+ · 3.3B− · 2.7C · 2.0
U of T (St. George)4.0A+ · 4.0A · 4.0B+ · 3.3B− · 2.7C · 2.0
WesternpercentageA+ABBC
Carleton12-pointA+ · 12A · 11B+ · 9B− · 7C · 5
Laurier (Waterloo)12-pointA+ · 12A · 11B+ · 9B− · 7C · 5
TMU4.33A+ · 4.33A · 4.00B+ · 3.33B− · 2.67C · 2.00
GuelphpercentageA+AB+B−C
Guelph-HumberpercentageA+AB+B−C
York9-pointA+ · 9A · 8B+ · 7B · 6C+ · 5
BrockpercentageAABBC
WindsorpercentageA+AB+B−C
TrentpercentageA+AB+B−C
LakeheadpercentageA+ABBC
Laurentian10-pointA+ · 10A · 9B+ · 7B · 6C+ · 5
Ontario Tech4.3A+ · 4.3A · 4.0B+ · 3.3B− · 2.7C · 2.0
NipissingpercentageAABBC
AlgomapercentageA+A−B+B−C
OCADpercentageA+AB+B−C
RMCpercentageA+A−B+B−C

Waterloo is not in the table: it has no letters, so a 78 is a 78.