Students in Ontario overlooking Quebec

Département de français

Our department will help you to develop your expertise in French-language literature from around the world and gain writing and communication skills that are rare and highly valued in today’s world.

Welcome

Generally, you study geography to become a geographer, history to become a historian, philosophy to become a philosopher. So what can you do with a degree from the Département de français, which offers both literature and writing courses? The word “literaturist” doesn’t exist and the term “writer” can mean anything! But that undefined space itself has unlimited possibilities, and it’s where our study interests lie.

After a journey where you’re introduced to French-language literature (from every century, genre and background), to the history of the language, to the art of writing, to creative writing and to text editing, you’ll be able to find your own path. Our alumni now teach French or literature; write texts for politicians or magazines; edit government documents; publish novels, essays, plays or poetry; create blogs for the public; work in publishing houses or in the comedy scene; and much more.

Throughout your undergraduate or graduate program, you’ll be supported by caring, skilled professors who have received numerous awards and distinctions, run major grant-based projects and held research chairs. You’ll be able to take part in the life of our very active department, which, in addition to courses, offers symposiums, lectures by visiting professors, meetings with writers and all kinds of literary events.

The Département de français is a lively place in one of the country’s rare bilingual universities, located in an environment that’s made for learning.

We look forward to seeing you.

Contact the Département de français
Horses statue in the Simard and Hamelin courtyard
Stylo plume sur un calepin vierge

Centre de rédaction du Département de français

L’objectif du Centre d’aide à la rédaction est d’apporter un appui au développement de compétences en rédaction aux étudiant.e.s qui sont actuellement inscrit.e.s dans un cours au Département de français.
Plus d'informations
Lettres françaises students
Student testimonial

“During my time at uOttawa, I made friends and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. I am particularly grateful to the Faculty of Arts.”

Nikita Kamblé-Bagal

— B.A. (Lettres françaises avec mineure en psychologie) 2020

Portrait de Nadine Ltaif
Mar 14

Conference by poet Nadine Ltaif

To mark the Mois de la francophonie, the Département de français is pleased to invite you to a conference by poet Nadine Ltaif, entitled "Chant des cr…

Écrivain en résidence au Département de français. Entre Nancy Huston et Kevin Lambert : le roman comme mise en scène des savoirs disciplinaires. Intervention de François Paré au Colloque jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs. 1er mars 2024. 8h30 à 9h30. Hamelin MHN509. Photo de François Paré.
Mar 1

Inaugural conference of the colloque jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs

Le comité organisateur du colloque jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs organisé par l’Association des étudiant.e.s des cycles supérieurs (AÉCS) du Départ…

Université d’Ottawa. Écrire à la croisée des savoirs : l’interdisciplinarité dans  les lettres françaises. Colloque jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs  du Département de français. 1er mars 2024. 8h à 16h. Hamelin MHN509. Image of hands reaching for an open book.
Mar 1

Program of the Colloque jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs du Département de français

The organizing committee of the colloque jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs organized by the Association étudiante des cycles supérieurs (AÉCS) of the D…

Portrait of François Paré

OUR WRITER IN RESIDENCE

Every year, our department invites a new francophone writer to come share their experience and expertise with students. This year, we extend a warm welcome to François Paré ! Since the publication of "Littératures de l'exiguïté", the essayist has been invited to lecture in North America and Europe. He has also contributed to several academic journals in Ontario, Quebec and Europe. In 2023, in a publication commemorating the 100th anniversary of Acfas, François Paré was listed as one of the fifty personalities whose writings have particularly shaped the evolution of ideas in Quebec and French-speaking Canada. In addition to workshops and discussions, the writer will develop a project entitled "Défense, géopolitique et illustration de l'essai francophone contemporain" during his residency in our department.
View his publications !
Faculty of Arts
Département de français au Salon du livre de l'Outaouais 2024, logo du SLO, logo d'uOttawa Faculté des arts et Département de français, image d'un livre ouvert
Faculty of Arts

SLO 2024 in photos

This February 2024, the Département de français was honored to be present at the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais as a partner. Several members of the fa…
Faculty of Arts
Mix of letters and signs in different colors on a pink and blue background
Faculty of Arts

Exquisite corpses at the SLO 2024

As part of the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais (SLO) 2024, the Département de français is hosting a daily game of Exquisite Corpse. Discover the final t…
Faculty of Arts
Radio-Canada présente le Salon du livre de l'Outaouais. À voix hautes.
Faculty of Arts

Département de français at the 2024 Salon du livre de l'Outaouais

This February 2024, the Département de français is honored to be present at the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais as a partner. Several members of the fac…
Faculty of Arts
91st Acfas congress poster for call for communications.
Faculty of Arts

Acfas - Département de français' Call for Communications

Professor Claudia Bouliane is organizing an Acfas conference to be held in May 2024 at the University of Ottawa: "Une place à table : échanges intercu…
Faculty of Arts
Portraits of Eve Bilodeau, Myriam Legault-Beauregard and Nikita Kamblé-Bagal
Faculty of Arts

Département de français' microcredit courses

The Département de français will be offering a new type of course this year: microcredit courses. These are half-courses (1.5 credits) focusing on a c…
Faculty of Arts
pencil and pencil sharpener on an empty notebook
Faculty of Arts

Appel à contributions (Content available in french only)

Le Département de français de l’Université d’Ottawa, en collaboration avec la Faculté des arts de l’Université d’Ottawa, a le plaisir de convier les é…

In the media

Faculté des Arts
Claudia Bouliane
Faculté des Arts

Early Researcher of the Year Award

Claudia Bouliane’s major contributions to research and her exceptional ability to mobilize and inspire the next generation make her a first-rate researcher. We are very proud of our colleague !
media
France Martineau
media

La palatalisation est-elle encore vivante en français au Canada ?

La spécialiste de sociolinguistique historique France Martineau décortique le phénomène de la palatalisation. Cela consiste en la modification d'une articulation d'une lettre dans un mot.
media
Kevin Lambert
media

La possibilité d’un Goncourt pour Kevin Lambert

Kevin Lambert, écrivain en résidence de 2022-2023, est en lice pour le prestigieux prix Goncourt !

Contact us

Secretariat

Harry Kisoka and Elizabeth White

Simard Hall, room 202
60 University
Ottawa ON Canada K1N 6N5
Map

613-562-5797
[email protected]

Office hours:
Monday to Friday
9 a.m. to noon and 1p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(June and August: close at 3:30 p.m.)

Academic Office

Undergraduate studies
Simard Hall, room 128
How to reach us
Fax.: 613-562-5973
[email protected] 

Graduate studies 

Simard Building, room 416
613 562-5800 ext. 5439
[email protected]  

Administrative Agent

Myriam Bahri
Simard 216
613-562-5800
[email protected]

Directrice du Département de français

Mawy Bouchard
Simard 215
613-562-5800, poste 5923
[email protected]

Directrice des études de premier cycle

Geneviève Boucher
Simard 313
613-562-5800, poste 1105
[email protected]

Directrice des études supérieures

Claudia Bouliane
Simard 214
613-562-5800, poste 1109
[email protected]