Canada is considered one of the safest countries in the world for international students. It offers an opportunity to experience a way of life, climate, and culture beyond comparison. From eating in a posh French restaurant in Ottawa to strolling through Gatineau Park and taking in the colors of the glorious fall rhapsody of the region, each place and season has so much to offer. For decades, Canada has been recognized worldwide for its high education standards and has welcomed international students from around the globe.
Canadian culture embraces diversity. With 22% of the Canadian population being foreign-born, international students find themselves surrounded by multinational and multicultural communities, which makes it easy to blend in and contribute to Canada’s prosperity and growth. Located in Ottawa, Dominican University College (DUC) offers all cycles of studies, certificates, Bachelor, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Philosophy, and graduate degrees in Theology.
Dominican University College Dual Specialisation Programs
Established in Ottawa in 1900, the university became the institutional center of studies of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and in 1967 started granting civil bilingual degrees in Philosophy and Theology. The decades passed by, DUC evolved as an institution and became formally affiliated with Carleton University in 2012 (all degrees granted by DUC are conjoint with Carleton University and students have an opportunity to enroll in classes on both campuses). In addition to the traditional programs, students can also enroll in certificates in Ethics.
Enhancing Students’ Skills and Abilities
Dominican University College offers an inspiring learning environment, where every student contributes mentally, physically, and emotionally to make the university a stimulating, innovative, and energizing place to be in. Students’ experiences are shaped by the rich Dominican spiritual and intellectual traditions, characterized by the search for truth, rigorous and free reflection, and sensitivity to current cultural and social contexts. The skills and abilities that the students acquire throughout the learning process, allow them to explore a variety of potential future endeavors.
Requirements to comply
DUC specializes in Philosophy and Theology and welcomes students from all walks of life. At the undergraduate level, the requirements comply with those of all Canadian universities, namely, Dominican University College requires a transcript (translated if necessary) from a completed secondary school degree or equivalent, and a language proficiency certificate in one of Canada’s official languages if the transcript is from a non-Canadian secondary institution.
At the graduate level, DUC requires proof of a completed undergraduate degree (BA or equivalent for the MA degree and MA degree or equivalent for the Ph.D.) in either Philosophy or Theology. In the cases when the students have taken only a certain number of credits in either discipline (Philosophy or Theology), depending on what the student is applying for, the Deans of the respective faculties could and often do offer a one-year qualifying year prior to the commencement of the graduate degree.
DUC also requires functional bilingualism which means that graduate students are expected to have at least a passive knowledge of the other official language in Canada (for example, if the students have chosen to complete their studies in English, DUC requires that they have at least an oral and written comprehension of French).
A Tenured Professor
Iva Apostolova, VP Academic Affairs at DUC, has completed her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Ottawa. Dr. Apostolova has been a full-time Philosophy faculty member at DUC since 2014. Prior to her tenure at DUC, she has taught at the Philosophy Departments of her alma mater, University of Ottawa, as well as at St. Paul’s University, and Carleton University. Dr. Apostolova earned her other university degrees in Europe, thereby experiencing the best of both worlds. Her areas of specialization are Analytic Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, and Feminist Ethics. Growing up in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment, Canada became a home for her quickly and easily. Recalling her academic memories, Iva says, “My most vivid experience is from the first course I taught. I was in the second year of my Ph.D. program and the chair of the Philosophy Department at the time offered me to teach a course on Feminism.” Dr. Apostolova’s feminist convictions have made her aware and sensitive to the social conditions of intellectual labor that all academics engage in, and it is her hope that she can contribute to a positive change in the academe.
Stimulating Learning Environment
Our students have the privilege of studying at one of the most beautiful heritage buildings featured in Ottawa’s annual Open Doors event taking place in June of every year. Conveniently located in the downtown core, DUC offers easy access to the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, as well as the many shopping, dining, and strolling areas in Ottawa. The small size of the institution facilitates positive academic interactions where the university administration pays special attention to fostering a supportive and caring intellectual environment and maintaining a respectful and trusting relationship between faculty and students.
Students can choose to study in either Ottawa or Montreal, and some courses are being offered through videoconferencing. In either setting, students benefit from a stimulating learning environment, focused on the individual’s needs. DUC hosts numerous conference series on Philosophy, Literature, Science, and other cultural activities. It has a band composed of students and professors performing at every major event. Every year the Student Association organizes a conference for and led by students only, attended by Philosophy, History, and Theology students from universities and colleges from the region, and abroad.
Financial Support and Lowest Tuition Fees
Canada is home to universities with some of the lowest tuition fees among English-speaking countries. Continuing the Canadian tradition, Dominican University offers its students the lowest tuition fees in the country. Full-time undergraduate students pay only $4 364 per year, while graduate students’ tuition fees are as low as $7 032 per year. Dominican University College as an institution supports the incoming and current students through the provision of domestic and external grants, bursaries, and scholarships.
The DUC Foundation and its benefactors, religious communities, organizations, and individual donors offer support to students in financial need. To apply for grants, varying from $300 to $2000 per year, students need to be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program in the Faculty of Philosophy or Theology.
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