University of Ottawa Students’ Union

What University of Ottawa Students’ Union does

UOSU is a non-profit student union established in 2021 through a student referendum to represent all undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The organization is registered under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and governed by an elected Board of Directors and Executive Committee, with Elnaz Enayatpour serving as President (2025-2026 term). It is funded exclusively through mandatory student levies incorporated into tuition fees, creating automatic universal membership for the university's approximately 38,000+ undergraduate cohort; no external investor, parent company, or commercial revenue stream exists. Governance documents, finances, and election archives are publicly maintained, and the union operates bilingually in English and French as a constitutional mandate.

UOSU operates 10 physical service centres on campus (Bike Co-op, Centre for Students with Disabilities, Clubs Administration Service, Feminist Resource Centre, Food Bank, International House, Pride Centre, RISE Centre, Student Rights Centre, and Sustainable Development Centre), administers 300+ student clubs, and delivers a portfolio of programs including the U-Pass transit program (administered in partnership with OC Transpo), a Health & Dental Plan (via studentcare.ca), Safe Walk, free printing, free headshots, Healthy Plates food access, an Emergency Hardship Fund, scholarships, and the PIVIK on-campus general store. Core digital infrastructure consists of the seuo-uosu.com web platform and the Student Rights Centre Portal at www.cde-src.ca, launched September 2024 to digitize case submission, automated follow-ups, deadline tracking, and centralized case contacts. Student life programming includes the 101 Week orientation (approximately 800 trained guides annually), Youth Leadership for Change, and Student Life Awards. An International Student Handbook was published in April 2026 as an additional digital resource.

Revenue is derived from tuition-incorporated levies with limited opt-out mechanisms for ancillary fees. No revenue figure is disclosed in the available source material. Key partnerships include OC Transpo (generating approximately $19 million in annual fare revenue for the transit authority from uOttawa students via U-Pass, though this accrues to OC Transpo and not UOSU), the Carleton University Students' Association (CUSA), the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279, the City of Ottawa, and the University of Ottawa itself. Active advocacy campaigns include All Out for OSAP (opposing Ontario provincial student aid restructuring), opposition to U-Pass fare increases and LRT service cuts, Housing Over Profit, the #RBCOffCampus climate justice initiative, and Safer Together. Distribution is direct to members through on-campus service centres, the digital portal, the PIVIK store, and administrative partnerships for insurance and transit programs.

Name

University of Ottawa Students’ Union

Legal name

University of Ottawa Students' Union

Website

https://seuo-uosu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

UOSU is a non-profit student union representing all undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa. It delivers 10 service centres, 300+ clubs, health/dental and U-Pass transit programs, scholarships, and advocacy campaigns, funded by mandatory tuition levies with bilingual English/French operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Union Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Student Academic & Personal Support (case management, referrals) (EDALANAE)

Keywords

• Student union services
• Student advocacy
• Campus student services
• Student health insurance
• Student transit program

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Levies and Fees: Undergraduate students at uOttawa automatically become UOSU members through payment of student levies. These mandatory fees fund all union operations, services, programs, advocacy, and governance activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) is a non-profit student union that represents all undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa through mandatory membership funded by student levies. It operates 10 service centres, supports 300+ student clubs, runs the on-campus PIVIK General Store, administers the Health & Dental Plan and U-Pass transit program, and delivers advocacy on student affordability, rights, transit, and equity issues. All services, programs, and communications are delivered bilingually in English and French.

Product overview

University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) operates as a student union organization offering a diverse portfolio of services, programs, and advocacy initiatives for undergraduate students. The organization provides 10 service centres (including CSD, CAS, FRC, Food Bank, International House, Pride Centre, RISE Centre, SRC, SDC, and Bike Co-op), manages over 300 student clubs, operates the on-campus PIVIK General Store, and delivers programs including Health & Dental Plan, U-Pass transit, Safe Walk, Free Printing, Free Headshots, Healthy Plates, Emergency Hardship Fund, and Scholarships. Student life programming includes 101 Week orientation with 800 trained guides, Student Life Awards, and Youth Leadership for Change. UOSU also recently launched a digital Student Rights Centre Portal for streamlined case management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health & Dental Plan Health and dental insurance coverage program administered via studentcare.ca for undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa.
• U-Pass Transit pass program providing unlimited OC Transpo public transit access to University of Ottawa students, administered in partnership with OC Transpo.
• Safe Walk Safety escort program providing students with safe accompaniment across the University of Ottawa campus during evening hours.
• Free Printing Printing service providing free printing for undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa.
• Free Headshots Professional photography service providing free headshots for students' professional and academic needs.
• Healthy Plates Food access program supporting student nutrition and food security for University of Ottawa undergraduates.
• Emergency Hardship Fund Financial assistance program providing emergency funds to undergraduate students facing unexpected hardship situations.
• Scholarships Scholarship programs and financial awards available to University of Ottawa undergraduate students.
• Grief and Memorial Centre Support service for students dealing with grief, loss, or memorial needs.
• PIVIK General Store On-campus general store offering affordable products to University of Ottawa students, operated as part of UOSU's commercial operations.
• Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) Service centre providing support, resources, and accommodations for University of Ottawa students with disabilities.
• Clubs Administration Service (CAS) Service centre managing and supporting over 300 student clubs on the University of Ottawa campus.
• Feminist Resource Centre (FRC) Resource centre providing feminist resources, support, and programming for University of Ottawa students.
• Food Bank Food bank service providing food assistance to University of Ottawa students in need.
• International House Service centre supporting international students at the University of Ottawa with resources, handbooks, transition support, and cultural programming.
• Pride Centre

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 service centres operating to serve undergraduate students
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2024Partnership with Ottawa transit workers' union on transit advocacy. Co-signed open letter to OC Transpo and City Council opposing U-Pass fare increases. Solidarity statement on LRT service changes.
• Carleton University Students' Association (CUSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2024Joint advocacy partnership with CUSA on issues affecting Ottawa students, particularly transit. Co-signed letters to Mayor Sutcliffe regarding LRT service cuts and U-Pass fare increases. Represents combined nearly 80,000 students across both universities.
• University of OttawacoreOthersFormal relationship with the university for student representation. UOSU advocates to university administration (including President Jacques Frémont), participates in Board of Governors and Senate appointments, and provides services on campus.
• DesjardinsminorOthersTransitioned from Scotiabank to Desjardins as the union's banking partner, motivated by climate justice concerns. Desjardins is a cooperative financial institution with stronger sustainability practices.
• City of Ottawa (OC Transpo)coreOthersU-Pass agreement with OC Transpo providing students transit passes. UOSU advocates on transit policy, fare increases, and service changes. Estimated $19 million annual revenue from uOttawa students to OC Transpo.
• Student Unions across OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of student unions across Ottawa coordinating the All Out for OSAP campaign to fight Ford government changes to student financial aid. Part of broader provincial student mobilization.
• All Out for OSAP Ottawa CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition steering the campaign against OSAP cuts, coordinating actions across student unions in Ottawa. Includes uOttawa, Carleton, and other Ottawa student organizations.
• City Councillors (Shawn Ménard, Stéphanie Plante, Laine Johnson) and MPPs (Joel Harden, Lucille Collard)minorOthersPolitical allies who publicly supported student positions on transit and affordability issues. Engaged in advocacy efforts and public statements supporting UOSU positions.
• Climate Justice Climatique UOttawa (CJCUO)minorOthersClimate justice organization at uOttawa. UOSU signed their petition requesting the university cut ties with RBC due to fossil fuel investment.
• ChangeCourseminorOthersMet with ChangeCourse representatives to discuss national plans regarding the #RBCHorsCampus campaign on campus fossil fuel divestment.
• Free Transit OttawaminorOthersCommunity advocacy organization. Nick Grover, Organizer at Free Transit Ottawa, co-signed the open letter to OC Transpo opposing U-Pass fare increases.
• Horizon OttawaminorOthersOttawa community organization. Sam Hersh, Coordinator at Horizon Ottawa, co-signed the open letter to OC Transpo opposing U-Pass fare increases.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Simon Fraser Student Society: Student society for Simon Fraser University undergraduates. Directly comparable levy-funded student society providing services, advocacy, clubs, and a U-Pass transit program in British Columbia.
• Western University - University Students' Council: University Students' Council at Western University serving undergraduates. Operates an analogous student council model with levy funding, service centres, clubs, and advocacy functions.
• University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU): Recognized student union for University of Toronto undergraduates. Operates an analogous levy-funded membership model delivering services, advocacy, and clubs to a large urban undergraduate population, making it a structural peer.
• Alma Mater Society (UBC): Student society for University of British Columbia undergraduates. Comparable in scale, mandate, and levy-funded model delivering services, advocacy, clubs, and a U-Pass-style transit program (U-Pass BC).
• York Federation of Students: Federation representing undergraduate students at York University. Comparable levy-funded student federation providing advocacy, services, and clubs to a similarly diverse urban commuter campus in Ontario.
• McGill Students' Society: Student society representing McGill University undergraduates in Montreal. Directly comparable as a large Canadian university student society delivering services, advocacy, and student life programming through mandatory fees.
• Carleton University Students' Association (CUSA): Ottawa-based undergraduate student association serving Carleton University students. Directly comparable as a fellow Ottawa postsecondary student union already partnered with UOSU on joint advocacy, particularly around transit and student affordability.
• University of Alberta Students' Union: Student union serving University of Alberta undergraduates. Operates a comparable levy-funded model with services, advocacy, and student programming on a large Canadian campus.
• Queen's University Alma Mater Society: Alma Mater Society representing Queen's University undergraduates. Comparable levy-funded student governance body delivering services, advocacy, and student programming at a Canadian university.

Emerging players

• Graduate Students' Association (GSA\u00d8) at University of Ottawa: Represents graduate students at the University of Ottawa. Adjacent on the same campus with overlapping advocacy interests (especially transit and affordability) but serves a distinct student segment rather than competing for undergraduates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/seuo.uosu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seuo-uosu
• Instagraminstagram.com/seuo_uosu/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Ottawa Students’ Union