The Department of French offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of master of arts (MA) in French literature (with thesis or with thesis) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in French literature.

The Department also participates in several multidisciplinary programs: women's studies (at the master's level), medieval and Renaissance studies (at the master's level), and Canadian studies (at the doctoral level), which allows students to acquire a specialization in one of these areas.

Because of its excellence in the relevant fields, its bilingual character and its location in the nation's capital, the University of Ottawa is uniquely positioned to offer a multidisciplinary program leading to a specialization in Canadian Studies at the doctoral level. The program is intended primarily for students in certain programs in the humanities and social sciences who wish to enrich their training in a particular discipline by adding an interdisciplinary dimension.