With a tradition of Ukrainian studies dating back to the 1960's, the University of Ottawa has the longest history of such studies in North America. In the 1980's, two research study funds were created: the Antin and Nadia Iwachniuk and Constantine Bida funds. In 1985 the two funds were integrated and became the Ukrainian Studies and Research Endowments (USRE) at the University of Ottawa.

Since 1976, interest from the USRE has made possible a variety of activities on Ukrainian topics - scholarly conferences and public lectures have been held at the University of Ottawa, scholarships and research grants have been awarded, and books have been published.

The Chair of Ukrainian Studies was formally established at the University of Ottawa on February 3, 1993, and launched on November 17, 1995, with Honorary Patron the Rt. Hon. Ramon J. Hnatyshyn, former Governor General of Canada. Located in Canada's capital, the Chair takes advantage of the special nexus of governmental, commercial, diplomatic, academic, and cultural forces in the region.

The Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union (SUSK) is a national student organization comprised of Ukrainian Student Organizations (USO) at post-secondary institutions across Canada. It's purpose is to advocate concerns relevant to Ukrainian Canadian students. It was founded at the first Congress of Ukrainian Students in Winnipeg in 1953 under patronage of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee (UCC).
However the first co-ordinating organization for Ukrainian Canadian students, called the Conference of Ukrainian Students in Canada, was formed in 1927. Ukrainian Students Organizations provide an opportunity to develop a stronger identity though sharing the experience of higher education and personal development with others of the same ancestry.