University of Victoria

Situated on the south end of Vancouver Island on Canada’s spectacular West Coast, Victoria has all the amenities of a large urban centre, yet maintains the character of a small town. We’re famous for our stunning natural environment, friendly community and fantastic restaurants.

Downtown Victoria is a short drive away from UVic, and it’s worth the trip to see the Inner Harbour, legislature buildings, and the storied Empress Hotel. Head out of the city on a day trip, and you’ll find lots of hiking trails, beaches, and other outdoor activities as you explore the island.

University of Victoria students have opportunities to study abroad in 42 countries, many of these in the Asia-Pacific region. International study abroad programs provide opportunities for students who want to spend time learning in a foreign country while they are studying at UVic. Students receive UVic credits for their time at foreign institutions, and these credits count towards their UVic degree. The length of the exchange and procedure for applying to it vary by program.

UVic admission requirements are based on your current or most recent education system and the faculty/program to which you’re applying. If you’re applying for full-time undergraduate studies, you may need to also demonstrate English language proficiency and submit a supplemental application. Typically, most programs will require English 12 or English First Peoples 12 and other approved Grade 11 and 12 courses.

View our programs and admission requirements.

Higher Level IB certificate or diploma courses may be eligible for transfer credit. Additional credit is also given to recognize completion of a full IB diploma.

Students who have completed an Advanced Placement exam through the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) with a grade of 4 or 5 may be eligible for transfer credit. A grade of 3 will be considered for advanced standing, which allows students to register into a higher level of course work, but does not give credit for a specific UVic course.

All applicants to UVic (regardless of country of origin or citizenship status) are required to demonstrate competence in the English language prior to admission. You are not required to provide proof of language proficiency if you have studied full time for at least four years within Canada at the high school and/or post-secondary level, and all of your instruction has been in English.

Learn more at uvic.ca/enpr.

The application deadlines for all current high school students (domestic and international) are annual fixed dates, and the university reserves the right to make changes as necessary. The Application Deadline for the Fall semester is January 31st, and supplemental application deadlines vary by program.

The non-refundable application fees for undergraduate programs are as follows:

• $84.25 if all transcripts are from institutions within Canada
• $157.00 if any transcripts come from institutions outside of Canada.

Applications for undergraduate programs are submitted through UVic’s online application portal.

Visit uvic.ca/apply to review the steps involved in submitting an application.

Live in one of our 21 residence buildings on campus! Two brand-new residence buildings and a new dining hall have been added to offer accommodation to more UVic students (783 NEW residence rooms).

Our student housing is grouped into neighbourhoods. Each has its own community leaders, activities and events. Most residence buildings are mixed gender, but some feature designated single gender floors.

We also offer living learning communities (LLCs). These unique residence communities bring students with common interests or areas of study together. Our LLC themes are:

• arts collective
• business community
• engineering community
• global citizenship community
• health and wellness community
• humanities community
• leadership and civic engagement
• science community
• sustainability community

If you would like to apply to an LLC, you must select it as one of your five preferences in your residence application.

Single-occupancy room in new residence with a standard meal plan $13,934

Single-occupancy room with a standard meal plan $13,660

Pod-style single-occupancy room (does not include meal plan) $8,444

Double-occupancy room with a standard meal plan $11,967

Cluster single room in a four-bedroom unit (does not include meal plan) $8,353

(On-campus residence rates based on September to April 2023-24 rates. Rates are quoted in Canadian dollars.)

Residence applications open on February 15 and the deadline is May 1. Applications received after May 1 will be placed on a waitlist.

Visit the Residence Services website to learn how to apply.

Are you a student with a learning disability, ADHD, mental health issue or long-term recurring physical or sensory disability? Do you have chronic health issues? If you do, and you want to be part of our programs, or need academic accommodations to address barriers to your education, then we offer many supports for you.

Centre for Accessible Learning

• Academic accommodations
• Alternate text formats
• Assistive technology to support educational goals
• Accommodated university exams
• Visual language interpreting
• Consultation and referral to federal and provincial funding sources

Specialized Library Services 

• Specialized facilities and services
• Adaptive technology rooms
• Priority workspaces
• Respite rooms
• Allow a designate to access your library account
• Library materials in alternate formats
• Book retrieval
• Research help

Accessible spaces 

UVic is committed to providing a variety of services to support the principles of universal design, and to create physical environments that are usable and accessible to people with a wide range of abilities.

You already have something amazing to offer; bring it to UVic! Here, your knowledge, experiences and perspective will shape the UVic community. At the same time, you’ll have opportunities to develop a deeper appreciation of your own culture and your place within it. At UVic, Indigenous cultural activities and academics go hand-in-hand, so you don’t need to leave your culture behind to pursue your university education.

Opportunities, services and events

• First Peoples House
• Co-op for Indigenous Students
• LE,NONET academic, leadership and financial-aid programs
• Campus Cousins – friendly upper-level students who will welcome you to campus
• Native Students Union
• Elders available for friendly chats or cultural guidance
• Indigenous counsellors
• Financial support
• Academic Support
• Cultural activities and events
• Wellness Events
• Indigenous housing guarantee

It’s not about where you’re coming from, it’s about where you’re going. As a UVic student, you’ll pursue your academic goals while sharing your unique perspective and learning about Canadian culture. We offer undergraduate degree programs for students coming directly from high school or transferring from other post-secondary institutions, as well as a variety of quality graduate degree programs.

All applicants to UVic (regardless of country of origin or citizenship status) are required to demonstrate competence in the English language prior to admission.

You are not required to provide proof of language proficiency if you have studied full time for at least four years within Canada at the high school and/or post-secondary level, and all of your instruction has been in English.

For more information, visit uvic.ca/enpr.