New to UVic?

New Student Orientation offers fun and informative orientation events designed to help you have a smooth transition to UVic. New international students are expected to attend the International Student Welcome, and we strongly recommend attending other orientation events as well. If you miss the International Student Welcome, or if you start at UVic during the summer session, visit the International Office in University Centre A205 to pick up a welcome package.

Once you're on campus, visit the International Office in University Centre A205 to join the UVic Global Community and learn about our programming for international students.

Your student identification card is your principal form of identification at UVic, and is required throughout your program of study. You may also want to get a government issued British Columbia identification card so you can keep your passport in a safe place instead of carrying it around with you.

Efficient and integrated academic support is available at the Learning Commons on the main floor of the Mearns Centre. Services available include:

• The International Commons
• The Writing Centre
• Learning skills, study solutions and peer helping
• Academic advising
• Math & Stats help
• Physics help
• French help
• Research help
• Computer and technical help

 It is important to be aware of UVic’s policies on academic integrity and the serious consequences that may follow if you are accused of academic misconduct.

If you are ever affected by illness, accident or family affliction, you should immediately consult with Counselling Services, Health Services or another health professional. In such cases, you may qualify for an academic concession.

The Ombudsperson assists in resolving student fairness issues and in fostering respectful learning and working environments.

UVic is committed to creating a campus that is accessible for all. Visit the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability website for more information.

If you live on campus, Residence Services is your home away from home. Make sure you take advantage of everything the Residence Life and Education team has to offer.

Living with a family in Victoria is a great option for students who want to live off-campus, but who aren't quite ready to set up a home of their own. The UVic Homestay Program brings international students and Canadian families together to share cultures and develop long-lasting friendships.

Finding a place to live off-campus can sometimes feel like a lot of work, but the Off-Campus Housing Listings and the Off-Campus Housing Comparison Form help to simplify the process.

If you pay rent for your accommodation, you are a tenant. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the legal rights and responsibilities for tenants in British Columbia. The Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre produces the Tenant Survival Guide, which is an excellent resource.

Visit the Food Services website to find campus dining locations, hours of operation and menus. If you eat on campus regularly, a dining card can save you up to 10% of each purchase.

We are very fortunate in Victoria to have access to food from around the world. Visit the International Office in University Centre A205 for a list of bakeries, delis, markets and grocery stores. Search online for restaurants using Urbanspoon and Cheep Eats Victoria.

Be sure to create an email address using your NetLink ID so that you receive important messages from UVic. If you don't want to check multiple email accounts, you can arrange for emails sent to your UVic account to be automatically forwarded to the email account you plan to check regularly.

Computing facilities are available on campus. Public computers are also available in the Mearns Centre.

If you have a laptop or other mobile device, you can access free wireless internet on campus. Many businesses in Victoria, such as coffee shops and restaurants, also offer free wireless internet.

The Computer Help Desk is the first place to contact when you have computer-related questions. They provide information and advice, and they accept work orders for computing equipment repairs.

The Computer Store is located in the UVic Bookstore and stocks a selection of hardware and software.

Free phones for local calls are located around campus.

Many students download a program called Skype. With this program you can make free phone calls anywhere in the world using a computer or mobile device and an internet connection.

The major mobile phone providers in Victoria include Bell, Fido, Koodo Mobile, Rogers, Telus Mobility and Virgin Mobile. Use Compare Cellular to compare plans and select the one which best suits your needs.

Canada Post provides delivery service for letters, documents and parcels within Canada, to the US and internationally. If you move, you can arrange for mail to be forwarded to your new address. You can also arrange for Canada Post to suspend mail delivery and hold your mail while you are away from home.

There is a Post Office inside Campus Pharmacy, which is located in the Student Union Building.

At UVic, the academic year is divided into a summer session and a winter session, as follows:

Keep important dates and deadlines in mind when adding and dropping courses. Do not assume that your instructor will drop you from a course if you do not attend classes. You are responsible for adding and dropping courses using UVic My Page.

You must have a NetLink ID to register for courses at UVic. It is also important to create an email address using your NetLink ID so that you receive important messages from UVic, such as notifications of registration dates and times and waitlist movement.

All eligible students will be sent a message to their UVic email address when their registration date and time has been assigned. You can check your registration status using UVic My Page in the Student Services section under the Registration tab. If you do not yet have a UVic email account, use your NetLink ID to create one.

It is very important to register for courses as soon as you are eligible. Most courses fill up quickly so students who register after their assigned registration date and time will have fewer options.

Seek academic advice early and often. Refer to the University Vocabulary list for help understanding academic terminology.

Undergraduate students: Consult the UVic Calendar for program requirements. When you have questions about course selection and program planning, contact the academic advisor responsible for your faculty.

Graduate students: Consult the UVic Calendar for program requirements. When you have questions about course selection and program planning, contact the graduate advisor in your academic unit.

Complete the self-placement questionnaire before registering for a first-year English course. The questionnaire will recommend one or more courses that are best suited to your level of proficiency in written English.

Undergraduate students: Consult Registration 101, phone 250-721-8142, email reghelp@uvic.ca or visit the Welcome Centre.

Graduate students: Contact the graduate advisor in your academic unit.

In general, international students should maintain full-time status at UVic.

Undergraduate students: For winter session, you must be registered in a minimum of 12.0 units between the two terms or in two co-operative education work terms or in a co-operative education work term plus a minimum of 6.0 units during the other term. Undergraduate students maintain their overall full-time status at UVic even if they who do not register in courses, or if they register in fewer than 6.0 units, during the summer session. Full-time status for undergraduate students is defined in the UVic Calendar.

Graduate students: For fall term, spring term and summer session, you must be registered in courses totaling a minimum of 3.0 or 4.5 units (depending on the program of study) or in a dissertation, thesis, project or co-operative education work term. Graduate students must maintain continuous full-time registration. Full-time status for graduate students is defined in the UVic Calendar.

Students are responsible for knowing their class schedule. You can access your timetable and check classroom locations for each of your courses using UVic My Page in the Student Services section under the Registration tab.

If you do not attend the first week of classes, you may be dropped from courses or you may lose your spot on waitlists. If you are not able to attend the first week of classes, you must contact your instructors to confirm your registration. You should attend all scheduled lectures, labs and tutorials listed in your timetable each week.

Lots of movement will take place on waitlists during the first two weeks of term. If you are offered registration into a course, a message will be sent to your UVic email address. You must accept the offer before it expires or you will be dropped from the waitlist, so you must check your UVic email address every day if you are on a waitlist. If you do not yet have a UVic email account, use your NetLink ID to create one.

Final exam schedules are posted at the end of October for fall term exams and at the end of February for spring term exams. Summer session final exams are held in class on the last day of the course. 

The UVic Bookstore stocks textbooks and course materials. You can create a customized shopping list and find answers to your questions on their website.

Used textbooks are also available on consignment at SUBtext in the Student Union Building.

We recommend opening an account at a financial institution in Victoria. The major financial institutions in Victoria include BMO, CIBC, HSBC, RBC, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust. Research your options before making a decision.

If you use an Automated Banking Machine (ABM) that is not owned by your financial institution, you will probably be charged a service fee. RBC and Scotiabank both have ABMs on campus.

Students who do not have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status are required to pay international tuition at colleges and universities across Canada. The amount of tuition you pay at UVic will depend on your program of study.

Your account summary is available through UVic My Page in the Student Services section under the Finances tab. When you add or drop a course, allow 24 hours for your account summary to be updated. Tuition and fees statements are not mailed to students.

Instructions for paying your tuition and fees are available on the Accounting Services website.

Keep important dates and deadlines in mind. Be sure to pay your tuition and fees on time. A penalty service charge will be added for late payments. Failure to pay fees on time may also result in cancellation of course registration and denial of services.

Living expenses include accommodation and utilities, food, health insurance, recreation, clothing and personal or family care. For an estimate of living expenses in British Columbia, visit the Estimated Expenses web page.

Attending university is an exciting opportunity to invest in your future. The Student Awards and Financial Aid office can help you manage your investment wisely. Ask them for information about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities.

Some international students supplement their funding by working in Canada.

Graduate students: Information about grants, fellowships and other funding opportunities is available on the Graduate Studies website. Ask your academic unit about teaching and research assistantships.

In Canada, health insurance is very important. So important that UVic requires all students to have comprehensive coverage for the entire time they are studying on campus.

The cost of medical services in Canada is very high for those who do not have health insurance. Without proper coverage, you could be denied medical services or pay thousands of dollars each day for a hospital stay.

Having both basic and extended health insurance provides you with comprehensive coverage and ensures that ill health will not cause financial difficulties or compromise your academic progress. It is essential that any family members who are with you in Canada also obtain comprehensive coverage. You can add family members to your plans for an additional cost.

Health Services is located in the Health Centre and provides medical care for UVic students.

In British Columbia, you can phone 8-1-1 to speak with a nurse at any time of day or night. On week days, you can speak with a dietician about nutrition and healthy eating. At night, you can ask a pharmacist questions about your medications.

Campus Pharmacy, located in the Student Union Building, offers a wide range of health and beauty products plus prescription medications.

Campus Dental Centre is a full service dental practice located in the Student Union Building.

Victory Health & Wellness, located in the Student Union Building, offers appointments with massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, nutritionists and naturopaths.

Individual and group counselling for personal issues, learning skills programs and career exploration programs are available at Counselling Services. Peer Helping, another program supported by Counselling Services, provides assistance to students who aren’t ready to visit a counsellor but who still want to speak with someone in a confidential setting.

Multifaith Services provides religious support and spiritual care for the UVic community. Their team of culturally diverse chaplains includes Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim representatives. Multifaith Services can also connect you with other spiritual communities in Victoria.

Vikes Recreation offers fitness opportunities and recreation programs for all students. Instructional classes, informal recreation, intramural teams and sport clubs are available each term for a small fee. Discover all the ways you can get active at UVic.

Vikes Athletics provides student-athletes with quality coaching and high levels of competition through varsity teams. Check out the team schedules and cheer on your UVic Vikes!

In Canada, you can report an emergency anytime and anywhere by phoning 9-1-1. An operator will ask you to choose police, fire or ambulance and will ask what city you are in. Translation is available in 140 languages, so tell the operator if you want to speak with someone in your language. The operator will then transfer you. Do not hang up!

UVic Emergency Alerts is an emergency notification system that allows the university to quickly contact you with important information during an emergency. Register today.

Campus Security Services offers personal safety tips and safety programs at UVic, including Safehaven, Safewalk, Campus Alone and direct dial phones.

Once you’re on campus, visit the International Office in University Centre A205 to join the UVic Global Community and learn about our programming for international students.

Student societies at UVic are run by students for students.

All undergraduate students are members of the University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) located in the Student Union Building. Don’t miss Club and Course Union Days in September and January! With more than 200 active clubs, advocacy groups, course unions and professional development unions on campus, there are plenty of opportunities to meet like-minded friends who engage and inspire you.

All graduate students are members of the Graduate Students’ Society (GSS) located in the Grad Centre.

Multifaith Services provides religious support and spiritual care for the UVic community. Their team of culturally diverse chaplains includes Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim representatives. Multifaith Services can also connect you with other spiritual communities in Victoria.

Vikes Recreation offers fitness opportunities and recreation programs for all students. Instructional classes, informal recreation, intramural teams and sport clubs are available each term for a small fee. Discover all the ways you can get active at UVic.

Vikes Athletics provides student-athletes with quality coaching and high levels of competition through varsity teams. Check out the team schedules and cheer on your UVic Vikes!

If your children are with you in Canada, the Family Centre is an essential resource and a welcoming space on campus. Located in the Family Student Housing Complex, the Family Centre offers a toy and book library, a clothing exchange and programs including playgroups, parent discussion groups and social events.

Transit service in Victoria operates seven days a week, 365 days a year. Buses to all areas of Victoria leave frequently from the UVic bus loop. Your student identification card is your bus pass and gives you unlimited access on all Victoria routes. Swipe your card every time you get on a bus.

UVic has lots of great resources for cyclists, including the SPOKES bicycle shop and rental program.

Tip: Cyclists are required by law to wear a helmet at all times and to use both a front headlight and a rear light at night.

Taxis are generally too expensive for regular use but can be convenient in certain situations. Taxis in Victoria are operated by well established companies that provide safe transportation and electronically metered fares. The taxi companies in Victoria include BlueBird Cabs, Victoria Taxi and Yellow Cab.

New and used cars, trucks, motorcycles and scooters can be purchased or rented in Victoria. The Victoria Car Share Co-op and the Jack Bell RideShare Program provide sustainable driving options.

To drive a vehicle in British Columbia, you must have a valid driver’s license and insurance. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) provides information about licensing, driving rules, road safety and insurance.

Tip: All vehicles at UVic must park at a meter or display a valid parking permit.