UVic Global Community

Social drop-ins

Come and hang out with us at the bi-weekly GC Social Drop In! Connect with others, play games, drink some tea, and enjoy some baking and treats. 

Come alone or bring your friends—everyone is welcome.

Global Community Social Drop-ins will continue in the Spring 2025 term (January - April), Check out the GC Events list for more details.

No registration is required.

Conversation Partners Program

This program provides students, who have English as an additional language, with opportunities to practice, build confidence and improve their conversational English skills.

One or two students are matched with a conversation partner and meet for a minimum of 1 hour every week throughout the term.

Activities include:

• academic: studying together, attending workshops, training, conferences, and symposiums
• informal meetups: coffee, meals, walks
• community activities: museum tours, and festivals
• intercultural engagement: participating in cultural festivals, intercultural training, holiday events (e.g. Thanksgiving, Holi Festival, Lunar New Year) and International Education Week
• fitness and sport: hiking, working out together

Get matched with a conversation partner

Volunteer as a conversation partner

Note: conversation partners are not teachers or tutors; they provide English-as-an-additional-language students with opportunities to practice their conversational English in an informal setting.

Mentorship Program

This program gives students a chance to explore intercultural connections, make new friends and receive support as they navigate their social and academic transition to UVic. Mentors make arrangements with the student(s) to meet every week throughout the term.

Activities in this program are similar to activities offered in the conversations program.

Get matched with a mentor

Volunteer as a mentor

Events

We coordinate events that are open to all international and domestic students, staff and faculty.

These events aim to share perspectives, celebrate diversity, foster intercultural connections and cultivate an inclusive and globally minded campus.

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer as a conversation partner

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer in our Conversation Partners Program and supporting students to build confidence in their conversational English skills?

Volunteers:

• are undergraduate and graduate students, staff or faculty
• are matched with up to 3 students to form a group
• organize weekly meet ups for approximately 1 hour throughout the term
• are proficient in conversational English and feel confident speaking one-on-one or in a group
• must have completed 1 term at UVic before volunteering

Apply by March 23 to volunteer this fall!

Volunteer as a mentor

Are you interested in volunteering in our Mentorship Program and supporting students as they navigate their transition to UVic and living in Victoria?

Volunteers:

• are undergraduate and graduate students, staff or faculty
• are matched with up to 3 students to form a group
• organize weekly meet ups for approximately 1 hour throughout the term
• must have completed 1 term at UVic before volunteering

Apply by March 23 to volunteer this fall!

International student welcome

Each term, the International Centre for Students welcomes new international students to UVic during International Student Welcome Week. There are many short-term volunteer opportunities to help us welcome new international students and start the year in a good way!

Check back later for updated information on volunteering for our next international student welcome event.

 Global Community general interest list

Throughout the year, we have many different ways to get involved in campus and community volunteer opportunities.

Email us at gcmentor@uvic.ca if you would like to be put on the list to hear about upcoming events.

GC Student Advisory Council

The GC Student Advisory Council is comprised of students from the international community who are committed to supporting the success of international students at UVic through peer connections, community engagement and inclusion.

The Council meets regularly to share ideas, experiences and opinions that contribute to the GC initiative, and the advancement of UVic's strategic directions for fostering a globally mindful campus and to enhance the international student experience. 

Learn more about the Student Advisory Council volunteer role.