Supporting international students

The Winter Session 2021/22 timetable went live on May 31. Consistent with the direction from BC’s provincial health officer, the majority of fall courses will be offered face to face—about 88% of total course sections. There are approximately 100 online courses in addition to the courses normally taught online pre-pandemic. As per the guidelines approved by Senate, and to ensure access for students unable to physically be here in September, most of these are courses that enrol a significant number of international students.

International Student Services (ISS) is communicating directly with students outside of Canada who aren’t able to be in Victoria this September. Many of these students, particularly first- and second-year students, will have online options to advance their studies this fall before joining us for in-person learning in January.

Immigration, travel and settlement

ISS can help students with immigration, travel, settlement, transition and community building. They also provide a Self-Isolation Program for current students. Please refer international students to ISS for information and assistance.

Business students can contact advisers in the Gustavson School of Business.

Learning and teaching

We are encouraging international students to make every effort to travel here. Some have indicated that they plan to arrive in Canada but may not have completed their quarantine/self-isolation prior to the start of the term on Sept. 8, 2021.

In these instances, instructors are asked to be as flexible as possible for these students who may miss a few classes during the first two weeks of the fall term. This could include sharing PowerPoint slides, notes or lecture captures if feasible. LTSI can help you build your Brightspace course in order to do so more easily.

Academic advising

If an undergraduate student reaches out to you to share that they are unable to learn with us online or be here in person this fall, please direct them to academic advising. Advisers can work with students to discuss available options with respect to their academic programming.

Further, international students should be referred to ISS once they have determined their academic options for the term. This will help to ensure international students understand any potential implications of registering in part-time studies, deferring their studies or taking a leave for the term.