Living

As a first-year student, you may be staying with your parents and family or you may be venturing out on your own for the first time, either living in residence or off-campus accommodations. Whether you choose to live on campus, stay with family, or rent with friends, we hope you make your place feel like home. 

Residence | Food Services | Off-Campus Living | Transportation | Sustainability

Residence

Living in residence provides you with more than just a place to sleep! With neighbours who have come to study at UVic from across Canada and around the world, you'll meet new people and develop friendships that last a lifetime. Your proximity to classes, libraries, food, recreation and study spaces can help you thrive as a student.

Here are a few more benefits of living in residence:

• Community Leaders (CLs) are upper-year students who live in residence with you, host programs and events in your community, and will be available to provide guidance and support.
• Residence events and programs help to get you connected with new friends and the UVic community.
• The front desk staff are ready to help when you need to pick up a package, you've locked yourself out, or just have a question about residence.

Food Services

Hungry? Food Services is here to provide dining options on campus.  

Off-campus living

While many students choose to live in residence in their first-year, many others choose to live off campus. If you’re looking for an off-campus home, Places4Students.com works in partnership with UVic to provide off-campus listings for renters and landlords. Before signing a lease, we encourage you to review the BC Tenancy Act to learn your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

If you’re living off-campus, we encourage you to foster positive relationships with the residents in your neighbourhood and to understand your rights and responsibilities as a community member.

• • Get to know your neighbours. Knowing your neighbours will help you to better understand each other in case any issues arise. Introduce yourself when you move in and say hello when you see them coming and going.
  • Know your neighbourhood rules. Your rights and responsibilities as a resident may differ depending on what community you’ve chosen to live in. Make sure you know the rules about garbage disposal, property maintenance, noise levels and more.
  • Maintain your rental unit. Create a regular schedule for cleaning and maintenance. Completing these tasks on a regular basis creates a healthy living environment and also helps to ensure there are no lasting damages.
  • Get involved in your community. Many Victoria neighbourhoods have neighbourhood associations that plan events and activities for their residents. Participating is a great way to be an active community member. 

Transportation

Whether you’re living off-campus or just looking to explore Victoria, BC transit is a great option. All students enrolled in at least one on-campus course have automatic access to a U-Pass, which provides free unlimited travel on all BC Transit Buses.

UVic is home to a central transit exchange, located between the bookstore and Student Union Building, and many bus routes begin or end at the university. 

Buses run 365 days a year, typically from 6 a.m. to midnight. Up-to-date information on all bus routes can be found at bctransit.com, the Transit App or using Google Maps.

BC Transit also offers special trips to Swartz Bay for students travelling to Vancouver for the weekend. The 76 UVic/Swartz Bay operates Friday service to Swartz Bay only and Sunday service to UVic only, from September to April. 

Sustainability

Let's all do our part! At UVic, we are committed to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact. Read the Student Sustainability Guidebook to learn more!

Here are some initiatives and tips to help you live sustainably while at university:

Recycling and Waste Reduction

UVic has a comprehensive recycling program to help reduce waste. Make sure to:

• Locate sort-it-out stations across campus and sort your waste responsibly:
  • Compost food scraps and soiled paper products in the green bins.
  • Paper and paper products (no liquids please!) into the blue bins.
  • Hard plastics and metals (food cans, beverage cans, tin foil)
• Reduce single-use items by carrying a reusable water bottle and fill at one of the many fill stations on campus (map!)
• Bring a reusable coffee cup and get a $0.25 discount on your coffee or tea, anywhere on campus.
• Participate in the ECO Box Program! When taking your food to-go, ask for an ECO Box instead of a paper box (ECO Box) 

Energy Conservation

Help us save energy by:

• Turning off lights, computers, and other electronics when not in use.
• Unplug! Stop phantom energy loss and plug in only what you’re using.
• Take shorter showers – heating water uses lots of energy! Aim to reduce by 2 minutes.\
• Close your windows and blinds when you leave your room. 
• Grab a sweater in the colder months! Warm your body before your room. 

Sustainable Transportation

In addition to the U-Pass program, UVic supports sustainable transportation options:

• Bike Share: UVic offers a bike loan program and bike repairs through BikeHUB in the Campus Bike Centre. Find a covered bike rack here!
• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: There are several EV charging stations available on campus for those driving electric vehicles.
• Car Share options: EVO and Modo are both available on campus.
• Share the Space: UVic is a shared space for pedestrians and cyclists – but please give pedestrians the right of way!

Sustainable Food Choices

Make environmentally friendly food choices by:

• Enjoy one of the many delicious plant-based meal option on campus.
• Supporting local and sustainable food vendors on campus, keeping an eye out for Fair Trade and other certifications!
• Grab an ECO Box for your take-out on campus to lower single use packaging.

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