Advising & supports
Navigating your degree
Program planning
There are a wide variety of courses you can take as a UVic student. Our program planning worksheets can help you ensure you are taking the appropriate courses for your degree program and help you to ensure you are not missing important prerequisites or requirements.
You may also wish to consult your degree evaluation report, a tool that will show which requirements you have completed or are in progress, and which requirements you still need to complete.
First-year students looking for guidance on selecting the appropriate 100-level math or physics courses should consult either the Math & Stats department website or the Physics & Astronomy department website.
Declare your program
In the Faculty of Science, we recommend declaring your program, including your major and any applicable minors, concentrations, diplomas and certificates, after you complete 12.0 units of coursework. This is typically at the end of your first year. You can change your program up to once per term after declaring.
Declaring your program will help you plan your course selection, ensures you have access to courses restricted to students in your program, may open up additional opportunities for scholarships and awards, and will give you better access to research opportunities, exchanges and co-op experiences. Declaring your program is required to be eligible to graduate.
Academic advising
You don’t have to navigate your degree on your own. Academic advising can help you decide what to study, plan your program, choose courses and make sure you’re on the right track to complete your degree in the timeframe of your choice.
Academic Advising Centre
Advisors within the Academic Advising Centre can help you explore your degree and program options and help you select your courses, plan for degree completion and interpret your degree evaluation report. They can also explain University policies and regulations, and help with academic concerns and provide appropriate referrals.
Department advisors
Department advisors are faculty members who advise students taking courses within their department or School. Department advisors are well-versed in their discipline and the courses offered by their department and can provide advice on course selection or sequencing, discuss future career options and share resources and opportunities available within the department. They can also help with administrative tasks such as prerequisite overrides, transfer credit and course waivers.
Academic regulations
Academic regulations are the official rules and policies that govern student conduct, course requirements, grading, progression and graduation standards at UVic. The UVic Academic Calendar is the basic guide to all academic regulations and all students should be familiar with these. You should be especially familiar with:
- academic concessions
- academic integrity
- evaluation of student achievement
- graduate academic regulations
If you run into a problem, it's best to begin by talking to your instructor. If you aren't able to do so or if talking to the instructor doesn't resolve the issue, talk to the chair of the department or the director of the school that offers the course or program. You can also contact the ombudsperson, an impartial and confidential resource.
Study skills & learning help
UVic offers a variety of free academic supports to help students succeed in their courses. Students are encouraged to access these resources proactively.
- Academic Skills Centre can help with all your writing, reading and speaking needs, as well as academic integrity questions. They offer tutoring, workshops and online resources and can also help you develop strong study skills.
- Digital Scholarship Commons can help you develop digital skills in a wide variety of areas. They offer workshops and resources on data analysis (e.g. Excel, RStudio, Tableau, Python, Nvivo), communication tools (e.g. LaTeX, GitHub, Canva, PowerPoint, video editing, podcasting), makerspace tools (e.g. laser cutting, 3D printing, Arduino), citation management and generative AI.
- Math & Stats Assistance Centre offers help with 100- and 200-level math and statistics courses. They provide one-on-one drop-in tutoring and a space to work alone or in groups.
- Physics Aid Service offers support for all levels of undergraduate physics. They can help you understand concepts, tackle homework challenges and prepare for midterm and final exams.
Health & wellness supports
The Student Wellness Centre (SWC) provides emotional, physical and spiritual care to help you thrive, so you can achieve your personal and academic goals.