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Undergraduate admissions

Recreation and Health Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Why choose Recreation & Health Education at UVic?

Explore how recreation, leisure, physical activity and wellness shape individual and community health. You’ll learn how to design, deliver and evaluate recreation and health programs that improve quality of life across diverse populations — from youth and families to older adults and community groups.

The program combines applied learning, leadership development and social impact. You’ll graduate with practical experience, strong communication and planning skills, and a clear pathway into careers in recreation, wellness, health promotion, education and community leadership — or further professional or graduate study.

Jump to admission requirements

Hands-on learning

Adventure leadership

Gain international experience by travelling to Wales and working as an outdoor instructor at Atlantic College through a paid co-op placement. 

Health education in after-school care

Support healthy living by helping deliver health education programming for children in after-school programs, focusing on physical activity, wellbeing and positive lifestyle habits.

Administer & coordinate recreation programs

Develop management and leadership experience by organizing recreation and sport programs in community recreation centres through paid co-op placements. 

Inclusive programming

Help design and deliver inclusive after-school programs for youth with developmental disabilities through paid co-op opportunities, gaining experience in adaptive recreation and inclusive community engagement.

Highlights

Wide interior view of a large indoor gymnasium with multiple marked courts, showing people playing basketball on the right, others gathered around tables and activities in the centre, and additional sports equipment set up across the floor under a high ceiling with skylights.
Learn in CARSA, UVic’s world-class Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities, one of the leading recreation and wellness facilities in Canada.
  • Benefit from faculty and staff with strong connections to recreation, sport, health and community organisations in Canada and internationally
  • Pair your degree with a minor in Physical Education to build a clear pathway toward becoming a secondary school physical education teacher

Earn while you learn

Co-operative Education (Co-op)

  • Through UVic’s Co-op program, you’ll apply what you learn in paid, career-related positions that count toward your degree—and give you a head start after graduation.
  • Co-op is available to everyone, including international students with co-op work permits.
  • On average, 70 percent of UVic Co-op students graduate with a job offer already in hand.
  • Unlike at some universities, at UVic, you don’t have to compete for a spot in Co-op.
Learn about co-ops & practicums in the School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education.

Inspiring courses

  • Gymnastics and Circus Arts for Agility, Balance and Coordination
  • Yoga: In these bodies, on these lands
  • Net Games
Students wearing blindfolds participate in an indoor goalball-style activity, moving across a gym floor toward a ball during an adaptive sport session.

Teach physical education

The Recreation and Health Education Program is 1 of 4 pathways that we offer towards a physical education career. Learn how to become a physical education teacher.

Career outcomes

All UVic co-op students

  • 70% of co-op students graduated with a job offer in hand
  • 42% of eligible students took part in co-op
  • 16% of these students found their post-graduation position because of their co-op experience

All UVic grads

  • 48% of graduating students received a job offer before graduation
  • 83% found career-related positions in their chosen field
  • 48% received a salary of more than $50,000 a year
  • 52% found work in Greater Victoria

Admission

Apply directly to this program as a high school student or a transfer student from another post-secondary institution.

If you've already completed courses in a post-secondary diploma or degree program, you must apply as a transfer student for Year 2 entry.

Program details

Providing you accurate application deadlines, tuition fee estimates, admission requirements, scholarships and transfer credit depends on your situation.

Program details

This information assumes you are . If this is incorrect, please update your information.

Application deadline

Admission requirements

Expanded qualifications

English language proficiency

Transfer credit

Tuition & fees

Tuition rates effective May 1, 2025 (please note some ancillary fees are subject to change for Fall 2025).

This is an estimate only and should be used to give students, parents, and/or sponsors an approximation of the tuition and ancillary fees. This estimate does not include housing, food, cost of books and supplies or other expenses that students can expect in a term.

Scholarships

Ready to apply?

We'll walk you through all of the steps in the process, from submitting your online application to accepting your offer of admission.

How to apply

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Faculties & departments

Program planning

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