University of Victoria

Admission overview

Most undergraduates follow the standard admission process: high school students in their graduating year, high school graduates who have not studied full-time at college or university, college and university transfer students, and graduates applying for a second bachelor's degree. Each program sets its own admission requirements and deadlines.

Other admission categories

• Accelerated Entry (dual credit during high school)
• Expanded Qualifications for high school students
• Homeschooled students
• Special Access, for students whose previous studies were affected by health, disability, family circumstances or similar challenges
• Supplemental Application for Indigenous students
• uStart for students from the Greater Victoria School District (SD61)
• Returning UVic students, exchange and visiting students, and community members through discovery studies

How to apply

Applications are submitted through EducationPlannerBC. The application fee is $89.50 if all transcripts come from institutions within Canada and $184.00 if any transcript comes from outside Canada. A confirmation email follows within 3-5 business days, after which the applicant creates a UVic NetLink ID using the UVic student number, views an application checklist and submits grades, transcripts and test scores. BC-curriculum students order transcripts through the StudentTranscripts Service; IB students upload predicted scores; students of other international curriculums upload in-progress transcripts. An admission offer is accepted by paying an acceptance deposit, which is credited toward tuition.

Application deadlines

September entry: most degree programs January 31; high school students who submit grades by early December can be considered for early admission. Teacher Education post-degree programs (Elementary Curriculum and Secondary Curriculum) January 2; Indigenous Education ongoing; Public Administration diploma and certificate programs May 31; Discovery Studies and visiting with a letter of permission April 30. January entry: Computer Science, Art History and Visual Studies, Music (BA) and all programs in Humanities, Science and Social Sciences September 30; Health Information Science October 31. Summer entry: Computer Science, Art History and Visual Studies, Music (BA) and programs in Humanities, Science and Social Sciences March 31; Engineering December 31 (high school graduates only). Some programs continue accepting applications after these dates while space remains.

English language proficiency

Applicants who studied full-time for at least four years in Canada at high school or post-secondary level, with all instruction in English, have met the requirement. Other routes include four years of full-time study with English as the language of instruction in a recognized English-speaking country or at a recognized international curriculum school, Grade 12 English in Canada with 86% or higher, AP English Language and Composition or English Language and Literature with 4 or higher, IB Higher Level English A with 4 or higher, O-Level English with grade B (6) or A-Level English with grade C.

Minimum test scores: IELTS Academic 6.5 (no component below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 88 (no section below 20); Duolingo English Test 120 (no subscore below 110); PTE Academic 65 (no skill below 60); CAEL 70 (no section below 60); MET 64 (four-skill only); Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 180 (no skill below 170). Tests taken more than two years before application are not accepted and scores must be sent directly by the testing organization. UVic's TOEFL institution code is 0989.

Conditional admission is available to applicants to Business, Engineering and Computer Science, Fine Arts (Art History and Visual Studies, Music BA), Humanities, Science and Social Sciences, who must then meet the full requirement by the date in their offer. Minimum scores: IELTS 6.0 (no component below 5.5); TOEFL iBT 79 (no section below 17); Duolingo 110 (no subscore below 100); PTE Academic 54 (no skill below 50); CAEL 60 (no section below 50); MET 58 (no skill below 53). English Language Centre preliminary admission gives up to 24 months to satisfy the requirement for applicants to Business, Engineering and Computer Science, Humanities, Science or Social Sciences, and the University Pathway Program is available for international students.

Transfer credit and advanced standing

Advanced Placement exams with grade 4 or 5 may earn transfer credit, and a grade of 3 may give advanced standing (UVic's CEEB code is 0989). A full IB diploma with minimum subject scores can earn up to one year of transfer credit, and Higher Level IB courses are assessed course by course. BC college credit follows the BC Transfer Guide, with 30 units guaranteed when an associate degree has been granted. College of applied arts and technology diplomas may earn up to 7.5 units (two-year) or up to 15 units (three-year).

International applicants

International students may apply for degree programs directly from high school or as transfer students. The International Centre for Students helps admitted students with immigration documents, health insurance, housing and working in Canada. Full-time international graduates of bachelor's programs may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit of up to three years under IRCC rules; programs delivered more than 50% by distance learning are not eligible.

UVic is based on a single main campus in Victoria, British Columbia, on the territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples.

• Library: UVic Libraries operate the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library and the Priestly Law Library, with Special Collections and University Archives and an Indigenous Hub.
• Athletics and recreation: The Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA) has a three-court fieldhouse, a two-level fitness and weight training area, a climbing centre, TRX, high-activity and spin rooms, dance and yoga studios, squash courts, a 2,100-seat performance gym, a rowing ergometer centre and the UVic Sports Injury Clinic. It is the home of Vikes varsity programs in eight sports and of CanAssist.
• Residence: Residence Services runs student housing grouped into neighbourhoods, residence communities, an Indigenous Living Learning Community, family housing and a homestay program for international students.
• Research facilities: shared core facilities include the UVic Health Core, the Genome BC Proteomics Centre, the StatsCan Research Data Centre and CAMTEC facilities (advanced microscopy, imaging, photonics and spectroscopy, nanofabrication).