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University of Victoria

PO Box 1700, Station CSC
Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2
Telephone: 250-721-7211

President: Dr. David H. Turpin

Profile

The University of Victoria, one of Canada’s leading universities, is a rich and supportive learning community for students and faculty alike. Widely recognized for leadership in research, inspired teaching and community engagement, UVic provides innovative programs and real-life learning experiences in a diverse and welcoming West Coast environment.

At UVic, our west coast setting is more than just a beautiful backdrop. It feeds our curiosity and informs our research, our teaching methods and our programs -- whether it’s environmental studies, earth and ocean sciences, or sustainable practices in business or environmental law. The drive to better understand the natural world has helped UVic become an international leader in fields including global change and sustainability, society and health, oceans and climate, and indigenous and cultural studies.

Serving more than 19,000 students from around the world, UVic’s academic programs are constantly evolving to provide education that will equip students for a rapidly changing world.

With Western Canada’s largest university cooperative education program and extensive practica and internship opportunities, UVic is a Canadian leader in experiential learning.

UVic faculty members have received numerous awards for excellence in teaching, including national 3M Teaching Fellowships. Forty of UVic’s researchers are current or former members of the RSC: The Academies of Arts, Sciences and Humanities of Canada, 34 faculty members hold Canada Research Chairs in recognition of their outstanding work, and seven have received Governor-General's Literature Awards.

UVic’s varsity athletics program is recognized as one of the best in Canada. Known as the Vikes, varsity teams have won a total of 63 Canadian university championships, and over 150 athletes, coaches and Vikes alumni have represented Canada at the Olympic Games.

The university is located a short walk from the beach and only a 15-minute drive or bus ride from downtown Victoria. The campus includes a system of scenic jogging trails, internationally famed rhododendron gardens and a wooded ravine preserved as an ecological area that serves as an outdoor classroom.

History
Year of foundation: 1963
Former name of the institution: Victoria College (1903-1963).

Student fees

Canadian student fees  2008 - 2009 *
Undergraduate ** tuition fees: $4,581
Graduate *** tuition fees: $3,172

International student fees  2008 - 2009 *
Undergraduate ** tuition fees: $14,823
Graduate *** tuition fees: $3,774

* Source: University of Victoria
** Fees for general programs in arts.
*** Fees for all programs, except business and information sciences.

Note: In addition to tuition fees, universities generally charge fees for goods and services supplied to students. This includes areas such as student associations, sports and health. These additional fees vary widely per university and per student and can run from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Check with the university for details.

Student enrolment

2008 fall enrolment *
Full-time (undergraduates): 11,366
Full-time (graduates): 2,313
Part-time (undergraduates): 4,402
Part-time (graduates): 273

* Source: University of Victoria

Programs and degrees

Note: The program information is compiled by AUCC staff in cooperation with staff at member institutions. The programs are classified according to the Classification of Instructional Programs 2000. To search for the programs offered by this institution, please consult the Directory of Canadian Universities’ programs database online at http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/search/index_e.html.

Student facilities and services

Personal support services
Health services; student clubs, undergraduate and graduate student societies; jobs on campus; religion and chaplain services; ombudsperson; residence life programming; housing and food services; safety on campus; childcare services; family resource centre, Native student union; First Peoples House; Aboriginal counsellor; personal counselling; women’s centre; resources for students with disabilities.

Academic support services
Aboriginal liaison; academic advising; educational and career counselling; Mearns Centre for Learning (including study skills, writing skills, math and chemistry support); computer help desk; art gallery and museum; athletics and recreation; bookstore; cooperative education; computer store; international and exchange student services; learning skills program; performing arts and film theatres.

First-year student programs
Experience UVic, campus visits and campus tours, orientation, student transition services, learning and study skills program, LE,NONET (a word meaning "success after enduring many hardships" and a program to support the success of undergraduate Aboriginal students), Education 101.

Housing
On-campus: Residences can accommodate 2,186 students. Both dormitory-style co-ed residences and apartment-style residences with four-bedroom units are available. A meal plan is obligatory for those students in dormitory accommodation. The apartment-style residences are usually reserved for students in second year or above. Family housing is available in apartments and townhouses. Admission to the university does not guarantee a place in residence. First-year students completing the admission process by June 30 are guaranteed on-campus accommodation. After that date, room assignments are based on the order of applications received. Annual cost (2008-2009) of room and board: $5,956 - $7,786. Family housing costs: one-bedroom apartment, $690/month; two-bedroom apartment; $810/month; two-bedroom townhouse, $915/month; three-bedroom townhouse, $1,080/month.

Off-campus: Rooms, $400 - $650/month; room and board, $700 - $850/month; suites (bachelor, one-bedroom, two- bedroom, three-bedroom), $600 - $1,200/month; house, $1,400 - $2,100/month.

Student assistance
In 2008-2009, UVic awarded more than $5.5 million in undergraduate scholarships and $3 million in undergraduate and graduate bursaries. UVic students also earned $655,000 in work-study funds.

Undergraduate: Students entering first year with an 85 percent or higher average based on self-reported Grade 12 courses required for admission to the faculty and program applied for (see list of program and admission requirements on the UVic admissions website at http://registrar.uvic.ca/undergrad/admissions/apply/admission-checklist.html) are considered for entrance scholarships. Detailed scholarship information is available at www.uvic.ca/safa.

Transfer students: Students transfering from a Canadian college or university with high academic standing in their current study period may be eligible for entrance scholarships. Details and on-line application are available at www.uvic.ca/safa.

Graduate: The University of Victoria offers funding to domestic and international students in the following forms: University of Victoria Fellowships of up to $15,000 (Master’s) and $18,000 (Doctoral), Academic Income Supplements of up to $6,000 per year, and other scholarships and bursaries. Research assistantships and teaching assistantships are available from academic units. Visit http://web.uvic.ca/gradstudies/fund/award-alpha.html for more complete information.

International Student Assistance: International students will be considered for UVic scholarships upon admission and as they continue to study at UVic. Students who encounter emergency circumstances while studying at UVic are encouraged to meet with a financial aid officer to be considered for bursary eligibility. International students are also welcome to apply for the work study program at any time during the winter session.

University research

With sponsored research funding of more than $106 million in 2007-2008, UVic is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top performers in research activity. UVic researchers are making major contributions to a wide range of fields, from fuel cells and cancer cells to climate change and cultural change. Their results are helping to refine our understanding of the world and to enhance the social, cultural and economic well-being of people in Canada and around the globe.

UVic’s world-leading research programs include: VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada, two cabled undersea observatories that are placing Canada at the forefront of ocean science and technology and reshaping how the world sees and understands ocean processes, climate change and marine life; the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), hosted and led by UVic, which builds on the strengths of British Columbia’s four research-intensive universities to develop climate change solutions and lead the way to a vibrant low-carbon economy; the Centre on Aging, a multidisciplinary research centre that partners with families, health care providers, government and organizations such as the World Health Organization to understand and address the needs of seniors.

UVic’s Innovation and Development Corporation helps researchers and students develop the commercial potential of their ideas. Since 1992, IDC has assisted more than 55 UVic spin-off companies and filed almost 300 national and international patent applications.

UVic’s Vancouver Island Technology Park houses the greatest concentration of high-tech companies on Vancouver Island, and contributes $280 million annually to B.C.’s economy.

Through the LE,NONET program, Aboriginal undergraduate students have the opportunity to be research apprentices with UVic faculty in a variety of disciplines.

International education

The university is an international institution dedicated to developing globally responsible citizens and leaders. UVic is striving to increase opportunities for its students to study abroad and to welcome more international students to campus. It has recently expanded support for students with English as an additional language. The university aims to review and revise its curricula to increasingly reflect international perspectives, and works to enhance international research opportunities and international opportunities for artistic creation.

The University of Victoria has more than 100 active exchange programs with institutions in more than 30 countries around the world.

Contact
Dr. Jim Anglin, Director
Office of International Affairs
Associate Vice-President, Academic and Student Affairs
Telephone: 250-472-4028
E-mail: avpasa@uvic.ca