University of Victoria (UVic), one of the oldest postsecondary Canadian institutes in British Columbia.  UVic ranks among the top 500 universities around the world (according to QS Ranking) and has its 5 subject disciplines honored under the top 200 in the world for research.  

Majorly renowned for its co-op programs, UVic offers programs in more than 200 undergraduate and graduate courses at diverse levels. Law and Human & Social Development are two of the most enrolled programs at the university because of their placement rate i.e 100% and 96% respectivel.

To secure admission to UVic, international students require a minimum GPA of 2.8 on a scale of 4.0 which is equivalent to ~83%. At UVic, while a good GPA accounts for 60% of the weightage of the application, the remaining 40% is determined by the student's overall personality and other characteristics like a well-written personal statement, LOR, and leadership talents.

University of Victoria Rankings

University of Victoria is one of the top public universities in Victoria, Canada. It is ranked #=359 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Mentioned below are the other ranks achieved by University of Victoria by various ranking agencies: 

  • #301-350 World University Rankings  2023 by THE
  • #12th Impact Rankings 2023 by THE
  • #334 in Best Global Universities by US News 2023
  • #13 in Best Global Universities in Canada by US News 2023

University of Victoria Campuses

The university resides in the beautiful city of Victoria which is unapologetically one of the best cities for international students in Canada. The University campus is spread in a luscious area  and is one of the largest campuses in the city. It offers every possible thing of need at a 10-minute distance and immediately feels like home from the first moment.

Offering a diverse and enriching community-like environment to its students, the campus comprises many important buildings which are as mentioned below.

  • Bob Wright Centre – includes the School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, the Department of Chemistry, and the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling & Analysis.
  • World War II Army Facilities – Nine-storey building with historical significance in relation to the second world war, listed under Historic Places of Canada.
  • Phoenix Theatre – located outside of Ring Road, is the home of the Theatre department.

University of Victoria Accommodation 

Possible accommodation alternatives offered by the institute include both on campus and off-campus options. As an international aspirant, you can opt for the option best suited to your needs and budgets. 

On-campus

The university provides on-campus housing to more than 3,200 students which offer single and double dormitories, Cluster Housing, bachelor apartments and family housing as the available choices.

  • While the 21 dormitory buildings with single and double occupancy rooms come along with compulsory meal plans, there are also 121 apartment and townhouse units known as cluster units that comprise of four bedrooms each. 
  • UVic offers guaranteed on-campus housing to first-year students. Candidates are highly advised to seek this option if they are new with no possible contacts in Canada as it is more safe and affordable.
  • The estimated cost of living on campus is 5,015 to 8,276 (in USD, per academic year).

Off-campus Accommodation

Victoria is one of the most likable and desirable places in Canada to live which comes along with its own perks and limitations. Though it does offer its residents the beautiful weather and comfort of living on an island, however, finding an affordable place to live here can be a task. 

  • In fact, in a recent data, Victoria was rated as the 2nd most expensive housing market in Canada with a vacancy rate of less than 1%. Thus, as an international applicant on a tight budget, you are highly encouraged to look for shared accommodation like “community housing” and start learning to cook your own meals.
  • The university has partnerships with Places4Students.com and RentSmart to provide off-campus listings for the aid of its students. Some of the other possible options that can guide you to seek your perfect home in Victoria include Kijiji Classifieds and “Victoria Renters Group”on Facebook. 
  • The estimated cost of off-campus accommodation is: 9,282 in USD per month.

University of Victoria Programs

UVic offers a diverse variety of programs which includes more than 200 degrees, certificates, diplomas, and doctorate programs. It has some 80 undergraduate and over 160 graduate courses. These programs are distributed across its 11 faculties and divisions.

University of Victoria Admission Process

Being one of the most applied universities in Canada, it follows a very selective and holistic approach towards admission. The admission-related information to be observed carefully step-by-step by every aspirant of the university is as compiled below. 

University of Victoria UG Admissions

Application Portal: Online Application
Application Fee: 132 CAD
Admission Requirements: 

  • Complete application
  • Official high school/ college transcripts
  • Interim grades (required if applicants are still studying in a high school)
  • English Proficiency Test Scores (for international students)
  • Letter of Recommendations

University of Victoria PG Admissions

Admission Portal: Apply online at the official website.
Application Fee: 163 CAD.
Admission Requirements: 

  • ​Official Transcripts
  • GMAT/GRE
  • Resume
  • Letter of Recommendations
  • Statement of Intent
  • Work Experience
  • Writing Sample

University of Victoria Cost of Attendance

For international students willing to study is highly advisable to plan your budget beforehand to avoid any complications in a foreign land. The estimated cost of surviving an academic year in Canada that will aid in your process of budgeting is as follows:

Tuition Fees for UG Programs

Name of Program Tuition Fee (INR/term)
Business 9.09 lakhs
Engineering 8.98 lakhs
Humanities 7.98 lakhs
Human & Social Development 7.98 lakhs
Science 7.99 lakhs

Tuition Fees for PG Programs

Name of Program Fee (in USD, per term)
MBA 4.84 lakhs
Double Degree Nursing & Health Informatics 3.81 lakhs
Master of Global Business 8.58 lakhs
Master of Community Development 2.77 lakhs
Master of Counselling Psychology 2.42 lakhs

Cost of Living

Other expenses to be taken note of, apart from the basic tuition fee, are as follows:

Type of Expenditure Cost
Accommodation 3.59 lakhs to 7.59 lakhs
Meals 0.41 lakhs to 0.59 lakhs
Books and Supplies 0.72 lakhs
Transportation 0.59 lakhs
Personal Expenses 1.19 lakhs

University of Victoria Scholarships

If you are an international applicant with a great track record and in need of a scholarship to study in Canada, then UVic can be a great choice for you.

  • The university awards entrance and in-course scholarships to international candidates with outstanding academic performance.
  • The number of studentships offered every year varies and ranges somewhere between 2,250 and 7,500. Each year 2,625,000 USD are awarded these scholarships.
  • A variety of bursaries are also awarded to the aspirants of the institute which includes Childcare, Departmental, Emergency, and International Bursaries, among others.

Some of the awards offered by the university are tabulated below.

Name of Scholarship Amount (in USD) No. of Awards Eligibility
President’s Beyond Borders Fund 3,750 3 Awarded to excellent international academic achievers from the Asia Pacific region entering an undergraduate program at the university
International Entrance Scholarships 7,500 20 International candidates with outstanding academic performance entering a 1st-year undergraduate program at the institute.
President’s Vietnam Scholarship 7,500 3 Academically excellent international students from Vietnam entering an undergraduate program at the university.

Work Study at University of Victoria

Students must meet the qualifying standards to be considered for a work study position. Every year, from September to April, the work study program is accessible. During the summer term, there is no work study (May-August). Students who have been approved for the work-study program will receive an email informing them of their acceptable hours and the study term for which the authorization is valid. Before beginning work in a work-study position, all students must have a valid Social Insurance Number. In person at a Service Canada Centre, apply for your SIN.

University of Victoria Alumni

The University of Victoria has a huge alumni sector spread across various fields. Being alumni at the university offers benefits like workshops, training, research programs and various events.

Some of the notable Alumni of the university are:

  • Brendan Burke, Aegean Bronze Age archaeologist
  • Benjamin Butterfield, internationally acclaimed operatic tenor
  • Patrick Lane, poet and the recipient of almost every major Canadian literary prize
  • Hal Lawrence, World War II veteran and historian
  • Tim Lilburn, poet and winner of the Governor General's Award
  • Stephen Lindsay, cognitive psychologist in the field of memory
  • Joan MacLeod, playwright and creative writing professor

University of Victoria Placements

The University of Victoria offers great placement opportunities to it, students. Executive Management & Change professionals are the top paid University of Victoria alumni & graduates, earning USD 155,000 per year.

Business School Placements

Mentioned below are the employment at the Gustavson School of Business. These numbers cover the Bachelor of Commerce, Masters in Business Administration, Master in Global Business , Master in Management, and PhD programs.

The University of Victoria follows a holistic admission procedure under which students are required to prepare their applications with standardized test scores like IELTS, TOEFL and submit personal essays, recommendation letters. The admission decision is usually accepted after 2-4 weeks by the university to students.  The highest salary package offered to students is from MBA with an average salary of 104,000 USD.