University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Compare University of Victoria programs, admissions, costs, residence, student support, and career pathways in one source-reviewed guide. Jump to the decision section you need below.
The short answer
- Apply to UVic through EducationPlannerBC, not OUAC (the Ontario Universities' Application Centre). Most September degree programs close January 31.
- The application fee is C$87.75 when all transcripts are Canadian. It is C$177.00 if any transcript comes from outside Canada.
- Ontario estimated averages for 2026–27: Humanities 80%, Social Sciences 82%, Science, Commerce, Engineering and Computer Science 85%, Kinesiology 92%.
- English 4U at 73% or higher is required for all Ontario routes. U/M courses are Grade 12 university (U) or university/college (M) preparation courses.
- Fall 2027 dates are not yet published. Plan around January 31, 2027 and check the live deadlines page.
Reviewed August 14, 2026 · Official university sources · How we review guides
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Overview
University of Victoria — one source-backed guide
UVic decisions for Fall 2027
The University of Victoria completes the B.C. trio with UBC and SFU, but it is the only one on Vancouver Island—an ocean crossing from the mainland. Apply through EducationPlannerBC to a specific program: course floors, estimated averages, co-op structure, and entry points all change by route. Confirmed facts below are separated from 2026–27 planning evidence so an older fee or deadline is never presented as new.
January 31
Standing deadline for most September degrees
C$87.75
EducationPlannerBC fee when all transcripts are Canadian
C$3,960
Average monthly co-op salary (2025/26 report)
Fall 2027 cycle status
2027 pending · Fall 2027
UVic publishes standing annual deadlines rather than cycle-labelled dates: most September-entry degree programs close January 31, and UVic states admission deadlines are annual fixed dates while reserving the right to change them. No Fall 2027-specific application dates are published yet.
Plan around January 31, 2027 for most September 2027 degree entries, and recheck the live deadlines page and EducationPlannerBC before filing—programs can close early or stay open late without warning.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Application deadlines (standing annual dates by entry term) · Verified August 14, 2026
Application route: EducationPlannerBC, not OUAC
Current route · Published for this period
Applications to UVic are submitted through the EducationPlannerBC application service. UVic then emails a student number within 3–5 business days, which the applicant uses to create a NetLink ID and open the UVic application portal with its personalized checklist of grades, documents, and English-evidence tasks.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: How to apply: EducationPlannerBC, application fees, and NetLink ID · Verified August 14, 2026
Vancouver Island location logistics
Current geography · Published for this period
UVic is in Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and there is no bridge or roadway connecting the island to mainland B.C. Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is about 25 km north of the city; students flying into Vancouver (YVR) must arrange onward travel by ferry or a connecting flight. Regular ferry service runs from Vancouver, the Gulf Islands, and Washington State.
This is the practical difference from UBC and SFU in the B.C. trio: budget the ferry or flight leg into move-in, reading breaks, and holiday travel.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Planning your travel to Victoria: island location, ferries, and airports · Verified August 14, 2026
No single official acceptance rate
Current publications · Published for this period
UVic's admissions sources publish program prerequisites, minimum course grades, estimated admission averages, and capacity caveats—not one campus-wide undergraduate acceptance percentage. The 2026–27 viewbook warns that annual cut-offs vary and meeting a listed minimum does not guarantee admission.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: 2026–27 undergraduate viewbook and Canadian admission tables · Verified August 14, 2026
Detailed application guides
Admissions Planning
UVic admissions: EducationPlannerBC route, requirements, and deadline status
UVic is not on OUAC—applications go through EducationPlannerBC, and the transcript origin (not just citizenship) sets the application fee. The Ontario table preserves UVic's 2026–27 planning estimates and course floors; they are the newest university-published figures, not guaranteed Fall 2027 cut-offs.
| Ontario entry route | Estimated Canadian average | Current Ontario course pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 80% | English 4U with at least 73%, plus five additional 4U or 4M courses. |
| Social Sciences | 82% | English 4U with at least 73%, plus five additional 4U or 4M courses. |
| Science | 85% | Chemistry 3U, Physics 3U, English 4U with at least 73%, Advanced Functions 4U with at least 77%, two approved Science 4U courses, and two additional 4U or 4M courses. |
| Commerce | 85% | English 4U with at least 73%, Advanced Functions 4U with at least 73%, and four additional 4U or 4M courses. |
| Engineering | 85% | Chemistry 3U, Physics 3U, English 4U with at least 73%, Advanced Functions 4U with at least 77%, Calculus and Vectors 4U or an approved Science 4U, and three additional 4U or 4M courses. |
| Computer Science | 80% | English 4U with at least 73%, Advanced Functions 4U with at least 77%, one approved Science 4U, and three additional 4U or 4M courses. |
| Kinesiology | 92% | Chemistry 3U, Physics 3U, English 4U with at least 73%, Advanced Functions 4U with at least 70%, two approved Science 4U courses, and two additional 4U or 4M courses. Biology 4U and Physics 4U are recommended. |
| Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts | 75% | English 4U with at least 73%, five additional 4U or 4M courses, and the program's required supplemental application. |
| Checkpoint | Current date | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Early admission review for high-school applicants | Apply and submit grades or transcripts by early December | UVic's current standing process. Applicants who do not qualify for early admission are asked for updated grades. |
| September entry — most degree programs | January 31 | UVic describes its admission deadlines as annual fixed dates but reserves the right to change them. Confirm the live program page before filing for Fall 2027. |
| September entry — post-degree Teacher Education | January 2 for Elementary and Secondary Curriculum | A separate professional route with its own requirements; Indigenous Education is listed as ongoing. |
| January degree entry | September 30 for the programs currently listed | Available only in specified areas such as Computer Science, Health Information Science, Humanities, Science, Social Sciences, and selected Arts routes. |
| Summer degree entry | December 31 or March 31, depending on program | Engineering is currently December 31 for high-school graduates; specified Arts, Computer Science, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences routes use March 31. |
| Specific-criteria entrance scholarships | February 15 to April 30 | Current scholarship application window. Grades-only entrance scholarships use automatic consideration when eligibility and document rules are met. |
Applicants outside Canada can use the credential-evaluation guide to separate university admission review from WES and immigration ECAs. Ontario applicants can compare the Ontario university deadline guide while remembering that UVic applications use EducationPlannerBC rather than OUAC.
Application fee
Current fee schedule · Published for this period
C$87.75 when all transcripts come from institutions within Canada and C$177.00 when any transcript comes from an institution outside Canada, paid with the EducationPlannerBC application. Transcript origin—not only citizenship—determines which fee applies.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: How to apply: EducationPlannerBC, application fees, and NetLink ID · Verified August 14, 2026
Acceptance deposit on admission offers
Current fee schedule · Published for this period
C$250 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and C$5,000 for international citizens, for full-time undergraduate programs excluding Law. The deposit is credited toward tuition and is non-refundable except where a visa application is denied or admission conditions are not met—and refunds are subject to a C$250 processing fee.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Acceptance deposit amounts, payment methods, and refund rules · Verified August 14, 2026
Standing deadline sequence by entry term
Standing annual dates · Published for this period
High-school applicants who apply and submit grades by early December can be considered for early admission. Most September-entry degree programs close January 31; Teacher Education post-degree programs close January 2. January entry (offered in Computer Science, Health Information Science, Art History and Visual Studies, Music BA, and all Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences programs) closes September 30. Summer entry closes December 31 for Engineering (high-school graduates only) and March 31 for the other listed routes.
Some programs keep accepting applications after the deadline when capacity allows—if a program is selectable in EducationPlannerBC, it is still open.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Application deadlines (standing annual dates by entry term) · Verified August 14, 2026
Ontario course patterns and estimated averages
2026–27 planning table · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
The 2026–27 viewbook lists estimated Canadian admission averages of 80% for Humanities and Commerce, 82% for Social Sciences, 85% for Science, Engineering, and Computer Science, 92% for Kinesiology, and 75% for supplemental Fine Arts routes. Ontario floors include English 4U at 73% or higher for all routes and Advanced Functions 4U at 77% or higher for Science, Engineering, and Computer Science.
These are planning estimates, not guaranteed Fall 2027 cut-offs. UVic does not round percentages up.
Applies to: Ontario high school
University of Victoria: 2026–27 undergraduate viewbook and Canadian admission tables · Verified August 14, 2026
English-language evidence
Current requirements · Published for this period
Test routes include IELTS Academic 6.5 with no component below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 88 with no section below 20 (or 4.5 overall with no section below 4.0 on the new scale), Duolingo English Test 120 with no subscore below 110, CAEL 70 with no section below 60, PTE Academic 65 with no skill below 60, and Cambridge C1/C2 at 180 with no skill below 170. Tests older than two years are not accepted and scores must come directly from the testing organization. Academic routes include Grade 12 English in Canada at 86% or higher within the last three years.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: English language requirement: test scores and academic routes · Verified August 14, 2026
Conditional admission and ELC pathways
Current requirements · Published for this period
Applicants to Business, Engineering and Computer Science, Fine Arts (selected programs), Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences can receive conditional admission with lower scores—for example IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 79—and must satisfy the full requirement by the date in their offer email. English Language Centre preliminary admission gives up to 24 months to qualify without reapplying.
Applies to: International
University of Victoria: English language requirement: test scores and academic routes · Verified August 14, 2026
International credential requirements
Current requirements · Published for this period
International applicants must meet the minimum admission credential for their country or curriculum, the exact program requirements, and UVic's English-language requirement. The application checklist can also request graduation or university-entrance examination results.
Applies to: International
University of Victoria: Minimum admission requirements for international students · Verified August 14, 2026
Programs and Pathways
UVic programs: direct entry, later entry, and declaration routes
Program names do not all describe the same entry structure. Engineering, Computer Science, and Commerce are application routes; Climate Science is declared after first year; Nursing begins through a partner institution; and Public Health and Social Work are later entry. The optional second-choice program only shows routes with lower requirements than the first choice.
Engineering
Apply to the Engineering entry route, then progress into Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Data Science, Electrical, Mechanical, or Software Engineering. Engineering co-op is mandatory and normally includes four work terms.
Computer Science
A distinct entry route from Engineering. Computer Science co-op is optional; eligible students normally apply after first year rather than being automatically enrolled.
Commerce
Direct high-school entry to the BCom route with a required supplemental application. Students join a cohort of 60 starting in Year 2; one work-experience term is required, most students complete two, and an optional third earns the co-op designation.
Climate Science
Not a direct first-year application choice. Enter through Earth Sciences in Science or Geography in Social Sciences, then declare Climate Science after one year of full-time study.
Nursing
Not a direct UVic high-school entry route. Students enter through an approved partner institution and later continue into the UVic Nursing degree pathway.
Public Health and Social Work
Later-entry structures: Public Health is entered in year two and Social Work in year three. Applicants should not treat either as an ordinary first-year direct-entry choice.
Undecided exploration
Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences offer undecided entry so students can explore first-year subjects and usually choose a major after first year.
Compare related pathways in the Canadian Engineering guide, Computer Science guide, Business and Commerce guide, and Health Sciences guide.
Engineering entry and specializations
Current structure · Published for this period
Applicants enter through the Engineering route and progress into Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, or Software Engineering. Engineering co-op is mandatory and normally includes four work terms, and summer entry is available to high-school graduates with a December 31 deadline.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Engineering and Computer Science undergraduate programs · Verified August 14, 2026
Computer Science is a separate route from Engineering
Current structure · Published for this period
Computer Science is its own application choice with its own prerequisites, and its co-op is optional—students normally apply through the academic-area process after first year rather than being automatically enrolled. January and summer entry points exist for Computer Science in addition to September.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Computer Science admission and co-op FAQ · Verified August 14, 2026
Gustavson Commerce (BCom) structure
Current structure · Published for this period
High-school students apply directly to the BCom, or transfer in after one or more years of post-secondary study. Students join a close-knit cohort of 60 starting in Year 2. Most BCom students complete two paid work terms—one work-experience term is required—and an optional third term earns the formal co-op designation. Exchange is available through 80+ partner institutions in 40+ countries.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Commerce (BCom): direct entry, cohort structure, and work terms · Verified August 14, 2026
Climate and ocean study is a real program structure
Current programs · Published for this period
Climate Science is not a direct first-year choice: students enter through Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Science or Geography in Social Sciences and declare after one year of full-time study. The undergraduate directory also lists Ocean Sciences, Chemistry and Ocean Sciences, Physics and Ocean-Atmosphere Sciences, Physical Geography and Earth and Ocean Sciences, Astronomy, and a Transformative Climate Action credential—genuine marine and climate depth rather than one generic environmental label.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Climate Science program: entry through Earth Sciences or Geography · Verified August 14, 2026
Later-entry and partner-pathway programs
Current structure · Published for this period
Nursing students enter through an approved partner institution rather than direct UVic high-school entry; Public Health is entered in year two and Social Work in year three. Applicants who are not ready to choose can apply to Humanities, Science, or Social Sciences as an Undecided student and declare a program after one or more years of full-time study.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Undergraduate program directory and undecided entry · Verified August 14, 2026
University of Victoria Residence Costs & First-Year Housing
UVic residence: first-year guarantee, 2026–27 rates, and campus location
UVic's published 2026–27 prices cover September through April, with heat, hot water, electricity, and internet included. Dormitory single and double rates bundle the standard meal plan; apartment, pod, and cluster residents buy tax-exempt plans separately. All on-campus housing is on the Gordon Head campus.
| 2026–27 accommodation | September–April rate |
|---|---|
| Dormitory double with standard meal plan | C$14,574 |
| Dormitory single with standard meal plan | C$16,666 |
| Cheko'nien House / Sngequ House dormitory single with meal plan | C$17,006 |
| Dormitory super single with standard meal plan | C$17,292 |
| Four-bedroom cluster room | C$10,330 |
| Two-bedroom cluster townhouse | C$13,432 |
| Sngequ House pod single | C$10,442 |
| Bachelor apartment | C$10,374 |
| One-bedroom apartment | C$12,954 (C$13,444 in Cheko'nien and Sngequ Houses) |
First-year residence guarantee for Fall 2027
2027 pending · Fall 2027
Fall 2027 criteria are not yet published. The published Fall 2026 guarantee required graduating from high school in 2026, no prior post-secondary attendance, and a residence application by May 1—admission offers were not required first. The application opened the first Monday in February with a non-refundable C$50 fee; room offers went out from mid-March to August (guarantee students predominantly by the end of June), with 48 hours to accept and a C$250 security deposit.
Treat the apply-by-May-1 pattern as the working plan and verify the first-year housing page when the Fall 2027 cycle opens in early 2027.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: First-year residence guarantee criteria and application dates · Verified August 14, 2026
2026–27 residence rates (September to April)
2026–27 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
Published rates: dormitory double with standard meal plan C$14,574; dormitory single with meal plan C$16,666 (C$17,006 in Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ/Cheko'nien House and Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ/Sngequ House); super single with meal plan C$17,292; four-bedroom cluster room C$10,330; two-bedroom cluster townhouse C$13,432; bachelor apartment C$10,374; one-bedroom apartment C$12,954–C$13,444; Sngequ House pod single C$10,442. Heat, hot water, electricity, and internet are included.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: 2026–27 residence rates, meal plans, and residence bursary · Verified August 14, 2026
Meal plan bundling by room type
2026–27 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
Single and double dormitory rates include the cost of a standard meal plan. Residents of apartments, pod rooms, and cluster rooms are not bundled into the plan and can purchase tax-exempt meal plans separately.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: 2026–27 residence rates, meal plans, and residence bursary · Verified August 14, 2026
Residence location and the West Shore caution
Current structure · Published for this period
All on-campus accommodation is on the Gordon Head campus. UVic explicitly advises students applying to West Shore campus programs to consider location, distance, and commuting options between the two campuses before applying for residence.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: First-year residence guarantee criteria and application dates · Verified August 14, 2026
Upper-year housing is a lottery, not a guarantee
Fall 2026 pattern · Published for this period
Beyond the first-year guarantee, upper-year undergraduates enter a housing lottery whose capacity changes each year. Applicants must apply for the full academic year by May 15 to be included; later or fall-only applications go to the waitlist, and eligible lottery applicants may receive offers between May and August depending on availability.
Plan an off-campus backup for second year: winning the lottery is not guaranteed even for continuing students.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Upper-year undergraduate residence lottery · Verified August 14, 2026
Tuition, Scholarships, and Aid
UVic tuition estimates, deposits, scholarships, and bursaries
UVic tuition varies by status, faculty, field, course load, and co-op terms, so run the official estimator for the exact program. The labelled figures below are the estimator's two-term full-time output at rates effective May 1, 2026—useful for a provisional budget, not a Fall 2027 quote. Residence, food, books, and travel are separate.
| Current charge | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee — all transcripts from Canada | C$87.75 | Paid with the EducationPlannerBC application. |
| Application fee — any transcript from outside Canada | C$177.00 | The transcript origin, not only citizenship, controls which application fee applies. |
| Acceptance deposit — Canadian citizen or permanent resident | C$250 | For full-time undergraduate programs excluding Law; credited toward tuition. |
| Acceptance deposit — international citizen | C$5,000 | For full-time undergraduate programs excluding Law; credited toward tuition. |
| 2026–27 estimator category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Domestic tuition — most faculties (two terms, full-time) | ≈C$6,544 |
| Domestic tuition — Engineering and Computer Science | ≈C$7,240 |
| International tuition — most faculties (two terms, full-time) | ≈C$37,576 |
| International tuition — Engineering and Computer Science | ≈C$42,618 |
| International Business in-academic-program fee (per year) | C$1,252 |
| Annual student fees: UVSS C$174, athletics C$200, bus pass C$162, dental C$219, extended health C$219 | ≈C$974 (+C$265 international medical insurance) |
2026–27 tuition estimates by faculty
2026–27 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
UVic's estimator (rates effective May 1, 2026) returns two-term full-time tuition of about C$6,544 for domestic students in most faculties and C$7,240 in Engineering and Computer Science. International tuition is about C$37,576 in most faculties and C$42,618 in Engineering and Computer Science, and international Business students pay an additional C$1,252 in-academic-program fee.
Run the estimator for the exact program and status—course load, field, and co-op terms all change the total.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Tuition and cost estimator (rates effective May 1, 2026) · Verified August 14, 2026
Mandatory and ancillary student fees
2026–27 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
Estimator line items for a two-term year include the UVic Student Society fee (C$174), UVic Athletics (C$200), the UVSS Bus Pass (C$162, on-campus students), UVSS Dental Plan (C$219), UVSS Extended Health (C$219), and—for international students—Mandatory Temporary Medical Insurance (C$265). Business and engineering students also pay per-term co-op fee installments.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Tuition and cost estimator (rates effective May 1, 2026) · Verified August 14, 2026
2027–28 tuition status
2027 pending · 2027–28
Not yet published. The tuition estimator currently uses rates effective May 1, 2026, and UVic notes some ancillary fees remain subject to change.
Budget with the labelled 2026–27 estimator output and re-run the estimator before treating any figure as a Fall 2027 quote.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Tuition and cost estimator (rates effective May 1, 2026) · Verified August 14, 2026
Automatic entrance scholarship values for 2026–27
2026–27 · Published for this period
Automatic entrance scholarships based on admission average (no application) are published for the 2026–27 year: C$3,000–C$6,000 one-time for Canadian citizens and permanent residents admitted with 90%+ (or 32 IB points), and C$15,000 one-time for international students admitted with an A- or equivalent. Renewable scholarships normally require a minimum 90% admission average, and UVic does not round percentages up.
Values are subject to change each year—verify the 2027–28 table before quoting these to Fall 2027 entrants.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Entrance scholarships and awards: 2026–27 values and deadlines · Verified August 14, 2026
Scholarship application and self-reporting windows
Current cycle pattern · Published for this period
The online application for specific-criteria entrance scholarships runs February 15 to April 30. Current Grade 12 students outside B.C. (including international students completing a Canadian diploma) must self-report marks between February 15 and March 15; B.C.-curriculum students must order transcripts through StudentTranscripts Service when they apply through EducationPlannerBC or they will not be considered for automatic scholarships later.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Entrance scholarships and awards: 2026–27 values and deadlines · Verified August 14, 2026
Annual scholarship and bursary totals
Current publications · Published for this period
UVic reports awarding more than C$8 million in scholarships each year and over C$4 million annually in bursaries for students in financial need. A separate Residence and Meal Plan Bursary of up to C$1,500 is available to Canadian students in residence with an eight-month contract who demonstrate need.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Scholarships, awards and aid: annual scholarship and bursary totals · Verified August 14, 2026
Student Life and Support
Student life: island logistics, campus culture, and support
Victoria is a mid-sized capital city on Vancouver Island, and honest planning starts with geography: every trip to or from the mainland is a ferry or a flight. On campus, UVic pairs a walkable Gordon Head campus with 150+ clubs, Vikes athletics, arts venues, and a bus pass charged automatically each term.
Living on Vancouver Island: honest travel budgeting
Current geography · Published for this period
Victoria is reached by ferry from Vancouver and Washington State or by air into Victoria International Airport, about 25 km north of the city—there is no fixed road link to the mainland. UVic advises international students to arrive two to four weeks before term to settle in, and mainland students should budget the ferry or flight leg for move-in and holiday travel.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Planning your travel to Victoria: island location, ferries, and airports · Verified August 14, 2026
Clubs, recreation, and campus culture
Current services · Published for this period
UVic publishes over 150 student clubs plus course unions and Vikes recreation and sports clubs. Campus life includes the CARSA recreation centre and climbing wall, Vikes varsity athletics, the Phoenix Theatre, the Farquhar concert hall, Cinecenta cinema, Legacy Art Galleries, and CFUV campus radio.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Student life: clubs, athletics, arts, and wellbeing · Verified August 14, 2026
Bus pass and student health coverage
2026–27 · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
On-campus students pay the UVSS Bus Pass fee each term (C$81 per term, C$162 for a two-term year in the 2026–27 estimator) for Victoria regional transit, plus the UVSS Dental Plan and Extended Health Plan (C$219 each per year). These appear automatically in UVic's cost estimate.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Tuition and cost estimator (rates effective May 1, 2026) · Verified August 14, 2026
International student transition support
Current services · Published for this period
UVic's international student services cover pre-arrival planning, immigration guidance, settlement, mentoring, and ongoing student life support, alongside the travel-planning guidance for reaching Vancouver Island.
Applies to: International
University of Victoria: International student planning and support · Verified August 14, 2026
Undergraduate research after first year
Current program · Published for this period
The Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA) support eligible third- and fourth-year students conducting supervised research; departments nominate students through their own internal processes.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards · Verified August 14, 2026
University of Victoria Co-op, Research & Career Experience
UVic co-op: mandatory in some programs, optional in others
Check whether the target degree automatically enrolls students, requires one or four work terms, or uses a competitive application after first year. Engineering and business students are enrolled automatically and pay per-term fee installments; most other programs join optional co-op at the start of second year.
| Program route | Current work-experience structure |
|---|---|
| Engineering | Mandatory co-op. Engineering students are automatically enrolled and normally complete four work terms. Co-op fee installments of C$411.86 (domestic) or C$882.30 (international) are paid each term. |
| Commerce | Required work experience. One BCom work-experience term is required; most students complete two paid work terms and an optional third earns the formal co-op designation. |
| Computer Science | Optional co-op. Students apply through the academic-area process, generally after completing first year, with a summer join window (June 8 to September 25, 2026) and a January 1–20 spring intake. |
| Other optional co-op programs | Most optional programs admit students after first year. A standard work term is usually four months and must be at least 12 weeks and 420 hours. Students outside business and engineering pay C$823.72 (domestic) or C$1,764.60 (international) per secured work term. |
Compare UVic's program-specific model with the Ontario co-op comparison.
Co-op work-term definition and credit
Current program · Published for this period
A work term is usually four months of full-time paid work and must be at least 12 weeks and 420 hours. Students earn 4.5 units of credit per completed work term toward the co-op designation, keep full-time student status during work terms, and can gain up to 16 months of work experience before graduating. Traditional co-op (three to four work terms) usually adds about a year to the degree; the Work Experience Program offers one or two work terms without the designation.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: What is co-op: work-term rules, joining windows, salaries, and fees · Verified August 14, 2026
Where co-op or work experience is required
Current program · Published for this period
Required (built into the degree, no application): all engineering programs—Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, and Software Engineering plus Data Science—along with Commerce (one required work-experience term), Health Information Science, Recreation and Health Education, Coaching Studies, and Public Administration. Most other programs, including Computer Science, offer optional co-op.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Co-op program options: required and optional programs · Verified August 14, 2026
Engineering co-op is mandatory with four work terms
Current program · Published for this period
All UVic engineering programs have a mandatory co-op component. Engineering students are normally required to complete four co-op work terms to graduate; work terms are typically 16 weeks and must be at least 12 weeks long, alternating with study terms across the degree.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Engineering co-op requirements (mandatory work terms) · Verified August 14, 2026
Joining optional co-op
2026–27 intake · Published for this period
Optional co-op programs admit students at the start of second year—for most programs the current join window is June 8 to September 25, 2026, with Computer Science, Fine Arts, and Humanities also offering a January 1–20 spring intake. Business and engineering students do not apply; co-op is built into their programs.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: What is co-op: work-term rules, joining windows, salaries, and fees · Verified August 14, 2026
Co-op fees
2026 fee table · Latest published information; newer cycle not yet confirmed
Fees listed as effective May 1, 2025: undergraduate business and engineering students pay co-op tuition installments of C$411.86 (domestic) or C$882.30 (international) each term; all other undergraduates pay C$823.72 (domestic) or C$1,764.60 (international) after securing a work term.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: What is co-op: work-term rules, joining windows, salaries, and fees · Verified August 14, 2026
Co-op scale and outcomes (2025/26 annual report)
2025/26 · Published for this period
UVic co-op students completed 3,738 placements with 1,373 employer organizations in 2025/26, at an average monthly co-op salary of C$3,960, with more than 116,000 placements since the program launched. Students completed 50.4% of work terms on Vancouver Island, 21.8% on the Lower Mainland, and 5.9% internationally, and 86% of co-op students said co-op benefited their career journey.
Applies to: All applicants
University of Victoria: Co-op and Career Services annual report 2025/26 · Verified August 14, 2026
UVic applicants need to match Ontario prerequisites and estimated—not guaranteed—averages to the exact entry route, use EducationPlannerBC and the applicant checklist, distinguish direct and later-entry programs, and compare current application fees, deposits, tuition estimates, residence, scholarships, English evidence, and mandatory versus optional co-op. This guide keeps those decisions on one canonical, official-source-backed page.
University of Victoria requirements, averages, deadlines, programs, tuition, scholarships, residence, and co-op questions
Direct answers to UVic's Ontario prerequisites and estimated averages; Fall 2027 deadline planning; EducationPlannerBC; application fees; English tests; direct and later-entry programs; current tuition estimator; deposits; scholarships; 2026–27 residence; and mandatory versus optional co-op.
Official Sources and Next Steps
Stellar keeps this guide structured for comparison, but official university pages remain the source of truth for program requirements, tuition, residence, scholarships, deadlines, and policy changes.
Prepared by Stellar Advisers Editorial Team · Reviewed August 14, 2026 · Editorial, corrections, and source methodology
Related Canadian universities
Compare 3 other British Columbia records, then continue through the national directory.