University of Victoria
Main Floor, University Centre
P.O. Box 3025, STN CSC
Victoria BC V8W 3P2
registrar.uvic.ca
University of Victoria
This information applies to the 2010-11 Academic year.
CONTENTS:
Applying for Admission
General Admission Information for all Applicants
Undergraduate English Requirement
Transfer Credit
Applicants with an Associate of Arts or Science Degree from a B.C. Post-Secondary Institution
Applicants with International Baccalaureate Credits
Applicants with College Board Advanced Placement Credits
Course Planning
Faculties of Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Fine Arts
Faculty of Human and Social Development
School of Health Information Science
School of Social Work
Undergraduate Advising
Undergraduate Advising Centres
For More Information
*Please note: In the case of a discrepancy between the information presented here and that presented in the official University of Victoria Calendar, the information in the Calendar will be taken as correct.
Many students choose to join us at UVic after completing some coursework at another institution. Transfer students will find that our academic programs, research opportunities, and access to co-operative education provide a broad range of educational options. Students find that the transition to UVic is an easy one, and that they quickly feel at home at our welcoming and diverse campus.
When applying to UVic, it is important to provide official transcripts for all secondary and post-secondary work completed. All transcripts/documents should be sent to:
Undergraduate Admissions
University of Victoria
PO Box 3025 STN CSC
Victoria BC V8W 3P2
Canada
All College, lower level University College & lower level Thompson Rivers University-Open Learning Division (formerly BC Open University) course work is subject to the BCCAT Articulation Agreement. All lower level courses that have been evaluated are included in the BC Transfer Guide. UVic credit may not be assessed retroactively for courses not appearing in the BC Transfer Guide. Inquiries about current courses which are not shown should be directed to the appropriate post-secondary institution. Please refer in the BC Transfer Guide, to the year in which the course was taken.
Successfully completed upper level courses taken at recognized BC post-secondary institutions (universities, university colleges, and Thompson Rivers University-Open Learning Division) are normally accepted for transfer credit by UVic. Where appropriate, credit for such courses may be used toward satisfying requirements of the program to which the applicant is admitted. UVic does not publish upper level equivalencies. Inquiries regarding transfer from upper level course work should be directed to Undergraduate Admissions.
NOTE: The University College & Thompson Rivers University-Open Learning Division courses contained in the BC Transfer Guide do not represent an inclusive list of all upper level courses which receive transfer credit at UVic. An entry indicating "Individual Assessment" indicates specific credit will need to be evaluated by UVic as part of the admission process.
You will receive a list of your transfer credit with your offer of admission. Any transfer credit awarded upon admission is also listed on your student record online.
Applying for Admission
Apply online at www.uvic.ca/apply.
Follow the instructions, pay the application fee and provide additional material as requested by the deadline listed on the form or in the Calendar for your particular Faculty/Program. Important dates can be viewed online at http://registrar.uvic.ca/undergrad/admissions/apply/deadlines.html
Once your application and all required documents have been received by Undergraduate Admissions, your file will be evaluated. Applications are first reviewed to determine admissibility to the University; if an application is deemed admissible, an evaluation of post-secondary work for possible transfer credit is completed. Please note that no evaluation of transfer credit will be undertaken before an applicant is found to be admissible to the University.
General Admission Information for all Applicants
The University does not guarantee that students who meet the minimum requirements will be admitted to any faculty, program or course. In cases where the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number that can be accommodated, the University reserves the right to set enrolment limits in a faculty or program and to establish admission criteria beyond the minimum requirements published.
Certain programs have additional admission criteria and require supplementary application materials. If you are choosing one of the following areas, you must contact the specific Faculty or Department prior to application:
Business, Child and Youth Care, Diploma programs, Education, Engineering, Health Information Science, Kinesiology, Health and Recreation Education, Music, Nursing, Physical Education, Social Work, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Writing.
Undergraduate English Requirement
All undergraduate students, excluding students in diploma and certificate programs, but including other unclassified students, must complete 1.5 units of first-year English. Students who can show equivalent proficiency in English may be exempt from this requirement.
Exemptions from the English Requirement
Students who meet any of the following criteria are exempt from the English requirement:
- a score of 86% or higher on the B.C. provincial Grade 12 English examination or a final grade of 86% in Grade 12 English from other Canadian provinces within three years prior to admission
- a score of Level 6 on the Language Proficiency Index (LPI)
- a score of 4 or higher on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition
- a score of 4 or higher on IB Higher Level English
- 1.5 or more units of transfer credit for university level English courses (excluding ENGL 181 and 182)
- a degree from an accredited English-speaking university
- while attending as a visiting student on a Letter of Permission
DEADLINE FOR COMPLETING THE ENGLISH REQUIREMENT
Students who are NOT exempt from the English requirement must register in 1.5 units of English before completing 30 units of credit. Students who fail to complete the requirement before completing 30 units of credit must meet the requirement in the next session they attend. Students who fail to do so will not be permitted to re-register.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer and block-transfer students should consult the academic advisers from their current institution for information about their deadline for completing the English requirement.
Transfer Credit
You might encounter a difference between the value of courses taken at other institutions and the value assigned to the courses at UVic. Many institutions state the value of their courses in semester or credit hours; three credit hours is the usual value of a course which lasts one semester. At UVic, which is not on a semester system, the value of courses is given in units.
6 semester (credit) hours = 3 UVic units
3 semester (credit) hours = 1.5 UVic units
The unit value of a course is the number given inside the parentheses in the list of equivalents, i.e. HIST 101 & 102 = UVic HIST 130 (3).
Transfer credit from college is normally limited to 30 UVic units (60 semester (credit) hours). The applicability of credit to the degree program chosen is determined by the Faculty/School Advising Centre concerned.
There are three ways in which course equivalents can be assigned:
CASE 1:
Whenever possible, a college course is given credit for a specific UVic course.
Example:
College Course: HIST 101 & HIST 102
UVic Equivalent: UVic HIST 130 (3)
In this example, a student who has completed both History 101 and 102 at a college will receive credit for UVic's History 130, 3 units. If the student only completes History 101 at the college, that student will receive partial credit - UVic Hist 130 p.c. (1.5) units.
If the 3-unit course is a prerequisite for further study, the granting of partial credit will not necessarily give access to the higher level courses. If you are planning to take higher level courses in the subject area, both semesters should be taken so that the 3-unit prerequisite can be satisfied.
CASE 2:
If there is no UVic course which is precisely equivalent to the college course, UVic often awards level credit.
Example:
College Course: CHEM 110
UVic Equivalent: CHEM 100 lev (1.5)
Level equivalents can be used as electives and may (upon application to the academic department concerned) also satisfy certain course prerequisites.
CASE 3:
Occasionally, both a specific course equivalent and level credit are listed.
Example:
College Course: PHIL 101
UVic Equivalent: UVic PHIL 100 lev (1.5); PHIL 101 & PHIL 102 = UVic PHIL 100 (3)
This indicates that if only the college level Philosophy 101 is completed, the student will be given level credit (i.e. PHIL 100 lev (1.5) ) rather than partial credit as in Case 1. If a student completes both Philosophy 101 and 102 at the college, UVic's Philosophy 100, 3 units, will be awarded.
Some courses are listed with the equivalent "Under review". The latest information on these courses is available at your college or from Undergraduate Admissions.
Close attention should be paid to any notes which are given below an equivalent listed in the transfer guide.
Applicants with an Associate of Arts or Science Degree from a B.C. Post-Secondary Institution
Applicants who have been granted an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a recognized BC post-secondary institution will be granted 30 units of transfer credit if admitted to a degree program. Note that students receiving 30 units of transfer credit for completion of the associate degree are still obliged to fulfill all prerequisites in the degree program to which they are admitted.
Applicants with International Baccalaureate Credits
UVic is pleased to recognize the academic excellence of International Baccalaureate students by awarding transfer credit for many of the IB courses. IB Diploma students are eligible to receive one full year (15.0 units) of transfer credit. The diploma must contain at least three subjects at the Higher Level and three subjects at the Standard Level.
IB Certificate students who have completed higher level subjects without completing the full diploma are also eligible to receive transfer credit; 3.0 units of transfer credit are usually granted for each Higher Level subject completed with a grade of at least 4*. Individual Standard Level subjects are not eligible for transfer credit.
Subjects completed with a score less than 4 are not eligible for transfer credit. Some subjects require a higher grade; refer to the BC Transfer Guide for further information.
Applicants with College Board Advanced Placement Credits
Applicants who have passed the Advanced Placement examination in 1989 or later in selected subjects, with a grade of 4 or 5, will receive transfer credit. Please refer to the BC Transfer Guide for further information.
Applicants who pass the AP examination with a grade of 3 may be granted advanced standing but not transfer credit. Applicants should consult with the department concerned for course advice.
Course Planning
Details of academic departmental requirements can be found in the calendar published by the University. The UVic calendar is available online at www.uvic.ca/calendar.
You are strongly encouraged to consult an academic adviser at your home institution when selecting your courses. It is also a good idea to consult an adviser when selecting courses after being admitted to UVic. This will ensure that you are planning to undertake all required courses and are choosing acceptable electives.
Faculties of Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences
In order to be considered for transfer admission to the Faculties of Humanities, Science, or Social Sciences, applicants require successful completion of at least 12 units of transferable courses with a minimum overall average equivalent to C at UVic; the average is calculated from the grades for the most recent 12 units of university-level courses taken and includes repeated and failed courses.
In addition, applicants to the Faculty of Science must also:
- have been eligible for admission to the Faculty of Science from Secondary School, or
- be eligible for transfer credit for at least 9 units of Science courses including credit for at least 3 units of Mathematics selected from Math 100, 101, 102, 151.
Applicants with less than 12 transferable units must have a minimum GPA of C on any post-secondary record, and meet the prevailing requirements from high school..
Faculty of Business
Students transferring at the third year level from a British Columbia community college directly into the Bachelor of Commerce program must present a minimum of the equivalent of 30 units of university level course work. Specific required courses are: ECON 103, a MATH 100 level course (Math 151), STAT 252, English (University English Requirement), a 100 level English or Writing course, and additional non-business electives. Applicants must maintain an overall 30.0 unit GPA of at least 5.0.
Entry to the Bachelor of Commerce program is limited by quota on the basis of academic merit and qualitative considerations (see program application). Therefore, completion of the required course and elective course requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Students are advised entry to the qualifying courses and elective courses requires admission to the Faculty of Humanities or Social Sciences and is subject to possible enrolment limits.
Students who have completed less than 30 units of university level coursework, and at least two required courses and elective courses equivalent to 12 units of university level course work may apply to the BCom program. Students must maintain a "B-" average in their most recent 12 units of required courses and elective courses to be considered for admission.
Students who have completed commerce courses at a B.C. community college should be aware that they will not be granted advanced standing beyond receiving credit for the commerce courses listed in the B.C. Transfer Guide. Students are advised that a maximum of 4.5 units of commerce courses may be used as part of the 30 units of pre-Commerce courses.
Students interested in the International Business area of specialization are advised to include 3.0 units of second language training among their elective courses. International visa students and graduates of Hospitality Management diploma programs should consult the Faculty of Business section of the UVic Calendar for admission requirements.
Faculty of Education
The specific admission requirements for individual programs are given under each program's description.
The general requirements for admission to the Faculty of Education are:
- at least 12 units of credit, including 3 units of English
- a sessional grade point average of at least 3.00 (UVic) on the most recent session, and if that session is less than 12 units, a grade point average of at least 3.00 (UVic) on the most recent 12 units. Note: Individual programs may require a higher GPA and additional course prerequisites.
- an admission interview (see below)
ADMISSION INTERVIEW REQUIREMENT:
Individual interviews may be required as deemed appropriate by the Faculty. The professional judgment of the Professional Conduct and Suitability Committee (PCSC) will be deemed sufficient grounds for recommending the acceptance or rejection of an application. A candidate who is not recommended for admission by this Committee may appeal to the Dean of Education.
Faculty of Engineering
TRANSFER APPLICANTS - BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
Applicants Transferring from First-Year Science
Applicants who have completed first-year Science at a university or college are eligible to be considered for admission. Applicants will be evaluated on a course-by-course and student-by-student basis. Applicants in this category should normally have taken at least 12 units of courses which transfer as CSC 110, MATH 100 and 101, PHYS 120 or 112, ENGL 115 or 135 or another first-year English course, and 4.5 units of other electives.
The following courses are recommended as electives: CSC 115, CHEM 101 and 102, MATH 233A and a technical writing course. Students admitted with less than 15 units of credit that are applicable to the program may be required to take courses during work term W2 and complete this missing work term after term 4B.
Applicants Transferring from a Two-Year Diploma Program
Students with two-year diplomas in Electronics or Mechanical Technology will be admitted to the third year of a BEng program on successful completion of the six-month Engineering Bridge Program offered through Camosun College. Acceptance into the Bridge and BEng Programs is decided on an individual basis and must be obtained from the Faculty of Engineering before registration in any of the Bridge courses or senior-level courses will be approved.
Transfers - Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
Applicants who have completed first-year at a university or college are eligible to be considered for admission. Applicants will be evaluated on a course-by-course and student-by-student basis. Applicants in this category should normally have taken at least 12 units of transferable courses which should include the equivalents to CSC 110 and Math 100.
The Faculty of Engineering does not accept courses completed with grades less than C- for transfer.
Faculty of Fine Arts
HISTORY IN ART, SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE, VISUAL ARTS, WRITING
Please see www.finearts.uvic.ca for additional information.
Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts require additional submissions (auditions, questionnaires, portfolios, etc.). Please consult the department's website for instructions.
Faculty of Human and Social Development
SCHOOL OF CHILD AND YOUTH CARE
Students are selected on the basis of personal and professional suitability as well as academic standing. Paid or volunteer experience with children and/or youth is considered in the admission decision. Application information and forms are available on the SCYC web site: http://www.uvic.ca/cyc. For more information on the full program please review the calendar: http://web.uvic.ca/calendar/FACS/FoHuaSD/SoChaYC/PrRe.html
School of Health Information Science
Transfer applicants to Health Information Science must:
- meet the Year 1 requirements for admission to Health Information Science directly from secondary school, or
- have transfer credit for at least 12 units of courses including specific transfer credit for CSC 110 and MATH 100 with a minimum overall average of B-.
A questionnaire must also be submitted directly to the School of Health Information Science. Please consult their website at http://hinf.uvic.ca for further details.
School of Social Work
Admission to the BSW program requires:
- completion of a minimum of the first two years (30 units) of an undergraduate program at UVic, with an overall average of at least 3.5 (on the UVic 9.0 point scale) or better, or the equivalent at another university or community college on the last 12 units of university-transfer course work.
- within the required 30 units, completion of SOCW 200A and SOCW 200B or their equivalents, prior to or in the Winter term in which students apply.
Students are also required to meet UVic's English Requirement for Undergraduates.
The number of applicants admitted will depend on the resources available to the School and the number of qualified applicants. An initial screening for admission will be based on grades, an Experience Summary and a Personal Statement. Applicants selected through this initial screening process
As an alternative to on-campus studies, admitted students can also take nearly all of their BSW program through distance education (available across Canada). However, SOCW 323 includes a mandatory face-to-face component which is held at the University of Victoria.
Applicants applying to the School of Social Work who have completed an approved Human Service Certificate or Diploma Program may be eligible to receive discretionary credit to be used towards a degree program.
In addition to any specific university transfer credit granted, students who have completed an approved two year diploma program may receive 6.0 units of discretionary credit upon admission to the School of Social Work. Completion of a one year certificate program may result in 3.0 units of discretionary credit upon admission to the School.
Courses equivalent to UVic’s SOCW 200A or SOCW 200B receive 1.5 units of transfer credit (per course) in addition to any discretionary credit.
For more information please see: socialwork.uvic.ca
Undergraduate Advising
To ensure that all required courses are completed, it is recommended that students meet with an Academic Adviser prior to undertaking a course of study at UVic. Please contact the advising office specific to the Faculty or School that you have been admitted to.
Undergraduate Advising Centres
Advising Centre for Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences:
University Centre (UVC) - 2nd Floor A Wing
Tel: 250-721-7567
Fax: 250-721-7059
uvic.ca/advising
Faculty of Business:
business.uvic.ca
Business Student Services Office
Business and Economics Building (BEC) 283
Tel: 250-472-4728
Faculty of Education:
Education Advising Centre
Mac Laurin Building (MAC) 250
Tel: 250-721-7877
Fax: 250-472-4641
Email - Elementary Teacher Education Programs: ete@uvic.ca
Email - Secondary Teacher Education Programs: ste@uvic.ca
Email - Kinesiology & Health & Recreation Education Programs: ste@uvic.ca
Faculty of Engineering:
Computer and Electrical
Engineering Office Wing (EOW) 250
Tel: 250-721-8678
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Office Wing (EOW) 250
Tel: 250-721-8678
Software Engineering
Engineering Office Wing (EOW) 250
Tel: 250-721-8678
Computer Science
Engineering Office Wing (EOW) 303
Tel: 250-472-5700
Faculty of Fine Arts:
Fine Arts Advising Centre
Fine Arts Building (FIA) 119
Tel: 250-721-7755
Faculty of Human and Social Development:
School of Child and Youth Care
Human and Social Development Building (HSD) B102A
Tel: 250-721-7979
School of Health Information Science
Human and Social Development Building (HSD) A202
Tel: 250-721-8575
School of Nursing
Human and Social Development Building (HSD) B202
Tel: 250-721-7961
School of Social Work
Human and Social Development Building (HSD) B302
Tel: 250-721-8036
For More Information:
Undergraduate Admissions
University of Victoria
Main Floor, University Centre
P.O. Box 3025, STN CSC
Victoria BC V8W 3P2
Telephone 250-721-8121
Facsimile 250-721-6225
Web site: www.registrar.uvic.ca
February, 2012