
University of Victoria Overview
University of Victoria - Overview & Background
The University of Victoria (UVic) is a public research university located in the Greater Victoria municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. Initially known as the Victoria College, the University of Victoria was founded in 1903 and is the oldest post-secondary institution in British Columbia.
The university houses nine academic faculties and schools: Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and the Faculties of Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Human & Social Development, Humanities, Law, Science, and Social Sciences.
Former Names |
Victoria College |
Established |
July 1, 1963 |
Founder |
Joseph Clearihue |
University Motto |
A multitude of the wise is the health of the world, Let there be light |
University Type |
Public Research University |
University City |
Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
Student to Faculty Ratio |
10:1 |
Campus Size |
163 hectares (403 acres) |
Endowment |
$525 million |
Acceptance Rate |
63% |
Graduation Rate |
65.9% |
Employment Rate |
86% |
Total Enrollment |
71,166 |
Official Website Link |
University of Victoria, Canada |
Contact Detail |
+1 250-721-7211 |
University of Victoria Virtual Tour
University of Victoria Location and Campus
The University campus is situated 7 km north of Downtown Victoria and is spread over 403 acres. The campus lies on the border between the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, divided almost perfectly down the centre of campus (with the northeast half being located in Saanich and the southwest half in Oak Bay).
The University is approximately 30 to 40 minutes drive away from the Victoria International Airport, and there is a regularly scheduled ferry service from Vancouver and the Gulf Islands.
University of Victoria Map Location
Address: Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
Residence
The university provides on-campus housing for over 3,200 students. The university makes a variety of accommodation options available, including single and double dormitories, Cluster Housing (apartment-style housing with four people per unit), bachelor and one-bedroom apartments, and family housing.
One of the oldest residential complexes at the university houses four buildings which are named after Emily Carr, Arthur Currie, Margaret Newton, and David Thompson.
The Ring Road Hall is the largest residential building in terms of capacity which holds 294 beds and is split into three wings.
Infrastructure
The university houses a few research centers and groups including
- Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
- Centre for Biomedical Research
- Centre for Forest Biology
- Ecology
- Environmental Management of Drinking Water
- Neuroscience Group
- Ocean Networks Canada
- Salmon Genomics.
The university’s infrastructural services include network services, research computing facility, data centre services team.
Financial Aid
To give recognition to outstanding students, the university awards more than 8 million dollars in the form of scholarships per year on on the basis of academic merit. Additionally, UVic awards over 4 million dollars annually in the form of bursaries to support students who are in financial need. The university also provides information about other funding sources, expected costs and budget-balancing strategies.
Notable Alumni
Some famous alumni from University of Victoria include:
- Eva Markvoort, Author who chronicled her life with cystic fibrosis which became the subject of the film '65 Redroses
- Aaron McArthur, Global News BC television reporter
- Rick Gibson, Sculptor and performance artist
- Lori Hallier, Actress
- Nilesh Patel, Noted filmmaker
- Chris Perry, Royal Canadian Navy Historian
- Eden Robinson, Novelist and short story writer
Jobs and Placements
The University hosts 2 major career fairs each year, plus an online job expo. Recruiters can also post job applications online in the University website. In the last few years, graduates of MA and PhD programs have been successful in obtaining initial job placements in a variety of settings. For example:
- Economist, Environment Canada
- Assistant professor, Central University of Finance and Economics
- Economist, Analysis and Modeling Division, Environment Canada
- Treasury Board analyst, Economic Forecasting and Analysis Branch, BC Ministry of Finance
- Econometrician, BP Canada
- Research analyst, BC Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Victoria
Is University of Victoria Good ?
UVic continues to rank among the top 1% of universities worldwide and among the top three in Canada, in terms of scientific impact. In terms of how well it does in making scientific and scholarly findings available and inexpensive, UVic is the best university in Canada.
Is Victoria good for international students ?
One of the top universities in the world for international students, the University of Victoria, in Canada attracts students to study each year from almost 118 different nations for any of the following programs: Bachelor's degree programs; Postgraduate courses and Social, sports, and cultural possibilities.
What GPA do I need to get into UVic ?
Most admitted students have average GPAs in the low 80s. A GPA higher than 85% could be required for programs that are extremely competitive. Typically, GPAs in the 90s are the highest. Additionally, even if you satisfy the minimal GPA standards, admission is not guaranteed because of high competition.
What rank is University of Victoria in Canada ?
- Number 1 in Canada for math and computer science (and 50th worldwide).
- #2 in Canada for engineering and physical science research.
- In terms of scientific impact, UVic continues to rank among the top 1% of universities worldwide and among the top three in Canada.