It is your responsibility to obtain the correct visa or permit to study in Canada. After completing the Program Application Form and payment of application fees, students receive a Letter of Acceptance to take to the nearest Embassy / Consulate.
Students from many countries can visit Canada and study English as a visitor for a maximum of 6 months. A Temporary Resident Visa cannot be renewed in Canada to continue studies.
Students must have a Study Permit to study in Canada for more than 6 months. Students must apply for a Study Permit in their home country. Study Permits can be reviewed in Canada.
For more information about the TRV and Study Permit, visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp
You must have medical insurance during your stay at the University of Victoria. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have this insurance.
| Length of Stay in Canada | Type of Insurance Needed |
| Less than 6 months | Buy private medical insurance before leaving your home country or in Victoria from AON Medical Insurance Company (CAD$1.60/day; not valid until purchased) Please visit http://extranet.aon.ca/uvic/index.aspx |
| 6 Months or More | You MUST apply for British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BCMSP) upon arrival (3-month waiting period) Please visit www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/msp/ Buy private medical insurance for the first 3 months |
If you have a Temporary Resident Visa and are going to stay in British Columbia for less than six months, you must have private insurance.
If you have a Study Permit for six months or more, you must register in the BC Medical Services Plan (BCMSP) as soon as you arrive. There is a three-month waiting period before you are eligible for benefits, so you need to have private medical insurance for the first three months.
Students who do not come with insurance can enroll in a private plan offered to international students at UVic by AON Health Insurance when they arrive on campus. The cost is CAD$1.60 / day and students can also register online from their home country.
Do you have questions about what Victoria is like, what weather to expect, what clothes to bring and how to get to Vancouver Island? The Pre-Arrival Handbook has all of the important information that you need to know before leaving your home country.
Application does not guarantee admission. Please apply for programs early, as space is limited, and wait for your Letter of Acceptance before making travel arrangements.
The Division of Continuing Studies reserves the right to cancel/reschedule programs and courses without notice. If a program or course is cancelled or rescheduled, the liability of the Division of Continuing Studies is limited to a refund of the tuition fee, or, if desired, transfer to another program option.
In order to perform security updates on the UVic servers, there will be intermittent outages this Thursday, February 16 from 6:30-8:30 am (Pacific Time). You may not be able to log in to your courses during this time.
If you experience any problems logging in after 8:30 am on Thursday, February 16, please contact the Onlinehelp Desk at 250-721-8476 (toll-free 1-888-721-8476 in North America) or by email at dehelp@uvic.ca.