FAQ

From Victoria Airport to the University

• Akal airport shuttle (approximately CAD$20 one-way)
  http://www.victoriaairportshuttle.com/
• Taxi (approximately CAD$55)

Drop-off at the office of Residence Services located in the Craigdarroch office building, parking lot #5 (off Sinclair Rd).

From Vancouver Airport to Downtown Victoria

For approximately CAD$50, you can take a Pacific Coach Lines (PCL) package that includes:

• Bus transportation from Vancouver airport to ferry terminal in Tsawwassen
• Ferry transportation from the mainland to Vancouver Island
• Bus transportation from ferry terminal in Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria (bus depot)

From Downtown Vancouver (Pacific Central Station/Bus Depot) to Downtown Victoria

For approximately CAD$45, you can take a Pacific Coach Lines (PCL) package that includes:

• Bus transportation from downtown Vancouver (Bus Depot) to ferry terminal in Tsawwassen
• Ferry transportation from the mainland to Vancouver Island
• Bus transportation from ferry terminal in Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria (bus depot)

From Downtown Victoria (PCL/Bus Depot) to the University

• For CAD$2.50, you can catch the Mt. Tolmie #4 city bus on Douglas Street across from the Pacific Coach Lines bus depot. The university is located at the last stop of this route. BE SURE TO BRING EXACT CHANGE.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a certificate. Although this is a non-credit program, some institutions may elect to grant credit to their students who have completed LMF at UVic.

On Tuesday, July 3, following the General Meeting, all students will be required to take an assessment test to determine their level of proficiency as the program curriculum is divided into several levels of linguistic competence.

The legal age in BC is 19.

If you are under 19 (on July 3) and are interested in participating in the kayaking activity, ask your parent or legal guardian to complete and sign the Kayak Waiver and return to us along with your application.

The “Explore” program is funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage, under the auspices of the federal and provincial governments. Bursaries are available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have completed at least Grade 11 at the time of application, and who have been enrolled for at least one term as full-time student in the previous academic year. T4A and T2202A tax forms will be issued. This program is not open to francophones or individuals who are already fluently bilingual.

Explore bursaries cover the cost of tuition, meals, accommodation, and most sociocultural activities. Application forms must be submitted directly to the Provincial or Territorial Coordinator of your home province or territory by February 28. Application forms and detailed information are available at http://www.myexplore.ca/, or if you are a British Columbia resident, you can contact:

Provincial Coordinator
French Programs
Ministry of Education

P.O. Box 9160, STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC
V8W 9H3
P 250-356-2516
F 250-387-1470
ExploreBC@gov.bc.ca

If you currently hold a BC College of Teachers Certificate, you are eligible to apply for a teacher bursary (even if you are a TOC).

As provincial governments manage bursary funds available to school teachers wishing to take such programs, the BC Ministry of Education assigns a set number of bursaries each year specifically to La Maison Française. In the past few years, the amount of each bursary was $1,250.

Our office manages all administrative procedures as follows:

1. Starting in January, we begin compiling a list of teachers interested in obtaining a bursary. If you would like your name to be added, please send us an email with your full name and phone number to french@uvcs.uvic.ca.
2. In May or June, the Ministry of Education confirms the number of bursaries that will be allocated to this program - 25 of them last year.
3. As soon as we get the number of bursaries available, we phone potential bursary recipients in the order that they were added to the interest list. We do so until all bursaries are attributed or once we have exhausted the list. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
4. An official email follows shortly thereafter, in which we ask teachers to acknowledge receipt; we explain the procedure to accept or decline the bursary and we give them a deadline by which they should make their final decision.

Prior to applying to this program as an Explore or teacher bursary recipient, you must have already received an official email from the University of Victoria confirming that you have been granted a bursary.

Step-by-step procedures will be given to you on how to register as well as a deadline to accept or decline the bursary. Although you will have approximately two weeks to make your decision, you should confirm receipt immediately to ensure you won’t miss this great opportunity.

Be advised that no response from you will result in cancellation of your bursary and may jeopardize any future application to the program.

There is a $200 non-refundable application fee payable at the time of registration. The bursary includes full tuition fees, accommodation and meals on campus, plus all compulsory social and cultural activities for the duration of the program. Optional activities, such as kayaking and camping, will require an additional contribution. Transportation to and from the university is at your own cost.

If you are wondering how much money you should bring, please be guided by your personal habits and the fact that you may want to purchase souvenirs, snacks, etc. Based on a survey done among previous students, a majority spend a total of $300 to $600.

All students attending La Maison Française with an Explore bursary MUST stay in University of Victoria residences.

Accommodation is provided from the afternoon of Monday, July 2 until the morning of Friday, August 3 at noon. Extra nights before or after the program must be booked and paid directly to Residence Services at 250-721-8395.

Note: that Canada Customs and Revenue Agency considers the bursary as income but it is no longer taxable. T4A and T2202A tax forms will be issued.