Address: 3800 Finnerty Road, V8P 5C2 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Ocean and Climate Sciences, Indigenous Studies, Engineering
Victoria College opened in 1903 and was first affiliated with McGill University. Its successor, the University of Victoria, became an independent, degree-granting university in 1963. Today UVic is a public university in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada’s Pacific coast.
Teaching is organised into faculties and schools that include Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Fine Arts, Humanities, Law, Science and Social Sciences, together with a business school. Further divisions and services are listed on the university’s own website.
Ocean Networks Canada, an initiative of the University of Victoria, runs the NEPTUNE and VENUS cabled ocean observatories in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the Salish Sea. Programme lists, admission requirements and tuition are published on the official site.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Engineering, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Strong co-op program. Home to Ocean Networks Canada. Partnerships with government, Indigenous communities, and industry, particularly in technology and environmental sectors.
Research:
Research focus on oceans and climate, Indigenous research, health and wellness, engineering and computer science (AI, software), and arts and humanities.
Famous Alumnis:
Ryan Cochrane, Rona Ambrose, Fin Donnelly, Erin Karpluk
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
4000
Current students***:
22000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
100000
Pros
Beautiful campus, strong co-op program, leader in ocean and climate research, commitment to Indigenous engagement and sustainability.
Cons
Victoria has a higher cost of living, ferry-dependent access from mainland BC, some programs smaller than larger universities.
Best For
Students interested in ocean sciences, environmental studies, Indigenous reconciliation, or engineering, with a strong co-op program in a scenic coastal city.
Simon Fraser University, a public university in Burnaby, British Columbia, lists Computing Science and Environmental Science among its specialties, making it the nearest provincial counterpart.
University of British Columbia is also in British Columbia, public, and lists Forestry, Computer Science and Medicine among its specialties.
Dalhousie University in Halifax is public and highlights Ocean Studies, a theme shared with UVic's marine research.
Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's is public and emphasises Marine and Ocean Technology together with Earth Sciences and Engineering.
University of Waterloo, public and based in Waterloo, Ontario, pairs Engineering with Computer Science and cooperative education.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University of Bergen (Norway) is a public university whose specialties include Marine Science and Climate Research, matching UVic's ocean and climate interests.
University of Hawaii at Manoa in the United States is a public university in Honolulu with Oceanography as a main specialty.
University of Galway (Ireland), public and located in Galway, offers Marine Science alongside Biomedical Engineering.
James Cook University in Australia is a public university in Townsville where Marine Biology and Tropical Environment studies stand out.
University of Gothenburg (Sweden), a public university, lists Marine Science among its specialties together with Political Science and Business.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When did UVic become a university in its own right?
Victoria College was established in 1903 and was first affiliated with McGill University. The institution gained degree-granting status as the University of Victoria in 1963.
Where is the University of Victoria located?
It is in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada's Pacific coast. The university's address is in the Victoria area, so applicants can plan housing and travel around that city.
Which faculties does UVic have?
They include Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Fine Arts, Humanities, Law, Science and Social Sciences, plus a business school. The website lists the remaining faculties, divisions and services.
What is Ocean Networks Canada?
It is an initiative of the University of Victoria that operates two cabled ocean observatories, NEPTUNE and VENUS. They are located in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the Salish Sea.
Is UVic a public or private university?
UVic is a public university. Fee schedules for domestic and international students are published on the official website and are updated for each academic year.
Where can applicants find entry requirements?
Admission requirements for each programme are set out on the university's official site. Questions can be directed to the admissions office through the contact pages there.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
