The University of Victoria Scholarship options include merit-based entrance funding for international undergraduates. This guide focuses on the international entrance route for students beginning their first undergraduate degree at UVic in Canada.
UVic’s current entrance funding table lists a CAD 15,000 one-time international award for 2027–2028, subject to its published conditions. Award values can change between intakes, so an applicant’s written offer remains essential.
Key Facts
- University: University of Victoria, commonly called UVic.
- Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
- Focus: international entrance funding.
- Degree level: undergraduate.
- Entry stage: first year.
- Selection basis: academic merit.
- Published 2027–2028 value: CAD 15,000.
- Funding duration: one-time award.
- Current published academic benchmark: A− or equivalent.
- Administration: Student Awards & Financial Aid.
University Overview
UVic is a Canadian university on British Columbia’s coast. It received degree-granting status in 1963, with institutional roots in Victoria College, established in 1903.
Its teaching combines academic study with opportunities for practical learning. Research priorities include climate and sustainability, health, Indigenous-led scholarship, social justice, and technology’s relationship with people.
The university offers undergraduate, graduate and professional study through distinct admission routes. An undergraduate entrance award should therefore be evaluated separately from graduate funding or a faculty-specific scholarship.
Scholarship Overview
- International entrance awards recognise strong school performance.
- The named International Entrance Scholarship describes support for academically outstanding first-year international students.
- No separate application is required for that named automatic award.
- Admission must precede consideration.
- Admissions refers eligible candidates to the awards office.
- Interim or final school records support assessment.
- Specific-criteria awards have separate procedures.
- Receiving an offer requires checking its individual terms.
Eligible Majors
The named International Entrance Scholarship refers broadly to first-year undergraduate degree programmes and does not specify a single major. A programme listing alone does not guarantee that an individual applicant qualifies for funding.
- Commerce and Economics
- Computer Science and Data Science
- Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
- Biology, Earth Sciences and Environmental Studies
- English, History and Psychology
- Music, Theatre and Visual Arts
These are examples from UVic’s degree catalogue, not a separate scholarship allocation by department. Check whether the programme permits direct first-year entry and review its required school subjects.
Target Groups
The international entrance route normally serves current secondary students or graduates within two years who have not attended a post-secondary institution. Students must meet academic and English conditions and study at UVic on a Canadian study permit while assessed international tuition.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, transfer applicants and continuing UVic students have different award categories. They should use the relevant route rather than assuming this first-year international award applies.
Benefits
- Non-repayable entrance scholarship support.
- Funding normally applied to assessed tuition and fees.
- Any eligible excess payable under university regulations.
This is partial educational support, not a confirmed package of full tuition, housing, insurance, travel and monthly stipends. Consult the official entrance scholarship values and regulations for your intake.
Duration and Renewal by Degree
Undergraduate: the current automatic international award is one-time funding. Do not budget on it repeating in later years; separately named renewable scholarships have their own conditions.
Master’s and doctorate: this undergraduate entrance route does not fund these degrees. Graduate applicants must consult their department and graduate funding arrangements.
Course registration remains important after an award offer. UVic’s scholarship guidance ordinarily requires 12 graded units across the winter session, with separate rules for other entry terms and approved reduced course loads; confirm your exact requirement with the awards office before withdrawing from courses.
Scholarship Requirements
Final results can alter or withdraw an early scholarship offer. UVic does not round up percentages, and eligibility can also change when a student changes faculty or no longer satisfies an award’s conditions.
An offer of scholarship funding and an offer of admission require separate attention. Accepting a scholarship does not itself complete the university admission acceptance process.
Admission Requirements by Degree
Undergraduate requirements
Entry requirements depend on the degree and the applicant’s education system. For example, Computer Science requires suitable English, mathematics and science preparation; meeting a published minimum does not guarantee admission.
All applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through an accepted study background, test or approved language-centre route. Standard test options include IELTS Academic 6.5 with no component below 6.0, or Duolingo 120 with no subscore below 110.
UVic also lists TOEFL iBT 88 with no section below 20, or an overall 4.5 with no section below 4.0 on the newer scoring scale. Tests must be no more than two years old at application, and scores must come directly from the testing organisation; consult the official English proficiency requirements for accepted alternatives.
Master’s and doctoral requirements
Graduate degrees use separate applications, programme requirements and funding processes. The undergraduate entrance scholarship does not establish a graduate GPA threshold, supervisor requirement or doctoral funding entitlement.
Application Steps
1. Choose your degree
Compare your curriculum with the programme requirements in the official undergraduate application guide.
2. Apply for admission
Submit through EducationPlannerBC and pay the applicable admission application fee.
3. Activate your account
Use your UVic student number to create a NetLink ID and monitor your application checklist.
4. Supply academic evidence
Follow the instructions for your curriculum, including interim grades, final transcripts and English results where needed.
5. Review the funding offer
Automatic consideration follows admission for eligible candidates. Read the written award notice and resolve questions about the amount or conditions.
6. Accept and enrol
Accept the admission offer as instructed, then accept the scholarship in Online tools: Student Services, Awards and financial aid, View My Student Aid, relevant Aid Year and Aid Period, then Accept.
Required Documents
- In-progress school transcript, where applicable
- Official final school transcript
- Predicted International Baccalaureate scores, where applicable
- Official International Baccalaureate transcript, where applicable
- English language test score report, where required
- Notarised English transcript translation, where required
- Additional programme-specific admission documents
Practical Tips
These are practical suggestions, not extra eligibility conditions.
- Compare several programmes before paying an application fee.
- Keep your school curriculum details available when checking prerequisites.
- Ask a recruiter about unfamiliar qualification names.
- Make a personal checklist based on your application portal.
- Use a consistent email address and check its spam folder.
- Retain copies of uploaded records and submission receipts.
- Arrange official records through the issuing authority.
- Read the conditions attached to both admission and scholarship offers.
- Budget for costs beyond the award value.
- Ask the awards office before changing your course load.
Conclusion
A University of Victoria Scholarship can reduce the cost of starting an undergraduate degree. A sound plan combines programme eligibility, complete academic records, a realistic budget and careful reading of the written award.
FAQ
Is this scholarship available for a PhD?
No. This guide covers international undergraduate entrance funding; doctoral applicants need a separate graduate funding route.
Must I write a scholarship essay?
The named automatic International Entrance Scholarship does not require a separate application. Other awards may ask for additional information.
Can I send my own official transcript?
UVic treats a transcript as official only when it arrives directly from the issuing organisation. For non-English records from other countries, its instructions require a notarised English translation by a certified translator.
Can I take the award to another university?
No. UVic entrance scholarships are valid only at UVic.
What if official pages show different amounts?
The named award page gives a general minimum, while the current entrance table specifies an intake-based amount. Ask Student Awards & Financial Aid to confirm which value applies to your offer.