2011-2012 Graduate Admission Preview Handbook Thinking at a higher level.

CONTENTS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Welcome About UVic Life in Victoria Fees Funding opportunities How to apply Program and admission requirements

Welcome to the University of Victoria.

This is a place where the curious come together to learn, to imagine and to transform. Where Canadas brightest minds and innovative scholarship meet an engaged, altruistic student body on the stunning West Coast. UVic is a community of leaders who are inspired and motivated by their imaginations. Weve nurtured forward-thinking minds from all over the world for more than 100 years and our graduate students and faculty have a diverse legacy of achievement, working on original research that contributes to the world around them. Were home to 145 graduate programs designed to ignite your academic passion within a supportive and vibrant community. Our leadership in research is celebrated on a global scale, specializing in the areas of society and health, oceanography, climate change, matter, energy, Indigenous and cultural studies, genomics, proteomics, fine arts, performing arts and computational modelling. Opportunities like our co-operative education program where you alternate terms in school with terms in a job related to your degree help prepare you for life as an engaged global citizen.

10 Degree options

1903

The year UVic (formerly Victoria College) was founded.

2,858
Number of graduate students enrolled at UVic.

UVic was named a Research University of the Year in a 2009 ranking of the countrys top research destinations. In the annual survey by Research Infosource, UVic ranked amongst the top three comprehensive schools, making it the highest ranked of its class outside Ontario. UVic has held this rank for the last seven years. Visit www.uvic.ca/research to read about what were working on right now.

16.2
Percentage of graduate scholars who are international students (from over 70 countries).

795
Number of regular graduate faculty. We also have more than 600 associate and emeritus faculty.

1
UVic is home to western Canadas largest co-operative education program that includes learn-by doing opportunities for most graduate programs. Visit www.uvic.ca/coop for details.

No end in sight.
Installed in July 2010, UVics new telescope sits atop our Bob Wright Centre as the largest telescope located on a university campus in Canada. With one of the largest mirrors in the country, this equipment can spy asteroids passing close to Earth and planets crossing in front of stars. UVic astronomers are known for world-class research into the formation of galaxies, stellar structure and evolution and theoretical and observational cosmology.

A unique vantage point.

UVic students are part of an inclusive community and make decisions based on their attitudes and values; decisions that include open conversations and respect for the varied perspectives represented on campus.
Our campus is full of green spaces, modern buildings, thoughtfully-designed lecture and lab facilities and state-of-the-art libraries. Were proud to be a community of ambitious individuals who study, live and work in one of the most unique and stimulating campus environments in the world.

Nathan Bennett
Nathan Bennett is a PhD candidate in geography with a soft spot for the tumbling ocean surf. Hes also one of only 15 students across the country receiving a coveted $180,000 doctoral scholarship from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. Bennetts award will support his work on environmental conservation and the reduction of human poverty. Focusing on the Andaman Coast of Thailand, Bennett is exploring how the livelihoods of people in underprivileged coastal communities can flourish alongside protected marine parks.

On our own merit

UVic graduate students receive
research funding in excess of the national average. Last year our students received over $4.3 million in national scholarships and fellowships

37 Canada Research Chairs have called UVic home 5 UVic faculty members have received Governor Generals Literature Awards Were proud to count a number of Rhodes scholars, Pierre Elliott Trudeau
scholarship winners and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar as part of the UVic community

The lay of the land.

Seeing is believing when it comes to UVic. Check out the campus for yourself on a daily student-led tour by emailing tours@uvic.ca or click on Take a Tour at www.uvic.ca to explore the community from the comfort of your home computer.

A step in the right direction.

Victoria welcomes people from all over the world via plane, ferry or car. Visit www.uvic.ca/directions to plan your route.

On the edge of ocean and opportunity.

Welcome to Victoria, a celebrated cultural destination at the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
With a population of around 400,000, this vibrant city caters to a diverse crowd with a range of cultural offerings. Weve got world-class independent theatre, quirky neighbourhood cafs, live-music venues of every shape and size and a thriving culinary scene that ranges from Thai to tapas. Buy your vegetables from Canadas oldest Chinatown, take a workshop in the community-minded Fernwood neighbourhood and grow your ticket stub collection from Victorias numerous international theatre, film and music festivals. Sitting on the edge of the ocean between rainforest and rugged mountains, our coastal setting is the perfect spot for hands-on research in marine biology, climate change and ocean mapping. Combine our coordinates with mild winters and long summers and youve got a perfect home for year-round surfing, kayaking, snowboarding, climbing, cycling or hiking.

Home base.
Several on-campus living options are available to you, including furnished apartments (cluster housing), non-furnished apartments and townhouses (family housing) or furnished dormitory-style housing in residence. Visit www.housing.uvic.ca for details and rates. If you prefer to live off campus please visit our online housing registry at www.housing.uvic.ca/offcampus to browse for apartments, houses, basement suites or shared accommodation.

C A N A D A

U S A
3

Down to a fine art.

UVics Studios for Integrated Media (SIM) help research in fine arts programs leap off the page with state-of-the-art digital music, web design, imaging, publishing, sound synthesizing and video production facilities. The SIM includes computing facilities, two classrooms, research support, training in remote equipment, in addition to the three digital music studios housed in the School of Music. The SIM offers rewarding student jobs that help participants learn the best of integrated media.

An important investment.
At UVic, tuition fees for graduate programs are called program fees. You will be charged a fee for every term that you are registered in a degree program. Each term is four months long and there are three terms each year (September to December, January to April and May to August).
The time to complete your degree depends on a number of factors, including specific program requirements and how many units of credit you choose to take during a term. In general, most of our masters programs require between three to six terms of full-time study and doctoral programs require between seven and ten terms. Please consult the calendar at www.uvic.ca/calendar/GRAD for specific details about your program. EXPENSES* (ONE TERM OF STUDY)
Program fee** Graduate Student Society fee Athletics and Recreation*** Universal bus pass*** Extended health plan (full year) *** Dental plan (full year)*** TOTAL

Emily Blacker
It may be uncommon for a masters student to get published but Emily Blacker took on graduate work that was far from typical. A student of both the English and the Cultural, Social and Political Thought programs and a Lieutenant Governors Silver Medal award winner Blacker analyzed the ethics of encounters between ethnographers and the people they study; how and why stories are read, recorded and told and the complexities of storytelling itself. Her work is being published as part of a collection entitled Cultural Production at the Interfaces of the Oral, Written and Visual.

CANADIAN STUDENTS
$1,650 $54 $73 $69 $310 $195 $2,351

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
$1,963 $54 $73 $69 $310 $195 $2,664

* Additional expenses such as books, travel, accommodation and food have not been included in this sample. ** The program fee is different for MBA, MGB, MACD, MPH, NUHI, Child and Youth Care, Counselling and Health Informatics students. For details, visit www.finance.uvic.ca/tuition. *** Applies to full-time status students only.

DIVE IN.
In December 2009, data began flowing from the worlds largest and most advanced deepocean observatory. Led by UVic, NEPTUNE Canada allows land-based scientists to conduct offshore experiments and receive continuous real-time data from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Instruments installed on the sea floor monitor biological, chemical and geological processes. The amount of data collected each year is equivalent to roughly 60 million books.

External awards
There are many funding options available through external organizations. Some of these awards are listed online at www.uvic.ca/gradstudies/fund.

Funding opportunities.
UVic offers many financial opportunities for our graduate students. Weve listed some of the major categories below, but encourage you to visit www.uvic.ca/gradstudies/fund for additional information. UVic fellowships
You will be automatically considered for a UVic Fellowship if you apply by February 15 and held an average GPA of A- (7.00 on the UVic grading scale) over the last two years on your undergraduate and, if applicable, your graduate course work. Fellowships may have a maximum annual value of $15,000 for masters students and $18,000 for PhD students. Masters fellowships may be renewed once (to a maximum of 24 months), and PhD fellowships may be renewed three times (to a maximum of 48 months).

UVic teaching and research assistantships

Many graduate students work as teaching and research assistants while they pursue their studies. Its a great way to share your knowledge with the next generation and to put your academic skills into action.

Teaching Assistantships (TA): TA

arrangements are made directly between you and your academic unit. Contact your prospective academic unit as soon as possible. assistantship arrangements are made directly between you and your academic unit or supervisor. Contact your prospective department as soon as possible. The Faculty of Graduate Studies may offer you a supplement if you are hired by an academic unit as a TA, RA, or to fulfill other academic duties. AIS funds are awarded in September, January and May, based on recommendations from academic units.

Other UVic scholarships

UVic offers a wide range of entrance and in-course scholarships, and weve listed a few below. For a complete list, visit www.uvic.ca/grad.

Research Assistantships (RA): Research

Pacific Century Graduate Scholarships:

$10,000 a year to full-time graduate students with a minimum A- average $4,000 to students holding NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR or MSFHR awards valued at up to $25,000 or $2,000 to students who have been successful in Canadian national competitions where awards are of a value between $15,000 and $25,000

Howard E. Petch Research Scholarships:

Seven awards of $7,500 are awarded annually to students who are recommended by their academic units One $7,500 scholarship awarded annually to a student who is recommended by his or her academic unit

Presidents Research Scholarships:

Academic Income Supplements (AIS):

David F. Strong Research Scholarship:

How to apply.
Visit www.uvic.ca/students/grad/admissions and follow the instructions to complete your application online. You can choose to download and complete a paper application from this website as well.
Graduate applications are only processed after receipt of your application fee. This charge is $100 (CAD) if all of your post-secondary transcripts come from an institution within Canada or $125 (CAD) if any post-secondary transcripts come from outside of Canada. The application fee is non-refundable and does not count for credit towards your tuition fees.

Yasuko Thanh
Masters student Yasuko Thanh won the $10,000 Journey Prize, one of Canadas top literary awards for new writers. It was Thanhs 2009 novel Floating Like the Dead that nabbed her the prize, a fictional story that tackles the history of DArcy Island a small island along the BC coastline that was once a quarantined colony for people suffering from leprosy.

After you apply

You will receive your UVic student number by email within a few days of your application being processed. You will also receive notice of any documents that are still required to complete your application and a letter with instructions on how to check your application status online. Once your application has been completed and an admission decision has been made you will be notified by mail.

Information for international students

If you have completed a degree at a post-secondary institution outside of Canada and are using that degree to apply for graduate studies at UVic then please visit www.uvic.ca/grad-international for a list of minimum requirements for degree programs from other countries. If your first language is not English you must demonstrate English proficiency in most cases before being admitted to UVic. You can demonstrate this aptitude in a variety of ways; please visit www.uvic.ca/grad-esl for details.

Program and admission requirements.

For complete application and admission details, please consult your program website and the University of Victoria Graduate Calendar. In the event of a discrepancy between this chart and the calendar, the calendar shall take precendence.
STUDY AREA DEGREE ENTRY POINT APPLICATION DEADLINE
DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL
B+

MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDING

EXAMS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Recent sample of written work; Statement of intent

Anthropology www.anthropology.uvic.ca Biochemistry and Microbiology web.uvic.ca/biochem Biology web.uvic.ca/biology

MA, PhD

September

Fellowship; January 31

MSc, PhD

September/ January/May

Ongoing

TOEFL 100 (internet-based)*

MSc, PhD

September January May

until full until full until full

February 1 June 1 October 1

B+/A-

Statement of intent

Resume/CV;

Business www.business.uvic.ca

MBA, MBA/LLB

August

April 30

March 31

GPA of B or better on last two years of undergraduate degree; contact MBA Program office for details

Two essays; GMAT; Two letters of reference Resume/CV;

PhD

September

January 15

Masters degree can be from a variety of disciplines; contact PhD Program office for details

Statement of research interests; GMAT or GRE; Three letters of reference

MGB

September

May 30

B (last two years of study); commerce, business, administration or management degree with at least one Finance and one International Business course

Resume/CV; two essays; two letters of reference; GRE General and Chemistry test scores with a score in 85th percentile or better on GRE Chemistry subject test

Chemistry www.chemistry.uvic.ca

MSc, PhD

September January May

February 1 June 1 October 1 January 31 December 15

Child and Youth Care www.cyc.uvic.ca Community Development publicadmin.uvic.ca/macd

MA, PhD

September

B+

Contact the department regarding PhD intake Resume/CV;

MA

May

December 1

September 15

Statement of intent; Letters of reference

Computer Science www.csc.uvic.ca

MA, MSc, PhD

September

May 31

December 15

MA/MSc: B+(computer science/computer engineering/software engineering or its equivalent OR a major or honours degree in Mathematics with an emphasis on computer science) PhD: A (in MSc or equivalent)

Resume/CV; Statement of intent; GRE recommended

January May

October 31 February 28 March 15

April 15 September 15 December 15 B+ and relevant professional post baccalaureate experience is desirable Resume/CV; Statement of intent Statement of research interests

Dispute Resolution * publicadmin.uvic.ca/madr Earth and Ocean Sciences www.seos.uvic.ca Economics www.uvic.ca/econ

MA

September

MSc, PhD

September/ January/May

Ongoing until full

B+

MA, PhD

September

January 31

December 15

GRE**

STUDY AREA

DEGREE

ENTRY POINT

APPLICATION DEADLINE
DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL

MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDING

EXAMS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

MA, MEd, PhD

September

February 15

December 15

A limited number of Fellowships are available. See website/calendar for details.

Education - Curriculum and Instruction www.educ.uvic.ca/edci/ C4-grad.htm

January May Full time fellowship applicants

October 15 February 28

April 15 October 15

February 15 At least B average in last two years of bachelors degree. 9.0 units of third and fourth year coursework in educational psychology and psychology or a related discipline and completion of ED-D 14/417/418 or their equivalents with a B+ or higher B in last two years of academic work

Resume/CV; Statement of intent; See website for specific program and degree requirements

MA, MEd (Counselling)

September

December 1

Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies www.educ.uvic.ca/epls

MA, MEd (Leadership Studies)

September/ January/May

Ongoing until each entry point full

MA, MEd (Educational Psychology)

September

January 8

At least a B average in last two years of bachelors degree and at least a B+ average in 3 senior undergraduate courses directly related to the program stream area

PhD (Educational Psychology)

September September January May

January 9 February 28 May 31 October 31 September 15 December 15 April 15

Masters degree that includes ED-D 560 and ED-D 561A or their equivalents, from recognized university A-

Electrical and Computer Engineering www.ece.uvic.ca English english.uvic.ca

MASc, MEng, PhD

Resume/CV; MA September December 15 AStatement of intent; Writing sample from within last 12 months PhD September September December 15 January 15 MA with A- average B+

Environmental Studies web.uvic.ca/enweb Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education www.educ.uvic.ca/phed French web.uvic.ca/french Geography www.uvic.ca/geog Germanic and Slavic Studies www.uvic.ca/geru Greek and Roman Studies www.uvic.ca/grs

MA, MSc

MA, MSc, MEd

July/ September

February 15

B in physical education or related area

Resume/CV; Statement of intent

MA

September/ January/May

February 15

B+/A- average in third- and fourth-year French courses

Good oral and reading knowledge of English

MA, MSc, PhD

September

February 15

B+; geography honours or major

Statement of intent

MA

September

February 15

B+/A- average in final year; German major

Statement of intent

Statement of intent; MA September April 1 B+ Background in Greek/Latin, Greek and Roman civilization See website for details

MSc (On campus)

September May

January 15 January 15 May 31 October 31 February 28

December 15 September 15 December 15 April 15 September 15

B+

Health Information Science hinf.uvic.ca

MSc (Distributed program)

September January May

Hispanic and Italian Studies web.uvic.ca/hispanital

MA

September

February 15

B+ overall average or A- minimum average in final year

Statement of intent; Sample of written work

STUDY AREA

DEGREE

ENTRY POINT
September September

APPLICATION DEADLINE
DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL

MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDING

EXAMS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Statement of intent

History web.uvic.ca/history

MA, PhD PhD

January 15 January 15

B+ or A- average in final year MA with A- average in graduate courses

History in Art www.finearts.uvic.ca/ historyinart

Resume/CV; MA September December 15 B+; broad academic history of art background Statement of intent; Two samples of written research PhD September September September January May December 15 January 15 April 30 September 30 January 31 Resume/CV; Sample of written work (LLM); MA in history of art of closely related field B+ ASee website for details See website for details

Indigenous Governance www.uvic.ca/igov Interdisciplinary Programs

MA MA, MSc, PhD

Law www.law.uvic.ca/grad

LLM

September

January 31

December 15

B+ in final two years of LLB or JD

One-page thesis proposal (LLM); Five-page dissertation proposal (PhD) ; TOEFL 100 (internet based)*

PhD MA

September September September September September September

January 31 January 15 January 15 January 15 May 31 May 31

December 15 December 15 December 15 December 15 December 15 December 15 December 15

A- on LLM (or equivalent) B+ in the final years work MA with A- average B+ in the final years work Bachelors degree in mathematics or statistics Normally masters degree in mathematics or statistics; evidence of research potential TOEFL 92 (internet based)* TOEFL 92 (internet based)* TOEFL 100 (internet based)*

Linguistics www.uvic.ca/ling

PhD MA (Applied Linguistics) MA, MSc, PhD PhD

Mathematics and Statistics www.math.uvic.ca

January

October 31

(13 months prior)

B+; MASc, MEng, PhD September June 30 December 15 MEng: B in the last two years of university work; MASc: B+ in the last two years of university work; PhD: Masters degree in science or engineering. Resume/CV (recommended); Statement of intent (recommended)

Mechanical Engineering www.me.uvic.ca

January May

October 31 February 28 January 15

April 15 September 15 December 15 B+ See website for details

Music www.finearts.uvic.ca/music Nursing www.nursing.uvic.ca Pacific and Asian Studies web.uvic.ca/pacificasia Philosophy www.uvic.ca/philosophy Physics and Astronomy www.phys.uvic.ca Political Science web.uvic.ca/polisci

MA, MMus, PhD

September

MN, PhD

September

Distance Advanced Nursing Practice APL, NP or NUED: December 1 January 15 December 15

MN: B+ PhD: A-

See website for details

MA

September

B+

Statement of intent; Sample of written work Statement of intent Sample of written work

MA

September September

February 1

B+ on final two years of undergraduate degree

MSc, PhD

(January and May possible)

February 15 (Recommended)

B+; specialization in physics, mathematics or astronomy

GRE**

Statement of intent; MA September January 15 December 15 B+ in final two years of undergraduate degree Sample of written work; TOEFL 100 (internet based)* PhD September January 15 December 15 A- in all political science graduate courses Statement of intent; Msc, PhD September January 1 B+ with degree in psychology GRE (general test); TOEFL 100 (internet based)*

Psychology www.uvic.ca/psyc

STUDY AREA

DEGREE

ENTRY POINT
September September January

APPLICATION DEADLINE
DOMESTIC
January 15 January 15

MINIMUM ACADEMIC STANDING

Resume/CV;

INTERNATIONAL
December 15 December 15 B+ in final two years of undergraduate degree; A- in the last two years of academic work B the final two years of baccalaureate degree

EXAMS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Public Administration publicadmin.uvic.ca

MPA, MPA/LLB PhD Evaluation Certificate Program Library Cultural Certificate Program

Statement of intent Research overview Resume/CV; Statement of intent

October 15

January

September 30 B+ (undergraduate degree), including an undergraduate-level statistics course with a B or higher

Public Health

MPH

September

February 1

Resume/CV; statement of intent

Social Dimensions of Health web.uvic.ca/sdhealth Social Work www.socialwork.uvic.ca/ programs/msw

MA, MSc, PhD

September

April 30

B+ (last two years of study)

Resume/CV; MSW, Non-BSW MSW MSW (Indigenous specialization) September December 1 B+ ; Students without a BSW are eligible to apply for entry to the Non-BSW MSW Statement of intent; 2 years experience May December 1 Resume/CV; MA September May 31 December 15 B+ Statement of interest; Sample of written work PhD September May 31 December 15 MA with minimum A- to A in graduate courses Resume/CV; Statement of intent Resume/CV; Statement of intent Statement of intent; Portfolio (see website for requirements) Resume/CV; MFA September January 31 B+ Statement of intent; Portfolio of writing in chosen genre

Sociology www.uvic.ca/soci

Studies in Policy and Practice www.uvic.ca/spp Theatre www.finearts.uvic.ca/theatre Visual Arts www.finearts.uvic.ca/visualarts/ masters Writing www.finearts.uvic.ca/writing

MA

September

February 15

B+

MA, MFA

September

January 1

B+

MFA

September

January 15

B with a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts (students who do not hold a BA in Visual Arts should contact the department)

UVic GPA scale: A+:9 A:8 A-:7 B+:6 B:5 B-:4 C+:3 C:2 D:1 * For applicants whose first language is not English; see www.ets.org/toefl for details. Paper based TOEFL scores are also accepted. ** For applicants who completed their undergraduate degree at institutions outside of Canada. Consult with individual departments for specific details on GRE requirements.

In pursuit of knowledge.
Masters degree
To apply for admission to a masters degree program you must have completed an acceptable bachelors degree (or equivalent degree from another country) from a recognized academic institution. You must have earned the minimum equivalent of a B grade point average on the last two years of course work and will be required to submit two reference letters that speak to your ability to undertake advanced work in your area of interest.

Doctoral degree
To apply for admission to a doctoral degree program you will normally be required to have completed a masters degree from a recognized academic institution. You must be able to demonstrate your ability to undertake substantial original research by submitting two letters of reference.

Non-degree course work

You can apply as a non-degree student if you plan to take courses at the graduate level but do not wish to count these courses for credit towards a UVic degree. Non-degree applicants must meet the same entrance requirements and follow the same application procedures as degree-seeking applicants.

Second masters or doctoral degree

UVic will consider your application for a second masters or doctoral degree provided it is not in the same subject area as your first degree. You will not be permitted to use any of the research or course work from your first degree toward your second degree.

10

USEFUL WEBSITES
UVic Homepage www.uvic.ca Graduate Admissions www.uvic.ca/grad Faculty of Graduate Studies www.uvic.ca/grad Funding Sources www.uvic.ca/gradstudies/fund Academic Calendar www.uvic.ca/calendar/GRAD Campus Maps www.uvic.ca/maps Victoria BC www.victoria.ca The Graduate Admission Preview Handbook was printed in September 2010, one year before the 2011-2012 winter session. If there are discrepancies between this publication and the University of Victoria Graduate Calendar, the calendar will take precedence.

University of Victoria
Graduate Admissions Phone: 250-472-4657 Fax: 250-472-5420 Web: www.uvic.ca/grad Faculty of Graduate Studies Phone: 250-472-4657 Web: www.uvic.ca/grad Produced by: Student Marketing and Communications Design | UVic Graphic Services Photography | UVic Photo Services, UVic Communications, NEPTUNE Canada and Hlne Cyr.