How to Apply to Engineering at the University of Victoria: A Common First Year, Choosing a Discipline After Year One, Mandatory Co-op, and Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The University of Victoria (UVic) is in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Undergraduate engineering is offered by the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, leading to the Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) and the Bachelor of Software Engineering (BSEng). Computer science is in the same faculty and has its own guide on this site, so it is not covered here. This guide follows UVic’s website for domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents), international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students, for September 2027 entry.

1. Programs, accreditation and how you are admitted

• Disciplines: the engineering program page lists six areas: biomedical, civil, computer, electrical, mechanical and software engineering. The program declaration page lists five options (biomedical, civil, electrical and computer, mechanical, software). The two pages differ slightly; confirm the options at application and declaration time.
• Common first year, then declare: high school applicants select Engineering: Year 1 entry (BEng) and declare a discipline after one year of full-time study. Transfer students select their discipline when they apply.
• Declaration requirements (program declaration page): second-year standing (12.0 units or more); a minimum C+ average; no grades below C in required courses; and a competitive GPA where a program requires it. All required courses, including those beyond first year, count toward the GPA; complementary studies and natural science electives are excluded; for repeated courses only the latest attempt counts.
• Spaces and ranking: the faculty aims to place every student in a first-choice program and works to add capacity, but when demand exceeds seats, placement is based on competitive GPA, so first choice is not guaranteed. Students rank programs, can revise until the deadline, and submitting early has no effect. The dates on the page are for the 2026 round: portal opens March 2, rankings due April 30, results by May 31, effective September. Check the website for 2027 dates.
• Accreditation: the faculty page says graduating from one of UVic’s nationally accredited undergraduate engineering programs is the first step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PEng), regulated in BC by Engineers and Geoscientists BC. The pages we read do not use the term “CEAB”; ask the faculty about the status of each program.
• Co-op: engineering co-op is mandatory. Students take ENGR 130 (Introduction to Professional Practice) and complete four work terms, typically four months each, in fall, spring or summer. Enrolment is automatic when you declare a discipline or start looking for work. The faculty page also says engineering students are automatically admitted to the co-op program. The average monthly salary shown for undergraduate engineering co-op is $4,205. International students must hold an appropriate study permit; the engineering co-op page does not describe the work permit process, so ask engrcoop@uvic.ca or the International Centre.
• ECS LaunchPad: for students who have not met the high school math or science requirements for direct entry. It runs 12 months full time (September to August) with courses that count toward engineering or computer science, and students then move directly into second year without reapplying. International students must be full time to work legally in Canada and to qualify for a post-graduation work permit.
• Bridge programs: Camosun College offers electronics and computer, mechanical and civil engineering bridge programs that lead directly into third-year UVic engineering.

2. Prerequisites and admission averages (high school)

The engineering page lists requirements by education system; the parts relevant to domestic and Chinese applicants are below. UVic stresses that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission, and that the estimated admission averages come from recent cycles and may rise with competition.

• British Columbia and Yukon: Grade 11 approved English 11, Pre-calculus 11, Chemistry 11, Physics 11 and approved social studies 11/12; Grade 12 English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 (minimum 73%), Pre-calculus 12 (minimum 77%), an approved Grade 12 science or Calculus 12, and another approved academic 12. Estimated admission average: at least 85% (based on the required Grade 12 courses).
• Ontario: Chemistry 3U and Physics 3U; English 4U (minimum 73%), Advanced Functions 4U (minimum 77%), an approved 4U science or Calculus and Vectors 4U (MCV4U), and three more 4U/4M courses; estimated average at least 85%.
• Alberta: Mathematics 20-1, Chemistry 20 and Physics 20; English Language Arts 30-1 (minimum 73%), Mathematics 30-1 (minimum 77%), an approved 30-level science or Mathematics 31; estimated average at least 85%. Other provinces are in the drop-down on the engineering page.
• Expanded qualifications: academic performance is the main criterion, but a limited number of Canadian high school graduates may also be considered on non-academic qualifications.
• Testing: the Canadian high school entries do not mention SAT or ACT.

3. Domestic applicants (Canadian citizens and permanent residents)

• How to apply: through EducationPlannerBC. The fee is $89.50 if all transcripts come from Canadian institutions and $184 if any come from outside Canada. BC-curriculum students (including international schools) order transcripts through STS right after applying; IB students upload predicted scores in the UVic portal; other Canadian curricula self-report interim grades. We did not visit EducationPlannerBC.
• Deadlines: the deadlines page says “Most degree programs: January 31” (no year shown, so plan for January 31, 2027 and verify); engineering is not listed separately for September entry. High school students who submit grades by early December can be considered for early admission. The page also lists engineering summer entry at December 31 (high school graduates only). After the deadline you may still apply if the program is selectable in EducationPlannerBC, but it can close without notice.
• Tuition (rates effective May 1, 2026, two terms): domestic engineering tuition is $7,240, plus ancillary fees such as Engineering Student Society $60, UVic Student Society $174, athletics $200, bus pass $162, dental $219 and extended health $219. The pages we read do not distinguish BC residents from other Canadians.
• Co-op fees: the co-op page says the fee for the four work terms is paid in 8 installments with tuition in the first 8 terms, $403.78 each for domestic students and $848.37 for international students. The fee estimate instead lists a co-op program fee of $824 (domestic) or $1,764 (international) per two terms. The two descriptions differ; rely on your UVic invoice.
• Entrance scholarship (2027–2028, automatic): Canadian citizens and permanent residents entering first year from high school with an admission average of 90% or higher (or 32 IB points) receive a one-time $1,500–$5,000.

4. International applicants

• Applying and deadlines: also through EducationPlannerBC; the fee is $184 when any transcript is from outside Canada. Most degree programs close January 31 (verify the year).
• English: IELTS Academic 6.5 (no component below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 88 (no section below 20) or the new scale 4.5 (no section below 4.0); Duolingo 120 (no subscore below 110); PTE 65; CAEL 70; MET 64. Four years of full-time English-medium study in Canada or a recognized English-speaking country, and other academic routes, can also satisfy the requirement; see the English requirements page for the full list.
• Conditional admission: Engineering and Computer Science is on the conditional admission list. Lower scores (IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5, Duolingo 110 with no subscore below 100, PTE 54, TOEFL 79 or new-scale 4.0) allow you to register in degree courses, but you must reach the full requirement by the date in your offer email. ELC preliminary admission gives up to 24 months to meet the requirement through the English Language Centre without reapplying.
• Tuition (rates effective May 1, 2026, two terms, CAD): international engineering Year 1 $42,618, Year 2 $48,746, Year 3 $51,670, Year 4 $54,770, plus ancillary fees including mandatory medical insurance of $265.
• Entrance scholarship: international students with an admission average of A- or equivalent receive a one-time $15,000, automatically. They must enter first year directly from secondary school, hold a Canadian study permit and meet the English requirement.
• International curricula: IB requires the full diploma with three or more HL subjects; English HL/SL at least 3; Math HL/SL at least 4 (Math Studies and Math Applications and Interpretation SL are not acceptable); Chemistry and Physics (HL/SL) at least 4; estimated 30 points excluding bonus points. British A-levels: a combination such as three A-levels with at least B in each, an advanced math A-level, chemistry and physics (ordinary level accepted); estimated BBB. American curriculum: 14 or more college-preparatory courses, 4 English (at least C+ in senior English), 4 math including pre-calculus (at least B-), 3 science; estimated unweighted GPA at least 3.40; SAT and ACT are not required but considered if submitted (SAT 1250, ACT 26).
• Proof of funds: not stated on the pages we read (not published there); check UVic’s International Centre and the Canadian immigration website.

5. Applicants from China

• Credentials and grades (the “China” entry on the engineering page): senior secondary graduation showing grades for Senior Years 1, 2 and 3 with a minimum overall average of 80%, plus Huikao or Xuekao results.
• Subjects: chemistry and physics (Grade 11 or equivalent); three years of senior-level math (pre-calculus) with at least 85%; and a senior-level science or additional math course (Grade 12 or equivalent) with at least 85%.
• Estimated admission average: 85% (years 10 to 12).
• Gaokao: the China entry does not say whether or how Gaokao results are used. Not published; ask UVic Undergraduate Admissions.
• Other: English proof as in section 4; IB, A-level and American-curriculum routes are also available with the requirements above.

6. Transfer students

• Applying: transfer students select their engineering discipline at application. The faculty page says a transfer evaluation with a course-by-course description arrives within a few weeks and eligible transfer credit is normally assigned at admission.
• Minimum transfer averages (calendar minimums; actual averages may be higher; repeated and failed courses are included): with eight or more university-transfer courses (12 UVic units), at least C+ (3.00 on the 9-point scale) on the most recent 12 UVic units; one full year of a diploma program, A- (7.00); a completed diploma, B (5.00); certificates are not eligible. For CÉGEP, UVic asks for one or more years of an approved diploma program with at least 70% or B, plus two semesters each of English, math, physics and chemistry. See the drop-down on the engineering page for your type of institution.
• Required courses (or equivalents, each with at least a C): CHEM 101 or 150, MATH 100 or 109, MATH 101, MATH 110 or 211, CSC 110 or 111, ATWP 135 or ENGL 135, and PHYS 110 and 111.
• Applicants without 12 UVic units or a year of diploma study must also meet the Year 1 high school requirements.
• Co-op: up to two work terms can be transferred; first-year and second-year transfers may transfer (or challenge) at most one, third-year bridge students up to two, and the request must be made in the first term at UVic.

Checklist

Domestic applicants:

• Apply to “Engineering: Year 1 entry” through EducationPlannerBC by January 31 (verify the year)
• BC: Pre-calculus 12 at least 77%, English Studies 12 at least 73%, plus Chemistry 11 and Physics 11; aim for an average of 85% or higher
• Declare a discipline after year one with at least a C+ average; popular programs are allocated by GPA

International applicants (including China):

• China: at least 80% across Senior Years 1 to 3, at least 85% in senior math, chemistry and physics in Grade 11, Huikao or Xuekao results; aim for 85%
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 per band), new TOEFL 4.5 or Duolingo 120, or use conditional admission or ELC preliminary admission
• International students with an A- admission average receive CAD 15,000 automatically; confirm co-op work authorization with the university

Transfer students:

• Complete CHEM 101/150, MATH 100/109, 101 and 110/211, CSC 110/111, ATWP/ENGL 135 and PHYS 110 and 111 with at least a C each
• At least C+ on the most recent 12 UVic units; diploma students need A- or B

Sources: University of Victoria, Engineering program, admission requirements by education system and fee estimate; Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science undergraduate programs; Program declaration, engineering; ECS LaunchPad; Engineering co-op; Application deadlines; How to apply; English language requirements; Entrance scholarships. The deadlines page does not state a year and the program declaration page shows 2026 dates; tuition rates took effect 1 May 2026. Check UVic for the latest details.