Discovery Studies
Want to take a few courses without completing an entire degree? If so, Discovery Studies might be the right fit for you. You'll need to submit an application to UVic, and can then choose courses through UVic's online course-registration system.
Discovery Studies is only available to people who are not current UVic students.
- Register in up to three units of courses per academic term (Fall, Spring or Summer)
- Most courses are equivalent to 1.5 units
- Final exams are written
- University credit is awarded
- There's a limit of 12 units in total, after which a student must apply for degree studies
If you don't need to receive university credit, you can request to audit a course instead of applying for Discovery Studies.
Admission requirements
To apply for Discovery Studies, you must:
- be 21 years old before the first day of class
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- provide a letter of introduction describing why you want to take courses and your ability to succeed
- meet UVic's English language proficiency requirements
- not have been a UVic student before or been refused admission in the past
- not have been required to withdraw from any post-secondary institution in the previous three years
No transcripts are needed to apply to Discovery Studies.
If you decide later to complete an undergraduate degree, you'll have to apply through the standard admission process.
Course options
A number of courses are available, and we consider requests for other courses on an individual basis.
- You must meet the prerequisites to enroll in any course.
- Transcripts may be requested as proof of meeting prerequisites.
How to apply
Submit your application to UVic through the EducationPlannerBC application service.
- For "Level of study", select Undergraduate and indicate that you are not applying for a degree, diploma or certificate at this time.
- For "Type of study", select Discovery Studies.