Using the Calendar

This page provides a brief overview of the Calendar and tips on how to use it.

Navigation

The Home page provides a launch pad to all of the features and services within the official UVic Academic Calendar. From here, you can select any other tab to get started.

Primary navigation tabs include:

Current, future and past Calendar editions

Throughout the year, you can access the current calendar edition as well as future editions (if published) and past (archived) editions.

  • Current Calendar editions are available via the Undergraduate and Graduate level Calendar tabs. 
  • Future Calendar editions are available as soon as they are published. These can be accessed (for course planning purposes) using the navigation provided. Please note that if no future editions are available, the corresponding links will not be available. 
  • Past Calendar editions are available, by academic year, on the Archives tab.

How to find courses and course requirements

First select the level (Undergraduate or Graduate) from the main menu; this will take you to either the Undergraduate or Graduate Calendar. From here, select Courses from the vertical navigation bar.

From this page you can:

  • Browse courses by subject area (sorted in alphabetical order)
  • Search courses by course code (e.g. ENGL 101), keyword or phrase to find courses that match your search criteria

Click on a course title to review the course details which may include some or all of the following:

  • Course description
  • Units, lecture hours, lab hours and tutorial hours
  • Prerequisites (see below for tips on how to read this information)
  • Links to the timetable (by term)
  • Notes

To print a course, click the printer icon in the right hand corner. This opens a print-friendly version of the page in a new window which can then be printed.

How to find program information

First select the level (Undergraduate or Graduate) from the main menu; this will take you to either the Undergraduate or Graduate Calendar. From here select Programs from the vertical navigation bar.

From this page you can:

  • Browse the list of programs (sorted in alphabetical order)
  • Filter the list by credential type using the drop-down list
  • Search courses by keyword or phrase (e.g. Biology)

Click on a program to review the program details which may include some or all of the following:

  • Links to faculty and department information
  • Admission requirements
  • Program requirements
  • Information about co-op.

To print a program, click the printer icon in the right hand corner. This opens a print-friendly version of the page in a new window which can then be printed.

How to find University policies

First select the level (Undergraduate or Graduate) from the main menu; this will take you to either the Undergraduate or Graduate Calendar. From here select Policies from the vertical navigation bar.

From this page you can:

  • Browse the list of Policies (sorted in alphabetical order)
  • Search policies by keyword or phrase (e.g. academic concession, fees, etc.)

Click on a policy to review it.

To print a policy, click the printer icon in the right hand corner. This opens a print-friendly version of the page in a new window which can then be printed.

Using the Calendar Search Engine

The search engine in the UVic academic calendar is highly responsive and your search results will change as you enter your parameters. In other words, the more you type, the more specific your results will be. The display of your search results is based on a scoring method that counts the number of matches found. The scoring is based on all possible display criteria including subject area, course number, description, program, etc. The more times your keyword(s) appear in any of these fields, the higher the result will rank.

For instance if you include the word "history", when searching for undergraduate courses, your results may include a wide variety of courses including, but not limited to: 

  • HSTR131 History of Technology (Subject: History)
  • BIOL400 History of Biology (Subject: Biology)
  • PHIL316 History of Analytic Philosophy (Subject: Philosophy)
  • FRAN404 History of French (Subject: French)
  • Etc. 

When conducting a keyword search for undergraduate programs, the word "history" may return a variety of options including, but not limited to: 

  • History (Bachelor of Arts - Major)
  • History (Bachelor of Ats - Honours)
  • Theatre History (Bachelor of Arts - Honours)
  • Cultural Resource Management (Diploma)
  • Etc. 

Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a course or other requirement that must be completed before you're able to register in a particular course. For example, MATH 100 is a prerequisite for MATH 101: you must complete MATH 100 before you can take MATH 101. 

You're responsible for confirming that you have the necessary prerequisites or are registered in any corequisites required for the courses you plan to take. Don't rely on the course registration system to manage this for you. 

Course have different prequisite combinations. For example, a course might have a single course prerequisite or it might require you to choose from a list of possible prerequisite combinations. 

When reading prerequisites, the bullet level and style can help to understand the rule.

Tips for registration

  • If you don't have a prerequisite or corequisite for a course, you'll be dropped from the course once the term has begun
  • If you lack a prequisite or corequisite for a course, you can seek permission from the department that is offering it

Below are examples of prerequisites you might encounter and how to interpret what you need:

One of a selection of courses or requirements

Example

Sample prerequisites for MATH 100

Prerequisites for MATH 100:

Explanation

You must have a C+ grade or better in MATH 120 or must have a B grade or better in high-school Pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12. If you have a course that is similar to one of these (e.g., transfer credit or a non-BC high-school grade 12 math course), contact the Department of Mathematics and Statistics to request permission to register.

 

Complete courses from different groups

Example

Sample prerequisites for MATH 311

Prerequisites:

Explanation

You must have completed either MATH 110 or MATH 211. You must also have completed MATH212.

Complete a mix of courses and other requirements

Example 1

Sample prerequisites for ANTH 315

Prerequisites:

Explanation

You must have completed ANTH 240 and be declared in the Major or Honours in Anthropology. If you haven’t met these requirements (e.g., you are waiting to be declared in the program or are working on completing the course), then you will need to contact the Department of Anthropology to request permission to register in the course.

Example 2

Sample prerequisites for BIOL 365

Prerequisites:

Tip: The first line shows if one or all the requirements must be completed. In this example, the next bullet level (○) shows all the requirements that must be completed.

Explanation

You must have completed either both BIOL 184 and BIOL 186, or BIOL 190B. You must also have completed BIOL 225 and have at least third-year standing (completed 27 units or more).

More information on year standing is available in Terms used at UVic.