Undergraduate Faculty Sessions
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Get ready to attend your first class by attending your faculty's academic session. You'll learn a bit about what you can expect academically, what is expected of you, and have a chance to meet some of the professors you may be seeing at the front of the classroom.
Program details for each faculty can be found below.
Business
Gustavson's Year 1 Welcome
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 10:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Centennial Stadium
Welcome to our BCom students! This event will be an opportunity to meet some of your classmates, connect with a mentor, learn about the BCom team, learn more about the program, eat some delicious food and have some fun.
This event is for 1st year BCOM students only. Register now for Gustavson's Year 1 Welcome
and be sure to provide any dietary and accessibility requirements.
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Business events, please contact the BCom office at bcomasst@uvic.ca.
Education
Get ready for a day filled with learning, fun, and new friendships! We can't wait to see you there!
Welcome to the Faculty of Education Breakout Sessions
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.
B.Ed Elementary Curriculum Year 1 Students only: Breakout session in Room D115
B.Ed Elementary Curriculum Students Entering Year 2 Students only: Breakout session Labe in Room D116
Child and Youth Care Students only: Breakout session in Room D103
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 11:45 a.m to 12:30 p.m.
Students from breakout sessions head over to the David Lam Auditorium lobby in Room A144.
Pizza lunch will be provided, gluten and vegan options available. Please register if you will attend lunch!
The David Lam Auditorium lobby will also feature tables hosted by our minor programs, Student Clubs and the Centre for Outreach Education.
All new Education undergraduate students are welcome to attend the following events:
Welcome to the Faculty of Education Orientation for All Students
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
David Lam Auditorium Lobby, MacLaurin Building
Keynote Speaker
Come listen to Dr. Vanessa Andreotti, Dean of Education. Her inspiring work centers on socially relevant approaches to teaching, research, and community engagement. Her keynote will speak to Education, Health and Wellbeing in times of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) for our students.
Learning Quest
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Starting in the David Lam Auditorium, MacLaurin Building
This learning quest puts to practices the teachings shared by Dean Vanessa Andreotti in her keynote and will help students become more familiar with campus. Students will gather into groups of 3-6 and start a campus wide quest. This isn't just any quest—explore and build important capacities, like learning local Lək̓ʷəŋən and SENĆOŦEN words to carry with you throughout your studies!
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Education events, please contact Jasdeep Randhawa at jasdeepr@uvic.ca.
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Education events, please contact Jasdeep Randhawa at edid@uvic.ca.
Engineering and Computer Science
Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Welcome Session
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Farquhar Auditorium, Jamie Cassels Centre (JCC)
Meet key members of the Faculty, listen to talks on academic success and student experiences, and win prizes!
Games and Team Building Activities
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m.
Engineering and Computer Science Building Lobby
Meet classmates, participate in fun activities and challenges, and win prizes!
These events are for all new first year students in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science.
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science events, please contact Jennifer Holmes at engradmn@uvic.ca or 250-472-5287.
Fine Arts
Fine Arts New Student Orientation
Tuesday, September 2, 2025: 1-2pm
Roger Bishop Theatre (Phoenix Theatre Building) + 2-4pm throughout the Fine Arts buildings
The Dean of Fine Arts invites all first-year and new transfer students in all five of our units (Art History and Visual Studies, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Writing) to attend this short introduction and overview of the Faculty, including tips from Fine Arts Academic Advising, Co-op + Careers and the Libraries. Students will then break into departmental groups for short, peer-led orientation sessions and facility tours, plus a brief orientation in our computer labs and a lobby info fair. You’ll come away from this session with a good understanding of your department, your student association, the facilities/equipment available to you, and who to talk to if you need assistance in the year ahead.
This event is for all new undergraduate students in the Faculty of Fine Arts (all first-year and new transfer students).
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Fine Arts events, please contact fineassocdeanasst@uvic.ca.
Health
The Faculty of Health will not be holding a faculty-wide orientation session for new undergraduate students. Instead, students will receive details by email about any program-specific orientation sessions being offered.
Humanities
Humanities Family Welcome
Sunday, August 31, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
SUB Upper Lounge
Parents, guardians, family, and loved ones of new Humanities students are invited to meet the Dean, Annalee Lepp, and other Humanities professors; learn about the faculty; and get some tips on how to support their UVic student! Join us to mingle with other Humanities families while enjoying coffee and snacks. We'll also be giving out door prizes!
This event is for families and supporters of all new undergraduate students in the Faculty of Humanities, including those of new transfer students.
Humanities Academic Welcome
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.
Room 133, Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ (Sngequ House)
Join us for a welcome from the Dean, Annalee Lepp. You’ll hear from our Associate Dean Academic, Lisa Surridge, and a current Humanities student, who will both share their top tips for success during your first few months at university. Bring your questions! We will wrap up by taking a class photo.
Humanities New Student Pizza Lunch
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Clearihue Courtyard
Meet your classmates and instructors at a pizza lunch welcoming you to UVic Humanities! You’ll get to talk to faculty and staff members as well as reps from our student unions and departments, Academic Advising, Office of Student Life, International Centre for Students, Libraries, and Co-op. Plus, fill out Humanities Bingo for a chance to win a prize! Gluten-free and vegan options for lunch will be available.
Thriving 101: Your Guide to a Smarter, Stronger First Year
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Room 133, Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ (Sngequ House)
Learn from Psychology and Learning expert Dr. Allyson Hadwin about what recent research tells us about student behaviours that lead to university success!
These events are for all new undergraduate students in the Faculty of Humanities, including transfer students.
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Humanities events, please contact Lindsay Mair at lindsaymair@uvic.ca.
Law
Faculty of Law Opening Day Welcome Assembly
Tuesday, September 2, 2024, from 10 to 11 a.m.
Room 192, Fraser Building (FRA)
All new Law students should plan to attend the Welcome Assembly and the activities following. New Law students will receive further information in August, directly from the Faculty of Law.
This event is for newly admitted first-year JD and JD/JID students, newly admitted upper-year Law students (Transfer, Visiting, Exchange, BCL/JD) and new graduate students in Law.
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Law events, please contact Law Student Services at law.studentservices@uvic.ca.
Science
Welcome to the Faculty of Science
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 1:15 or 3:15 p.m.
Room B150, Bob Wright Centre (BWC)
Come learn what it means to be a science student at UVic. You'll learn about what you can expect academically and what supports are available to help you succeed, hear advice from upper-year students, and have a chance to witness some of our best technology and research.
This event is for all new undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science.
Science Faculty Fair
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This drop-in event offers you the opportunity to meet other new science students, get to know your course unions and other science-related student clubs, meet some of your first-year professors, and spend a little more time getting to know what it's like to be a UVic Science student. Drop-in before or after your welcome presentation!
This event is for all new undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science. No registration required.
For any questions or accessibility requests for Faculty of Science events, please contact Nicole Crozier at facultyofscience@uvic.ca.
Social Sciences
Social Sciences New Student Orientation
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. or 11:45 a.m.
Room B150, Bob Wright Centre (BWC)
We welcome all incoming undergraduate students in the Faculty of Social Sciences to join us for the Social Sciences New Student Orientation! Come hear the Dean's Welcome message and learn about academic programs, academic advising resources, and student experiences in the social sciences. Each session will include a student roundtable discussion on “How to Make the Most of Your Time at University” as well as other presentations about the exciting opportunities in the social sciences. Raffle prizes will be awarded at the end of each orientation session. There will also be information booths with representatives from the social sciences in the Bob Wright Centre lobby area directly next to the presentation sessions from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!
This event is for all new undergraduate students in the Faculty of Social Sciences. Please register for one of the two orientation sessions based on the first letter of your last name.
Social Sciences Orientation Session #1
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
This session is for students with last names starting with the letters A through L.
Social Sciences Orientation Session #2
Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This session is for students with last names starting with the letters M through Z.
For any questions or accessibility requests for the Social Sciences New Student Orientation, please contact Matt Davies at soscoff@uvic.ca or 250-472-5058.