Victoria Junior College (also known as Victoria or VJC) is a coeducational junior college in Singapore offering pre-university education to boarding and day-students. The school was founded in 1984, although its predecessor and affiliated institution, Victoria School, was founded in 1876. It stands on Marine Vista, less than one kilometre from the affiliated Victoria School.
VJC is part of the Victoria-Cedar alliance, and is one of Singapore’s top Junior Colleges. The school’s programmes and activities are advised by the Victoria Advisory Committee, while day-to-day operations of the school is run by the School Principal. Tutors and faculty members are responsible for the governance of student-life.
University of Victoria (UVic), one of the oldest postsecondary Canadian institutes in British Columbia, emerged as an independent institute with full autonomy in the year 1963. Considered as the second best comprehensive university in the country, the institute gracefully continues its spirit of “A Multitude of the Wise is the Health of the World” since its establishment.
Primarily focusing on learning by doing, UVic ranks among the top 250 universities around the world and has its 5 subject disciplines honored under top 200 in the world for research.
The admissions to this prestigious institute are available in multiple intakes, with undergraduate admissions usually offered in the sessional term of September. Majorly renowned for its co-op programs, the university offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate courses at diverses levels. While its programs in Law, Engineering and History compete smoothly with other elite institutes around the world, its top-notch Marine Biology program is just unparalleled.
With an acceptance rate of around 64%, the university allows its applicants a fair chance at enrolment depending upon their overall skills and abilities. The acceptance to the university gets guided by various parameters like good grades, well written personal statement and other curricular plus management capabilities. Hidden factors like number of applications and international applications received in a year also drive your chances of admission.
However, the fact that the university has an employment rate of over 90% for the majority of its courses ensures you end up landing high-paying jobs in Canada, making it all worth-while in the end.
Highlights
| University type | Public |
| Rank | Under Top 250 Universities in the World (THE rankings) |
| Degree Courses | Over 180 |
| International Student Population | 14% |
| Employment rate | 85 to over 90% (varies for different courses) |
| Application Fee1 | 99 and 122 USD for undergraduate and graduate, respectively |
| English Language Proficiency Tests | TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent |
| Financial Aid for International Students | 2,625,000 USD available as scholarships every year |
| Official Website | uvic.ca |
Programs, Campuses and Accomodation
Before sending in admission application to an institute, it is always recommended to have a basic idea of its ideology, programs offered across its various campuses and accommodation alternatives. For the ease of probable future students, all the program and housing-related information is compiled as follows.
University of Victoria Courses
UVic offers diverse variety of programs which includes more than 200 degrees, certificates, diplomas, and doctorate programs. It has some 80 undergraduate and over 160 graduate courses.
These programs are distributed across its 11 faculties and divisions, namely, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Fine Arts, Graduate Studies, Human and Social Development, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Division of Continuing Studies and Division of Medical Sciences.
Some of the popular programs available at the university are:
- Law
- History
- Marine Biology
- Engineering
Top Programs in University of Victoria
| Programs | Fees Per Annum |
|---|---|
| M.Eng Mechanical Engineering | $2,068 |
| M.A Economics | $2,075 |
| Master of Nursing | $2,075 |
| M.B.A Sustainable Innovation | $13,937 |
| M.Sc Psychology | $2,075 |
University of Victoria Campuses
The university resides in the beautiful city of Victoria which is unapologetically one of the best cities for international students in Canada. The University campus is spread in a luscious area of about 403 acres and is one of the largest campuses in the city. It offers every possible thing of need at a 10-minute distance and immediately feels like home from the first moment.
Offering a diverse and enriching community-like environment to its students, the campus comprises of many important buildings which are as mentioned below.
- Bob Wright Centre – includes the School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, the Department of Chemistry and the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling & Analysis.
- World War II Army Facilities – Nine storey building with historical significance in relation to the second world war, listed under Historic Places of Canada.
- Phoenix Theatre – located outside of Ring Road, is the home of Theatre department.
University of Victoria Accommodation Options
Possible accommodation alternatives offered by the institute include both on campus and off-campus options. As an international aspirant, you can opt for the option best suited to your needs and budgets.
On-campus
The university provides on-campus housing to more than 3,200 students which offer single and double dormitories, Cluster Housing, bachelor apartments and family housing as the available choices.
While the 21 dormitory buildings with single and double occupancy rooms come along with compulsory meal plans, there are also 121 apartment and townhouse units known as cluster units that comprise of four bedrooms each.
Note: UVic offers guaranteed on-campus housing to first year students. Candidates are highly advised to seek this option if they are new with no possible contacts in Canada as it is more safe and affordable.
The estimated cost of living on campus is: 5,015 to 8,276 (in USD, per academic year).
Off campus
Victoria is one of the most likable and desirable places in Canada to live which comes along with its own perks and limitations. Though it does offer its residents the beautiful weather and comfort of living on an island, however, finding an affordable place to live here can be a task.
In fact in a recent data, Victoria was rated as the 2nd most expensive housing market in Canada with a vacancy rate of less than 1%. Thus, as an international applicant on a tight budget, you are highly encouraged to look for shared accommodation like “community housing” and start learning to cook your own meals.
The university has partnerships with Places4Students.com and RentSmart to provide off-campus listings for the aid of its students. Some of the other possible options that can guide you to seek your perfect home in Victoria include Kijiji Classifieds and “Victoria Renters Group”on Facebook.
The estimated cost of off-campus accommodation is: 9,282 in USD per month.
University of Victoria Admission Process
Being one of the most applied to universities in Canada, it follows a very selective and holistic approach towards admission. The admission-related information to be observed carefully step-by-step by every aspirant of the university is as compiled below.
Deadlines
While deadlines of admission for some courses at the institute varies, the common upcoming deadlines to be noted are as follows:
| Type of Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| September intake | February 28 |
| English Proficiency Score | March 31 |
How to apply?
Application process in a few easy steps is as follows:
- Add uvic.ca as safe sender to receive timely updates via email.
- Fill an online application by providing all the necessary information.
- Provide the mandatory documents as required.
- Deposit the application fee (99 and 122 USD for undergraduate and graduate courses, respectively) and submit the completed application.
- Wait for a confirmation mail which is usually received within 2 business days.
University of Victoria Cost of Attendance
Planning to shift to Canada for further studies?
If you answered this question in affirmative, then it is highly advisable to plan your budget beforehand to avoid any complications in a foreign land. The estimated cost of surviving an academic year in Canada that will aid in your process of budgeting is as follows:
Tuition Fee
The basic tuition fee for various programs available at the institute varies in correspondence to various factors. Fee of some of the programs is as mentioned below.
Undergraduate Courses
| Name of Program | Tuition Fee (in USD, per term) |
|---|---|
| Business | 11,372 |
| Engineering | 11,237 |
| Humanities | 9,994 |
| Human & Social Development | 9,994 |
| Science | 10,001.25 |
Graduate Courses
| Name of Program | Fee (in USD, per term) |
|---|---|
| MBA | 6,056 |
| Double Degree Nursing & Health Informatics | 4,634 |
| Master of Global Business | 10,735 |
| Master of Community Development | 3,477 |
| Master of Counselling Psychology | 3,032 |
Cost of Attendance
Other expenses to be taken note of, apart from the basic tuition fee, are as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 4,500 to 9,500 |
| Meals | 525 to 750 |
| Books and Supplies | 900 |
| Transportation | 750 |
| Personal Expenses | 1,500 |
University of Victoria Scholarships/ Financial Aid
If you are an international applicant with a great track record and in need of a scholarship to study in Canada, then UVic can be a great choice for you.
The university awards entrance and in-course scholarships to international candidates with outstanding academic performance. The number of studentships offered every year varies and range somewhere between 2,250 and 7,500. Each year 2,625,000 USD are awarded these scholarships.
A variety of bursaries are also awarded to the aspirants of the institute which includes Childcare, Departmental, Emergency and International Bursaries, among others.
Some of the awards offered by the university are as tabulated below.
| Name of Scholarship | Amount (in USD) | No. of Awards | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| President’s Beyond Borders Fund | 3,750 | 3 | Awarded to excellent international academic achievers from the Asia Pacific region entering an undergraduate program at the university |
| International Entrance Scholarships | 7,500 | 20 | International candidates with outstanding academic performance entering a 1st year undergraduate program at the institute. |
| President’s Vietnam Scholarship | 7,500 | 3 | Academically excellent international students from Vietnam entering an undergraduate program at the university. |
Recreational Activities at the University
UVic is located in a pretty city of Victoria which is a fair-sized site surrounded on three sides by water. Since the weather here is quite lively with hardly any snow, water sports can be enjoyed throughout the year. If you are someone who would remotely be interested kayaking, scuba diving, sailing, fishing, among other recreational activities, then Victoria awaits you.
Academics
Victoria Junior College’s two-year curriculum culminates in the Singapore GCE Advanced Level examinations. Students take up to four Higher 2 subjects and read two compulsory Higher 1 subjects – General Paper and Project Work – in their first year, and may elect to read additional Higher 3 subjects in the second year. Approximately 30% of students read Higher 1 Mother Tongue Language in their first year too. Home to the East Zone Science and Technology Centre, the college also sent the first Singapore school team to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2004.
VJC is one of the three schools in Singapore that holds the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT).
Achievements
Sports
In 2017, VJC won the A-division championship title for girls’ football, boys’ floorball, boys’ wushu and hockey girls. This was the fifth straight title for the girls’ football team, and their ninth in the last ten years.
In 2018, VJC won the A-division championship title for both the boys’ and girls’ football, hockey girls and wushu boys.This is VJC’s 16th consecutive year winning the A-division girls’ hockey.
In 2019, VJC won the A-division championship title for girls’ football, girls’ floorball, girls’ wushu and girls’ rockclimbing.
Performing Arts
Choir
The VJC Choir was the first school choir from Singapore to win an international choir competition. It beat 30 top choirs from other parts of the world in the 800-year-old Cardigan Eisteddfod Competition in Wales in 1990, and for its outstanding contribution to music in Singapore, the VJC Choir was presented with the 1990 Guinness Stout Effort Award.
In 2004, Victoria Junior College Choir represented Singapore in the World Choir Games held in Bremen, Germany and won Gold Medals in all three contested categories, namely Musica Sacra, Contemporary Music and Open Mixed. It emerged as the Olympic Champion of the Open Mixed Category, and second placing in the Musica Sacra and Contemporary Music categories.
In 2006, VJC choir won the esteemed Audience Prize and Grand Prix Award in the 9th Concorso Corale Internazionale (International Choir Competition) held in Riva Del Garda, Italy. The VJC Choir won Gold for both the categories they competed in – Musica Sacra and Mixed Youth, and emerged as Category Winner for the latter. It is the first time an Asian Choir has won the grand prize and one of a few choirs in the world to win both the Audience Prize and Grand Prix Award together.
As of August 2017, it was ranked 6th in the world in the mixed choirs category of the INTERKULTUR World Rankings.
In 2018, VJC choir competed in the Asia Cantate and clinched the Grand Prize. In addition, they also won two other categories — the Mixed Voices Choir (Open) and the Mixed Voices Choir (Senior Youth).
Dance
VJC Dance Ensemble achieved overall grand champion in the 2010 Lecco Danza, an international dance competition held in Italy. They were awarded first prize in the contemporary senior dance group category and first runners-up in the hip-hop group category.
In 2012, VJC dancers were champions in the Jazz Dance Small Group category at the 9th World Dance Olympiad in Moscow, Russia.
In the 2014 Crown International Dance Festival in Melbourne, Australia, the dance ensemble placed first in all the three categories that it participated in, namely Contemporary, Modern Expression and Hip Hop.
Affiliations
VJC is affiliated to Victoria School, an all-boys school founded in 1876.
VJC provided VS students an option to continue a two-year junior college education within the Victorian family after the completion of their secondary education. VS students choosing to enter VJC get two bonus points off their GCE O’-Level L1R5 academic aggregate.
Since the 2012 school year, VS and Cedar Girls’ Secondary School have offered the Victoria-Cedar Alliance Integrated Programme (VCA IP) option. After finishing Secondary 4, 160 students from each school continue on to VJC automatically.
Alumni
The alumni body, Old Victorians’ Association (OVA), was established in 1941. It serves as a channel for former students of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College to continue to associate with their alma mater.
The OVA supports the activities undertaken by the schools, assists needy students, and promotes sports, social and cultural activities among members.
In 2009, OVA organised the inaugural combined VS and VJC gala concert, with a 260-strong cast comprising both students and celebrity alumni, at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
In 2011, OVA organised the Victoria School 135th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at the former VS campus at Tyrwhitt Road.[
Notable alumni
Politics and Government
- Lawrence Wong: Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament, 2011-present
- Gan Siow Huang: Minister of State and Member of Parliament, 2020-present; First female general of the Singapore Armed Forces
- Chong Chieng Jen: Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Malaysia, 2018-2020
- Alex Yam: Member of Parliament, 2011-present
- Henry Kwek: Member of Parliament, 2015-present
- Nadia Ahmad Samdin: Member of Parliament, 2020-present
- Janice Koh: Nominated Member of Parliament, 2012-2014
- Douglas Foo: Nominated Member of Parliament, 2018-2020
- Nicole Seah: politici
Arts
- Maddy Barber: Radio presenter
- Boon Hui Lu: Singer-songwriter and actress
- Felicia Chin: Actress
- Michelle Chong: Film producer, director and actress
- Natalie Hennedige, playwright
- Ho Yeow Sun (Sun Ho): Singer and actress
- Lee Teng: Actor and presenter
- Sonny Liew: Comic artist/illustrator;
- Rebecca Lim: Actress
- Ling Kai: Singer-songwriter
- Nuraliza Osman: Lawyer and beauty queen
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