Undergraduate Academic Regulations
Students should check the Calendar entries of individual faculties for any additional or more specific regulations.
Academic Writing Requirement
Strong reading, writing, and research skills are essential to academic success. Regardless of whether they are native speakers of English or have learned English as an additional language, all students need to develop these skills so that they are able to meet the expectations of advanced literacy associated with university-level academic studies.
To ensure that students are prepared to meet these expectations, the university requires all undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program to satisfy one of the following two requirements.
- Successful completion of a 1.5 unit AWR-designated course (ENGL 135, 146, 147, ENGR 110).
- One of the following qualifications.
- A score of at least 86% on the B.C. English 12 Provincial Examination, or English 12 First Peoples Provincial Examination, within the three years immediately prior to admission.
- A final grade of at least 86% in an approved English 12 equivalent course from other Canadian provinces within the three years immediately prior to admission.
- 1.5 units of transfer credit for ENGL 135, 146 or 147, ENGR 110, or AWR-designated level credit.
- A degree from a recognized English-speaking university.
Selecting an AWR-Designated Course 
All students who have been admitted to the university may register in the first-year English course of their choice. The English department offers four courses that satisfy the AWR.
- ENGL 135 Academic Reading and Writing (1.5 units).
- ENGL 146 Introduction to Literary Genres, Themes and Styles (1.5 units).
- ENGL 147 Introduction to Literary Traditions and Transformations (1.5 units).
- ENGR 110 Design and Communication I (2.5 units), for Engineering students only.
To increase their proficiency, students may also benefit from registering in one or both of the following preparatory courses prior to receiving credit for an AWR-designated course.
- ENGL 099 Remedial English Composition (0.0 units).
- ENGL 101 Fundamentals of Academic Literacy (1.5 units).
Note that these two courses do not satisfy the Academic Writing Requirement.
An on-line self-placement questionnaire is available at <www.registrar.uvic.ca/awr> to help assist students in determining the course that best matches their level of proficiency.
Timeline for Completing the AWR
To gain the greatest benefit to their degree studies, students who have not yet satisfied the AWR are expected to register in a 1.5-unit, AWR-designated course as soon as possible. For most students, this will be before the end of the third term of registration or prior to completing 30 units of credit. Please note that many faculties require students to satisfy the AWR before they can declare their degree program with an academic adviser.
Transfer students who are admitted to UVic for the first time as third-year students must complete the AWR during their first Winter Session. Nursing and block-transfer students should consult their academic advisers for information about their deadline for completing the requirement.
The Former Undergraduate English Requirement
Students who satisfied the former Undergraduate English Requirement prior to 1 May 2012 (through UVic courses, transfer credit, or by exemption) are considered to have satisfied the Academic Writing Requirement.
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