Graduate Students’ Society

All graduate students at the University of Victoria are members of the Graduate Students' Society, which exists to represent the interests of the 2500 plus graduate students and to address issues in the larger community that concern students.

Grad students democratically elect a five-member executive that works on a daily basis with the staff to advocate for and provide services to students. Grad students also select departmental representatives to sit on Grad Council, which meets monthly to discuss current events and provide direction to the executive. The Society strives to ensure graduate student representation on all university decision-making bodies.

The services of the Society include the Extended Health and Dental Plan, Universal Bus Pass, the Grad Centre and its facilities, child care bursaries (administered through Financial Aid), the annual handbook/daytimer, the bulletin list-serve and special events planning, in addition to other services. These services are funded by membership fees, collected by the university on behalf of the Society. Grad students are eligible to use rooms in the Grad Centre free of charge for academic-related meetings and events. The Society, in collaboration with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, funds travel grants, administered by the faculty, to assist graduate students wishing to attend professional meetings and conferences. Grad students are encouraged to enjoy the excellent food at the Grad House Restaurant in the Grad Centre. For more information, visit the General Office in the Grad Centre, or call 250-472-4543.

Being an active member of the Society is one way to ensure that students' interests are represented and to work towards a better future for students in Canada.