When you leave high school to go to university, you will soon realize you are entering a completely different world. You will have a lot more time for yourself and you will finally have become a young adult – which means not only studying, but also going out with your friends in the evenings, partying and having fun! Luckily, at UVIC, you have come to exactly the right place, because while the city is one of the safest in Canada, there’s also lots of good places to go out!

The best venues

Whether you want to keep it casual for the night or pump it up in a hot and glam nightclub, Victoria has something to offer you. Why don’t you try Lucky Bar for a great, fun funky nightclub that plays just about every music style under the sun, so you’re bound to find something you like.  Hugo’s and The One Lounge are other places to go for dance clubs; Hugo’s is great if you want to treat yourself to a more sophisticated, glamorous night out – why not do it once in a while? If alternative music is your passion, Evolution is a bar that plays heavy metal, punk, rock, and techno on Sundays, so you could head there with a bunch of likeminded people that you’re sure to find at university. Now, if you’re looking for a casual pub, there will be no way of avoiding Felicita’s Pub, which is located directly at UVic. Be prepared for live acts, amazing DJs, and sporting events shown on big screen. Obviously if you want to see and be seen amongst the uni crowd, this is the place to go, socialize and meet your fellow students. Other pubs with a laid back, friendly atmosphere include Bird Of Paradise Pub, Brewsky’s Pub, and the Flying Beagle Pub. If you’re looking for a night of live music and entertainment, Victoria won’t disappoint you, since lots of good bands regularly stop by for gigs and performances. You can always check what events are coming up on line, there are lots of event calendars around. And if that’s not enough for you, try this extensive listing of places to go in Victoria, and I’m sure you’ll find something to suit you.

Your security comes first!

Even though Victoria is one of the safest cities in the whole of Canada, as it is also a relatively small and homely city, obviously you are not immune to something happening to you, and especially at night, it is vital to use common sense and stay safe. Your safety is a major concern to your university, and that’s also why the university offers safety services on campus, such as a 24-hour emergency hotline and services like SafeWalk and Campus Alone. You can actually get a Security Member to walk you to your dorm when you come home late at night, so there are no worries and you feel comfortable, and it’s guaranteed you will reach your bed sound and safe. Campus Alone is a service that you can use to have Security check on you when you’re on campus alone and you’re feeling a little unsafe. Obviously, a little basic common sense is always required – don’t talk to, or worse, leave anywhere with strangers, try to go out and come back home as a group, avoid drunk people etc. So save Security’s phone number in your directory, be smart, trust your instincts, and nothing will stand in the way of lots of fun, safe nights out.

Party!

University should be an all-round experience, so no matter how much of a geek you are, drop that math book and take off your glasses, at least for two nights a week. It’s important to enjoy yourself, and university is the time when you’re going to make friends that you will stay with for a lifetime, as well as get to know useful contacts in your field of study. Therefore, socializing is just as important as studying, and you can always use that argument as an excuse when the lecturer wants to know why you look so very hung over on a Monday morning!