International Student Resources

Home :: International and ESL Services

Royal Roads University understands that the decision to study in a new country is a big decision to make. The links to resources and services below are designed to to help smooth your transition to RRU.

Services for international learners are coordinated through the office of University Life. These services include international learner orientation sessions, online academic resources, academic workshops and involvement with the international and intercultural club. In some cases, tutoring is also available.

For information on travelling to, and living in Victoria, please see the menu below:

Currency Conversions
Banks
Shopping: Food, Supplies & Clothing
Victoria Maps
Transportation
Newspapers
Hospitals
Medical Insurance
Canadian Holidays

Currency Transfers/Conversions
Currency may be readily transferred in a number of ways, including bank-to-bank transfers that can be arranged through your home bank. If you are using this system, be aware that such transfers can take time; you may want to bring Canadian dollars with you. Credit cards (VISA and MasterCard) or bank cards are easy to use. Most Canadian Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) use the Plus or Interac systems for transfer. Your tuition, book purchases, and residence/food purchases may be made by credit card.

Banks
It is advised that international learners open a bank account for depositing your money in Canadian, or American funds in while you are in Canada. There are many banks to choose from in the Greater Victoria area; here is a list of some of the most popular banks (RRU does not endorse, or guarantee the services of these organizations).

To open a bank account you will require proper identification such as your passport. You will also have to decide whether you want to open a chequing account, or a savings account. Someone at the bank will be able to advise you on how their services suit your needs while in Canada. If you do not have a credit card, you may want to apply for one at the bank, since credit cards are normally required for hotels, car rentals and phone purchases.

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Shopping:

Food and Supplies
If you live close to Royal Roads University there ar ea couple of grocery stores in the area you can shop at. Thrifty Foods is located within walking distance, just east of the campus gates on Sooke Road. Great Canadian Superstore is a five minute drive from campus. You should be able to find most basic items at these stores. You can also shop at Chinatown, located near the inner harbour in downtown Victoria, or the various speciality shops that cater to special dietary needs, or gourmet specialties.

Clothing and Personal Items
There are several shopping malls in the Victoria area that you can shop at for clothing and other items. The largest are: The Bay Centre (downtown), Mayfair Mall (Douglas St.), Hillside Mall (Hillside and Shelbourne), Town & Country Shopping Centre (Douglas St.), and Tillicum Mall (Tillicum Rd). There are also many other individual stores downtown available to you. You may also wish to shop in Chinatown, which is located off of Government Street downtown.

Even though Victoria is considered among the warmest climates in Canada, you should be prepared for all kinds of weather. It is an island, and it can get cool and wet. Feel free to contact University Reception to find out what clothing is best for the time you plan to be at RRU: info@royalroads.ca

Victoria Maps
You can find maps of Greater Victoria, Downtown Victoria, the Gulf Islands and more online on the Tourism Victoria website. Simply click into the area where you want to go to find detailed street and attraction locations.

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Transportation
Victoria has a good bus system. Typically, a one-way ride costs $2.25. Students have the option to purchase a monthly bus pass for $65.25 (Canadian dollars). If you plan to drive in Canada, you should obtain an International Driver's License before leaving home.

Getting to or from Vancouver, B.C.
If you want to visit Vancouver, there are several ways to get there. The most popular way (and the least expensive) is by ferry. The ferry carries cars and foot passengers from Swartz Bay north of Victoria to Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver. Please visit the BC Ferries website.

There are several ways to get to the ferry terminal. You can drive you to the ferry terminal and walk on as a foot passenger, or;
take the Pacific Coach Lines (PCL) bus. PCL buses leave from the station in downtown Victoria and fstop at other locations along the way to the ferry. Your PCL bus fare covers the ferry cost. You can also take public transit to the ferry terminal and board the ferry as a foot passenger. Please visit the Pacific Coach Lines website for schedule information.

Air Travel
Booking flights:
Here are just a few telephone numbers for the most popular airlines out of Victoria:

Air BC/Air Canada (250) 360-9074
Westjet Airlines 1-800-538-5696
Helijet Airways (250) 382-6222
Horizon Airlines 1-800-547-9308

You can also book flights to other destinations by using the Internet. Some useful websites to do this are (Royal Roads does not endorse or guarantee the services of these websites):

www.expedia.ca 
www.aircanada.ca 
www.westjet.ca
www.cheapticketscanada.com

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Newspapers

  • The National Post is one of Canada's leading national newspapers. It is delivered to campus daily, and available to learners, faculty and staff free of charge.
  • The Times Colonist is Victoria's newspaper of record and can be purchased any day of the week. You can also receive it at your home address in the morning. The Times Colonist can be bought nearly anywhere around Victoria, including grocery stores, gas stations, or convenience stores.
  • Monday Magazine is a free weekly entertainment newspaper that can be found all over town. There is no charge for this newspaper.
  • Other Major B.C. newspapers include the Vancouver Sun, The Province, Ming Pao newspaper and Sing Tao newspaper serving Asian readers.

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Hospitals
You have many choices if you need medical treatment. Victoria has several hospitals, as listed them below. You can also go to any walk-in clinic and without an appointment. If you are having a medical emergency, go to an emergency ward at one of the hospitals listed below (no appointment required) and they will assist you there. However, waiting times can be long for some ailments, so walk-in clinics can be a better alternative for non-life threatening issues.

It is important to remember to bring a health insurance card or relevant documentation when you go to a walk-in clinic or hospital emergency ward. They will need to know what your insurance coverage is, or they will require payment for any services. In particular, you should keep a small card in your wallet with emergency numbers and knowledge about your health insurance plan. If you are in a car accident, for example, there will be no time to go home and get your health insurance. It is best to carry this information with you at all times to ensure that you will not have to pay for any medical service out of your own pocket. You should also carry the emergency numbers for the RRU Security office (250-391-2525) in your wallet as well, in case you need to notify RRU about any personal emergency you are having.

Victoria Hospitals
Royal Jubilee Hospital 1900 Fort Street, Victoria, B.C. 250-370-8000
Victoria General Hospital 1 Hospital Way, Victoria, B.C. 250-727-4167
Saanich Peninsula Hospital Saanichton, B.C. 250-652-3911

Traditional Chinese Medicine:
There are two colleges of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Victoria. They are:
The International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 769 Pandora Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V8W 1N9
Tel/Fax: 250-388-4266
E-mail: info@tcminternational.com  

Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
855 Cormorant Street, Victoria, B.C. V8W 1R2
Tel: (250) 384.2942 / Fax: (250) 360-2871
E-mail: caom@islandnet.com  

Helpful Healthcare Contacts:

Capital Health Region, Community Health Services
General inquiries: 250-388-2273
Toll free: 1-888-533-2273

B.C. Ministry of Health
1515 Blanshard, Victoria, B.C.
Tel: 250-952-3456

Health Canada Online

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Health Insurance
 
In Canada, the cost of medical treatment is very high for those who do not have proper health insurance. You could pay thousands of dollars each day for a hospital stay or you could be denied medical services if you do not have proper insurance. For this reason Royal Roads University students are required to have adequate insurance for the duration of their studies in Canada.
There are two types of insurance coverage. Basic Health insurance, and Extended Health insurance.
Basic health insurance covers most physician and hospital services.  Extended health insurance covers a portion of medical costs that fall outside basic coverage. If you have questions about information in this section, please contact the Manager of Student Affairs in University Life.
Basic Health Insurance
 
If you stay in the province of British Columbia (BC) for more than six months of the year, it is mandatory that you enroll in the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP). You must apply within the first 10 days of your arrival in BC. Instructions, application forms and information about premiums are available on the BC Medical Services Plan website.
The waiting period to receive BC MSP coverage is approximately three months. During the waiting period, you must have basic coverage from an alternate health insurance provider. It is recommended that you set this up prior to your arrival in BC. You can make arrangements through a provider in your home country or a provider in Canada.
If you will stay in BC for fewer than six months, you are not required to enroll in the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP). However, you must still obtain basic health insurance for the duration of your stay. It is recommended that you set this up prior to your arrival in BC. You can make arrangements through a provider in your home country or a provider in Canada.
 
Extended Health Insurance
 
The Royal Roads Undergraduate Student Association (RRUSA) provides extended health and dental insurance for undergraduate students. You will be automatically enrolled when you begin your studies. The cost is covered through the fees collected on behalf of the RRUSA. The coverage offered by these extended plans does not replace basic health insurance coverage.

Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is not mandatory while living in Canada, but without it you should be prepared to pay directly for any dental care you require while in Canada. Since dental care in Canada can be expensive, we suggest you have a complete dental examination before leaving your home country to avoid any unexpected dental problems while you are in Canada. If an examination isn't possible, then we recommend you purchase dental insurance for the time you are in Canada.

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Canadian Holidays
On some of these holidays, there will be no classes. Please check with your program office about the University's policies around certain holidays. Here are the national holidays for 2009:

Jan. 1 New Year's Day
April 10 Good Friday (All)
April 12 Easter Sunday
April 13 Easter Monday
May 18 Victoria Day (Many regions)
July 1 Canada Day
Aug. 3 Civic/Provincial day (Many regions)
Sept. 7 Labour Day
Oct .12 Thanksgiving Day (Many regions)
Nov. 11 Remembrance Day (Many regions)
Dec. 25 Christmas

Please consult a Canadian calendar for a full listing of observed holidays. Most banks advise customers of holiday hours and these are consistent with most government offices. Shops and businesses may vary in holiday observances.

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