UNDERGRADUATE U-PASS (BUS PASS) INFO
No fuss, just hop on with U-Pass! If you’re taking at least one on-campus course, the U-Pass fee of $81 is automatically added to your tuition, and you’re set to enjoy unlimited rides on BC Transit’s Greater Victoria buses for four months.
U-Pass Validity
- Fall U-Pass: Valid Sept 1st – Dec 31st
- Winter U-Pass: Valid Jan 1st– April 30th
- Summer U-Pass: Valid May 1st– August 31st
U-Pass Eligibility
Need some clarity? Click here to view our U-Pass flow chart!
You are eligible to purchase the U-Pass if:
- You are registered for online courses and/or a co-op work term
- You have paid/been assessed UVSS fees for the current term
Changes to UVic bus pass – Introducing Umo
BC Transit has launched Umo, a fresh payment system set to transform your bus pass experience. Starting this September, you’ll need to use the new Umo mobile app or a reloadable Umo card to show proof of payment on all busses in the Victoria Regional Transit System. The UVic ONECard will no longer operate as your bus pass.
How to Activate Your U-Pass using the Umo App/Card
Umo app:
- Download the Umo Mobility mobile app from the Apple App or Google Play Store
- Create an Umo account. We recommend you use an email address as your username
- Visit MyBusPass (in online tools) to get your unique-to-you UVic benefit code
- Inside the Umo app, select Redeem Benefit from the top menu
- Tap Change Agency and select the Victoria Regional Transit and enter your bus pass code to link your U-Pass to your app
Reloadable UMO card:
- Pick up a card for free from your student union or a BC Transit Umo vendor
Locations on campus: UVSS info booth (SUB); Room 102 in Halpern Graduate Centre for Graduate Students; Continuing Studies Building second floor - Visit MyBusPass (in online tools) to get your unique-to-you UVic benefit code
- Visit ca.umopass.com to create an account and register your card
- Once inside, click on the left menu, select Change Agency and select Victoria Regional Transit
- Select My Wallet, Redeem Benefit Code and entre your benefit code to link your U-Pass to your card
Note: You can choose either the Umo App or a physical Umo card—you cannot use both. You’ll need to active your U-Pass every term with that term’s unique-to-you UVic benefit code. More information is available at bctransit.com/umo .
Automatic Enrollment To U-Pass
Please note that students enrolled in one or more “on campus” courses will be automatically charged for the U-Pass in your tuition. This means you will NOT have to opt in separately. To see if you’ve been automatically charged for the U-Pass, check your tuition statement (see photo below).
- If the “UVSS Bus Pass” charge doesn’t appear there, you need to manually opt-in.
- UVic also uses course location to determine assessment. If the course location is “M” that means it is on campus – any other designation is off-campus and students would not be assessed.
- Students who audit courses for non-credit are not assessed a bus pass, even though they attend classes on campus (but can opt in!).
- All other students who have paid UVSS fees are eligible to purchase a U-Pass, including co-op, distance, Island Medical Program, and practicum students.
Don’t Have U-Pass? Here’s how to manually opt-in:
To manually opt-in, please fill out this online form and complete the payment.*
Allow a minimum of 1-2 business days for your payment to be processed. Once it’s processed, please see the process listed above on how to activate your U-Pass using the UMO card or app.
Thanks for your patience as our staff do our best to serve all UVic students!
*Sometimes this page doesn’t load on certain browsers. This is related to your own browser and there’s nothing we can do, unfortunately! If this happens to you, try clearing your cache, and/or using Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
The Fine Print
- No pro-rating (you must pay the full cost of the pass no matter what time in the term you purchase it, but it’s a discount no matter what!).
- The Athletics & Recreation fee is mandatorily bundled in with the distance/co-op U-Pass fee.
- The bus pass is non-refundable (unless you are ineligible or are accidentally charged twice)
- Please note that sales are final (but don’t worry – you’ll love it too much to want to give it up)!
- Students in classes/co-op are ineligible for the Summer U-Pass but can opt-in to the regular U-Pass.
Bus pass costs
| Student Status | Bus pass | Athletics & REc^ | UVSS Fee^^ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUMMER U-PASS*** | $81.00 | $27 (admin fee) | $108.00 | |
| Full-time Distance* | $81.00 | $96.20 | Already paid in tuition | $177.20 |
| Part-time Distance** | $81.00 | $93.41 | Already paid in tuition | $177.20 |
| Co-op | $81.00 | $93.41 | Already paid in tuition | $177.20 |
| Island Medical Program (IMP) Years 1 & 2 | $81.00 | $81.00 | ||
| IMP Years 3 & 4 | $81.00 | $93.41 | $36.89 | $214.09 |
| STEPS Forward Program | $81.00 | $93.41 | $36.39 | $214.09 |
| International Exchange* | $81.00 | $93.41 | $73.85 | $251.05 |
*** Summer pass – for students not actively enrolled in summer classes/co-op but who paid UVSS fees in the Jan-Apr term
*Full-time – 4.5 credits or more
**Part-time – less than 4.5 credits
^^UVSS fee – this is mandatory for all students opting in to the U-Pass, as per the U-Pass contract.
^Mandatory Athletics & Recreation (ATRS) fee.
Opt-Outs and Appeals
Under certain conditions, students can opt out of the U-Pass.
This includes: Students with disabilities who can demonstrate their necessity to commute to/from UVic by automobile or means other than BC Transit fixed route or handyDart services; students already holding a BC Transit Pass through social assistance programs provided by the BC provincial government; or students who already have a Camosun bus pass. These students must opt-out by September 30th for the Fall semester, or January 31st for the Spring semester.
For more information on the conditions under which an opt-out can be accommodated, contact the UVSS Info Booth (250-721-8355 or info@uvss.ca).
SUMMER U-PASS
This pass is not eligible for opt-outs or refunds as it is not mandatory.
The only exception is if you enrol in summer classes after you purchase the pass. Although you can’t opt-out of the summer bus pass, you CAN appeal the mandatory one (see below).
Transit System Information
For general transit route and schedule information, or for information on transit options if you have a disability, visit the BC Transit website or call 250-382-6161.