U-Pass

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 1^st – Dec 31^st
Winter U-Pass: Valid Jan 1^st– April 30^th
Summer U-Pass: Valid May 1^st– 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

Option 1: for non active students.

Summer rate: $108 ($81 U-Pass + $27 Service fee)

Must have been enrolled in the previous semester but not enrolled in classes over the summer.

This rate is cheaper because it is offered to students who are not active over the summer thus are not charged the Athletics and Rec fee.

If you graduated in the previous semester the deadline to opt in to the Summer pass is May 14th

1-2 Business days after opting in, Benefit code will be generated under “MyBusPass” tab on the Uvic website. Redeem the benefit code on the UMO website/ UMO app same as last semester.

Duration: May 1^st – August 31^st

Option 2: for active students who are automatically assessed.

No need to opt in, $179.12 U-Pass and Athletics and Rec fee already included in tuition fees.

How to know if your automatically assessed? Check your tuition statement, under the “Finances” tab on the Uvic website. Also check under “MyBusPass” to see if you have a benefit code.

Redeem the benefit code on the UMO website/ UMO app same as last semester.

Duration: May 1^st – August 31^st

Option 3: for active students not automatically assessed.

Full time/ Part time/ Co-op rate: $179.12 ($81 U-Pass + $98.12 ATRS fee)

Active students who have not been automatically assessed will need to pay this rate as active students are charged the mandatory Athletics and Rec fee along with the U-Pass.

1-2 Business days after opting in, Benefit code will be generated under “MyBusPass” tab on the Uvic website.

Redeem the benefit code on the UMO website/ UMO app same as last semester.

Duration: May 1^st – August 31^st

quickly and easily!

You can also come to the UVSS Info Booth, located in the Student Union Building, if you need to do payments in person.

OPT IN HERE

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	$98.12	Already paid in tuition	$179.12
Part-time Distance**	$81.00	$98.12	Already paid in tuition	$179.12
Co-op	$81.00	$98.12	Already paid in tuition	$179.12
Island Medical Program (IMP) Years 1 & 2	$81.00			$81.00
IMP Years 3 & 4	$81.00	$98.12	$36.89	$213.59
STEPS Forward Program	$81.00	$98.12	$36.39	$213.59
International Exchange*	$81.00	$98.12	$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 as outlined by the contract with BC Transit, students can opt out of the U-Pass.

These students must opt-out by September 30th for the Fall semester, or January 31st for the Spring semester.

U-Pass Opt-Out Form

Fine Print:

Appeals without relevant documentation will automatically be denied. Please see the table below for documentation needed.
Appeal decisions can take up to 30 days after the end of the appeal period.
Email a completed appeal and relevant documentation to uvssinfo@uvss.ca
Filing an appeal does not guarantee an opt-out.
You must pay your tuition fees in full; the UVSS does not refund any late fees. Only the reasons listed above are available. Any other reason, including driving, biking, walking, or taking online classes from the Victoria area do not qualify to opt out. The U-Pass has been adopted by referendum as a mandatory fee except for these limited reasons available for opt out. .

U-Pass Appeal Grounds + Documentation:

Appeal Grounds	Proof to be Provided
Individuals who live full-time outside of the Greater Victoria BC Transit Service Area, do not work inside the service area, and are registered in only one class at UVic.	Proof of residence with person who appeals Class schedule If employed- letter by employer
Individuals who are registered in only one course with a duration of two weeks or less during a four month period.	Detailed class timetable
Individuals who meet the opt-out criteria and missed the opt-out deadline with sufficient reason (ie. medical or family affliction).	Documentation speaking to timeline
Students with disabilities may opt out of the U-Pass where they can demonstrate their necessity to commute to/from UVic by automobile or means other than BC Transit fixed route or handyDART services	CAL letter Or Doctor’s note Any documentation demonstrating necessity to commute by means other than BC Transit/ handyDART
Students in receipt of the annual “BC Bus Pass” issued by the BC Government under social assistance programs may opt out of the U-Pass	Proof of bus pass &/ receipt
Camosun College students who are also UVic students will not be assessed the fees twice for any given 4-month period.	Camosun fee payment Bus pass proof UVic payment proof, to ensure Camosun was paid before UVic

For more information on the conditions under which an opt-out can be accommodated, contact the UVSS Info Booth, located in the Student Union Building! (250-721-8355 or uvssinfo@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 enroll 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.