Victoria International Education is a division of the Greater Victoria School District and has been providing educational programs to international students since 1992.
As a public school system in the Province of British Columbia, our programs are approved and accredited by the BC Ministry of Education. They meet the highest standards of academic rigour and provide invaluable life skills to further a student's chances for success.
Our high schools offer programs in academic areas, fine arts, business, computer studies, and athletics, in addition to specialized courses. The Greater Victoria School District provides quality education for more than 19,000 students in seven secondary schools, 10 middle schools and 29 elementary schools.
We are located in Victoria, the capital city of the Province of British Columbia. Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada and is known as "the City of Gardens" because of its many gardens and parks. Victoria is a clean, friendly, community-minded city. It has an efficient bus system, shopping, restaurants, theatre and opera companies, art galleries, and many recreational facilities. Victoria is also home to advanced learning with two universities, a college, a conservatory of music, and a college of art.
Victoria is situated at the south end of Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada and is easily accessed by direct flight into its international airport or by a short ferry ride from Vancouver, British Columbia or Seattle, Washington.
Victoria International Education prepares students from around the world with a high-quality secondary school education. Proficiency in English and a familiarity with North American culture are intrinsic to our program.
Successful completion and graduation from the program, with an acceptable grade point average, allows students to enter directly into post-secondary colleges and universities throughout North America. In addition to our long-term academic program, we also offer a variety of short-term programs.
International students participating in the our homestay program will feel welcome,comfortable and secure. Students are placed into supportive, stable homes with Canadian families, arranged and supervised by our program staff.
Homestay provides an invaluable, authentic insight into the Canadian way of life and opportunities to improve English language skills. As a result, students will move with ease and confidence in Canadian society.
We provide comprehensive support to international students. Students enrolled in our academic program have access to: an orientation program prior to the start of school, school-based international student advisors, school counsellors, multi-cultural homestay placement coordinators and professional, experienced program staff committed to each student's success. Staff or resource people who speak Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Spanish are available. Within the community, assistance in many other languages is also available.
Career planning courses are offered in high school.
An integral sports program is offered in every school. The variety of choices is wide ranging for both indoor and outdoor sports. Joining extracurricular sporting activities is a great way to mix with Canadian friends outside of the classroom.
Sports team selection is based on tryouts and the type of sports offered may vary from school to school.
Students have the option to sign up for excursions organized by the International Program office. Our offerings often include: skiing/snowboarding at the world-famous Whistler resort, shopping and sightseeing in Vancouver and Seattle, and whale watching in the waters around beautiful Victoria.
In addition, students may participate in the sports and extracurricular activities that are offered at their school.
Each of our high schools has a variety of extracrricular clubs and activities. These may include anime, photography, improvisational theatre, fishing, school newspaper, gay/straight alliance, debate, environment, and more. The selection of extracurricular activities is different at each school and may change from year to year.
A student computer lab is offered at each of our high schools.
Our schools offer exceptional learning facilities that include: well-designed classrooms, libraries, fine art facilities, science and computer labs equipped with the latest technology, large outdoor sports fields and many extracurricular activities.