Restoration of Natural Systems – Certificate RNS FAQ
No: you only need to apply to Continuing Studies for admission into the program. Since this is a non-credit program, you do NOT need to apply to the University of Victoria for credit study.
Applications for the RNS Program are accepted on a rolling basis. You should apply to the program at least one month before you want to begin your studies.
Once you’ve submitted your program application, the Program Coordinator and Academic Director will review it within a few weeks. We’ll contact you if additional information is required. If you meet the admission requirements, you’ll receive an electronic letter of acceptance and additional registration instructions from the Program Assistant.
You’ll receive a list of upcoming courses along with your letter of acceptance and registration information. You can register for courses as soon as you have your acceptance letter.
Both programs require that you complete the same 6 core courses, but the certificate program requires that you only complete 1 elective, whereas the diploma requires that you complete 5 electives. The major difference between the programs is that the diploma program is a university credit program, meaning the courses are eligible for university transfer. The certificate program is a non-credit program, so courses taken through this stream are not eligible for university transfer. A program comparison matrix can be viewed here.
Funding from student loans may be available for this program. Please consult the Canada Student Loans webpage: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/education/student-financial-aid.html
Course registration for program students can be done online by visiting the course description page. If you have difficulty registering online, you should contact the program assistant at bstadmin@uvic.ca. If you prefer to register over the phone you can contact the Continuing Studies Registration Desk, open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Please call (250) 472-4747.
You should expect to spend approximately $50–$100 per course for reading material. There are occasional field trip fees for courses offered in person. You’ll receive a letter that outlines any additional fees one month prior to the start of each course.
Yes! But priority registration is given to students that are accepted in the program. When space is available, you may register in specific courses without having to be enrolled in a program. If you want to take courses for credit, you will still need to apply to the University of Victoria. Please contact the Program Coordinator for more information.
We send out quarterly email newsletters to let students know about upcoming courses and other program news. Please email the Program Assistant to be added to or removed from this mailing list.
In addition, a tentative course schedule is available to assist you in long-term planning. Feel free to contact us at any time to confirm which courses are coming up as the schedule is subject to changes.
The RNS program consists of a combination of online and face-to-face courses. The electives allow you to customize whether you prefer to study mostly online or mostly face-to-face. However, two of the RNS core courses (ER 312A and ER 312B) MUST be taken face-to-face as they are practical field study courses.
Online courses are 12 to 14 weeks (one term) in length. Face to face courses in the RNS Program are five-day intensive courses. Note that these courses typically require pre- and post-assignments, so the actual study period spans one month prior to and one month following the in-class dates for the course.
Students usually spend an average of 8-10 hours per week doing online course work. This time includes (but is not limited to):
- reading
- participating in discussion forums
- preparing assignments
- completing online quizzes
The online courses are asynchronous, so the course work can be completed as it fits into your weekly schedule as long as the course deadlines are met.
Because this is a non-credit program, it cannot be combined with a degree program.
You may transfer in one approved elective from another institution. Courses considered for transfer into the program should be at the third- or fourth-year undergraduate level and focus on a topic related to the field of restoration. Val Schaefer, the Academic Administrator, must approve any electives you plan to take as part of your RNS Program.
You can switch from the RNS Diploma Program into the RNS Certificate Program, but not the other way around. This would involve re-application to Continuing Studies, application to UVic for credit study, and repeating the courses already taken. To switch from the Diploma to the Certificate, you need to inform the Program Office of this change in writing. If you're not sure which program to choose, apply for the Diploma program, as it’s easier to switch into the Certificate in the future.
You can complete the RNS Certificate program in as little as one year, but you may take up to six years to complete the program requirements. After six years has passed, you will need to submit a course plan for approval in order to continue in the program.