Full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in on-campus and blended programs are eligible for U-Pass, which provides unlimited access to Victoria's public transit system. RRUSA membership is required to access U-Pass.
U-Pass is mandatory for students enrolled in eligible on-campus programs. The U-Pass fee is based on the number of months of enrollment in an on-campus program and the U-Pass remains active for every month of enrollment in regularly scheduled on-campus classes.
Please note, if you are an on-campus student who has extended your program, you will not be billed automatically for RRUSA services. You will need to confirm your RRUSA status (be a current RRUSA member in good standing) and use the opt-out process.
U-Pass is optional for students enrolled in eligible blended programs. Students may opt-in to U-Pass for four-month periods (September to December, January to April, May to August), provided that they are active students for at least 50% of the requested U-Pass term.
The U-Pass offers reliable transportation at a significantly reduced cost.
| Transit Cost | With U-Pass | Without U-Pass |
|---|---|---|
Per Ride | $ 0.40* | $ 3.00 |
| Per Month | $ 21.25 | $ 85.00 |
| Per Semester | $ 85.00 | $ 340.00 |
*based on 14 rides per week.
Prepaid & Convenient
Simply scan your UMO card or in-app code with the bus fare validator. The validator will confirm your fare acceptance with a visual and audible signal.
Useful & Versatile
With U-Pass you can:
- Study or relax during your commute.
- Run errands after class or explore the Greater Victoria area on the weekend.
- Get home safely after a night out.
Cost Effective
U-Pass allows you to significantly reduce travel expenses by eliminating the need to pay for gas, insurance, parking, and vehicle maintenance. Come tax season, you can claim the U-Pass fee for a tax credit on your income tax return.
Discounted Price
Without U-Pass, a single-use cash fare is $3.00 and a monthly university student pass is $85.00. Even if you only make five round-trips by bus each month, the U-Pass will have paid for itself!
1. Download the UMO Mobility app or pick up a free, reloadable UMO card from a BC Transit vendor. Make sure to register your reloadable UMO card by visiting ca.umopass.com
2. Load U-Pass onto your UMO Mobility app account or reloadable UMO card using your U-Pass code, which can be found on your RRU MyAdmin Account.
3. Use the UMO Mobility app or your reloadable UMO card to ride with BC Transit, simply tap your card whenever you board a transit vehicle!
RRUSA members who are not automatically enrolled in the U-Pass program may opt-in. The basic eligibility requirements are as follows:
- You are required to be in good standing with RRUSA. Additional fees may apply.
- You must be an active student for at least 50% of the requested U-Pass term.
RRUSA members may opt-in to the U-Pass for four-month periods: September to December, January to April, or May to August. Opt-in forms will be available on RRUSA’s website one month before the start of each opt-in period, and will close two months after the start of the opt-in period.
The U-Pass fee for each four-month period is $85. You are required to opt in for all four months of the period. The U-Pass fee is non-refundable once the opt-in request is submitted.
Opt-in requests will be processed in three to five business days. Students will be notified by email once their U-Pass opt-in request has been processed.
- If you have questions about the status of your opt-in request, contact Student Services via email: studentservices@royalroads.ca
- If you have questions about the U-Pass program, contact RRUSA via email: contact@rrusa.ca
- If you finished your program early or withdrew, please contact RRUSA via email: contact@rrusa.ca
The reduced cost of the U-Pass is possible because of the bulk purchasing power of the Royal Roads University Student Association and other student unions in the Victoria Regional Transit region. For this reason, there are only a few situations where you can get a U-Pass exemption:
- You can’t use conventional public transit or handyDART because of a disability that you have verified with Royal Roads University.
- You are able to demonstrate that you have a BC Bus Pass issued by the Government of BC.
- You already have a U-Pass through program enrollment at the University of Victoria or Camosun College.
- You are able to demonstrate that you currently reside outside the Victoria Regional Transit region and you are either a part-time student or all your courses are online.
- Exemption requests will be reviewed and processed in 3-5 business days.
- Students must submit their U-Pass opt-out request within 14 days of the start of their U-Pass period.
- Opt-outs will not be provided to students who have activated their UMO code.
- If you qualify under one of the listed exemptions and are within your 14-day opt-out period, you can choose one of two actions:
- Submit an Online U-Pass Exemption Request
- Download the U-Pass Exemption Request Form and send a completed form to studentservices@royalroads.ca
- If you have questions about the status of your exepmtion request, contact Student Services via email: studentservices@royalroads.ca
- If you have questions about the U-Pass program, contact RRUSA via email: contact@rrusa.ca
Q. Is the U-Pass fee refundable?
A. The U-Pass fee is a mandatory charge for full-time on-campus students, and it is non-refundable for those who opt-in once their request is submitted.
Q. Can I transfer my U-Pass to someone else?
A. Your U-Pass is not transferable, and must only be used by the student to which it is registered. Transit drivers may confiscate passes that appear to be misused.
Q. I want to opt-in, but I'm not sure if I am a RRUSA member. How can I verify my membership status?
A. If you are unsure about your membership status, check your student account for the RRUSA membership fee. If the fee has been applied, this means you are currently an active member of RRUSA. If you are not currently a member and would like to access the U-Pass program, please reach out to RRUSA to become a member.
