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Get to know VIU. As a teaching university and a research university, we offer a unique experience to students.

About VIU Why VIU

About VIU

Why VIU?

Explore where VIU is going

The Strategic Plan builds on our commitment to diverse learners and draws on our connection to the community.

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Admissions & Aid Admissions & Aid

Discover how to apply to VIU and get more information about tuition and financial aid.

Admissions Tuition and Aid

Admissions

Tuition and Aid

How to become a student

Make your VIU application successful by following these steps to becoming a student.

Steps to become a student

Student Life Student Life

Make the best of your time at VIU. Get involved in campus events and enjoy island adventures.

Student Life Student Services

Student Life

Student Services and Support

Get ready for the new student orientation

Attend in-person and online events, explore campus and connect with your professors and soon-to-be classmates!

Support VIU Support VIU

Connect with other VIU alumni and learn about the impact of donor generosity at VIU.

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VIU Alumni

VIU Donors

Your support means so much to VIU students

Our donors fund over 2000 scholarships, awards, and bursaries each year.

Research Research

Discover how VIU's interdisciplinary research is making a real-world impact.

Research

Research and Creative Activity

Explore the research highlights. Includes recent publications, ground-breaking studies and more.

Research Reports

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News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

A student stands in front of a railing with her arms crossed

VIU news and experts for March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026 - 02:09pm

Samantha Good sits in her excavation square during the dig she attended in the Drimolen Palaeocave system.

VIU Grad Discovers Two-Million-Year-Old Skull while Attending Field School in South Africa

June 14, 2021 - 01:30pm

Genevieve van der Voort examines insect samples with a microscope.

VIU Undergraduate Student Publishes Research Paper in Peer-Reviewed Journal

June 9, 2021 - 10:30am

Portrait shot of Shawn O'Keefe

Alum of the Month: Shawn O’Keefe

June 4, 2021 - 09:30am

Dr. Lindsay McCunn smiles at the viewer while wearing a grey blazer and shirt.

VIU Researcher Investigates Hospital Design Elements to Improve Employee Well-being

May 20, 2021 - 10:15am

Dr. Deb Saucier: Reflections on a Pandemic

April 30, 2021 - 12:15am

Navigating the Pandemic with Resiliency, Resources, Flexibility and a Sense of Purpose

April 29, 2021 - 11:45pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

A picture of the 10-member team that will compete at the Kinesiology Games in Ontario

Building connection and community at the Kin Games

March 17, 2026 By Eric Zimmer

Kinesiology students are heading to Ontario this week for national competition

Armin Saatchi next to a mass spectrometer on loan to VIU from Thermo Fisher Scientific

From recovery to harm reduction

November 2, 2022 By Rachel Stern

One alum’s story of personal healing and joining the fight against the opioid epidemic

Shanon Sinn leans on a balcony railing and gazes at a night city scape

Three real Vancouver Island ghost stories to get you in the Halloween spirit

October 30, 2022 By Shanon Sinn

Alum Shanon Sinn shares his research

People dressed in costumes sitting on paddleboards at Westwood Lake

VIU Student Pulse News: October 26, 2022

October 26, 2022

Halloween happenings, new library resources & scholarship deadlines 👻

Theo Finigan holds out a copy of the book Atomic Blonde

Action thriller Atomic Blonde examined in Colloquium lecture

October 20, 2022

Theo Finigan explores graphic novel and film adaptation

Jenni Ottilie Keppler stands on the koi pond bridge at Vancouver Island University's Nanaimo campus.

Harnessing the power of the poop loop

October 20, 2022 By Rachel Stern

Meet Jenni Ottilie Keppler, VIU’s visiting student researcher from Germany

above view of a person with a laptop in front of them, notepad next to them and crafting materials around them

How to build your skills outside of the classroom

October 19, 2022 By Samantha Allan

Why getting involved is so important for your success

Statements & Announcements

snow on the ground

VIU's Nanaimo, Cowichan – campus and Trades Centre – G.R. Paine Horticultural Centre, and Milner Gardens and Woodland are CLOSED today due to severe weather conditions.

February 13, 2021 - 06:15am

CONNECT event poster

VIU, NIC and Tourism VI Partner on Virtual Networking Event

February 10, 2021 - 10:30am

Speaker Addresses Racism in the BC Health-care Sector

February 3, 2021 - 03:45pm

Man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: January 18 - 29, 2021

February 1, 2021 - 05:15pm

VIU to Train More Community Mental Health Workers

VIU to Train More Community Mental Health Workers

January 18, 2021 - 02:45pm

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VIU Media Highlights: Top 24 of 2020

January 5, 2021 - 10:45am

VIU in the News

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