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About About

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.

Programs Programs

Explore a wide range of program offerings and learning services. Choose from degrees, vocational training, certificates and more.

Find your program Learning Services

Programs

Learning Services

Start in January

September is not the only time to start a VIU program. Many have January intakes.

See January intake

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.

Give

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

Search VIU

aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

Isabelle Desrosiers in a green forest and smiling at the camera.

VIU psychology grad studies relatively unknown eating disorder

August 20, 2025 - 12:19pm

VIU To Award Five Honorary Degrees and Two Alumni Awards at Spring Convocation

May 10, 2014 - 09:00pm

ESTEEMED FIRST NATIONS LEADER TO RECEIVE VIU’S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

May 31, 2013 - 06:30am

LEADING EXPERT IN BAT ECOLOGY TO RECEIVE VIU ALUMNI HORIZON AWARD JAN. 29

January 23, 2013 - 04:45am

Esteemed community leader to receive Distinguished Alumni Award

May 29, 2012 - 07:30am

Aspiring brain surgeon to receive Alumni Horizon Award

May 28, 2012 - 01:00am

Wine Country chef Bernard Casavant honoured with VIU's Distinguished Alumni Award

June 2, 2011 - 02:15am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Students hanging out in a room at one of the VIU residence buildings

Welcome to campus – the Student Housing edition

August 20, 2025 By By Jenna Gill, VIU Recruitment Officer

What to know about orientation, Community Leaders and upcoming events

Kennedy Ordano portrait shot in the Wellness Lounge

VIU Student Pulse News: January 12, 2022

January 12, 2022

Students high fiving over moving boxes

7 tips for university students moving away from home for the first time

January 12, 2022 By Preet Parmar

Don’t just survive, thrive!

Indigenous Speakers Series keynote Connie Walker speaks at a podium in the Malaspina Theatre

Exposing the Truth: Journalism's Role in Reconciliation

January 8, 2022

Watch VIU's seventh annual Indigenous Speakers Series featuring Connie Walker

Portrait photo of Kennedy Ordano smiling at the camera with a forest background

Making mental health a priority

January 4, 2022

Wellness Peer Kennedy Ordano shares her story

Portrait of Marissa sitting on grass smiling at camera

Making an impact through undergraduate research

December 16, 2021

Marissa Wright-LaGreca’s story

Photo or ornament on tree that reads: What's your goal for next year?

VIU Student Pulse News: December 15, 2021

December 15, 2021

Holiday trivia, exam tips and winter break ❄

Statements & Announcements

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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