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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

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News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

Kyle Duncan on the left hand side looking at his machine and smiling, Caroline Variath on the right, outside and smiling at the camera. Split-screen image

Tackling the province’s pressing health challenges

September 22, 2025 - 04:35pm

VIU Mariners Women's Basketball

VIU Mariners Women’s Basketball Team Aims for National Title on Home Turf

March 11, 2022 - 10:30am

Sandy Shultz

VIU Welcomes Award-winning Researcher and Neuroscientist

March 8, 2022 - 11:00am

Nanaimo Hospice Dream Home

VIU Carpentry Program Partners With Nanaimo Hospice to Help Create Dream Home

March 7, 2022 - 03:00pm

man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: February 8 – 28, 2022

March 4, 2022 - 11:00am

Misha Zvekic stands in a garden at VIU's Nanaimo campus.

Microplastics Exposed to Sunlight Can Change their Behaviour in the Environment

March 1, 2022 - 11:30am

Emmerson Pollard

VIU Psychology Student Researching Stress, Resilience in Romantic Relationships of Firefighters

February 28, 2022 - 01:00pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Caitlin Lundgren standing outside leaning on a railing on a sunny day and looking at the camera.

VIU alum makes impact in community through media industry

September 10, 2025

From Classroom to Career: Caitlin Lundgren

Ashley stands in VIU's nursing simulation lab, wearing scrubs and a stethoscope

The art of balancing school, work and life

May 24, 2023

Meet valedictorian Ashley Sandhu

Close up of a black laptop with computer coding language on the screen.

Creating accessible computer science courses

May 24, 2023 By Rachel Stern

Amber Thomas shares her experience

A woman takes notes and smiles while she looks at a laptop screen

Tips to write a focused statement of purpose

May 20, 2023 By Anisha Das

Getting into grad school

two people seated talk to one another, on the left is VIU Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Michael Quinn, on the right is VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Saucier

Hyena stalkings, how hummingbird brains work and meeting Royals

May 19, 2023

VIU’s President and Provost share their research journeys

A man stands in the foreground with the waterfront and a marina full of boats behind him

VIU Student Pulse News: May 17, 2023

May 17, 2023

Tips to pay for university 💰

Jane Dean looking at the camera on a sunny day and smiling

Taking classroom learning to community

May 17, 2023

Jane Dean shares her story

Statements & Announcements

Photo of Nanaimo campus

VIU Science and Technology Community Lecture Series for Spring 2022 focuses on Climate Change

January 18, 2022 - 04:15pm

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VIU Media Highlights: Top 21 of 2021

January 14, 2022 - 08:45am

Students collaborating at a white board with Graduate Programs Expo written on the side

VIU Hosts Virtual Event to Showcase Graduate Programs

January 12, 2022 - 10:45am

Leon Potter, a VIU Theatre Professor, faces the camera, smiling.

VIU Theatre Professor explores a “Grotesque” Satirical Play During First Colloquium Lecture

January 10, 2022 - 12:45pm

In-person Classes Starting January 10; Updated Health and Safety Protocols

January 7, 2022 - 02:30pm

Severe Weather Closure

All campuses open today (Friday, January 7)

January 7, 2022 - 06:15am

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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