Search

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

Talk to a recruiter

Explore your options with one of our friendly recruiters. Online and in-person meetings available.

Connect with a
recruiter

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

Saving salmon and keeping the romance alive

February 5, 2026 - 11:50am

Megan Fortune in front of green foliage

Alumni Spotlight on Megan Fortune

July 13, 2025 - 09:30am

Smiling Black Woman sitting on a downed tree branch

Alumni Spotlight on Julie Niyitegeka

July 13, 2025 - 08:43am

Milner House framed by blooming flowers and foliage

Milner Gardens & Woodland launches five-year strategic plan

July 11, 2025 - 08:22am

The book cover of The Teachings of Mutton shows a black background with white dog fur in the foreground

VIU Deep Bay event explores cultural story of the Coast Salish Woolly Dog

July 9, 2025 - 10:55am

Two people stand at a viewpoint on Notch Hill

Exhibit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region

July 5, 2025 - 10:18am

Alumni spotlight on Tonia Laird

June 26, 2025 - 10:38am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Christina smiling at the camera while wearing a VIU Nursing shirt.

From financial stress to full focus

February 11, 2026 By Eric Zimmer

How scholarships are powering future nurse Christina Gustafsson

Ronin Carver works at a table in a graphic design classroom at VIU.

Finding my people – a cohort of design nerds

June 5, 2025 By Rachel Stern

Graphic Design student Ronin Harver shares his story

A person stands at the top of the spiral steps outside the VIU Library

MyVIU student news: June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

Don't miss out on money for work experiences

A young woman with bright red, long hair is smiling with tree leaves in the background

Forging caring connections to land and the vulnerable: Ash Marie Wood

June 3, 2025

Meet your 2025 valedictorians

Building connections and confidence: Aboh Ekoja

June 2, 2025

Meet your 2025 valedictorians

Nurturing a passion for literacy, art and creativity: Paige Pierce

May 30, 2025

Meet your 2025 valedictorians

A winding path to a degree that resonates: Bree Sinnott

May 29, 2025

Meet your 2025 valedictorians

Statements & Announcements

Group of four people holding a cheque

VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign raises almost $380,000 for students in need

December 6, 2024 - 03:30pm

Five women hold Christmas lights at Milner Gardens with a ladder behind them

VIU News & Experts: November 26, 2024

November 26, 2024 - 05:15pm

Brandi is wearing a blue shirt and sits with her arms on a table in front of her

Indigenous speaker shares an urgent call to action for all Canadians

November 14, 2024 - 01:15pm

A picture of a solider and his family to the left, a copy of a letter in the foreground

VIU News & Experts: November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024 - 10:45am

Text reads Severe Weather Closure with snow and a blue background

Severe weather closure notifications for the 2024-25 year

November 4, 2024 - 04:00pm

A student practices nail work on another student in the aesthetics and spa therapy classroom at VIU.

VIU Esthetics and Spa Therapy program hosts open house in new space

October 30, 2024 - 11:45am

VIU in the News

Sign up for the VIU news and experts email

Sign up for news emails

Connect with Us!

Phone or email us

Events and Info Sessions

View events

Ready to join us at VIU?

Start Your application