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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.

Programs Programs

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

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Programs

Learning Services

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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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aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

Ajay Shrestha sitting in his office, looking at the camera and in front of a keyboard and three computer screens

Giving youth a voice in Canada’s AI policies

July 27, 2026 - 02:36pm

International Women’s Day

March 7, 2025 - 03:30pm

Navigating youth mental health: expert speaker offers advice to parents

March 3, 2025 - 04:30pm

Hermia (Kaylin Zach) reaches her arms out to scratch Helena’s (Aimee Sweetapple) eyes out while being carried away by two other actors

Romance, magic and mischief await in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

February 27, 2025 - 09:15am

A woman reading childrens picture books

Using children’s picture books to teach about climate change

February 24, 2025 - 12:00pm

Dr. Chris Gill observes as Lucas Abruzzi puts a sample in the mass spectrometer.

Algae bloom toxins are an emerging threat to human and animal health

February 24, 2025 - 11:30am

Author Julia Hotz inviting you to join the Social Prescribing event in Nanaimo, BC

Social prescribing program advancing senior’s health in Central Island

February 20, 2025 - 09:45am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Carpentry students working working on a housing construction site.

Carpentry students build skills and community

July 29, 2026 By Neil Every

VIU tiwšɛmawtxʷ students gain hands-on experience while helping build homes that will become part of the Tla’amin Nation community

A woman looks at a tablet while sitting at a table

Help with job searches and events to de-stress 🧠

February 5, 2025

MyVIU student newsletter: February 5, 2025

Graphic illustration: the text reads Black History Month 2025 with a Black woman looking skyward and a Black Man raising his fist to the sky.

Black History Month at VIU

January 27, 2025

Film screening, open mic, book club and more planned throughout the month

Young woman sitting on a red couch looking at a laptop

Juggling education and a young family

January 24, 2025 By Annette Lucas

How Rosalynn White is making her career goals happen

Cheer on our VIU's Got Talent contenders! 🎤

January 22, 2025

A woman leans on a pillar and smiles into the camera

Finding passion and purpose through a business degree

January 17, 2025

From Classroom to Career: Rinny Jose

Gerri McEwen and Devin Ayotte dig through sand that is lighted blue, green, yellow and red.

Students dig deep into learning with augmented reality sandbox

January 14, 2025 By Rachel Stern

Innovative tool projects topography onto the sand

Statements & Announcements

Candle with light of other candles blurred in background

VIU experts on MAID and finding love in 2024 ❤️

February 9, 2024 - 08:30am

10 actors raise their hands in gratitude on a stage.

Dr. Laura Cranmer reawakens Indigenous languages through powerful play

February 8, 2024 - 03:45pm

Graphic of a hare with the text Karen Solie 2024 Gustafson Distinguished Poet's Lecture, The Path of the Hare.

Celebrated poet Karen Solie to give VIU Gustafson lecture

January 30, 2024 - 10:00am

snow on a mountain

VIU News & Experts: January 24, 2024

January 24, 2024 - 08:45pm

A cyanotype print with a hand, small shells and a seashell.

VIU’s View Gallery presents bailey macabre exhibit in collaboration with the Nanaimo Arts Council

January 23, 2024 - 01:00pm

A VIU music student works on an audio recording device.

VIU’s redesigned Jazz diploma prepares graduates for careers in different music genres

January 22, 2024 - 12:00pm

VIU in the News

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