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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

Sharon Karsten standing outside on a sunny day and smiling at the camera.

VIU researcher aims to improve hospital care for people who use substances

July 6, 2026 - 01:46pm

Dr. Sally Vinden

From hairstylist to university

March 17, 2025 - 02:00pm

VIU Psychology student Cala Annala sitting at a desk with an open MacBook in front of her

Cybercrime’s hidden toll: How online scams impact mental health

March 10, 2025 - 12:15pm

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

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Rebecca-Duarte-graduating-with-her-friends

From homesick to hopeful: Five things I’m grateful for after 3.5 years at VIU

July 2, 2026 By Becky Duarte

Becky Duarte reflects on a transformative university journey

A woman, a man and another woman sitting on a chesterfield looking at a laptop together.

Helping to make health care make sense

February 27, 2025 By Annette Lucas

Nursing students aim to help people make better health decisions

Joe Clark holds a container with a cutthroat trout fry.

From classroom to creek: saving Nanaimo’s cutthroat trout

February 20, 2025 By Rachel Stern

Fisheries student Joe Clark is helping to protect local streams

A woman wearing glasses and a pink and green sweater reads from a poetry book at a microphone

Get the support you need to succeed 📚

February 19, 2025

Student newsletter: February 19, 2025

Tarah Dowling stands next to her exhibit.

Tarah Dowling’s art captures the strength and resilience of Tuition Waiver students

February 10, 2025 By Rachel Stern

Art and audio blend to tell the story of kids growing up in foster care

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

Statements & Announcements

International Women's Day 2024 poster with three women's faces and Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress

International Women's Day Experts 🌎

March 4, 2024 - 07:30pm

Group photo of Puffs cast

VIU News & Experts: February 29, 2024

February 29, 2024 - 03:45pm

Four photographs hang on the gallery wall. The closest photo is of a person facing the camera smiling.

VIU’s View Gallery presents Kashmir Lesnick-Petrovicz’s Guardians of Land, Life, Seeds and Love

February 27, 2024 - 01:15pm

Six actors on the left reach out to one of their cast mates while another stands in fear on the right.

Beyond the boy wizard’s limelight – PUFFS offers a hilarious twist on a beloved magical world

February 27, 2024 - 10:00am

piggy bank with coins stacked next to it, blocks on top that read 2024

Provincial budget and housing experts 🏘️

February 21, 2024 - 03:30pm

a construction site

VIU News & Experts: February 15, 2024

February 15, 2024 - 07:00pm

VIU in the News

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