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

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

VIU Horticulture students in front of plants inside greenhouse

In Photos: VIU Horticulture program helps grow connections with Belize

August 22, 2022 - 01:15pm

Trevor Michalchuk and Lily Eggert, wearing high visibility vests, while standing in front of the Mass Specmobile.

VIU researchers measure methane at Alberni Valley Landfill

August 17, 2022 - 12:00pm

5 Questions with Joy Gugeler

August 11, 2022 - 10:15am

Students working in a classroom

New initiative helps people gain admission into VIU programs

July 27, 2022 - 11:00am

Marcia_Turner

VIU welcomes new Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Education and Engagement

July 26, 2022 - 03:45pm

Regan McKeever uses an iPad to view the VIU ElderCollege website.

VIU ElderCollege offers both online and in-person courses for learners

July 26, 2022 - 10:45am

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

Two students look at a sheet in a lab, one has a pen in her hand, they are both smiling at the camera

New student checklist

July 24, 2023

7 things you can do before coming to VIU

Mauricea Panchenko

Single parent and psychology student receives significant scholarship

July 21, 2023 By Eric Zimmer

Mauricea Panchenko is well on her way to realizing her post-secondary dreams.

Thomas Leaf

Exploring connections between sport, history and kinesiology

July 21, 2023

Meet this year’s recipient of VIU’s Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation

Heather Finlay

Ready to share her research

July 21, 2023

Meet this year’s recipient of VIU’s Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal

Spencer Antifave wearing a grey hoody outside and smiling at the camera

Combining business and psychology

July 21, 2023

Meet this year’s recipient of VIU’s Governor General’s Academic Silver Medal

Kelsey Moore smiles with a mountain range at sunset behind her.

Connecting with community and nature

July 17, 2023

Meet this year’s recipient of VIU’s Governor General’s Academic Bronze Medal

Statements & Announcements

Portrait of Sheila Watt-Cloutier

Indigenous Environmental Advocate Addresses Climate Crisis as a Human Rights Issue

January 26, 2022 - 03:30pm

Three sculptures of a person splashed with white paint.

Figuratively Speaking: A Journey Through Movement

January 21, 2022 - 02:45pm

Photo of Nanaimo campus

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

January 18, 2022 - 04:15pm

man holding camera

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

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