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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.

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.

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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.

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

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

5 Questions with Susan Juby

April 4, 2022 - 09:00am

Celebrating Our Strengths and Addressing Our Opportunities

April 2, 2022 - 03:00pm

campus_map_column

Exterior wayfinding program makes VIU a more welcoming place to everyone

April 2, 2022 - 02:15pm

Kendra Stiwich 2021 President’s Award for Service Excellence Award for Early Impact/Emerging Leader recipient

Recognizing our colleagues: It’s nomination season at VIU

April 2, 2022 - 02:00pm

Mandy Hobkirk uses her phone to take photos of pink flowers.

Citizen Scientists Asked to Look for Plants and Animals during Annual MABR BioBlitz

April 1, 2022 - 10:00am

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Trauma-Informed Leadership at VIU

March 31, 2022 - 09:45pm

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

Fernando sits near the totem inside the Centre for Health and Science, VIU's Nanaimo campus

Gaining skills through getting involved

May 16, 2023

From classroom to career: Fernando Jesus Medina Moreno

Portrait of Jonah with arms crossed in front of greenery

Connecting students and employers

May 10, 2023

Jonah Ferguson is here to help

silhouette of a man watching the sunset

Learning to help people through their final stages of life

May 3, 2023

VIU is launching an end-of-life doula course

Student looks at the view wearing a backpack

VIU Student Pulse News: May 2, 2023

May 2, 2023

Work and study at VIU this summer 🎒

Sheldon Scow, coordinator of VIU’s Community Cousins program, gifts a scarf to Garifuna elder Emily Palacio, director of the Hand in Hand program in Belmopan, Belize.

Indigenous peer mentors join international cooperation project

May 1, 2023 By Eric Zimmer

A new initiative at the University of Belize is taking its inspiration from VIU’s Community Cousins program.

Ottis Crabbe wearing chef's hat and full cooking attire preparing a dish in a pot on a stove in an industrial kitchen during a competition.

Taking his culinary skills to global competitions

April 25, 2023 By Eric Zimmer

Ottis Crabbe shares his story

Statements & Announcements

Man holding camera

Media Highlights: October 4-18, 2021

October 20, 2021 - 04:45pm

Graphic of laptop and colour wheel with the text, SDG Training Sessions for Community Groups.

Community Organizations Invited to Learn about United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals

October 20, 2021 - 09:30am

Man holding camera

Media Highlights: September 20 - October 4, 2021

October 7, 2021 - 12:00pm

Leilani Farha portrait photo

VIU’s Engaged Citizens Speaker Series Confronts the Housing Crisis

October 7, 2021 - 09:15am

Mother Tree, Red Cedar and Acrylic artwork

The View Gallery Presents Rande Cook

October 6, 2021 - 03:30pm

VIU Invites People to Experience University Life During Virtual Event

September 29, 2021 - 12:00pm

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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