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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

Start in January

September is not the only time to start a VIU program. Many have January intakes.

See January intake

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

Danielle with Dave and Jamie

Alumni Spotlight on Danielle Hyde

August 22, 2025 - 09:30am

photo complilation of all 12 winners

A new level: VIU’s 2024-25 CCAA Academic All-Canadians

June 19, 2025 - 04:42pm

Grads throw their caps in the air

VIU News & Experts: June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025 - 09:41pm

Stephen sits at his computer

Preserving Canada’s wartime history for future generations

June 5, 2025 - 01:34pm

Jack sits on stairs, leans his head on his hand

Documentary filmmaker uncovers history of Chinese-Canadian war hero

May 16, 2025 - 12:23pm

A person wearing a chef hat and chef jacket is holding up a Nanaimo bar dessert.

VIU students to create the world’s largest Nanaimo bar

May 8, 2025 - 01:06pm

Alum spotlight on Gregory Vandergrift

April 30, 2025 - 01:18pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Students hanging out in a room at one of the VIU residence buildings

Welcome to campus – the Student Housing edition

August 20, 2025 By By Jenna Gill, VIU Recruitment Officer

What to know about orientation, Community Leaders and upcoming events

VIU Graduate, wearing convocation robes, Olivia Thomas is holding a medal while standing outside in front of a garden

From foster care to university graduate

June 24, 2025 By Annette Lucas

Olivia Thomas’s 14-year journey of resilience and perseverance

A student walks through gardens on VIU's Nanaimo campus

MyVIU student news June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

VIU summer services and fun

A man standing beside a desk with a computer and a monitor on it in a room with shelves and supplies on them

Rebooting his future with the information technology program

June 16, 2025 By Annette Lucas

Matthias De Gisi graduates VIU with top honour in his category

Leah stands in front of gathering place

A voice for justice: VIU grad champions Indigenous women and girls

June 11, 2025

Leah Vaisanen shares her journey

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

Statements & Announcements

Aerial view of the Nanaimo campus

Message from the Acting President: Financial audits and leadership update

April 2, 2025 - 09:43am

Aerial view of Nanaimo campus

Message from the Acting President: Leadership transition update

March 28, 2025 - 10:26am

Aerial view of the Nanaimo campus

Vancouver Island University announces leadership transition

March 27, 2025 - 09:30am

Deborah Saucier wears her convocation regalia and poses in the gardens at VIU's Nanaimo campus

Dr. Deborah Saucier awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal

March 21, 2025 - 01:05pm

Aerial view of the Nanaimo campus

Statement from Vancouver Island University on the non-confidence vote

March 6, 2025 - 03:30pm

Two carpentry students work on a project

VIU News & Experts: February 27, 2025

February 27, 2025 - 05:30pm

VIU in the News

Engineering students adjust their designs

VIU in the news: April 20, 2025

April 20, 2025 - 10:58am

A student holds up a sweater that reads Moby Dick University

VIU in the news: April 11, 2025

April 11, 2025 - 04:42pm

AJ sits at his desk

VIU in the news: April 4, 2025

April 5, 2025 - 09:29am

a baking student holds up a Nanaimo bar

VIU in the news March 28, 2025

March 29, 2025 - 11:22am

Four people talk at a table with laptops and notepads open in front of them

VIU in the news: March 21, 2025

March 23, 2025 - 09:21am

Farhad in a kayak paddling on the ocean

VIU in the news: March 14, 2025

March 16, 2025 - 11:30am

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