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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

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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.

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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

Search VIU

aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

Harold Chandra sits at a blue table outside

VIU reaches halfway mark on campaign to remove financial barriers for students

April 30, 2026 - 11:14am

The VIU gym full of booths and career fair participants

VIU hosts large Career Fair for public

March 17, 2026 - 08:13am

Ryan Bastian wearing a Mariners uniform running with the basketball during a game in a gym.

VIU Mariners men’s basketball team goes for national gold on home turf

March 9, 2026 - 08:35am

three science students gatherered around a table looking at model of bone structure

From classroom to lab: PreVIU Days help students explore their future at VIU

March 5, 2026 - 09:16am

A student stands in front of a railing with her arms crossed

VIU launches campaign to remove financial barriers to post-secondary education

March 2, 2026 - 11:16am

Three people next to a stream, one holds a sampling pole while the others look on

Basketball nationals, tire toxin research and Skills Canada competitions

February 27, 2026 - 02:09pm

Three of the actors stage a swordfighting scene for their production Cyrano de Bergerac.

Love, laughter and swordplay take the stage in VIU Theatre’s Cyrano de Bergerac

February 26, 2026 - 11:04am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Michael MacKenzie showing a group of students some of the work done for the Futures Fair.

Imagining Nanaimo in 2086

May 6, 2026 By Eric Zimmer

How city-building, growth levels and decision-making could shape the city 60 years from now.

Christina smiling at the camera while wearing a VIU Nursing shirt.

From financial stress to full focus

February 11, 2026 By Eric Zimmer

How scholarships are powering future nurse Christina Gustafsson

Saurya Mishra standing outside in front of a Heli-Jet helicopter and looking at the camera.

Building a career in hospitality leadership

February 6, 2026

Saurya Mishra shares his story

three students walking down the stairs in front of the VIU library.

Starting the semester right

January 29, 2026 By Becky Duarte

What to do so you don't feel so behind

Black History Month 2026 with two Black individuals pictured, one with an arm raised

Black History Month at VIU 2026

January 28, 2026

Art exhibit, open mic, music and poetry performance, book club and more planned throughout the month

Kylie smiling at the camera wearing a red shirt.

From “I’m not sure I belong” to “I know I can”

December 18, 2025 By Eric Zimmer

How VIU’s Pathways program helped Kylie rebuild confidence, discover purpose and step into a nursing career

three female students in a classroom smiling and looking at an assignment

New entrance scholarship process gives future VIU students more certainty

December 16, 2025

Record amount of funding available for entrance scholarships

Statements & Announcements

snow day at VIU

Severe weather closure procedures for the 2025-26 year

November 18, 2025 - 12:19pm

Group photo of students with tents in the background

A RockVIU thank you

October 28, 2025 - 04:20pm

A photo of Shq'apthut (A gathering place).

From the President’s Desk: Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day 2025

September 26, 2025 - 01:51pm

Claire portrait with a green background

From the Provost's desk: Provost's Circle registration is open!

September 22, 2025 - 02:52pm

From the President’s Desk: Welcome to the Fall 2025 Semester

September 2, 2025 - 10:22am

VIU Nanaimo campus aerial

Air quality message for VIU

August 14, 2025 - 10:26am

VIU in the News

A mountain biker navigates a rooty trail in the forest

VIU in the news: July 12 to 25

July 26, 2025 - 11:00am

Mackenzie holds the ball and runs

VIU in the news: July 7 to 11

July 11, 2025 - 04:12pm

A man sits and observes a large crack in the ground

VIU in the news: June 23 to July 7, 2025

July 8, 2025 - 08:01am

people in white coats and purple lab gloves look into microscopes

VIU in the news: June 7 to 24, 2025

June 24, 2025 - 03:01pm

Stephen sits at his computer

VIU in the news: June 6, 2025

June 7, 2025 - 09:48am

Two students discuss a poster behind them, one holds a naloxone kit

VIU in the news: May 30, 2025

June 1, 2025 - 07:30am

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