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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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News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

three students holding red heart cookies and a thank you sign

VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign raises more than $480,000 for students in need

December 4, 2025 - 04:09pm

Haley Healey head and shoulders with a forest background

Bringing to light the stories of trailblazing women

March 3, 2024 - 07:45pm

Unravelling the mystery of “mommy brain”

March 1, 2024 - 10:15am

VIU researcher exploring the cognitive effort behind achieving second-language fluency

February 28, 2024 - 09:45am

Supporting the next generation of educators

February 26, 2024 - 02:15pm

Dr. Kyle Duncan stands in front of a mass spectrometer with two students

From new insights to novel treatment options

February 26, 2024 - 01:15pm

Andrew Loudon portrait

VIU’s Science and Technology lecture series explores diverse research topics

February 15, 2024 - 01:45pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Two students look at a laptop screen together

What is VIU’s Zero Textbook Cost pilot project?

December 15, 2025

The project highlights courses with no required textbook costs

Amy Mattes holds up a copy of her book, Late September.

Amy Mattes’ debut novel explores love and identity

May 21, 2024 By Rachel Stern

VIU Creative Writing student publishes first novel

A student housing room

Housing options for students in Nanaimo

May 20, 2024 By Michael Witcomb, Off-Campus Housing Coordinator

5 tips to find the right fit

Four students bend over a bridge structure together

VIU Student Pulse News: May 16, 2024

May 16, 2024

Welcome to the Summer Semester ☀️

English major’s research paper published in an academic journal

May 14, 2024 By Rachel Stern

Claire Gordon explores tarot card imagery in Black Mirror episodes

a group holding paddles poses for a photo

Five things we learned in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

May 11, 2024 By Kaelan Henders and Alison Kuenzig

Tourism Management students Kaelan Henders and Alison Kuenzig share their experiences

Stuart Dixon talk into a microphone

Finding newfound purpose

May 9, 2024

From classroom to career: Stuart Dixon

Statements & Announcements

Dr. Sungchul Cho sitting at a desk and smiling at the camera.

VIU welcomes new dean of management

July 18, 2023 - 03:30pm

From left to right: Hayden Kenneth Taylor, Sheldon Scow and Talela Manson are hard at work planning a fun-filled summer camp experience for students.

VIU hosts summer camp for Indigenous students

July 6, 2023 - 09:30am

White lettering reading VIU on a dark blue background.

President Statement on University of Waterloo Violence

June 30, 2023 - 11:30am

Photo compilation of graduates

VIU News & Experts: June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023 - 02:45pm

Randle and Masako

VIU awards honorary degrees to local philanthropist and award-winning author

June 13, 2023 - 04:00pm

Graphic reads VIU expert spotlight with a person getting interviewed in the background

VIU News & Experts: June 9, 2023

June 9, 2023 - 05:00pm

VIU in the News

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