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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

Search VIU

aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

Kyle Duncan on the left hand side looking at his machine and smiling, Caroline Variath on the right, outside and smiling at the camera. Split-screen image

Tackling the province’s pressing health challenges

September 22, 2025 - 04:35pm

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

rocks

Trauma-Informed Leadership at VIU

March 31, 2022 - 09:45pm

Three students examine a research poster at CREATE.

VIU’s CREATE Conference Showcases Student Research and Creative Activity

March 30, 2022 - 03:00pm

Five people pose around an electric vehicle

VIU Receives Funding for new EV Skills Training Program

March 21, 2022 - 03:30pm

Picture of Amber Lease

National Championship Basketball Tournament a Fond Farewell for VIU Student

March 18, 2022 - 02:00pm

Picture of Kendyl Perry holding pillows

Program Helps Students Transform Business Ideas into Reality

March 17, 2022 - 02:45pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Caitlin Lundgren standing outside leaning on a railing on a sunny day and looking at the camera.

VIU alum makes impact in community through media industry

September 10, 2025

From Classroom to Career: Caitlin Lundgren

Face and shoulders portrait of Prabhdeep

Making the most of faculty and community connections

June 11, 2023

Meet valedictorian Prabhdeep Singh Sambi

Seafood Business Accelerator a stepping stone for Indigenous business owner

June 6, 2023 By Rachel Stern

Natasha Marshall Gallic shares her story

Sherry Wessel sits at a table in the library at VIU's Nanaimo campus

Gaining confidence and finding her crew

June 2, 2023

Meet valedictorian Sherry Wessel

A woman wearing a wetsuit stands up on a surfboard

VIU Student Pulse News: May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

Show your pride 🏳️‍🌈

Jiayi Li sitting at a table with a cup of coffee looking out the window

International student finds dream job in Nanaimo

May 31, 2023

Jiayi Li’s innovation saved his company thousands of dollars

Teagan stands outside the glass windows on the Centre for Health and Science at VIU's Nanaimo campus

A story of perseverance and hard work

May 30, 2023

Meet valedictorian Teagan Howden

Statements & Announcements

Jim Holyoak's artistic rendering of trees in black and white.

VIU’s View Gallery presents Jim Holyoak: Arborescence

February 10, 2022 - 09:00am

VIU BC Top Employer 2022

VIU Receives BC Top Employer Award for third year in a row

February 8, 2022 - 01:45pm

man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: January 24 - February 7, 2022

February 7, 2022 - 12:15pm

Carolyn Russell, Associate Vice-President, International Education

VIU Welcomes New Associate Vice-President, International Education

February 3, 2022 - 09:00am

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

VIU in the News

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