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About About

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

looking down a mountain bike trail from the perspective of the rider

Enhancing the management of BC’s mountain bike trail networks

August 12, 2025 - 03:55pm

Chyanne with her grad cap and shawl

Alum of the Month: Chyanne Trenholm

April 9, 2021 - 05:15pm

Mandy Hobkirk uses an identification book while examining plants at VIU's Nanaimo Campus.

BioBlitz Event Provides a Snapshot of Plant and Animal Biodiversity

April 7, 2021 - 10:15am

Cam Wipper in front of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

Alum of the Month: Cam Wipper

March 24, 2021 - 09:30am

VIU Students Find Creative Ways to Support Children and Families During COVID

VIU Students Find Creative Ways to Support Children and Families During COVID

March 12, 2021 - 01:00pm

Micah Messent posing in Haida Gwaii

VIU Alum Makes an Impact Through Endowment Awards

March 8, 2021 - 10:15am

Irlanda Gonzalez-Price, Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs

Student Affairs shows its Compassion during Pandemic

February 26, 2021 - 02:30am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

A row of electric bikes parked at VIU's Nanaimo campus

Biking to Vancouver Island University?

August 18, 2025 By Kim Sharpe, VIU Health and Safety Advisor

Here are some safety tips:

Student studies at a desk in the library with a view of the City of Nanaimo in the background

Time management, Mariners at nationals and study resources 📚

November 9, 2022

VIU Student Pulse News: November 9, 2022

A clock on a desk next to a laptop and pen holder

Time Management 101

November 8, 2022 By Samantha Allan

Learning to use your time more effectively can make all the difference in university

A view of VIU's Nanaimo campus library from the exterior with a snowed-in quad

Preparing for West Coast weather scenarios

November 8, 2022 By Samantha Allan

Extreme weather preparedness for on campus and in the community

Armin Saatchi next to a mass spectrometer on loan to VIU from Thermo Fisher Scientific

From recovery to harm reduction

November 2, 2022 By Rachel Stern

One alum’s story of personal healing and joining the fight against the opioid epidemic

Shanon Sinn leans on a balcony railing and gazes at a night city scape

Three real Vancouver Island ghost stories to get you in the Halloween spirit

October 30, 2022 By Shanon Sinn

Alum Shanon Sinn shares his research

People dressed in costumes sitting on paddleboards at Westwood Lake

VIU Student Pulse News: October 26, 2022

October 26, 2022

Halloween happenings, new library resources & scholarship deadlines 👻

Statements & Announcements

Portal magazine's 30th anniversary cover pops with orange and yellow bubbles

VIU's Portal Magazine Celebrates 30 Years of Literary Excellence

April 26, 2021 - 10:45am

City of Nanaimo Signs MOU with Vancouver Island University

April 20, 2021 - 03:15pm

Man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: March 30 - April 12, 2021

April 12, 2021 - 11:30am

A student wearing a green dress stands in front of audience members and discusses their research during the 2019 CREATE Conference.

VIU Students Presenting Research and Creative Activity during CREATE Conference

April 8, 2021 - 09:45am

VIU Professor Receives Province’s Medal of Good Citizenship

April 6, 2021 - 03:30pm

Man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: March 16-29, 2021

March 29, 2021 - 07:30pm

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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