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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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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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aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

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

Travis Baker in his lab

Creating the next generation of treatments for substance abuse disorders

January 23, 2023 - 08:30am

5 Questions with Stephen Hume

January 20, 2023 - 12:45pm

Culinary Student pouring vegetables into hot pan to sear them, creating short burst of flames in the pan

VIU restaurant featured as participant during inaugural Dine Out Nanaimo food festival

January 13, 2023 - 10:45am

Douglas Groenendijk grins while standing in a vast green field with a mountain range behind him.

Alum of the month: Douglas Groenendijk

January 13, 2023 - 10:00am

Dr. Kyle Duncan, a VIU Chemistry Professor, smiles while leaning against a white railing.

VIU researcher aims to build a new tool to map molecules in tissue

January 4, 2023 - 02:15pm

Hannah Dudney smiling at the camera

VIU hosts BC Protected Areas Research Forum

January 3, 2023 - 03:45pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

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

Alisha wearing a blue sweater standing in front of a fence

Reducing inequality through community planning

November 18, 2023

From classroom to career: Alisha Feser

Group of students hang out in the Centre for Health and Science

VIU Student Pulse News: November 8, 2023

November 8, 2023

Tips for a productive study break and what VIU's budget deficit means for your programs and classes

Michael Quinn portrait

What VIU's budget deficit means for your programs and classes

November 8, 2023 By Mike Quinn, VIU Provost and Vice-President Academic

VIU’s Provost and Vice-President Academic addresses this question

Picture of a VIU Nanaimo campus parking lot and sidewalk that have been cleared of snow

Preventing slips and falls this winter

November 7, 2023

Tips from VIU Health and Safety Services

A customer explains an issue to a customer service representative

Dealing with upset customers

October 31, 2023 By Dr. Evan Hoffman, VIU Faculty of Management Professor

De-escalating challenging situations

Two women dressed as witches paddle on Westwood Lake

VIU Student Pulse News: October 25, 2023

October 25, 2023

Ready for Halloween? 👻

Statements & Announcements

Giving Tuesday postcard

VIU Giving Tuesday campaign raises funds for students in need

November 17, 2022 - 01:00pm

Nathan Pham and Kiara White hold their redesigned product packaging.

Graphic design students address sustainability by rethinking product packaging

November 16, 2022 - 10:30am

Four VIU microbiology and culinary arts work on their fermented seaweed products.

VIU students pitch their seaweed products on Dragons’ Den-style show

November 9, 2022 - 03:45pm

Nathan and Sam in front of vines on a wall

VIU expands awareness activities for free education savings grants

November 8, 2022 - 09:00am

A group of soldiers pose for a photo with Nanaimo Remembers written across the bottom

VIU and community partners remember local fallen armed forces members through video memorial

October 28, 2022 - 01:15pm

An actor at centre stage has their hands thrown up in the air while they look off in the distance. Numerous cast mates stand behind them in various poses.

VIU’s Theatre Department presents A Good Person

October 24, 2022 - 03:00pm

VIU in the News

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