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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

Danielle with Dave and Jamie

Alumni Spotlight on Danielle Hyde

August 22, 2025 - 09:30am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Students hanging out in a room at one of the VIU residence buildings

Welcome to campus – the Student Housing edition

August 20, 2025 By By Jenna Gill, VIU Recruitment Officer

What to know about orientation, Community Leaders and upcoming events

Sonnet L’Abbé sits on a stool on the Port Theatre's stage in front of a multi-coloured pink, blue and purple lighted background.

Community Vision: Poet Sings Song about being Black in Nanaimo

February 23, 2021 By Rachel Stern, VIU Communications Officer

VIU Creative Writing and Journalism Professor Sonnet L’Abbé’s song commissioned for REIMAGINE Nanaimo campaign.

Sebastian Abboud's REIMAGINE Nanaimo illustration has pops of highlighter yellow and pink and depicts cycling, walking, buses and more.

Community Vision: Illustrator Shares Hope for Better Future

February 22, 2021 By Rachel Stern, VIU Communications Officer

VIU Graphic Design Professor Sebastian Abboud’s artwork commissioned for REIMAGINE Nanaimo campaign.

Speaker Addresses Indigenous-specific Racism in the Health-care Sector

February 12, 2021 By Jenn McGarrigle

An Engaged Citizens Speaker Series event

Tarra Tipton

Creating a Network of Supports for Success

February 12, 2021

Tarra Tipton, a Bachelor of Social Work student, shares her story

Girl looking up from laptop and smiling at the camera

VIU Student Pulse News: February 10, 2021

February 11, 2021

Job search strategies, employment opportunities, stress reduction and much more

VIU Engineering Technician David Moss has used the light board to illustrate some cool Star Wars facts such as where the exhaust port is located on the Death Star.

A Bright Idea for Boosting Student Engagement in a Virtual World

February 11, 2021 By Rachel Stern, VIU Communications Officer

VIU’s Physics, Engineering and Astronomy department has created its first lightboard.

Statements & Announcements

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Events and Info Sessions

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