Search

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

More program info

Get your program questions answered at an Info Week program session November 12 to 18.

Explore Info Week

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

Billy Ray Belcourt Indigenous Speakers Series event graphic

Indigenous speaker reminds Canadians that the colonial project’s impacts remain

November 7, 2025 - 11:14am

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!

Indigenous community members wearing blankets stand solemnly next to cenotaph next to

Veterans united

November 7, 2025

Marlene Rice (Hwiem') tells the story of the Veterans Totem Pole and Veterans Cenotaph

Jenni Ottilie Keppler stands on the koi pond bridge at Vancouver Island University's Nanaimo campus.

Harnessing the power of the poop loop

October 20, 2022 By Rachel Stern

Meet Jenni Ottilie Keppler, VIU’s visiting student researcher from Germany

above view of a person with a laptop in front of them, notepad next to them and crafting materials around them

How to build your skills outside of the classroom

October 19, 2022 By Samantha Allan

Why getting involved is so important for your success

Melanie stands in front of the Tobacco Caye sign, which reads Study Abroad underneath it

My summer internship in Belize

October 16, 2022 By Melanie P. Loureiro

What it’s like doing research on a coral reef

Picture of VIU's Nanaimo campus with a rainbow going across

VIU Student Pulse News: October 12, 2022

October 12, 2022

#MyVIU contest, resume tailoring & Mariners games ⚽

Gabrielle Hayashi Santos standing outside between two hedges looking at the camera

Taking her education global with international internships

October 11, 2022

Gabrielle Hayashi Santos shares her story

Hands holding a sign that reads: There is no Planet B

Nanaimo municipal election: where candidates stand on climate action and sustainability

October 6, 2022 By Alyson Winks

Candidates answer two questions

Statements & Announcements

Man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: February 1-15, 2021

February 17, 2021 - 05:30pm

VIU's Campuses and Facilities OPEN on Tuesday, February 16, 2021

February 15, 2021 - 05:45pm

snow day at VIU

VIU's Campuses and Facilities Closed February 14 and 15, 2021

February 13, 2021 - 05:45pm

snow on the ground

VIU's Nanaimo, Cowichan – campus and Trades Centre – G.R. Paine Horticultural Centre, and Milner Gardens and Woodland are CLOSED today due to severe weather conditions.

February 13, 2021 - 06:15am

CONNECT event poster

VIU, NIC and Tourism VI Partner on Virtual Networking Event

February 10, 2021 - 10:30am

Speaker Addresses Racism in the BC Health-care Sector

February 3, 2021 - 03:45pm

VIU in the News

Sign up for the VIU news and experts email

Sign up for news emails

Connect with Us!

Phone or email us

Events and Info Sessions

View events

Ready to join us at VIU?

Start Your application