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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.

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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

Harold Chandra sits at a blue table outside

VIU reaches halfway mark on campaign to remove financial barriers for students

April 30, 2026 - 11:14am

Wildfire with silhouettes of trees

VIU News & Experts: May 1

May 1, 2024 - 07:15pm

Alum of the Month: Clair Morgan

April 30, 2024 - 10:00am

A split screen photo of Dr. Morgan Mowatt on the left and Dr. Michael MacKenzie on the right. Both are smiling at the camera in portrait-style shots with greenery in the background.

Political scientists coming to VIU for provincial conference

April 29, 2024 - 12:30pm

Harpreet outside the Centre for Health and Science holding a sign that reads We love our donors!

Generosity of donors supports student success

April 24, 2024 - 03:15pm

A man and a woman kneel behind produce laid out on grass

Going beyond the bar: VIU students research Nanaimo’s culinary past

April 24, 2024 - 09:45am

Samantha jumping in a field of scraggly grass

Exploring ecological networks in a digital world

April 23, 2024 - 05:00pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Madelyn in the cafeteria with her research poster

What does the public really think about restorative justice?

April 28, 2026 By Eric Zimmer

Criminology student Maddy Reetham-Clayton aims to find out for a community partner

Tyson holds up his Ma Murray award

Alum wins coveted Ma Murray award for feature writing

June 2, 2024

Tyson Whitney’s feature series for the North Island’s ongoing hospital closures picked up the gold medal this year.

A girl holds a bird in her hands

VIU Student Pulse News: May 29, 2024

May 29, 2024

Tips for a productive Summer Semester

Split photo of Logan on the right and Esther on the left

Taking their skills to the national stage

May 27, 2024 By Eric Zimmer

VIU students Logan Cursley and Esther Popma will compete in Quebec City

Amy Mattes holds up a copy of her book, Late September.

Amy Mattes’ debut novel explores love and identity

May 21, 2024 By Rachel Stern

VIU Creative Writing student publishes first novel

A student housing room

Housing options for students in Nanaimo

May 20, 2024 By Michael Witcomb, Off-Campus Housing Coordinator

5 tips to find the right fit

Four students bend over a bridge structure together

VIU Student Pulse News: May 16, 2024

May 16, 2024

Welcome to the Summer Semester ☀️

Statements & Announcements

From left to right: Hayden Kenneth Taylor, Sheldon Scow and Talela Manson are hard at work planning a fun-filled summer camp experience for students.

VIU hosts summer camp for Indigenous students

July 6, 2023 - 09:30am

White lettering reading VIU on a dark blue background.

President Statement on University of Waterloo Violence

June 30, 2023 - 11:30am

Photo compilation of graduates

VIU News & Experts: June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023 - 02:45pm

Randle and Masako

VIU awards honorary degrees to local philanthropist and award-winning author

June 13, 2023 - 04:00pm

Graphic reads VIU expert spotlight with a person getting interviewed in the background

VIU News & Experts: June 9, 2023

June 9, 2023 - 05:00pm

President's statement on the recent death of a VIU student

June 8, 2023 - 04:30pm

VIU in the News

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