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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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Programs

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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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

VIU Kenya Partnership

VIU Teams up with NIC and BCIT to Grow International Partnerships in Kenya

February 22, 2022 - 04:00pm

VIU Mariners Volleyball

Four VIU Teams Top the First CCAA National Rankings of 2022

February 10, 2022 - 03:15pm

Kryskow, Manson, Dames

VIU Establishes New Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Program

February 9, 2022 - 11:15am

Dr. Julie Lou

5 Questions with Xueling (Julie) Luo

February 8, 2022 - 03:15pm

VIU’s Global Citizens Week Shines a Light on Justice Issues

January 31, 2022 - 02:00pm

VIU Political Studies Professor Mark Williams

5 Questions with Mark Williams

January 31, 2022 - 10:30am

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

Sheldon Scow, coordinator of VIU’s Community Cousins program, gifts a scarf to Garifuna elder Emily Palacio, director of the Hand in Hand program in Belmopan, Belize.

Indigenous peer mentors join international cooperation project

May 1, 2023 By Eric Zimmer

A new initiative at the University of Belize is taking its inspiration from VIU’s Community Cousins program.

Ottis Crabbe wearing chef's hat and full cooking attire preparing a dish in a pot on a stove in an industrial kitchen during a competition.

Taking his culinary skills to global competitions

April 25, 2023 By Eric Zimmer

Ottis Crabbe shares his story

The front entrance to the VIU Cowichan building in Duncan

A community-based approach to post-secondary education

April 24, 2023

VIU’s Cowichan campus offers Q’ushin’tul

VIU Nanaimo campus

5 Questions about university transfers

April 23, 2023 By Christine Johnson

...and how to streamline the process

A student receives a folder from a woman, with another woman watching in the background

VIU Student Pulse: April 19, 2023

April 19, 2023

Summer jobs and scholarship info 🎒

Toni sits in a field of garlic

Living the agrarian life

April 13, 2023

English Professor Dr. Toni Smith’s experiences with the back-to-the-land movement

Statements & Announcements

VIU Cowichan Campus cancelling classes this afternoon (November 15)

November 15, 2021 - 02:00pm

Congratulations

Congratulations! VIU 2021 President's and Provost's Awards Recipients

November 10, 2021 - 08:15am

Graphic with text Gender, Health & Social Justice written on it.

Speaker Series Highlights Innovative Research in the History of Gender and Health

November 9, 2021 - 01:45pm

Hireserve Has A New Look And Features

November 8, 2021 - 02:30pm

Linda Jack picture

Giving Tuesday at VIU Raises Funds for Students in Need

November 4, 2021 - 11:00am

Strategic Plan cover

VIU Launches Five-Year Strategic Plan

November 3, 2021 - 10:15am

VIU in the News

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