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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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Explore your options with one of our friendly recruiters. Online and in-person meetings available.

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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

Lisa LeClerc smiling at the camera

Alumni spotlight: Lisa Leclerc

January 27, 2026 - 09:59am

A little bit about VIU Chancellor Dr. Judith Sayers

April 29, 2021 - 10:45pm

Emergency

BSN Students Make Positive Impact on Opioid Crisis

April 29, 2021 - 10:15pm

New Online Learning Opportunity for VIU Employees

April 29, 2021 - 09:45pm

VIU alum Amy Pye holding her new children's book

Alum of the Month: Amy Pye

April 20, 2021 - 10:30am

Bed of nails physics experiment

VIU Faculty Take Popular Extreme Science Show Online

April 12, 2021 - 12:30pm

Chyanne with her grad cap and shawl

Alum of the Month: Chyanne Trenholm

April 9, 2021 - 05:15pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

a picture of a fist with Black History Month written next to it

Black History Month at VIU 2026

January 28, 2026

Art exhibit, open mic, music and poetry performance, book club and more planned throughout the month

Theo Finigan holds out a copy of the book Atomic Blonde

Action thriller Atomic Blonde examined in Colloquium lecture

October 20, 2022

Theo Finigan explores graphic novel and film adaptation

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

Statements & Announcements

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

Man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: January 18 - 29, 2021

February 1, 2021 - 05:15pm

VIU to Train More Community Mental Health Workers

VIU to Train More Community Mental Health Workers

January 18, 2021 - 02:45pm

Man holding camera

VIU Media Highlights: Top 24 of 2020

January 5, 2021 - 10:45am

VIU in the News

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