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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

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News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

three students carve a pumpkin together

VIU Fest, health experts and more

October 10, 2025 - 04:49pm

VIU expert spotlight

VIU News & Experts: September 6

September 6, 2023 - 03:45pm

Alum of the Month: Spenser Smith

September 6, 2023 - 01:30pm

Kyle Duncan leans against a white railing.

VIU professor develops imaging technology to take a deeper look at tumour metabolism

August 28, 2023 - 10:15am

A wildfire burns near a road

Expert Q&A: Be wildfire ready

August 22, 2023 - 05:45pm

Three people stand in a culinary arts lab

Sault College and Vancouver Island University partner to expand opportunities for culinary learners

July 31, 2023 - 01:45pm

Brian Timmer wears a SCUBA suit while swimming surrounded by kelp.

Alum of the Month: Brian Timmer

July 31, 2023 - 01:30pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

A VIU employee sheltering under a desk and smiling at the camera.

Keeping VIU earthquake-ready with ShakeOutBC

October 14, 2025

Why practicing your response is so important

Three women hold certificates

VIU partners with Digital Marketing Institute to offer new certification

March 13, 2024 By Vaidehi Sayar

Training helps MBA students get ahead of the competition

Two women play drums

VIU Student Pulse News: March 6, 2024

March 6, 2024

Work on campus, tax help & social events

Sydney Solland stands on a ledge next to a rock face with climbing gear in front of her

Grad student researches experiences of female rock climbers

March 5, 2024

Sydney Solland shares her story

Indigneous art drawing

Radio show encourages revitalization of Indigenous languages

February 28, 2024

VIU students Kimberly Baines and Jesse Scott-Bradley host the show

Paige Pierce standing in front of the ocean, wearing a green dress and turning back to smile at the camera

Creating connections through poetry

February 28, 2024 By Eric Zimmer

VIU Education student Paige Pierce is Nanaimo’s Youth Poet Laureate

a man speaks next to a screen in front of a packed room

Who was Israel Wood Powell?

February 24, 2024

Examining the origins of settler colonial rule in British Columbia

Statements & Announcements

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VIU News & Experts: March 15, 2023

March 15, 2023 - 12:45pm

VIU student Mallory Woods stands at a podium wearing a pink blazer. VIU banners stand behind them.

Access to post-secondary education expanded for former youth in care

March 14, 2023 - 01:00pm

Indigenous Speakers Series graphic

Indigenous speaker shares story of fight for the return of traditional lands

March 9, 2023 - 05:00pm

Eliza Gardiner in front of greenery

VIU News & Experts: March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023 - 05:45pm

Markus in the Centre for Health and Science

VIU and Northpine Foundation expand educational opportunities in BC correctional centres

March 1, 2023 - 12:15pm

VIU campuses re-open at noon today (February 28)

February 28, 2023 - 10:00am

VIU in the News

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