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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.

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

Search VIU

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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

Caroline Josefsson, left, and VIU student Megan Kollman, sit on a hill weeding a section with several small green plants.

VIU biology professor restoring one of Canada’s most threatened ecosystems on Nanaimo campus

May 1, 2023 - 02:15pm

Xander leans against a pole outside VIU's Centre for Health and Science

Alum of the Month: Xander France

April 27, 2023 - 09:30am

VIU Mariners soccer player receives CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship

April 18, 2023 - 02:15pm

Alumni spotlight: Amy Armstrong and Vanessa Young

April 13, 2023 - 12:15pm

Tchadas Leo portrait

Journalist wins award for Indigenous-focused podcast

April 6, 2023 - 08:30am

Jacob Frankel holds up his phone to a sala bush. The green leaves appear on his phone screen.

Nature lovers asked to head outdoors and become citizen scientists during BioBlitz

April 4, 2023 - 12:15pm

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

Group photo of people raising their hands in celebration

VIU Student Pulse News: January 10, 2024

January 10, 2024

Start the Spring Semester off right 📚

Daniela

Child and Youth Care students give back to community with project

January 4, 2024 By Eric Zimmer

Two second-year students share their story

a woman shakes hands with another woman

Business etiquette tips for students

January 2, 2024 By Jonah Ferguson, VIU’s Employer and Student Engagement Coordinator

How to be a professional in the workplace

An animal with a rack on its head in a snowy landscape

Studying tourism in Finland’s Arctic

December 22, 2023 By Riya Rajesh

Riya Rajesh shares her story

How is failure valuable?

December 21, 2023

Dr. Mike Roberson shares three perspectives on the value of failure

How were special effects created before electricity and cameras?

December 12, 2023

Leon Potter takes people behind the curtain to learn about theatre magic

Statements & Announcements

Man leans on railing in VIU's Centre for Health and Science

VIU Media Highlights: January 6, 2023

January 6, 2023 - 02:30pm

An ape made of white plaster and clay holds a cell phone, which it stares at intensely

VIU’s View Gallery presents the 2023 Student Art Salon

January 6, 2023 - 01:00pm

A clear path that has had the snow shoveled off of it with bright blue sky.

All VIU campuses open today (December 21)

December 21, 2022 - 06:00am

woman in a wheelchair on a ramp at VIU's Nanaimo campus

VIU Media Highlights: December 20, 2022

December 20, 2022 - 01:30pm

Group holds up a conceptual rendering of the new student housing facility coming to VIU's Nanaimo campus

Top 20 VIU stories of 2022

December 20, 2022 - 11:45am

Words Severe Weather Closure written with a snowy background

VIU's Nanaimo and Cowichan campuses closed due to severe weather

December 20, 2022 - 05:45am

VIU in the News

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