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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

Search VIU

aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

three students carve a pumpkin together

VIU Fest, health experts and more

October 10, 2025 - 04:49pm

Culinary Student pouring vegetables into hot pan to sear them, creating short burst of flames in the pan

VIU restaurant featured as participant during inaugural Dine Out Nanaimo food festival

January 13, 2023 - 10:45am

Douglas Groenendijk grins while standing in a vast green field with a mountain range behind him.

Alum of the month: Douglas Groenendijk

January 13, 2023 - 10:00am

Dr. Kyle Duncan, a VIU Chemistry Professor, smiles while leaning against a white railing.

VIU researcher aims to build a new tool to map molecules in tissue

January 4, 2023 - 02:15pm

Hannah Dudney smiling at the camera

VIU hosts BC Protected Areas Research Forum

January 3, 2023 - 03:45pm

Margot Fedoruk smiles at the camera wearing a halter top

Alum of the month: Margot Fedoruk

December 15, 2022 - 08:30pm

Give a Meal program

December 14, 2022 - 01:30am

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

A customer explains an issue to a customer service representative

Dealing with upset customers

October 31, 2023 By Dr. Evan Hoffman, VIU Faculty of Management Professor

De-escalating challenging situations

Two women dressed as witches paddle on Westwood Lake

VIU Student Pulse News: October 25, 2023

October 25, 2023

Ready for Halloween? 👻

Amy and her dog

Finding her fit in Canada’s far north

October 19, 2023

From Classroom to Career: Amy Badgley

Two people look at a laptop screen in the library

Building a better study session

October 19, 2023 By Becky Duarte

Tips to help you get things done

Lizzy Schafers, Jasmine Janes and Emma Peterson give the thumbs up sign while taking a selfie.

Surveying plants in remote BC parks

October 18, 2023 By Rachel Stern

Emma Peterson and Lizzy Schafers share their research experience

Picture of a compass rose on a globe

Gaining real-world experiences in the publishing world

October 12, 2023

Students aim to answer some of humanity’s fundamental questions in journal

Statements & Announcements

VIU's Indigenous Speakers Series featuring Wilson Williams (Sxwíxwtn)

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

November 22, 2022 - 11:15am

A person holding an orange rose stands in front of the plaque dedicated to the 14 young women who were murdered in the 1989 massacre at École Polytechnique.

Status of Women committee asks people to “Unite to end violence” during 16 Days of Activism

November 21, 2022 - 10:30am

A group poses with the Career Studio sign and banner

VIU launches new service to help connect students and employers

November 18, 2022 - 09:45am

Giving Tuesday postcard

VIU Giving Tuesday campaign raises funds for students in need

November 17, 2022 - 01:00pm

Nathan Pham and Kiara White hold their redesigned product packaging.

Graphic design students address sustainability by rethinking product packaging

November 16, 2022 - 10:30am

Four VIU microbiology and culinary arts work on their fermented seaweed products.

VIU students pitch their seaweed products on Dragons’ Den-style show

November 9, 2022 - 03:45pm

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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