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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

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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

Serene Kerpan head and shoulders with greenery behind her

Alum of the Month: Dr. Serene Kerpan

September 24, 2022 - 09:30am

Facing the camera and standing from left to right are refugee students Hanan Ali Abdi, Nyagua Deng Goch, and Daniella (Sifa) Mukenge

VIU welcomes three new refugee students

September 14, 2022 - 11:15am

Whitney Wood stands on the Jeopardy! stage with host Mayim Bialik.

5 Questions with Whitney Wood

August 23, 2022 - 10:15am

VIU Horticulture students in front of plants inside greenhouse

In Photos: VIU Horticulture program helps grow connections with Belize

August 22, 2022 - 01:15pm

Trevor Michalchuk and Lily Eggert, wearing high visibility vests, while standing in front of the Mass Specmobile.

VIU researchers measure methane at Alberni Valley Landfill

August 17, 2022 - 12:00pm

5 Questions with Joy Gugeler

August 11, 2022 - 10:15am

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 group of students wearing VIU T-Shirts addresses a crowd

3 reasons to become a student ambassador

September 12, 2023 By Shelby Bell

Building connections with your university community

Signing document decorative

Navigating rental agreements

September 11, 2023 By Michael Witcomb, Off-Campus Housing Coordinator

Common off-campus rental housing issues

Aerial view of VIU's Nanaimo campus

Welcome to the new academic year

September 10, 2023

A message from Irlanda Gonzalez Price, AVP, Student Affairs

closeup of students' legs dressed in business attire sitting on chairs

10 ways to stand out at a job fair

September 8, 2023 By By Ariann Sigsworth, Career Practitioner Student

Tips from the Career Studio

A dock with people on it, ocean behind

Memories from Malaysia

September 7, 2023 By Katie Temporal

My experience as a sustainability intern

Student looks at a laptop screen and takes notes

University lingo 101

September 5, 2023 By Samantha Allan

University jargon can sometimes seem like its own language

Statements & Announcements

Blossoms Dressing by Cindy Stelmackowich consisting of metal splits with wax, pigment, bandages and linen.

View Gallery presents Cindy Stelmackowich – Trenched

September 7, 2022 - 10:15am

Group photo of people standing with a rendering of the new student housing building

More on-campus housing for Vancouver Island University

September 2, 2022 - 12:30pm

VIU student Agasha Mutesasira poses on one of the new accessibility ramps at VIUs Nanaimo campus

Provincial funding improves access to learning for VIU students

August 29, 2022 - 02:45pm

Student wearing a RockVIU T-Shirt stands with her arms stretched wide in front of tents and a performer playing the guitar

VIU welcomes new students with a week of activities and events

August 29, 2022 - 10:45am

Two people walk along a path near a tree with red leaves at Milner Gardens & Woodland.

Health professionals can prescribe access to VIU’s Milner Gardens through national program

July 4, 2022 - 12:30pm

Three people standing in front of a VIU residence building

VIU hosts summer camps for Indigenous students

June 29, 2022 - 02:15pm

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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