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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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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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aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

A student stands in front of a railing with her arms crossed

VIU launches campaign to remove financial barriers to post-secondary education

March 2, 2026 - 11:16am

Jake torso and up portrait against a white wall

Alumni giving spotlight: Jake Lussier’s commitment to VIU students

November 23, 2025 - 02:58pm

One woman helps another try on a blazer

VIU news and experts: November 20, 2025

November 21, 2025 - 11:00am

Three people walk along a lighted path that is illuminated with a rainbow light projection. Trees along the side of the path are strung with white, yellow, green and blue lights.

VIU experts this week: November 20, 2025

November 20, 2025 - 04:14pm

Kirsten peruses the racks in the Career Closet

VIU Giving Tuesday campaign aims to reduce financial barriers for students in need

November 19, 2025 - 10:04am

Billy Ray Belcourt Indigenous Speakers Series event graphic

Indigenous speaker reminds Canadians that the colonial project’s impacts remain

November 7, 2025 - 11:14am

a family portrait from the 1940s

Highlighting the life of a Second World War Flying Officer

November 6, 2025 - 04:28pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Two coaches lean in for an embrace

Longtime Mariners coaches stepping away from roles after storied careers

February 23, 2026

Matt Kuzminski and Tony Bryce are saying goodbye to their time as court sport leaders

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

Messages of support on a board

World Mental Health Day at VIU

October 10, 2025 By Becky Duarte

Student Employees share their thoughts

A group of students with coloured chalk on them pose for a selfie

How I found my people

October 2, 2025 By Becky Duarte

Making connections on campus

VIU Senior Leadership wearing orange shirts and smiling at the camera

What Orange Shirt Day means to me

September 29, 2025

Reflections from senior leaders

Caitlin Lundgren standing outside leaning on a railing on a sunny day and looking at the camera.

VIU alum makes impact in community through media industry

September 10, 2025

From Classroom to Career: Caitlin Lundgren

a person jumping into a very blue-green ocean

My semester abroad in Barbados

September 5, 2025

Ben Carter embraces Bajan culture

Statements & Announcements

VIU Nanaimo campus aerial view

Message from the Acting President and Provost: Update to the Community: May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025 - 04:03pm

Graphic: text reads, Celebrating Asian Heritage Month at VIU on a blue background with a cherry blossom tree and building.

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada

May 2, 2025 - 12:35pm

View of Nanaimo campus Building 250

Message from the Acting President: Update to the Community April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025 - 10:09am

Ariel photograph of the Vancouver Island University campus with several buildings on a hillside on a sunny day

Honouring remarkable VIU employees

April 23, 2025 - 10:19am

VIU Nanaimo campus aerial

Message from the Acting President: Update to the community April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025 - 11:11am

Aerial view of the Nanaimo campus

Message from the Acting President: Financial audits and leadership update

April 2, 2025 - 09:43am

VIU in the News

VIU in the news May 2, 2025

May 5, 2025 - 01:26pm

A Vancouver Island marmot in a mountain landscape

VIU in the news: April 27, 2025

April 27, 2025 - 10:19am

Engineering students adjust their designs

VIU in the news: April 20, 2025

April 20, 2025 - 10:58am

A student holds up a sweater that reads Moby Dick University

VIU in the news: April 11, 2025

April 11, 2025 - 04:42pm

AJ sits at his desk

VIU in the news: April 4, 2025

April 5, 2025 - 09:29am

a baking student holds up a Nanaimo bar

VIU in the news March 28, 2025

March 29, 2025 - 11:22am

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