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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.

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Admissions

Tuition and Aid

How to become a student

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Steps to become a student

Student Life Student Life

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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

Milner House framed by blooming flowers and foliage

Milner Gardens & Woodland launches five-year strategic plan

July 11, 2025 - 08:22am

Championship jump rope athlete Elise Visentin is skipping her way to Japan

Skipping her way to Japan

June 25, 2025 - 10:17am

photo complilation of all 12 winners

A new level: VIU’s 2024-25 CCAA Academic All-Canadians

June 19, 2025 - 04:42pm

Grads throw their caps in the air

VIU News & Experts: June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025 - 09:41pm

Stephen sits at his computer

Preserving Canada’s wartime history for future generations

June 5, 2025 - 01:34pm

Jack sits on stairs, leans his head on his hand

Documentary filmmaker uncovers history of Chinese-Canadian war hero

May 16, 2025 - 12:23pm

A person wearing a chef hat and chef jacket is holding up a Nanaimo bar dessert.

VIU students to create the world’s largest Nanaimo bar

May 8, 2025 - 01:06pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Kai Leighton in a Mariners jersey holding a basketball and pointing at the camera.

Finding purpose on and off the court

July 15, 2025 By Eric Zimmer

Kai Leighton shares his story

A woman wearing tan overalls is standing in a clearing in the forest in front of a campfire.

VIU master’s student brings alternative healing program to Canada’s North

July 2, 2025 By Annette Lucas

Emily Hoefs is transforming health care in her community

VIU Graduate, wearing convocation robes, Olivia Thomas is holding a medal while standing outside in front of a garden

From foster care to university graduate

June 24, 2025 By Annette Lucas

Olivia Thomas’s 14-year journey of resilience and perseverance

A student walks through gardens on VIU's Nanaimo campus

MyVIU student news June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

VIU summer services and fun

A man standing beside a desk with a computer and a monitor on it in a room with shelves and supplies on them

Rebooting his future with the information technology program

June 16, 2025 By Annette Lucas

Matthias De Gisi graduates VIU with top honour in his category

Leah stands in front of gathering place

A voice for justice: VIU grad champions Indigenous women and girls

June 11, 2025

Leah Vaisanen shares her journey

Ronin Carver works at a table in a graphic design classroom at VIU.

Finding my people – a cohort of design nerds

June 5, 2025 By Rachel Stern

Graphic Design student Ronin Harver shares his story

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

Students cut the large Nanaimo bar

VIU in the news: May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025 - 03:07pm

a person operates an excavator

VIU in the news: May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025 - 05:18pm

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

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