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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

aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

Jake torso and up portrait against a white wall

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

November 23, 2025 - 02:58pm

Megan Fortune in front of green foliage

Alumni Spotlight on Megan Fortune

July 13, 2025 - 09:30am

Smiling Black Woman sitting on a downed tree branch

Alumni Spotlight on Julie Niyitegeka

July 13, 2025 - 08:43am

Milner House framed by blooming flowers and foliage

Milner Gardens & Woodland launches five-year strategic plan

July 11, 2025 - 08:22am

The book cover of The Teachings of Mutton shows a black background with white dog fur in the foreground

VIU Deep Bay event explores cultural story of the Coast Salish Woolly Dog

July 9, 2025 - 10:55am

Two people stand at a viewpoint on Notch Hill

Exhibit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region

July 5, 2025 - 10:18am

Alumni spotlight on Tonia Laird

June 26, 2025 - 10:38am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

VIU Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity sign

8 award-winning VIU graduate students share their thoughts

November 19, 2025

Their work, what their award means to them and what they hope to do next

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 re-opens February 5 at noon, other campuses open for regular hours

February 4, 2025 - 04:00pm

VIU Statement: PACWEST Investigation Concluded

February 3, 2025 - 06:30pm

snowy graphic that reads severe weather closure

VIU campuses closing for the rest of the day today (February 3) and tomorrow

February 2, 2025 - 11:00pm

A group poses in the boardroom

Construction begins on new student housing at VIU

January 23, 2025 - 01:15pm

Two students hold up a piece of kelp covered with mussels and eggs

VIU joins Canada-wide agri-food innovation project

January 20, 2025 - 02:30pm

VIU Statement: Inclusivity in sports is a shared responsibility

January 8, 2025 - 09:00am

VIU in the News

Farhad in a kayak paddling on the ocean

VIU in the news: March 14, 2025

March 16, 2025 - 11:30am

VIU in the News: March 8, 2025

March 8, 2025 - 04:45pm

Dr. Chris Gill observes as Lucas Abruzzi puts a sample in the mass spectrometer.

VIU in the news: February 28, 2025

March 1, 2025 - 10:00am

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