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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

Kyle Duncan on the left hand side looking at his machine and smiling, Caroline Variath on the right, outside and smiling at the camera. Split-screen image

Tackling the province’s pressing health challenges

September 22, 2025 - 04:35pm

Tim May looking at the camera

Getting to know you: Tim May

September 2, 2025 - 02:02pm

Danielle with Dave and Jamie

Alumni Spotlight on Danielle Hyde

August 22, 2025 - 09:30am

Isabelle Desrosiers in a green forest and smiling at the camera.

VIU psychology grad studies relatively unknown eating disorder

August 20, 2025 - 12:19pm

looking down a mountain bike trail from the perspective of the rider

Enhancing the management of BC’s mountain bike trail networks

August 12, 2025 - 03:55pm

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

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

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

Students hanging out in a room at one of the VIU residence buildings

Welcome to campus – the Student Housing edition

August 20, 2025 By Jenna Gill, VIU Recruitment Officer

What to know about orientation, Community Leaders and upcoming events

A row of electric bikes parked at VIU's Nanaimo campus

Biking to Vancouver Island University?

August 18, 2025 By Kim Sharpe, VIU Health and Safety Advisor

Here are some safety tips:

Ingela netz smiling at the camera

From Sweden to VIU: Growing as a leader, changing education

August 15, 2025

How a VIU master’s degree transformed Swedish educator Ingela Netz’s career

Andrea wearing ski gear smiles with a snowy mountainscape behind her

From the volleyball court to the oil fields

August 11, 2025

Geoscience alum Andrea Čanković is putting her VIU skills to work

A man wearing hip waders and waterproof jacket holds a salmon

Celebrating VIU’s emerging salmon leaders

July 26, 2025 By Pacific Salmon Foundation (reprinted with permission)

Meet Tristan Dieleman

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

Statements & Announcements

Kwulasulwut Garden totem

Honouring Indigenous history, culture and community at VIU

June 4, 2025 - 05:22pm

Dennis Johnson with a view of the Nanaimo campus and greenery behind him

Vancouver Island University Appoints Dr. Dennis Johnson as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor

June 4, 2025 - 03:00pm

The Pride flag flies in Royal Bank Plaza at VIU's Nanaimo campus

Celebrating Pride Month 2025

May 30, 2025 - 08:22am

campus aerial

Message from the Acting President: May 22 Update to the Community

May 22, 2025 - 01:00pm

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

VIU in the News

A man sits and observes a large crack in the ground

VIU in the news: June 23 to July 7, 2025

July 8, 2025 - 08:01am

people in white coats and purple lab gloves look into microscopes

VIU in the news: June 7 to 24, 2025

June 24, 2025 - 03:01pm

Stephen sits at his computer

VIU in the news: June 6, 2025

June 7, 2025 - 09:48am

Two students discuss a poster behind them, one holds a naloxone kit

VIU in the news: May 30, 2025

June 1, 2025 - 07:30am

Tarah stands in front of her exhibit

VIU in the news May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025 - 03:53pm

Students cut the large Nanaimo bar

VIU in the news: May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025 - 03:07pm

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