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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 holding red heart cookies and a thank you sign

VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign raises more than $480,000 for students in need

December 4, 2025 - 04:09pm

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

Getting to Know You: Dr. Yoichi Mukai

November 4, 2025 - 01:20pm

Tatum poses in front of a grey wall

New donor support helps more VIU students stay in school

October 27, 2025 - 01:16pm

three students carve a pumpkin together

VIU Fest, health experts and more

October 10, 2025 - 04:49pm

Jane Stoller sitting down against a white backdrop and smiling at the camera.

Alumni Spotlight on Jane Stoller

October 10, 2025 - 04:49pm

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

Whitney Williams smiling at the camera

Empowering educators worldwide

October 30, 2025

How a VIU alum is shaping the future of learning

VIU Nanaimo campus aerial

VIU First Aid Services

October 28, 2025 By Kim Sharpe, VIU Health and Safety Advisor

What you need to know

Kara Rafuse smiling at the camera

Learning through a child’s eyes

October 28, 2025 By Eric Zimmer

Kara Rafuse finds her passion in early childhood education

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

Statements & Announcements

VIU Nanaimo campus aerial

From the Provost’s Desk: Program suspensions

June 13, 2025 - 10:00am

VIU Nanaimo campus aerial

Message from the Acting President: June 5 Update to the Community

June 5, 2025 - 09:47am

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 in the News

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VIU in the news: August 17 to 30

September 2, 2025 - 08:16pm

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VIU in the news August 2 to 15

August 15, 2025 - 04:52pm

A mountain biker navigates a rooty trail in the forest

VIU in the news: July 12 to 25

July 26, 2025 - 11:00am

Mackenzie holds the ball and runs

VIU in the news: July 7 to 11

July 11, 2025 - 04:12pm

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

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VIU in the news: June 7 to 24, 2025

June 24, 2025 - 03:01pm

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