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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

aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

Tatum poses in front of a grey wall

New donor support helps more VIU students stay in school

October 27, 2025 - 01:16pm

Meteor shower

VIU News & Experts

July 24, 2024 - 01:15pm

Chloe McLaughlin stands by a tank, holding an urchin.

Enhancing food sovereignty and security for Indigenous communities

July 23, 2024 - 12:00pm

Sandy sits at his desk with images of brains open on one screen

Researcher looking for participants for brain injury study

July 22, 2024 - 03:45pm

Dr. Timothy Green, VIU’s Canada Research Chair in Shellfish Health and Genomics stands on a dock next to a boat holding oysters in his hand.

Oyster breeding research aims to address the deadly effects of ocean acidification

July 22, 2024 - 02:30am

Dr. Lindsay McCunn

What is environmental psychology and why is it important?

July 12, 2024 - 12:15pm

A forest fire

Experts on wildfire prep and water conservation 🔥

June 20, 2024 - 08:15pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

VIU Nanaimo campus aerial

VIU First Aid Services

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

What you need to know

Simon Maguire, Lily Eggert and Trevor Michalchuk stand side-by-side smiling.

Chemistry students receive accolades at national conference

August 28, 2024

Trio recognized for their outstanding research

Jindar Sboto smiles while working in a VIU Chemistry lab.

Researching the chemistry of cannabis

August 27, 2024 By Rachel Stern

Student leads method development for marijuana measurement

MBA student shares his 2SLGBTQ+ university experience

August 26, 2024 By Rachel Stern

Ashutosh Mishra embraces inclusivity and freedom at VIU

Four students walk down the stairway near the Nanaimo campus Quad.

A first year’s guide to the start of a new term

August 23, 2024 By Becky Duarte

Tips from someone who’s been there

Two students sit at a table outdoors, one has a laptop open and the other has a textbook open. They are laughing together

VIU Student Pulse News: August 21, 2024

August 21, 2024

Campus jobs, new student emails and back to school events 🍏

An early childhood educator reading a book to three kids

Earn while you learn with the work-integrated early childhood education program

August 20, 2024

You don’t need to stop working to further your schooling

Statements & Announcements

Graphic of woman interviewing another woman with VIU expert spotlight written over top

VIU News and Experts: December 19, 2023

December 19, 2023 - 03:30pm

A Christmas Carol poster sits on a stand in front of a Christmas tree.

VIU Theatre department presents A Christmas Carol, a live radio play

December 12, 2023 - 01:30pm

Trigger warning: Safety and security reminder following an incident on campus

December 8, 2023 - 03:15pm

Two students hold up signs saying thank you donor and we love our donors and stand in front of red heart balloons

VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign raises more than $350,000 for students in need

November 30, 2023 - 05:45pm

Vancouver Island University and the High School at VIU conclude partnership

November 29, 2023 - 04:30pm

An illustrated book page with wings that says Two Truths and A.I.

Audience members challenged to identify the play written by AI in VIU performance

November 28, 2023 - 09:30am

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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