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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

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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

Wildfire with silhouettes of trees

VIU News & Experts: May 1

May 1, 2024 - 07:15pm

Alum of the Month: Clair Morgan

April 30, 2024 - 10:00am

A split screen photo of Dr. Morgan Mowatt on the left and Dr. Michael MacKenzie on the right. Both are smiling at the camera in portrait-style shots with greenery in the background.

Political scientists coming to VIU for provincial conference

April 29, 2024 - 12:30pm

Harpreet outside the Centre for Health and Science holding a sign that reads We love our donors!

Generosity of donors supports student success

April 24, 2024 - 03:15pm

A man and a woman kneel behind produce laid out on grass

Going beyond the bar: VIU students research Nanaimo’s culinary past

April 24, 2024 - 09:45am

Samantha jumping in a field of scraggly grass

Exploring ecological networks in a digital world

April 23, 2024 - 05:00pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Whitney Williams smiling at the camera

Empowering educators worldwide

October 30, 2025

How a VIU alum is shaping the future of learning

a power engineer inspects large tanks in a big machine room with sunlight peeking through the window

Find your new career path as a power engineer

July 18, 2024 By Eric Zimmer

VIU’s next program intake is this fall

Bryan Lamprecht kneels in front of a patch of Hosackia pinnata flowers nestled in a field of grass.

Saving an endangered Nanaimo flower

July 12, 2024 By Rachel Stern

VIU Biology student studying rare flower only found in Nanaimo area

Halle Walle standing in front of her backyard bog and smiling at the camera

Re-creating a unique taste from ancient times

July 10, 2024 By Eric Zimmer

Halle Walle shares her story

Computer Science student develops digital dashboard for BC music festival

July 10, 2024

Zeke Critchlow discovers a passion for programming at VIU

Victoria Koutstaal outside on a sunny day smiling at the camera.

Finding her path with a career in recreation

July 9, 2024 By Eric Zimmer

Victoria Koutstaal shares her story

Shannah holding a fish

Cooking up success

July 7, 2024

From Classroom to Career: Shannah Pogline

Statements & Announcements

Dr. Stephen Davies sits in front of his computer, which displays a digitized letter

VIU News & Experts: November 3, 2023

November 3, 2023 - 02:30pm

President and Chancellor portrait photos

Vancouver Island University’s Board of Governors announces reappointments

November 2, 2023 - 02:15pm

Group photo of WW1 soldiers with text that reads Nanaimo Remembers

VIU and community partners remember local fallen soldiers through video memorial

November 1, 2023 - 05:00pm

White lettering reading VIU on a dark blue background.

Severe weather closure notifications for the 2023-24 year

October 25, 2023 - 04:15pm

A crowded festival scene with tents and a bouncy castle

VIU News & Experts: October 19, 2023

October 19, 2023 - 02:00pm

A canopy of trees with red, yellow and green leaves surround Milner House.

Milner Garden’s all-new Scarecrow Spectacular offers family-friendly fun

October 17, 2023 - 12:30pm

VIU in the News

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