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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

Tatum poses in front of a grey wall

New donor support helps more VIU students stay in school

October 27, 2025 - 01:16pm

Morgan in front of green bushes

Alum of the Month: Dr. Morgan Mowatt

February 13, 2024 - 02:30pm

VIU professor researching adversarial situations on networks

February 9, 2024 - 10:45am

Jordyn Monaghan stands outside a classroom

Alum of the Month: Jordyn Monaghan

January 27, 2024 - 09:15am

Perry Bulwer speaks into a microphone with a shelf of books behind him

Alum of the Month: Perry Bulwer

January 14, 2024 - 11:45am

Jen Gerson

Independent journalist visiting VIU to talk about free speech

January 2, 2024 - 11:30am

Study sheds light on the ancestry and genetics of Coast Salish woolly dogs

December 18, 2023 - 03:15pm

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

Stuart Dixon talk into a microphone

Finding newfound purpose

May 9, 2024

From classroom to career: Stuart Dixon

“Diamond Ring” marks the end of totality as the Sun begins to peek out from behind the Moon

Chasing the total solar eclipse

May 8, 2024 By Dr. Greg Arkos

Dr. Greg Arkos travels to Mexico to view the spectacular natural event

Follow your heart on your learning journey

May 6, 2024

From classroom to career: Courtney Dubyna

How has VIU’s Portal magazine evolved over the years?

May 2, 2024

Joy Gugeler explores evolution from chapbook to national magazine

Students frame up a home with an ocean view in the background

Scuttle Bay home welcomes support from VIU’s tiwšɛmawtxʷ Carpentry Apprentice Program

May 1, 2024 By Steve Gallagher, Neh Motl Editor, reprinted with permission

Hands-on learning - with a view

Using an Ojibwe lens to examine Margaret Atwood’s novel MaddAddam

April 29, 2024

Bryn Skibo advocates the value of Indigenous ways of knowing in academic discourse

Statements & Announcements

From left to right: Hayden Kenneth Taylor, Sheldon Scow and Talela Manson are hard at work planning a fun-filled summer camp experience for students.

VIU hosts summer camp for Indigenous students

July 6, 2023 - 09:30am

White lettering reading VIU on a dark blue background.

President Statement on University of Waterloo Violence

June 30, 2023 - 11:30am

Photo compilation of graduates

VIU News & Experts: June 22, 2023

June 22, 2023 - 02:45pm

Randle and Masako

VIU awards honorary degrees to local philanthropist and award-winning author

June 13, 2023 - 04:00pm

Graphic reads VIU expert spotlight with a person getting interviewed in the background

VIU News & Experts: June 9, 2023

June 9, 2023 - 05:00pm

President's statement on the recent death of a VIU student

June 8, 2023 - 04:30pm

VIU in the News

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