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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 carve a pumpkin together

VIU Fest, health experts and more

October 10, 2025 - 04:49pm

rainbow circle with arrows making the colours that says Thrive Here in the middle

Benefits Overview: Where do You Turn When You’re Not Sure Where to Turn?

June 5, 2023 - 02:15pm

5 Questions with Melissa Huggan

May 31, 2023 - 11:30am

Dr. Michael Asmussen sitting in a tree and smiling at the camera.

Vancouver Island University welcomes award-winning foot and ankle researcher

May 24, 2023 - 03:30pm

Ashley Kuramoto smiles with a natural and/or garden background

Alum of the Month: Ashley Kuramoto

May 20, 2023 - 05:45pm

Beach scene with a waterfall

VIU experts on tourism, wildfires and snowpacks

May 17, 2023 - 02:15pm

Dave Paul, owner of Love Shack Libations, leans against a wooden counter. Beer bottles and a glass is on his right.

VIU partners with brewery to raise awareness about ocean research

May 4, 2023 - 12:15pm

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

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

three people stand around a mass spectrometer

VIU Student Pulse News: February 7

February 7, 2024

Black History Month and Valentine's Day events ❤️

Shq'apthut's three totems

Bringing Indigenous knowledge into the classroom

February 4, 2024

Introducing the Totem podcast

Valentina sits in a garden with lots of greenery around her

Healing the mind with psychedelic-assisted therapy

February 4, 2024

From classroom to career: Valentina Chichiniova

Two students studying together with their laptops open

Tips to prioritize your mental health this year

January 28, 2024 By Becky Duarte

Advice from Wellness Promoter Becky Duarte

Snowy campus

VIU Student Pulse News: January 24, 2024

January 25, 2024

Take care of your mental health 🧠

A student looks at a laptop screen surrounded by boxes

Finding a place to live in Nanaimo

January 22, 2024 By Michael Witcomb, Off-Campus Housing Coordinator

5 tips for students looking for housing

Statements & Announcements

Poster with three images that says Taryn Walker, Echoes From a Time Not Yet Here February 16 to April 7

VIU’s View Gallery presents Taryn Walker, Echoes From a Time Not Yet Here

February 7, 2023 - 10:45am

An brown Vancouver Island marmot sits on a grey rock with some green bushes around it.

VIU lecture series kicks off with the story of the endangered Vancouver Island marmot

January 31, 2023 - 01:15pm

Bryce Casavant sits in the interior of a boat

Speaker addresses herring and the health of the Salish Sea

January 31, 2023 - 09:45am

People doing a live broadcast in a coffee shop

VIU experts appear live on CBC Nanaimo broadcast

January 27, 2023 - 04:15pm

James Mark smiles while holding a violin.

VIU professor explores Bach’s Chaconne for Solo Violin during first spring Colloquium lecture

January 27, 2023 - 10:00am

VIU accepts return of Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Dr. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond

January 17, 2023 - 02:15pm

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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