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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

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Friendly VIU recruiters can help you find a program that’s right for you.

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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

A person wearing a chef hat and chef jacket is holding up a Nanaimo bar dessert.

VIU students to create the world’s largest Nanaimo bar

May 8, 2025 - 01:06pm

Long Service

Long Service Awards Matter

April 5, 2022 - 11:45am

5 Questions with Susan Juby

April 4, 2022 - 09:00am

Celebrating Our Strengths and Addressing Our Opportunities

April 2, 2022 - 03:00pm

campus_map_column

Exterior wayfinding program makes VIU a more welcoming place to everyone

April 2, 2022 - 02:15pm

Kendra Stiwich 2021 President’s Award for Service Excellence Award for Early Impact/Emerging Leader recipient

Recognizing our colleagues: It’s nomination season at VIU

April 2, 2022 - 02:00pm

Mandy Hobkirk uses her phone to take photos of pink flowers.

Citizen Scientists Asked to Look for Plants and Animals during Annual MABR BioBlitz

April 1, 2022 - 10:00am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Nathan in the quad

MyVIU student news: May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Welcome to summer semester 😎

Jiayi Li sitting at a table with a cup of coffee looking out the window

International student finds dream job in Nanaimo

May 31, 2023

Jiayi Li’s innovation saved his company thousands of dollars

Teagan stands outside the glass windows on the Centre for Health and Science at VIU's Nanaimo campus

A story of perseverance and hard work

May 30, 2023

Meet valedictorian Teagan Howden

Ashley stands in VIU's nursing simulation lab, wearing scrubs and a stethoscope

The art of balancing school, work and life

May 24, 2023

Meet valedictorian Ashley Sandhu

Close up of a black laptop with computer coding language on the screen.

Creating accessible computer science courses

May 24, 2023 By Rachel Stern

Amber Thomas shares her experience

A woman takes notes and smiles while she looks at a laptop screen

Tips to write a focused statement of purpose

May 20, 2023 By Anisha Das

Getting into grad school

two people seated talk to one another, on the left is VIU Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Michael Quinn, on the right is VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deborah Saucier

Hyena stalkings, how hummingbird brains work and meeting Royals

May 19, 2023

VIU’s President and Provost share their research journeys

Statements & Announcements

Interior of the View Gallery with paintings hung on the wall and a wooden human body art piece on the floor.

VIU’s The View Gallery Presents Escape Artists

April 22, 2022 - 09:45am

An interior of a vehicle with the top of the driver and passenger sears visible. Text across the image says Portal 2022 Words to Transport You.

Portal Hosts First In-Person Launch Since 2020

April 19, 2022 - 12:15pm

David_Alexander_Librarian

VIU Welcomes New University Librarian

April 19, 2022 - 08:45am

The Future of Reconciliation in Canada A VIU Conversation

VIU Hosts a Conversation on the Future of Reconciliation in Canada

April 13, 2022 - 05:00pm

Nine people gathered around conceptual drawing of Shq’apthut (A Gathering Place)

Provincial Government Funds Expansion of Shq’apthut, VIU’s Indigenous Gathering Place

April 8, 2022 - 03:45pm

Leading the Future Together text with a background of mountains

VIU Students Aim for Connection with Youth Leadership Conference

March 30, 2022 - 05:00pm

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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