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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

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VIU Fest, health experts and more

October 10, 2025 - 04:49pm

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

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Trauma-Informed Leadership at VIU

March 31, 2022 - 09:45pm

Three students examine a research poster at CREATE.

VIU’s CREATE Conference Showcases Student Research and Creative Activity

March 30, 2022 - 03:00pm

Five people pose around an electric vehicle

VIU Receives Funding for new EV Skills Training Program

March 21, 2022 - 03:30pm

Picture of Amber Lease

National Championship Basketball Tournament a Fond Farewell for VIU Student

March 18, 2022 - 02:00pm

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

Sherry Wessel sits at a table in the library at VIU's Nanaimo campus

Gaining confidence and finding her crew

June 2, 2023

Meet valedictorian Sherry Wessel

A woman wearing a wetsuit stands up on a surfboard

VIU Student Pulse News: May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

Show your pride 🏳️‍🌈

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

Statements & Announcements

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Figuratively Speaking: A Journey Through Movement

January 21, 2022 - 02:45pm

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VIU Science and Technology Community Lecture Series for Spring 2022 focuses on Climate Change

January 18, 2022 - 04:15pm

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VIU Media Highlights: Top 21 of 2021

January 14, 2022 - 08:45am

Students collaborating at a white board with Graduate Programs Expo written on the side

VIU Hosts Virtual Event to Showcase Graduate Programs

January 12, 2022 - 10:45am

Leon Potter, a VIU Theatre Professor, faces the camera, smiling.

VIU Theatre Professor explores a “Grotesque” Satirical Play During First Colloquium Lecture

January 10, 2022 - 12:45pm

In-person Classes Starting January 10; Updated Health and Safety Protocols

January 7, 2022 - 02:30pm

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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