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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

Talk to a recruiter

Explore your options with one of our friendly recruiters. Online and in-person meetings available.

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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

Andrea wearing black with a white background

Alumni spotlight: Andrea Thring

June 26, 2026 - 12:16pm

three students holding red heart cookies and a thank you sign

VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign raises more than $480,000 for students in need

December 4, 2025 - 04:09pm

Jake torso and up portrait against a white wall

Alumni giving spotlight: Jake Lussier’s commitment to VIU students

November 23, 2025 - 02:58pm

One woman helps another try on a blazer

VIU news and experts: November 20, 2025

November 21, 2025 - 11:00am

Three people walk along a lighted path that is illuminated with a rainbow light projection. Trees along the side of the path are strung with white, yellow, green and blue lights.

VIU experts this week: November 20, 2025

November 20, 2025 - 04:14pm

Kirsten peruses the racks in the Career Closet

VIU Giving Tuesday campaign aims to reduce financial barriers for students in need

November 19, 2025 - 10:04am

Billy Ray Belcourt Indigenous Speakers Series event graphic

Indigenous speaker reminds Canadians that the colonial project’s impacts remain

November 7, 2025 - 11:14am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Emma Rampanen smiling at the camera.

Turning clinic experience into community impact

June 9, 2026 By Eric Zimmer

Meet the class of 2026: Emma Rampanen

VIU Senior Leadership wearing orange shirts and smiling at the camera

What Orange Shirt Day means to me

September 29, 2025

Reflections from senior leaders

Caitlin Lundgren standing outside leaning on a railing on a sunny day and looking at the camera.

VIU alum makes impact in community through media industry

September 10, 2025

From Classroom to Career: Caitlin Lundgren

a person jumping into a very blue-green ocean

My semester abroad in Barbados

September 5, 2025

Ben Carter embraces Bajan culture

Students hanging out in a room at one of the VIU residence buildings

Welcome to campus – the Student Housing edition

August 20, 2025 By Jenna Gill, VIU Recruitment Officer

What to know about orientation, Community Leaders and upcoming events

A row of electric bikes parked at VIU's Nanaimo campus

Biking to Vancouver Island University?

August 18, 2025 By Kim Sharpe, VIU Health and Safety Advisor

Here are some safety tips:

Ingela netz smiling at the camera

From Sweden to VIU: Growing as a leader, changing education

August 15, 2025

How a VIU master’s degree transformed Swedish educator Ingela Netz’s career

Statements & Announcements

VIU Statement: PACWEST Investigation Concluded

February 3, 2025 - 06:30pm

snowy graphic that reads severe weather closure

VIU campuses closing for the rest of the day today (February 3) and tomorrow

February 2, 2025 - 11:00pm

A group poses in the boardroom

Construction begins on new student housing at VIU

January 23, 2025 - 01:15pm

Two students hold up a piece of kelp covered with mussels and eggs

VIU joins Canada-wide agri-food innovation project

January 20, 2025 - 02:30pm

VIU Statement: Inclusivity in sports is a shared responsibility

January 8, 2025 - 09:00am

VIU News & Experts: December 13, 2024

December 13, 2024 - 10:45am

VIU in the News

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Events and Info Sessions

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