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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

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VIU Blog

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Portrait of Samantha in front of the ocean

The importance of out-of-classroom experiences

October 6, 2022

Samantha Allan's story

Portrait photo of Sylvia Scow

Helping students gain confidence and connect with culture

April 4, 2022

Celebrating Indigenous mentorship at VIU

Lessons Learned from EleV

Lessons Learned from VIU's EleV Program

September 25, 2020 By Heather Burke, Sharon Hobenshield and Ariane Campbell

Four promising practices for decolonizing post-secondary institutions

Sebastian Abboud's REIMAGINE Nanaimo illustration has pops of highlighter yellow and pink and depicts cycling, walking, buses and more.

Community Vision: Illustrator Shares Hope for Better Future

February 22, 2021 By Rachel Stern, VIU Communications Officer

VIU Graphic Design Professor Sebastian Abboud’s artwork commissioned for REIMAGINE Nanaimo campaign.

Rebecca Watmough, VIU Criminology alum

From Community Cousin to Canada’s Highest Court: Rebecca Olivia Watmough

December 21, 2020

Celebrating Indigenous mentorship at VIU

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

A group of graduates smile and listen to speeches

VIU Student Pulse News: June 14, 2024

June 14, 2024

Hilltop hikes & bookish support: A summer tale

Leah serves food to students

Student newsletter: November 13 edition

November 13, 2024

Next steps, study support and free pizza 🍕

Shanon Sinn leans on a balcony railing and gazes at a night city scape

Three real Vancouver Island ghost stories to get you in the Halloween spirit

October 30, 2022 By Shanon Sinn

Alum Shanon Sinn shares his research

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