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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.

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Learning Services

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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.

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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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aerial view of Building 200 at VIU's Nanaimo campus

News

VIU in the News

Latest Stories

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April 24, 2025 - 12:25pm

VIU Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Program Chair Shannon Dames with VIU Elder-in-Residence C-tasi:a Geraldine Manson standing outside in front of totem poles and smiling at the camera

VIU launches collaborative psychedelic research centre

March 2, 2023 - 12:15pm

A group of VIU Mariners women's volleyball teammates celebrate in a circle on the volleyball court

VIU women’s volleyball team seeks national title on home turf

March 1, 2023 - 02:30pm

A woman with her back to the camera sits on a swing tied to a tree in a clearing on the top of a mountain looking down at the water below on a sunny evening.

Researchers asking Cowichan region residents how they feel about tourism

February 8, 2023 - 10:30am

Chris Gill in an alleyway

VIU Media Highlights: February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023 - 02:45pm

Three woman standing and chatting in front of a table on which sits two globes.

Global Citizens Week promotes solidarity in action

January 30, 2023 - 11:45am

Travis Baker in his lab

Creating the next generation of treatments for substance abuse disorders

January 23, 2023 - 08:30am

VIU Blog

Find out what's going on at VIU!

Male student leaning on a chair in a library

VIU student researches perceptions of women’s rights in Iran

April 17, 2025 By Annette Lucas

Reza Arbabi is investigating the views of Canadians on this topic

Two women dressed as witches paddle on Westwood Lake

VIU Student Pulse News: October 25, 2023

October 25, 2023

Ready for Halloween? 👻

Amy and her dog

Finding her fit in Canada’s far north

October 19, 2023

From Classroom to Career: Amy Badgley

Two people look at a laptop screen in the library

Building a better study session

October 19, 2023 By Becky Duarte

Tips to help you get things done

Lizzy Schafers, Jasmine Janes and Emma Peterson give the thumbs up sign while taking a selfie.

Surveying plants in remote BC parks

October 18, 2023 By Rachel Stern

Emma Peterson and Lizzy Schafers share their research experience

Picture of a compass rose on a globe

Gaining real-world experiences in the publishing world

October 12, 2023

Students aim to answer some of humanity’s fundamental questions in journal

Anna Shynkarenko wearing a hat, half-hidden behind a bush and looking at the camera

Researching the effects of war on urban landscapes in Ukraine

October 12, 2023 By Eric Zimmer

Anna Shynkarenko came to VIU on a Mitacs internship

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

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