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.

Strategic Plan

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

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

Connect with a
recruiter

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!

RockVIU

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

Teaching and Learning

News Stories

Dr. Sally Vinden stands inside a hair salon classroom

From hairstylist to university

March 17, 2025

Dr. Sally Vinden’s lifelong learning journey Dr. Sally Vinden is living proof that the places education can take you have no limits. Her career has taken many different directions – hairstylist in London, instructor in Vancouver Island University’s Hairdressing program and, mostly, recently Associate Dean. After building a thriving career in the UK, Sally’s move to Canada sparked a new passion:... Read more

woman in a wheelchair on a ramp at VIU's Nanaimo campus

VIU Media Highlights: December 20, 2022

December 20, 2022

Year in review, new pharmacy technician training & seasonal experts 🎄 This is our last media highlights email of 2022. Vancouver Island University will be closed for winter break from Friday, December 23, 2022, to Monday, January 2, 2023, reopening on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. All the best for a relaxing, restful holiday season to you all. In this issue, we have a couple experts ready give... Read more