Vancouver Island University

Vancouver Island University offers undergraduate degrees in arts, business, education and sciences, as well as trades and graduate programs, professional development and training, and academic preparation. Students of business admin or science can join a learning community, enrolling in a set of courses as part of a student group who have the same homework, exams and teachers to make first year more coherent. For those interested in coastal and marine research, the Deep Bay Marine Field Station has state-of-the-art labs and a seawater tank near an estuarine ecosystem. The Health and Science Centre houses research and teaching labs for chemistry, environmental research, nursing and other health programs.The main campus is located on a mountain slope overlooking the Salish Sea on Vancouver Island’s east coast. There are also regional campuses in the Cowichan Valley and Powell River, and a learning centre in Parksville. A new 266-bed residence is currently under construction, and will open to students in the fall of 2027. “Vancouver Island University is a place where students come to move their lives forward,” says interim president Dennis Johnson. “Students study in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, a coastal city with a mild climate and easy access to the ocean, forests, and trails. From day one, they’ll have instructors who know their name, opportunities to apply what they’re learning and support when they need it. We’re here to help you turn your goals into a real plan and a real future in a community where learning, work and lifestyle can fit together.”

Campus buzz: Students can “shop” for professional attire at VIU’s Career Closet, which has suits, blazers and other business attire for students to take for free for interviews, internships and other professional opportunities. 

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees) $6,024

Median Entering Grades
Arts: 60% | Science: 66% | Commerce: 60% | Engineering: 66%

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 4,631 | Part-time: 2,309
Graduates: Full-time: 550 | Part-time: 340
International Students: First-year: 8.1% | Graduate: 58.2%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 492 (priority given to first-years)
Cost of double room: $5,451 
Cost of single room:  $8,734 to $9,073
Cost of apartment-style: $5,451 to $9,073

Standout programs

Hospitality and Tourism Management: Students learn about areas like hotel operations, tourism, event planning and guest services through practical experience. Students interested in working in restaurants and other kitchens can choose one of two new pathways: culinary arts, and professional baking and pastry arts. 

Graphic Design: For visual communicators who are interested in a creative career, this hands-on program is taught in studios using industry-leading technologies.

Creative Writing: Students learn—often through a workshop format—about working as a professional writer with teachers who are also published, award-winning authors, poets and journalists.

VIU offers a range of degree, diploma and certificate programs and is profiled in both the Ultimate Guide to Canadian Universities and the Ultimate Guide to Canadian Colleges. To learn more about the school’s diploma programs, visit the VIU’s college profile.