Vancouver Island University

Vancouver Island one of the most beautiful places on Earth. When you live here, your options for fun and adventure are limited only by your imagination! You have easy access to outdoor activities like kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and beach trips. Ski and surf adventures are less than a day of travel away. You can also enjoy dining, live music, theatre, museums, galleries and Indigenous cultural experiences in the nearby communities.

Exchange is your opportunity to

• have an adventure
• earn transfer credit towards your degree,
• connect with the global campus community
• gain a whole new perspective on your education and career

VIU can help you arrange to study in English at one of more than 20 partner universities around the world for 1 or 2 semesters. Education Abroad can direct you to external scholarships and awards, including the One World Scholarship of $2,000-$5,000 with 2 application intakes per year and Global Skills Opportunity Travel Grants, launching soon.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Canada are eligible for admission to academic programs if you meet one of the following conditions:

• graduation from a BC secondary school, or equivalent, with a minimum “C” grade in either English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
• previous degree from a recognized university
• visiting student from a college or university (you’ll need a letter of permission from the home institution)
• transfer student from a college or university (at least 24 transferable university-level credits completed)
• mature student— 21 years of age (or will turn 21 during your first semester) and a minimum “C” grade in English 12 or English 12 First Peoples

For more details, see the admission requirements page on our website.

VIU recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement Programs (APP). You may receive university level credit under the following conditions:

• Specific Higher Level (HL) IB courses with grades of 5 or better, and/or specific APP courses with grades of 4 or better, will be eligible for introductory-level university course credit.  See Advanced Placement Program courses.
• A maximum of 30 credits will be awarded for IB/APP courses.
• IB/APP credits will be noted on your permanent record (transcript), but no grades will be recorded, and there will be no GPA implications.
• You can enroll in courses for which credit has been granted; however, credit may be applied only once towards a degree, diploma, or certificate.

Many programs and courses at VIU, including all first-year English courses, require English 12, with a minimum grade of “C.”

Acceptable alternatives to English 12 include:

• BC Secondary School First Peoples’ English 12
• VIU’s ENGL 067, and ENGL 068
• ESLU 051 and ESLU 052  (VIU’s English as a Second Language University Preparation Level 5)

Students who do not meet this English 12 requirement, but who believe they have the necessary level of competency, may write an assessment test. There are currently three acceptable tests to show equivalency to English 12:

• ACCUPLACER Next Generation test – for English 12 equivalency, you need a minimum score of 260 on the Reading Comprehension section, a minimum score of 250 on the Sentence Skills section, and at least 5 on the Writeplacer.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) – for English 12 equivalency you need a score of 59 overall and component scores of at least 56.
• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) – for English 12 equivalency, you need a score of 81.

VIU begins accepting applications in early October. Most programs have an application deadline of March 31.

Need help? Contact a VIU Recruiter.

A non-refundable, non-transferable application fee is required for each application. If you submit the application by mail, attach a cheque or money order payable to Vancouver Island University. If payment is not attached, we will mail you details regarding other payment options once we have completed initial processing of your application.

Program Type Fees
Undergraduate $44.27
Graduate Programs $114.83

VIU uses British Columbia’s centralized online application service EducationPlannerBC.

Start Your Application to VIU

You can also download an application form. You can email the completed form or delivered it to any campus.

Within two weeks of receiving your submission, we will send you a letter acknowledging receipt of your application. We will also notify you of any next steps. Applicants are considered for admission only when VIU has received all required information and documentation.

Choose your space

VIU Residence provides a supportive environment designed to help you adjust to university and enjoy your time as a student. Students who are Residence Advisors live in each area and can connect you to resources and support. Community Leaders are also there to help when you hit a bump in the road or need to vent. They organize fun events and ensure you live in an environment that supports your academic success. The main office of Residence operates a help desk that’s available 24 hours a day.

Residence offers three styles of rooms:

Traditional Singles

A Traditional Single is a private bedroom furnished with a single bed and a desk. All rooms share a bathroom with one other unit.

Modern Singles

A Modern Single feature a private bedroom furnished with a single bed and a desk. All rooms share a bathroom with one other unit.

Modern Doubles

A Modern Double is a shared bedroom furnished with two single beds and two desks. All rooms share a bathroom with one other unit.

Coming in Fall 2025, new residence building with 266 additional student housing beds and a new dining hall.

• $4,900 for micro double
• $5,330 for the modern double
• $8,530 for traditional singles
• $8,860 for modern singles

Some discounts offered for early payment.

Apply for residence as soon as you receive your VIU Student Number. While residence accepts applications throughout the year, you must apply by May 1 to be considered for first year priority. If you wait until you are admitted to VIU to apply for residence, you may not get a space.

Once you have received a VIU student number, apply online for residence.

Accessibility Services at VIU gives students with documented disabilities:

• information,
• support services
• reasonable accommodations

If you have a disability, you should register with the Accessibility Office soon after you have been accepted. You must complete an intake form and find out about the necessary documentation.

After you’ve submitted the intake form and documentation, staff will contact you. You will have a phone or Zoom appointment with an Access Specialist. This happens about 6-8 week before the start of the semester.

We welcome and value the students from around the world. International students help create the rich cultural tapestry on VIU campuses. To learn more, visit the VIU international website.

Please visit the International Admissions page to review the undergraduate and graduate level English Language Requirements for admission to Vancouver Island University.