Frequently Asked Questions

Apply for any VIU program. This page will walk you through the application procedure*. Either download and complete the application form and mail or hand deliver it to a Registration centre, or apply online. If you apply to VIU online you will have to create an account, then follow the tabs on the left to apply to VIU.

Once you apply and pay the application fee, you will receive a letter from Vancouver Island University providing you with a student number. This allows you to access your student account and use Web Registration to timetable the specific courses you want. Course timetabling starts sometime in May after we have scheduled the Fall and Spring courses.

Before your course registration date you are encouraged to arrange to meet with an Advisor at your closest campus to review your course registration plans.

The Web Registration Tutorial will also assist you with the online registration process. This tutorial will show you how to use the online registration system as well as how to pre-select courses you would like to take.

*Please note that if you have ever been a student of VIU (or Malaspina University-College) at any time in the past, we will still have your student record on file. If you don't recall your student number, we will be able to find your old record using your date of birth, social insurance number, personal education number or the name you used at the time. Please indicate on your application form that you are a former student, even if you only took non-credit courses from us in the past.

Yes - we have a Dual Credit program that enables high school students to get a jump start on their university learning.

For more information, send your questions to DualCredit@viu.ca.

There are different admission requirements for different programs. Your best strategy is to identify the program you wish to enter and carefully read the admission requirements. VIU offers a wide range of programs: Trades and Applied programs, Continuing Studies credit and non-credit programs, high school upgrading, undergraduate degrees and Masters degrees.

To meet the general admission requirements for university programs, most students need high school graduation (or be at least 21 years of age), with a minimum "C" grade in English 12. In addition to the general requirements, individual courses or programs may have additional prerequisites. Science students majoring in Biology for example must also have a minimum "C+" in Chemistry 11 or 12, Physics 11 and Biology 11, and a "B" in Math 12 before they can take all required courses.

Out of province students can find equivalents to the above courses here: Provincial Equivalencies.

Follow the steps to apply to the right program. Apply early in that program's application period.

For further assistance in applying or other questions, connect with the Office of Future Students and a Recruiter would be happy to help you:

Connect@viu.ca, or
250.740.6672 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6672)

There are three ways you can apply to be a student at Vancouver Island University: online, by mail, or in person.

Online

Follow steps to start your application online - you will need to create an account if you are a new applicant.

Upon successful completion of the form and payment of the non-refundable application fee by credit card, Registration/Admissions will acknowledge your application by mail.

By Mail: Submit a completed Application for Admission form by mail along with transcripts and/or supporting documentation. You must also include a non-refundable application fee.

Print the Application for Admission Form and mail to:

Registration Centre
Vancouver Island University
900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5

In Person

Fill out an application form with the appropriate application fee at any campus Registration Centre, along with any transcripts or supporting documentation.

All Methods

Registration/Admissions will acknowledge your application upon receipt of your application.

Please read all correspondence from Registration/Admissions and/or Registration@viu.ca for further information regarding your application as there may be other documents required or procedures to complete.

Nanaimo Registration Centre

Phone: 250.740.6400 or 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6400
Fax: 250.740.6479
Email: Registration@viu.ca

You can also apply in person at one of our regional campuses: Cowichan or tiwšɛmawtxʷ in Powell River.

The Admissions and Registration Department is located on the 3rd floor of building 200. To get there from the Welcome Centre in building 300, go out the main doors and down the stairs past building 210 to building 200 and enter through the middle set of doors. Admissions, Registration and Records, as well as the Cashiers, are all found in the middle of the 3rd floor near the theatre. See the VIU Nanaimo Campus map.

There is a non-refundable, non-transferable, application fee that is required when you apply. This can be paid in cash (in person), by cheque or credit card, and by cheque or credit card when applying online.

Note that international students and some graduate and masters programs have different application fees. Please check the appropriate website for details.

See Application Fees for more information and current rates.

Find a program that's right for you.

This site provides you with the name of the program, application period and intake dates, and upcoming start dates.

It also provides links to the program outlines and other important information such as the program Admission Assistants and Program Coordinators.

You should apply as early as possible. Some programs admit students on a 'first applied' basis.  

When you apply, the Admissions Office will let you know what documentation is necessary. For many programs, high school students will have to submit only their Personal Education Number, so long as they give us permission to download their marks. Ask your high school counsellor how to do this. Then we will be able to download your marks from the Ministry of Education.

Remember: When in doubt - Start your application to VIU!

Once you apply, an Admissions Assistant will be in touch.  If you need to submit interim transcripts, or any other documentation, the assistant will let you know via letter and email.

Program Start Dates and Application Dates can vary and are specific to the program. Find a program that's right for you.

October to March is the application period for most programs, unless otherwise stated. Application dates and deadlines are listed at the bottom of each program page under the Start Date and Application Deadlines link.

There can be different periods during which we will accept applications for some University, Trades and Applied Programs. Some programs accept applications all year round, or on a continual basis.

The first business day in October until January 31 is the application period for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Education programs.

Under certain circumstances, some University Programs (e.g. the Engineering Diploma), may make an exception and accept late applications. For this reason, it is helpful to check updates that are posted in each program. 

There are many programs that accept applications on an ongoing basis. They are as follows:

• Aboriginal University Bridging Certificate
• Activity Assistant Certificate
• Automotive Service Technician Certificate
• Baking and Pastry Arts Management Diploma
• BC Adult Graduation Non-Credit Diploma
• BC First Nations Building Inspector Certificate
• Carpentry Certificate
• Certificate in Business Management
• Culinary Arts Certificate
• Dental Assistant
• Education Assistant and Community Support
• Electrician Certificate
• First Nations Housing Manager Certificate
• Fundamentals of Forest Harvesting Practices
• Hairstylist Foundation Certificate
• Health Care Assistant Certificate
• Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate
• Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation
• Horticultural Technician Foundation Certificate
• Languages and Culture (Romance Languages) Post-Degree Diploma
• Management Skills for Supervisors Certificate
• Master Gardener Non-Credit Certificate
• Motorcycle Mechanic and Marine Technician Certificate
• Office Administration, Administrative, Legal or Accounting Specialties
• Power Engineering/Process Operator 4th Class Certificate
• Professional Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate
• Professional Esthetics and Spa Therapy Certificate
• Proficiency in Languages and Culture Certificate
• Refrigeration Air-Conditioning Mechanic Certificate
• Teaching English as a Second Language Non-Credit Certificate
• Welding Certificate

For most of our programs, we only accept applications during a certain time period. Please refer to the VIU Program and Course Calendar or find a program that's right for you for application period and deadlines. Date-specific programs require applicants to meet Admission Requirements.

Conditional acceptance may be offered if students are in high school or in progress of completing requirements. Registration dates are assigned depending on when the application was received within the application period, as well as grades.

Please note that you may apply for more than one program.

For assistance with applying, or if you have questions about a program, please contact the Office of Future Students to connect with a Recruiter:

Connect@viu.ca, or
250.740.6672 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6672)

After you have applied, if you have questions about a program, please contact the Advising Centre to talk with an Educational Counsellor:

Email: Advising@viu.ca
Phone: 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6410

Many programs will accept late applications, so it is still worth trying to apply even after the deadline.

Each program will indicate if a deadline has been extended, and provide contact information for individual programs. Find a program that's right for you.

If you are still unable to get into your desired program in time, you may wish to apply to the Bachelor of Arts program and enrol or waitlist in the courses offered through this program, which include Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences and some Business options.

Prior to applying, connect with the Office of Future Students to get your questions answered:

Email: Connect@viu.ca, or
Phone: 250.740.6672 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6672)

After applying, contact the Educational Advising for more information on course registration:

Email: Advising@viu.ca, or
Phone: 250.740.6410 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6410)

Some programs require applicants to complete and submit a Personal Profile as part of the program's selection criteria. A Personal Profile is a document that supports the application. It is the applicant's opportunity to specify knowledge of and suitability for the program. A complete list of the programs which require Personal Profiles, including downloadable Profile forms, may be found at VIU Registration Forms.

Any program that requires a Personal Profile will list this in the Admission Requirements outlined in the VIU Program and Course Calendar, together with a link to the Personal Profile outline.

Assessments are entrance or placement tests that may be required for a program or course.  

If a program requires an assessment it will be stated in that program description under Admission Requirements. There will be a link outlining the topics on the assessment, along with online study materials and links to book your assessment or how obtain more help and information. Assessments can be written at our Nanaimo, Cowichan and Powell River Campuses. You can also arrange to write assessments at other locations. Full details of assessments, assessment fee, off campus arrangements and information about study packages and preparation can be found at VIU Assessments.

It depends on the course. Vancouver Island University will normally accept a "C" in a higher level course for meeting the requirement for a "C+" unless specifically stated otherwise.  

For example, your Math 12 mark of "C" will meet the requirement for "C+" in Math 11, but your university course English mark of "C-" will not meet the English 12 "C+" requirement.

However, this does not work if courses are not required to be taken in a sequential order. For example, Biology 12 does not require Biology 11 as a prerequisite - Biology 12 is not necessarily considered a higher level as it has different content. Therefore, a Biology 12 mark does not meet the prerequisite for a Biology 11 requirement unless specifically stated.

If you are unsure and you are currently a student, please contact Advising at Advising@viu.ca or 250.740.6410 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6410).

You should still apply as early as possible. Some programs admit on a 'first applied' basis. After you have applied, Admissions will respond and let you know what documentation is necessary. For many programs, BC high school students will have to submit only their Personal Education Number so we are able to download marks from the Ministry of Education.

You may apply even if you are "in-progress" of completing any prerequisites. Inform Registration about what pre-requisite courses you are taking and when you will complete them.  Once you have completed the courses, you must notify registration. If you completed your pre-requisites at a different university or college, you need to submit these transcripts.  If you are in doubt - apply or make an appointment to speak with an Advisor at 250.740.6410 or Advising@viu.ca.

Starting September 2010, the BC Ministry of Education began implementation of the new BC Secondary School Mathematics curriculum for high school grades 10 to 12. VIU's course and program information sections contain the most up-to-date information on the acceptability of these new courses.

With respect to BC Secondary School (BCSS) Mathematics courses, VIU states course and program requirements in the form of the recommended course. This is our opinion of the best course to take to prepare for a specific course or program.

For more details, see the allowable substitution chart on BC Secondary School Course Equivalencies.

Full details and admission requirements for all programs at Vancouver Island University are listed in the VIU Program and Course Calendar.

Click on the link for your program of interest to see a program description, including all admission requirements and prerequisites.

For further assistance, connect with the Office of Future Students and a Recruiter would be happy to help you:

Email: Connect@viu.ca, or
Phone: 250.740.6672 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6672)

Programs list the Math requirement under Admission Requirements in the VIU Program and Course Calendar. Course descriptions also list math prerequisites See VIU Courses.  

As a general rule, university programs and courses that require Math 12 (i.e. Bachelor of Science and some first year Math courses), require Pre-Calculus 12 with a minimum "B". The grade requirement will be listed in program Admission Requirements and/or course descriptions. There are some programs and courses that will accept Foundations of Math 12, however, always refer to the VIU Program and Course Calendar to confirm prerequisites.

Further details of the changes to the high school math requirements can be found on BC Secondary School Course Equivalencies.

Out of province students can find equivalents to the above courses here: Provincial Equivalencies.

For further assistance, connect with the Office of Future Students and a Recruiter would be happy to help you:

Email: Connect@viu.ca, or
Phone: 250.740.6672 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6672)

Vancouver Island University courses are listed in alphabetical order on the VIU Program and Course Calendar. Each course listed will have a short summary of content and a list of prerequisites, if any.

For more assistance, contact Advising at 250.740.6410 or 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6140 or Advising@viu.ca.

No, you should apply as early as possible. Some programs admit on a 'first applied' basis. After you have applied, Admissions will respond and let you know what documentation is necessary. For many programs, high school students will have to submit only their Personal Education Number so that we are able to download marks from the Ministry of Education.

You may apply even if you are "in-progress" of completing any prerequisites.

If you are in doubt - apply or make an appointment to speak with an Advisor at 250.740.6410 or 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6140 or Advising@viu.ca.

When programs have limited intake or competitive entry, this means that there are a limited number of seats available in the program or course. As a result, only a limited number of applicants are selected and guaranteed access to a seat.

Applications are accepted during specific time frames as outlined in the VIU Program and Course Calendar. Enrolment in these programs is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program.

Full admission requirements and selection criteria are found in the VIU Program and Course Calendar.

Applicants who are unsuccessful at being admitted to a program or course may wish to consult with an Advisor about options and/or ways to enhance future applications. You can make an appointment with an Advisor by calling Advising Reception at 250.740.6410 or emailing Advising@viu.ca. If you are an international student, please call 250.740.6315.

Unclassified students at Vancouver Island University are applicants who have not met the admission requirements for University Programs.

The "Unclassified" status allows you to register in university courses even though you do not meet general admission requirements. Once you apply as Unclassified, you will be given a date and time for registering in university courses.

Unclassified students may register or waitlist for classes as long as they meet the course prerequisites. Unclassified students are assigned registration dates after all University Program students, so course availability may be very limited.

As Unclassified students have not formally been admitted to University Program studies, they will not be eligible for "Continuing Student" registration status the following year. Unclassified students must re-apply during the application submission dates for the next academic year in order to continue their studies.

No. If you wish to take university courses and you meet the general admission requirements for university, it is best that you apply to the Exploratory University Studies program (EXPO). Many students start their studies without having decided their Major or Minor, and this program allows you to explore your options before deciding.

Only applicants who do not meet the admission requirements should apply as an Unclassified student.

Connect with the Office of Future Students, and a Recruiter would be happy to help guide you through the application process.

Connect@viu.ca, or
250.740.6672 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6672)

Vancouver Island University does not return original transcripts to students, as they become part of the student's permanent file. Most institutions will not recognize original transcripts coming from anywhere but the institution of origin, so even if you got the original back, you would not be able to use it again to apply elsewhere.

You can view and print a copy of your transcripts by logging into your student record and clicking on View Documents.

A general rule is that courses and programs that require Math 12 (i.e. science programs & courses), do not accept Foundations of Math 12. There are, however some VIU courses that do accept Foundations of Math 12.

VIU courses that do accept Foundations of Math 12 as meeting the math prerequisite include:

• Math 111, 131, 161, and 181
• Science 251, 252, 253, and 254

VIU programs that do accept Foundations of Math 12 as meeting the math prerequisite or admission requirement include:

• Hospitality Management Diploma
• Recreation and Sport Management Diploma
• Tourism Studies Diploma
• Forest Resources Technology
• Resource Management Officer Training
• Horticulture Technician
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Diploma
• Criminology
• Wine Business Certificate

We will normally accept a "C" in a higher-level course to meet the requirement for a "C+".

For example, a Math 12 mark of "C" will meet the requirement for "C+" in Math 11, but a university-level English mark of "C-" will not meet the English 12 "C+" requirement.

Connect with the Office of Future Students, and a Recruiter would be happy to help you with questions about prerequisites.

Connect@viu.ca, or
250.740.6672 (1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6672)

Although common transfer programs are listed in the VIU Program and Course Calendar, students can also go directly to the BC Transfer Guide System and find transfer information for the institution they intend to transfer to.

In addition, there is a BC Transfer Guide for universities in British Columbia which lists specific equivalencies. There you can enter the course or courses you intend to take at Vancouver Island University, select the institution you are planning to transfer to, and you will then be able to see what transfer credit you may be granted at that institution.  You can also consult an Educational Counsellor in our Advising Centre, but when you need confirmation of how a VIU course transfers to a different institution, the final decision rests at that institution.

There are various methods accepted for payment within Canada as well as from outside Canada, as described in How Do I Pay?

If you have studied at another post-secondary institution, you are required to provide complete official transcripts to Admissions for evaluation of transfer credit. For information on transferring to VIU, please visit Students Transferring to VIU.

It is always advisable to confirm with Admissions that they are in receipt of your transcripts. Also let them know if the name on your transcript is different from the one you have applied to VIU with.

Yes, once you attend summer you will be considered a continuing student and offered a date and time to register for the upcoming Fall and Spring semesters.

Some programs offer seats to all qualified applicants. There are only a limited number of seats available, so there are times when applicants are placed on a waitlist for the next available seat. 

Note that you will be placed on the waitlist only when Admissions has received all the required documentation. As the program may have a waitlist, it is very important to complete all of the admission requirements in a timely fashion. As applicants meet entrance requirements they are offered a seat in the next class, or if the next class is full, they are placed on a waitlist.

You can find information about program costs in either of these places:

• Fees for Domestic and International Students are listed under the program title for each program under Programs and Courses.
• The VIU Program and Course Calendar outlines tuition and individual course fees.

Sometimes there is a delay of a day or two when payments are made, especially if done through online banking.

If you are sure the payment has gone through and it is still not showing on your record, please contact the Cashiers at 250.740.6236 or email VIU Cashiers. Make sure to quote your student number.

There are several options for paying tuition without using a credit card.

There are 4 convenient payment options:

1. Using online banking: most financial institutions will now allow you to set Vancouver Island University up as a Payee, using your 9 digit Student Number as your account number. This will enable you to pay all your fees directly from your bank account.
2. Online: Even if you didn't use Web Registration, you can still pay your tuition online. Log onto your student record at My Student Record, go to the Pay Fees link, click on Tuition Fees and the Make a Payment button.
3. By mail: Send a cheque or money order payable to Vancouver Island University. Do not send cash in the mail! Allow 10 days for mailed payments to reach the University. It is always important to include your name and student number on any correspondence.

Most credit cards also allow for cash advances. Please contact your financial institution for details.

Details on alternate methods for paying tuition: Tuition Payment Options

This may be happening for one of two reasons:

1. You may have typed the course name in incorrectly, or have not included enough space in between the course and section code, or too many spaces. The format will most often be a four letter course code, followed by 1 space, then the 6 digit section code. For example: ENGL 115 F24N01. The safest way to search for courses and avoid this kind of error is to use the drop-down list under Search by Subject Area.
2. Or the course is not being offered in that particular semester. Again, searching by subject area would help with this.

You can easily find out what courses will be offered in a current or upcoming semester by searching the Course Timetable.

Seats are reserved in sections of some courses in order to ensure that students in a specific program can get the courses they need in order to graduate.

Sometimes it is the case that all reserved seats for a course are already taken, and you will be waitlisted even if you are eligible for a reserved seat.

The majority of reserves are removed before the semester begins, however not all reserves are lifted - some classes will remain available only to students in specific programs.

You can find out more about reserves here: Registration Guide/Reserves.

The Web Registration Tutorial is a good place to start. The tutorial will show you how to register for courses online and build your timetable.

In order to register online you must have applied, been accepted to a program, and have been set up with a date and time to register.

Please contact your campus registration centre if you have further questions regarding the application process or your student record.

Please speak with an Advisor; they will help you to explore your options. 

You may call Advising at 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6410, or come in and meet with them.

Advising is located on the third floor of the Student Affairs Building (200) in Nanaimo. Please call to confirm drop-in availability over the summer. 

When you are moved off a waitlist and into a class you are sent an email from the system to let you know.

You can always check your online student record under the Course Enrolment History link to see if you have moved up the waitlist.

If you have still not moved off the waitlist and into your class when the semester starts, it is very important to check your student record every day. You will not automatically be moved into a class after the semester begins, you must claim the seat.

Read more about the waitlist procedure: Waitlist Procedure.

There can be a great deal of movement on the waitlist between the time you register and the start of the semester, but there is no way to predict how much there will be for any given class.

If you are still waitlisted at the start of the semester and you are near the top of the waitlist, it is a good idea to attend anyway and let your instructor know that you are there. If a seat becomes available to you, you won't have missed any valuable course instruction. If you are not sure if you should attend, please contact the instructor of your course.

Also keep in mind that some of the classes you are waitlisted for may have reserved seats for students in other programs. These seats may be freed up before the semester starts if no one in that program claims them.

If you need help choosing your courses or want to discuss other options for your timetable, please speak to an Advisor at 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6410 or at Advising@viu.ca.

Read more about the waitlist procedure: Waitlist Procedure

Many waitlisted students get into classes, and often this is the only way to make sure that you get the classes you want. Don't be discouraged by waitlists!

You can increase your chances of getting into a class by enrolling in the maximum allowed credits (18), and dropping the extra credits once you are enrolled in the number of courses you need.

Please read more about the rules for the number of credits you may enroll in here: Important Notes about Registering.

Read more about the waitlist procedure here: Waitlist Procedure.

You may waitlist or register for up to 18 credits each semester (for most programs) and then drop the courses you do not want if you obtain a seat in your desired classes.

Keep in mind that some courses you are waitlisted for may have reserved seats that could become available before the semester starts.

If you need help with choosing your courses, please contact Advising at 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6410.

Read more about the waitlist procedure here: Waitlist Procedure.

That is a good question. Those numbers are the contact hours for that course, and here is what they mean:

Contact Hours

Following each course description is a series of numbers. These numbers indicate, in order: hours of lectures, hours of seminar, hours of laboratory work required in each week.

Health programs contact hours are represented by a series of four numbers. These numbers indicate, in order: hours of lectures, hours of seminar, hours of laboratory work, and hours of practicum.

So a course showing 3:0:0 in the description would have 3 hours of lecture a week. A course with 3:3:0 would have 3 hours of lecture, plus 3 hours of seminar.

Details of all the elements that make up a course description.

Please speak with an Advisor to see what options you may have in this case.

You may call Advising at 1.888.920.2221 Ext. 6410, email to Advising@viu.ca, or come in and meet with them. Advising is located on the third floor of the Student Affairs Building (200) in Nanaimo.

Please call to confirm drop-in availability.

120 credits are needed to complete your degree. Once you have completed 24 credits you can meet with one of the upper-level advisors to declare your major.

A listing of upper-level degree advisors for each faculty can be found at VIU Advising.

Students must present a valid VIU Student card and register to use the facility and equipment.

Faculty and Staff must present a valid VIU Faculty/staff card and register to use the facility and equipment.

User passes are valid from time of registration through December 31. If you register in January your membership will be valid until April 30.

More information on VIU Gym and Campus Recreation.

That is a very good question, and a great way to start off your time here at VIU! Here are a few places where you will find all the information you need to know:

• The Schedule of Important Dates gives you an overview of all the important dates and deadlines for each semester.
• The Registration Guide has useful links to help you.
• Registration Centre bulletins has timely dates and registration tips.
• And General Regulations can also help you to understand VIU's policies and procedures.

If you have a specific question regarding registration or your student record, please contact any of our Registration Centres during office hours from 8:30 to 3:30, Monday to Friday:

The IT Helpdesk is located in Building 305 (Library building), 1st floor facing the loading dock.

Hours of operation are 9am-4pm Monday to Friday.

Please contact the Financial Aid & Awards Office in Nanaimo, Building 200, Room 205.

Tel: 250.740.6423
Fax: 250.740.6229
Email: FinancialAidInfo@viu.ca

See Financial Aid & Awards

Students with an outstanding scholastic record are given special recognition when their names are added to the Dean's Honour List. The Deans' list is produced in the summer after all grades are submitted for the Spring semester. Each student on the list receives a letter signed by the Vice-President Academic.

To qualify, a student requires a GPA of 3.67 (A-) or higher, and must have accumulated a minimum of 12 credits over the previous Summer, Fall and Spring semesters.

For more information, please contact:

Sue Culver
Records and Registration Systems Specialist
Sue.Culver@viu.ca

Yes. Books, supplies and transcripts can still be paid for by credit card. Here is more information regarding what can and can't be paid for by credit card: Credit Card Use.

If you need to contact Registration or the Cashiers to discuss your son or daughter's student record, we will need permission from them to speak to you. A student can appoint you to act as proxy for them, or they can give you permission by letting you know their student number and the answer to their Security Question. The student is responsible for any and all actions you make on their behalf.

If you simply want to pay on their behalf, one method is to set Vancouver Island University up as a payee in your online banking and use your child's 9 digit student number as the account number. In this way you can pay any fees owing on their record. You can also pay in person at any campus using cheque or debit card for tuition, or credit card for other fees. You must have their student number to ensure the payment is applied to the correct account.

You would need coverage that is equivalent to the coverage on the VIU Health and Dental plan. For further information about the Health and Dental Plan and its coverage, please contact the VIU Students' Union at 250.754.8866 or drop by building 193 at the Nanaimo campus.

Details on the student Health and Dental plan and information about opting out can be found here: Opting out of the Health and Dental Plan.

Details on the student Health and Dental plan and information about opting out can be found here: Opting out of the Health and Dental Plan.

For further information about the Health and Dental Plan, please contact the VIU Students' Union at 250.754.8866 or drop by building 193 at the Nanaimo campus.

See VIUSU Student Health and Dental plan for details.

For further information about the Health and Dental Plan, please contact the VIU Students' Union at 250.754.8866 or drop by building 193 at the Nanaimo campus.

The dates for all final exam periods are posted in Dates and Deadlines. Once the exam schedule has been finalized, you will be able to view your personal final exam schedule within your online student record by clicking on Course Enrolment History, then  Exam Schedule under the relevant term.

Final exam schedules are posted for students at least one month prior to the start of exams.

For more information about final exams, please contact:

Sue.Culver@viu.ca
Records & Registration Systems Specialist

These are the various campus codes:

N    =    Nanaimo
D    =    Cowichan (located in Duncan)
R    =    tiwšɛmawtxʷ (located in Powell River)
W    =   Web-based or fully online
X    =    Off campus

For example, you might see sections of ENGL 115 that look like this:

ENGL 115 F23N01    Offered Fall 2023, in Nanaimo, section #1
ENGL 115 F23D02    Offered Fall 2023, in Cowichan, section #2
ENGL 115 S24R10     Offered Spring 2024, in Powell River, section #10
ENGL 115 F23W01    Offered Fall 2023, online, section #1
ENGL 115 F23X07    Offered Fall 2023, off-campus, section #7

When you are registering for courses online using the Build a Timetable function, you can select which campuses you want to see course selections from by using the drop-down campus list at the top of the page. You can also unselect the "Include courses from multiple campuses" button under the list to only see courses offered at your preferred campus.

Yes, there is a new Student Health and Dental plan that is administered by the Students' Union. Eligible students are automatically enrolled in the plan and must opt-out if they do not want the coverage.

Who is eligible?

• Trades or vocational students in programs that are eight (8) months or longer are covered by the plan.
• Adult basic education students who are enrolled in two (2) or more courses are included in the plan.
• University (Academic) Students who are taking nine (9) or more credits are enrolled in the plan.

Details on the Student Health and Dental plan and how to opt out of it if you already have coverage, or to add another family member.

For more information, contact the VIU Students' Union at 250.754.8866.

You must pay to use the printers on campus. Check out How Does Student Printing Work?

Your student photo ID card is your library card. Upload your photo through the Student Record System to apply for your student ID card. 

For more information see Library Accounts.

Submit your photo online through the Student Record System to get your student ID card. Cards are only issued to currently enrolled Vancouver Island University students.

Please note that you must have a student card with picture ID for all registration services, to take books out of the Library, use the Gymnasium, for the Dining Dollars program in the Cafeteria, and to write exams. To obtain your student card you need to bring 1 piece of picture ID or 2 pieces of ID with no picture when you pick it up.

Your student card is the property of Vancouver Island University. A card replacement fee will be charged if you lose your card. Your student card must be presented or surrendered at the request of a Vancouver Island University official.

The person whose name appears on the student card is responsible for all items borrowed and any charges on the card. Present your card each time you borrow library materials. Do not share your card or its information. A student card is non-transferable.

If your card is lost or stolen please report it immediately to the Vancouver Island University Library. Return found cards to the Lost and Found in the Students' Union Building (193), or any campus library.

The hours for the library are posted on VIU Library.

Yes, there are student employment opportunities at Vancouver Island University.

Visit The Centre for Experiential Learning for more information, or visit the centre in building 255 to see what jobs are currently posted or email StudentEmployment@viu.ca.

Vancouver Island University has an excellent reputation for offering a wide variety of courses, small classes and very supportive instructors. VIU is also well-known for bridging students from upgrading courses and online courses to post-secondary programs.

There are student rates for bus passes. You can purchase passes at the Student Union Building on the Nanaimo campus in building 193.  

And don't forget to claim the cost of your bus pass on your income tax to make it even more affordable!

There are some used books available at the Nanaimo campus in the Campus Store and in the Student Union building, and may also be advertised on bulletin boards around campus.

If you use the Campus Store's new comparison shopping feature, you will see listed new and used books from several sources for each of your classes.

A mature student is someone who is at least 19 and has been out of school for at least one year.

This is determined by the hours of instruction you receive in a month.

A full-time student is one who is enrolled in a minimum of 60 percent course load. This is usually three courses or 9-semester credits. The number of courses that equal 60% will depend on the program.

A part-time student is one who is enrolled in less than 60 percent course load per semester, usually less than three courses.

If you forget either one of these, you must come in-person and during office hours to a Vancouver Island University Registration Centre where you will be required to produce picture identification to release this information.

If you live outside the campus area, you can phone a VIU Registration Centre. Verification of information will be done before student information is released to anyone.

We protect your privacy by not giving information contained in your student record to anyone other than yourself unless we receive written authorization from you to do so, or that person knows the two critical pieces of information: your student number and the answer to the security question that you created in your record.

If you want your parent, spouse, or anyone else to make inquiries on your behalf, they must know your 9 digit student number and the answer to your security question.

We would encourage you to be very careful about giving out this information.  We will never ask you, or your proxy, for your password.

We protect your privacy by not giving information contained in your student record to anyone other than yourself unless we receive written authorization from you to do so, or that person knows the two critical pieces of information: your student number and the answer to the security question that you created in your record.

The information you require to log in to VIULearn is the same as what you use to log in to your online student record:

• VIULearn Username = Vancouver Island University Student Number
• VIULearn Password = Vancouver Island University password

Note that just like your online student record, if you have not created a new password yet, this will be set to your date of birth in YYMMDD format. If you have forgotten your password (and it is not your date of birth), type in anything and you will have the option of having a temporary password emailed to you.

Hours that students take in Co-operative Education courses will not be included in the calculation of their full/part-time months on their T2202 form.*

Tuition amounts that students pay for Co-operative Education courses continue to be included on the T2202 form.

Hours that students take in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses will not be included in the calculation of their full/part-time months on their T2202 form.

Tuition amounts that students pay for ESL courses will not be included on the T2202 form.

Beginning for the 2004 tax year, T2202A Tax Receipts were made available to students online through their VIU Student Record. 

Duplicate copies for years prior to 2004 have to be ordered at your campus Registration Centre. There is a charge for each prior year requested.

For complete instructions on how to order a T2202 Tax Receipt for 2003 or earlier, see: T2202 Tax Receipts.

Yes. T2202 forms are always issued and are not withheld due to outstanding fees or fines.

No. T2202's are only issued to the student, regardless of whether they are sponsored by a company, or someone else paid the tuition. However, you may be able to transfer tuition amounts to other individuals, and there is a form included with your tax receipt to do so.

Please contact Canada Revenue Agency: Students or your tax consultant for more information.

The title of the program in which you were registered in the previous calendar year is listed on your T2202 form.

If you were registered in more than one program, we have selected the one in which you were enrolled for the longest time during that year.

To view the tax forms on-line, you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, or you can use the quick link button on the webpage when you select the year and click on <Get Tax Form> button.

If you have a Macintosh computer, note that the built-in file previewer from Apple will not read this file correctly - you must use the Acrobat Reader from Adobe.

Your T2202 tax receipt form can be printed by accessing your online student record, and will usually be available early in February for the previous year. These forms will no longer be mailed except by request.

Notices are emailed to students when the tax receipts are ready, and a notice is also put in your online student record.

For more information, see: T2202 Tax Receipts.

In most programs, students who paid over $100 in combined tuition and activity fees during the previous calendar year are eligible for a T2202 tax form.

All students, Canadian or International, are eligible for a T2202 Tax form. You should discuss with your tax consultant or Canada Revenue Agency: International Students Studying in Canada as to whether or not you may be entitled to claim the tuition.

For more information, see: T2202 Tax Receipts.

You would still submit the T2202 tax receipt from your student record, but you would also need to submit a T2202 form.

According to Revenue Canada -

"You can claim a full-time education amount if you were enrolled as a part-time student in a qualifying educational program and you qualify for the disability amount, or you could not be enrolled full time in such a program because of mental or physical impairment, as certified by a medical doctor, optometrist, audiologist, occupational therapist, psychologist, speech-language pathologist, or physiotherapist. If either situation applies to you, complete Form T2202, Education and Textbooks Amounts Certificate, to claim the full-time education amount."

To claim educational amounts for income tax purposes:

1. Print the T2202 receipt from your online student record - this will provide the information required in Part 1 - Educational Institution's Certification, on the T2202 form. There is no need to fill in Part 1 when you attach the VIU T2202 form.
2. Print the T2202 form from Revenue Canada.
3. Submit the two forms together, including any additional documentation or signatures as described on form T2202.

If you are unsure about any part of this process, we would advise you to consult a tax advisor.

The VIU Welding department is a provincially accredited licensed testing agency to test welders.

The fees paid are for facilitating the testing and are not considered tuition, so the amount paid for the testing is not eligible for the tax receipt.

If your tuition was paid to VIU for your exchange, you will get credit for this from VIU. However, since you weren't attending school in Canada, you won't be able to deduct for the months you spent in full time attendance at school. Your exchange institution needs to confirm the months that you were in attendance with them.

Print off this form: TL11A Tuition and Enrolment Certificate - University Outside Canada, and have the appropriate person at your overseas institution fill this out for you before you leave. They must put $0 where asked about total fees paid (you don't pay them any fees). They should fill out that you were in full-time residence for the months that you were in school there.

When emails are sent from the Registration Centre and they are returned as undeliverable, the address is deleted from the student record and marked as Invalid. If your email address is current and this has happened, make sure that you don't have Registration@viu.ca marked as junk mail or blocked.

Every year many important notices and messages from the Registration Centre are sent to our current students via email, so it is very important to have an up-to-date address in your student record.

Please ensure that your mailbox isn't full and that emails from registration@viu.ca are not blocked by your server or spam program. 

Don't forget we sometimes reward our students for reading our emails with cash prizes, so keep yours up to date - the next winner might be you!

If you have further questions about your email or mailing address in your student record, please contact the Records Department at Records@viu.ca.

You can claim the textbook amount only if you are eligible to claim the education amount.

If you are eligible to claim your tuition:

• claim $65 for each month you qualify for the full-time education amount; and
• claim $20 for each month you qualify for the part-time education amount

Note

You can claim only one textbook amount per month - either the full-time or the part-time education amount.

For example, if you were enrolled full-time for part of the year and part-time for the rest, you could claim:

Summer

May and June: $20 x 2 months = $40

Fall

September to December: $65 x 4 months = $260

Total for the year:  $300

For tax purposes only, a student is considered to be full-time in a month if they are enrolled in 7 or more hours of classes per week for that month.

For a student to be considered part-time in a month, they need between 3 and 6  hours per week for courses that intersect that month.

Hours that students take in Academic and Career Preparation (ACP) courses (formerly ABE) will not be included in the calculation of their full/part-time months on their T2202 form.

Tuition for ACP/ABE courses has never been eligible for inclusion on the tax receipt.

Students taking a certificate or diploma program or other post-secondary level courses through the Centre for Continuing Studies who paid over $100 in combined tuition and activity fees during the previous calendar year are eligible for a T2202 tax form.

Some general interest courses are eligible for a T2202 tax receipt. To determine whether courses you have taken are eligible, please log in to your online student record and view your current T2202.

Only tuition and activity fees are eligible for a tax deduction. Also, if your enrolment starts in one tax year and ends in the next tax year, then the tuition (only) for all courses is pro-rated for each year, based on the number of days attended in each year. The society fee is not included and the entire activity fee is included on the tax receipt in the final year.

For instance, courses taken from September 4, 2021 through April 12, 2022 will have a portion of tuition only on your 2021 Tax Receipt and the balance on your 2022 Tax Receipt. This will be based on the total number of calendar days in each year.

More information on T2202 Tax Receipts.