Future Students

Alexis Gardner graduated from Vancouver Island University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts, major in Sociology, and minor in Gender Studies. Alexis originally thought she would become a counsellor or professor but then found a passion for community outreach and social innovation.

One of the things that makes Vancouver Island University unique is its success-focused approach to education throughout every part of the student experience, from academics to campus life to interactions with faculty and staff outside of the classroom. This approach recognizes that every single person’s learning journey is unique and requires individualized attention. With that in mind, VIU has created some unique supports to help you navigate key points in your educational journey. Here are five services you may find yourself using at one point or another.

The pandemic uncovered several flaws in the Canadian health-care system, including overburdened long-term care facilities, overworked staff and skilled labour shortages in this vital industry. Luckily, there is a community of innovators that is already working to solve these problems. This includes Vancouver Island University, which has just introduced a new program to help provide more health-care professionals by tapping into the international student market.

For Michelle White, the benefit of the Dual Credit Program at Vancouver Island University (VIU) is obvious: “It helps you get a step ahead in university, and it also helps you finish off high school.”

White is a high school student at Ladysmith Secondary School. She is also enrolled in VIU’s Culinary Arts program.

“I learn a lot and I get the opportunity to do a lot of things,” she says.

Prospective students considering an education at Vancouver Island University have a lot of questions. One of the most frequent (and frantic) questions is simply: How do I apply? The application process may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve broken it down into five manageable steps.

Every year in BC, a series of contests are held for university students learning Chinese to present their language and cultural knowledge to a panel of judges.

Pharmacy technicians play “an essential role for medication systems,” says Island Health’s Director of Pharmacy Operations, David Forbes.

Now, a new partnership between Vancouver Island University (VIU) and Selkirk College in the BC Interior will help train more people to work in this highly in-demand field.

Have you been more tired than you should be? Are you having trouble with digestive issues or chronic pain? Maybe you’ve been unable to focus or feeling abnormally sad or irritable. These are just a few of the signs that you may be suffering from stress. This is the time in the semester where many post-secondary students feel the heaviest stress. 

If you’re leaving town for a while, you might want to hang on to your rental accommodation or even be thinking about making some money back. While you’re not using your room, it might be possible to get another student to rent it temporarily or even cover the cost. There are some questions to ask first:  

Angelina Jaeger expanded her research horizons for three months in Germany after earning a spot in a prestigious summer internship program.

She received a German Academic Exchange (DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) scholarship. Angelina is the first Vancouver Island University undergraduate student to receive this scholarship and competed with students from North American, British and Irish universities. Only 320 scholarships were awarded.