Become a Student at VIU - International Admissions

Apply

Explore VIU programs. Check the requirements for your specific program and gather your necessary documents for scanning:

• Your official transcripts
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Certified English translation* of any documents issued in a language other than English
• A copy of your passport (photo page)
• Copy of High School Graduation Diploma (if available)
• Copy of University Degree (If available)

*All documents must be translated by a certified translator or notarized if they are in a language other than English.

Apply Now

Applying

International Admissions
Vancouver Island University
900 Fifth Street
Nanaimo, BC  V9R 5S5
Canada

Note

After You Apply

• Once your application fee has been paid and all of your documents have been received, your application will begin to be processed.

• It can take from 2-8 weeks to process an application. Having all your documents scanned and attached to the online application decreases wait time. Note: Masters Programs and limited entry programs may take longer.

• If you have met the admission requirements and have a competitive application, you will receive a Letter of Offer from international admissions. This letter will contain information on program start dates and instructions for payment of your tuition deposit. The tuition deposit is usually the part of the first semester’s tuition.

• In order to secure your place in a program, you must pay the deposit fee by the deadline date indicated in Letter of Offer. Once the deposit is paid an official “Letter of Acceptance” will be emailed to you. You will need this letter to apply for a study permit at a Canadian Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission.

Note

1. In some programs, due to space or enrolment limitations, admission does not guarantee that space will be available.
2. The first payment due date for new students is usually due 4 weeks after the date of offer.
3. VIU reserves the right to cancel any scheduled program or course if there is insufficient enrolment. In such cases, every reasonable effort will be made to notify you as early as possible.

Apply by Paper

VIU also accepts paper applications by mail. However, please note that paper applications will take longer to process.

• Complete the printable International Application for Admission form.
• Attached the non-refundable application fee of $150 is required.
• Attach certified copies of all educational documents in the original language, and certified copies translated into English, if applicable.
• Send or arrange to have an original copy of your TOEFL or IELTS results sent to Vancouver Island University, if required.
• Printed applications and all supporting documents should be sent to:

International Admissions
Vancouver Island University
900 Fifth Street
Nanaimo, BC  V9R 5S5
Canada

Admission

Vancouver Island University accepts international students under one of the following conditions:

• direct applications (online or paper applications)
• applications through authorized representatives
• institution-to-institution exchange programs
• sponsorship through inter-governmental agreements
• winner of academic competitions or international scholarships

Admission to English Language Studies in the English Language Centre

All students must:

• be an international visitor or hold a study permit
• Students need to submit one of the test scores listed on International Education Admissions as proof of English language proficiency. 

Please keep in mind that students applying for conditional admission to an undergraduate (or diploma, certificate or trades) program at VIU, or thinking of applying upon completion of ESL programming, will still be required to provide proof of high school graduation and their secondary school transcripts.

Undergraduate Academic and Vocational Programs

• Graduation from high school or equivalent. (See High School Completion Equivalency list by Country)
• Proof of meeting English language requirements*

a)      For applicants who attended high school in English, in a country where English is considered an official language:

• International students who are BC high school graduates must have a minimum grade of “C” in English 12 for direct entry into an academic program

• International students who have completed high school in English, in a country where English is considered the official language must have a minimum grade equivalent to a grade of “C” in English 12 in British Columbia

Academic programs may have additional program admission requirements and course prerequisites. Please check your specific program requirements from VIU programs

or

b)      For applicants who attended high school in a country where English is not the official language:

• For applicants for whom English is not their first language or those whose education was completed in a country where English is not the official language, must submit a recognized English Language Proficiency test (valid within past 2 years) (see English Language Requirements for Undergraduate Academic and Vocational Programs)

• For students who meet the academic requirements but not the English language requirement, conditional acceptance to VIU may be granted. In this case, admission is granted pending completion of VIU’s English Language Centre program (Level UP5). Exceptions may apply.

• Up to 30 advanced credits may be granted for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate (Higher level) courses.

English Language Requirements for Undergraduate Academic and Vocational Programs

To meet the English language requirements for academic programs, students must have completed one of the following (to be valid test result must be  no older than 2 years):

Please note: Although VIU will accept online English proficiency tests as noted above for admission to VIU, IRCC may require you to provide a proof of English language proficiency using a traditional in-person test when applying for your Study Permit.

Admission to Graduate Programs

• Minimum “B” average in the final 2 years of a Bachelor’s degree.
• Meet one of the following VIU English language requirements (to be valid test result must be  no older than 2 years):

• No GMAT or GRE scores required
• For other documents and work experience requirements, please see program specific page.

• Please note: Although VIU will accept online English proficiency tests as noted above for admission to VIU, IRCC may require you to provide a proof of English language proficiency using a traditional in-person test when applying for your Study Permit.

Transfer Credit

Students enrolled in a University program may receive transfer credit for up to 50 percent of their program. Students seeking credit for courses from other institutions will need to submit detailed course outlines and a credit transfer request form. Please note, it can take 6-8 weeks after admissions received your documents for credit to appear. Students are welcome to find transfer credit resources by looking up individual courses or searching the BC Council on Admission and Transfer (BCCAT).

Deferring Admission

For students wanting to change their program to a later start date

If for any reason you need to change when you start your program at VIU, or you haven’t been successful in obtaining a visa and wish to cancel your enrollment, please contact us right away at Study@viu.ca  or Masters@viu.ca for students entering Masters programs.  Click here for more information on VIU International Tuition Fee Deferral and Refund Policy.

Transferring to VIU

Students enrolled in a University program may receive transfer credit for up to 50 percent of their program. Students seeking credit for courses from other institutions will need to submit detailed course syllabi and a credit transfer request form. Please note, it can take 6-8 weeks after admissions receive your documents for credit to appear. Students are welcome to find transfer credit resources by looking up individual courses or, if you have a transcript from a university in British Columbia, search the BC Council on Admission and Transfer (BCCAT).

How do I get credit for courses I’ve already taken at another University?

If you are in Canada

• Fill out a Transfer Credit Request Form.
• Submit your original final university transcripts, and course syllabi for the courses you wish to gain credit for.  Note that these will not be returned to you, if you want to keep your documents you will need to get notarized copies to hand in instead.
• Assessment for transfer credit can take up to eight weeks, so apply early if you hope to make accurate course selections for the following semester. * This wait time may be longer if you are beginning in the Fall (Sept) semester, deadline for documents is April 30 to be sure you will be assessed before the course selection date opens up.
• Once credit is assessed you will be notified by email from the Registration office.
• If you need guidance with course selection please contact Advising at Advising@viu.ca. If you have questions regarding your transfer credit please email Admissions at Study@viu.ca

If you haven’t arrived yet

• Fill out the Transfer Credit Request form sent to you in your letter of acceptance and email to Study@viu.ca . *Note: transfer credit will not be assessed until tuition for first semester is paid (and you have your letter of acceptance), and you have sent your original transcripts by mail or courier to International Education.
• Course syllabi should also be emailed via attachments or links to Study@viu.ca at the time you email your Transfer Credit Request form.
• Assessment for transfer credit can take up to eight weeks, so apply early if you hope to make accurate course selections for the following semester. * This wait time may be longer if you are beginning in the Fall (Sept) semester, deadline for documents is April 30 to be sure you will be assessed before the course selection date opens up.
• Once credit is assessed you will be notified by email from the Registration office.
• If you need guidance with course selection please contact Advising at Advising@viu.ca. If you have questions regarding your transfer credit please email Admissions at Study@viu.ca

General information

• Credit can be transferred to a maximum of 60 credits toward completion of your degree at VIU. 
• Credit is assessed for academic programs only.

Current VIU students who wish to switch to BA, BSc, BBA, or Exploratory University Studies must complete this online form:

Change of Progra

• If approved, the program switch will be effective for the next future program start date
• Requests must be submitted no later than 1 week prior to the start of desired semester
• For the program switch to be approved, the applicant must have all the admission requirements completed for the program of their choice
• The application fee will be waived
• You will receive a course registration date and time as a continuing student
• The tuition deposit due date will coincide with the tuition due date in the first term of your new program
• Fee due dates, add/withdraw dates, and policies follow regular Semester Dates and Deadlines
• Contact Study@viu.ca if you have any questions

See Tuition Fees.

Please note that some courses have additional lab fees, amounts vary.

International students can request a confirmation of enrolment letter for visa or other purposes. Please note that the regular processing time for all letters is 5 business days (10 days for custom letters), unless it is during the first 3 weeks of term, when the regular processing time is 10 business days or longer. Please plan your request accordingly. 

Undergraduate level academic program

Master or post-graduate level academic program

The tuition is calculated based on 2024-25 academic year tuition. The tuition fees will change on April 1 every year.

Download our ESL Length Calculator