Refer-a-Friend Program

Do you have a friend or relative in your home country who is interested in studying at VIU? The International Student Referral Program rewards current and former VIU students for referring new international students to Vancouver Island University.

If you refer a new international student and they are accepted and attend a full semester of ESL, undergraduate or graduate studies at VIU we will pay you a $300 honorarium as a way to thank you*.

This program is only applicable for new international students who do not come through a recruitment agency, are not 1-semester study abroad students and are not financially sponsored by government organizations. Please see full terms below.

In order to receive your $300 honorarium, you must be registered with the VIU Alumni Association, and the new international student must clearly identify your name and email address on their initial application.

Please visit the VIU Alumni Association website to register as an Alumnus. Please refer any prospective students to our online application.

* Please see terms and conditions for a full list of conditions and exclusions.

The VIU International Student Referral Program is only applicable to new VIU students who are not Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents or Landed Immigrants.

The Alumni (Current or former VIU student) Referrer must be registered with the VIU Alumni Association

Referred students are not included in the International Student Referral program if they are:

  • financially sponsored by a government organization
  • working with a recruitment agency, or
  • participants in an exchange program with a partner institution

The Alumni Referrer must be identified by the new student on the initial application. No payments will be issued retroactively.

Payment will be issued approximately 8 weeks after the new student's first semester at VIU.

Alumni who are registered recruitment agents with VIU are not eligible.

VIU employees who are involved in student recruitment are not eligible where a conflict of interest may occur.

Details of the incentive program are subject to change without notice.

For further information please contact WorldVIU@viu.ca