International Student Support (ISS) Hub

Welcome to VIU!

We are so happy you are joining us! Starting a new school year in a new country can be daunting. We are here to help you navigate through the complexities of getting yourself set up at school and home.

One great way of becoming comfortable with your new place is to join in on RockVIU events. There are many workshops and activities designed to help you understand what is available at VIU and to meet new friends.

You can also find information on Ready, Set, Go. This site helps set you up for success in your first year.

This orientation package includes information on:

  • Accommodation, Living Costs and Settling into Nanaimo
  • Health and Well-being
  • Financial Information
  • Academic Program Requirements and Support
  • Indigenous Peoples of Canada
  • International Student Support Contact
  • Important Links
  • Student Resources

    Welcome to Canada! And an even warmer welcome to Nanaimo! Your arrival emotions are undoubtedly a mix of excitement, anxiety, happiness and maybe a little bit of fear. That is completely normal. There are a few things you will need to do to help you settle in:

    • Make sure you are registered for all your classes. Many international students believe that their agent has done this for them. This has often not happened. Go to Registration services to find out how to do this. If you are unsure how to do this, please book an appointment with an Advisor who will be happy to help you. Meet with an Academic Advisor | Advising Centre | Vancouver Island University | Canada
      • Open a Canadian bank account. You will need at least two pieces of identification. Acceptable identification may include:
      • Your passport
      • Your study permit
      • Your VIU letter of acceptance

    You might also need an active phone number and a local address. The bank or credit union that you choose will be able to tell you what they require for you to open your account. These are some of the common banks or credit unions that have branches in Nanaimo:

    • Get to know VIU and Nanaimo. One of the best ways to settle into your new school and learn about Nanaimo is to attend Orientation. RockVIU happens just before classes start and supports all students new to VIU. There are also specific workshops available of interest to international students. Check out the events hosted by the VIU Students’ Union: Campus life and events and then get involved in student life!

    Staying physically and mentally well while you are studying is very important. However, if you do become unwell or experience an injury, there is a lot of support available to help you. Most emergency and urgent medical services are free if you have medical insurance. Please ensure your medical coverage is up to date. See Medical Insurance Information to understand what you need to do to keep yourself covered.

    Keeping yourself mentally healthy is also extremely important. Coming to another country to study, often in a language that is not your first language, can be anxiety- and stress-inducing. If you find yourself feeling mentally unwell, overwhelmed, sad or anxious, please reach out to VIU’s counsellors for help. Counsellors can also help you with locating community resources that may be more appropriate for you.

    Understanding the costs associated with being an international student in Canada can be confusing. It is important that you understand how much your tuition will cost during your time of study as well as the cost of housing, food, transportation and other living costs. It can all add up very quickly.

    Opening a bank account is an important first step. You will find information about that in the first section of this orientation package.

    Other financial items you need to consider are:

    Starting a new program in Canada is very exciting and suggests exciting possibilities.  However, starting a program and successfully completing it are two very different things.  To make sure your academic journey to graduation is as smooth as possible, it is important to keep the following in mind:

    • Attendance: Attending classes may seem like an obvious thing to do when you're going to school, far too many students believe that other obligations (often work) take priority. It is important that you understand that a condition of your study permit is to “make progress towards completing your program’s courses.” Completion is very difficult if you don’t attend. VIU expects students to attend scheduled lectures, laboratories, field trips, seminars, examinations, practica and work experiences.
    • Making progression in your program is a study permit condition. Attending all classes is important but so is understanding your academic journey to graduation. It is important to meet with general advisors (years 1 and 2) and then degree/program advisors from year 3 (sometimes 2) onwards. Setting up a meeting with an advisor at least once a year to go over your program plan will help avoid unpleasant surprises if you have missed a required course or other program requirement. Advisors are ready and waiting to meet with you even if you think you have your program plan in order. Don’t know which advisor to meet with? Go to a general advisor, who will help you get to where you need to be.
    • All students struggle with one or more courses at some point. You can reach out for help:

    Canada, like many other countries around the world, has a complicated history with our Indigenous Peoples that involved colonization. This sometimes resulted in abusive and violent experiences for many Indigenous people. These experiences, which included forced residential school attendance by many Indigenous children, was mostly unknown to non-Indigenous Canadians.

    The Truth and Reconciliation Commission worked hard to start change and ensure all Canadians understand the truth of how Canada’s Indigenous people have been treated and to begin the long process of reconciliation. We have begun and we have a long way to go.

    The links below give international students some ways to better understand Indigenous history and experiences in Canada:

    Do you need help with something but can’t find it in the information on this page? Do you have a concern about your educational or other campus experience? Are you feeling confused about how to access campus services? Reach out to our ISS contact who will be in touch to help you get the support and services you need.

    Contact: Cynthia.Murphy@viu.ca