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International Education

Education Abroad Programs

for Canadian and International Students

Education abroad programs allow students to travel to a foreign country, for credit, and to experience a new language and culture. VIU supports international programs as a way to enrich a student’s classroom education. Study abroad opportunities at VIU include:

  • Study tours or field study programs:  The focus of study tours is to provide a unique opportunity for experiential learning. VIU course credits are delivered overseas in short-term, faculty-led tours. Students may be required to attend classes before departure and/or after returning from the overseas trip in order to complete their coursework. Most short-term education abroad programs are offered during the intersession or summer semester. Some departments offer a study tour to their students as an optional course at the end of the program.
  • Field schools:  The standard program for a field school consists of a group of students, accompanied by a faculty member, studying for an extended period overseas. The overseas courses may be taught both by the faculty representative as well as by colleagues at the overseas institution. Field school programs require a minimum of 9 credit hours of study.
  • International internships, co-ops and practica:  Departments may grant permission for individuals or groups of students to do all, or part of their program-specific work experience abroad.
  • Language and culture programs:  Students may elect to do short-term, independent language study in a recognized language and culture program and have credits transferred back to VIU (conditions apply).
  • Exchanges:  These are formal agreements established between international universities and colleges that allow a small number of students to exchange for one semester, term or an academic year. Students remain registered and pay their tuition and student fees to their home institution while on exchange. Most exchanges are program-specific, but some allow students from other program areas to participate. The ideal time to go on exchange is when students are in the second or third year of their program. Exchange program dates vary, based on the academic calendar of the host country.

Eligibility for Education Abroad

Students who meet the selection criteria and course prerequisites of the selected education abroad program may apply.

Preparing for the experience will take a significant amount of time and commitment, and students should take time to thoroughly examine their reasons for wanting to participate in the program. If being abroad for non-academic reasons is the primary goal, other options such as travel, work, or volunteering abroad may be more suitable and less expensive.

Academic programs at VIU that are under two years in length generally do not have enough time or flexibility in the curriculum to allow students to education abroad.

For More Information

For information on Study Abroad opportunities available for VIU Students, please visit the website at viu.ca/educationabroad or contact the Study Abroad office, Centre for International Education (Building 255), Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5; or e-mail: educationabroad@viu.ca.

Updated June 6, 2011