Campus Life

Welcome to Vancouver Island University (VIU), we want you to feel at home here, and we want to create an environment where you can excel.  A big part of your university experience is getting involved in the university community, whether you are an ESL student or an academic student at VIU, it is your University!  In Canada there is an old saying; “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”.  There are opportunities that exist at Vancouver Island University, but it is up to you to join in.

To get you started, here are some resources for you to find out what is going on at the VIU Campus. The first on your list of resources is our website www.viu.ca You should become familiar with what this website can do for you. 

Campus Recreation gives students the opportunity to join in outdoor and indoor sports and recreation activities.  They also offer activities you may have never experienced such as river rafting, kayaking, caving, snowshoeing, surfing, rock climbing and skiing!

Another excellent resource is the Activities Calendar for international students. Be sure to keep an eye on this page as it will keep you up to date on many of the events taking place on or off-campus. You can find information on upcoming day trips, city tours, beach volleyball, sightseeing tours and so much more.

The Vancouver Island University Library website is a valuable resource for researching information from the comfort of your own home. There are frequent free technology or writing workshops being held at the library.  Don’t forget about the Writing Centre and the Language Learning Centre for free workshops or help with your paper and English language questions.

Finally, we encourage you to come and speak with us in person. We are located in the International Education Building (255) and are available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Welcome to Vancouver Island University. Canada's west coast university.