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Important Information

The rules for Summer Session are different from Fall and Spring.

Courses are shorter and deadlines come quicker.

This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about Summer Session.
The Registration Centre Team is available to provide personal assistance with any of your registration questions.

You can find a lot of helpful information at VIU Students.

Most registration services are available online; you can see your grades, update your address, check your place on waitlists, add or drop courses, review your fees, and much more. Login to your student record.

Prior to the first day of either term:

  • If a seat becomes available, you will be automatically enrolled.
  • Remember to drop waitlisted courses if you are no longer interested or you may have to pay for them.

Once the term begins:

  • Check your online student record each day for the first two days of the term (May 1 and 2; June 19 and 20).
  • If a seat becomes available, it will be held for you temporarily.
  • You have until the end of the day to claim the seat, online or by contacting the Registration Centre.
  • If you do not claim the seat on the day it’s held, you will be removed from the waitlist.

Prerequisites ensure you have a reasonable chance to be successful in the course.

Check your student record to ensure that you meet prerequisites for courses: click on “Web Registration”, and then
“Register” for the summer term(s), and then “Check Prerequisites”. Any unmet prerequisites will be noted in red print. Please withdraw from courses if you will not meet the prerequisite.

If you do not meet course prerequisites, you may be withdrawn. By the time you are withdrawn, it may be too late to
register for another course.

If you would like to have a prerequisite waived, you must obtain approval from the Department Chair at least 2 weeks
prior to the first day of the term. The Chair will notify the Registration Centre of this waiver.

You can add a course up to the end of the second day of each term, online or by contacting the Registration Centre.

  • May term: up to Tuesday, May 2.
  • June term: up to Tuesday, June 20.

If you want to add a course after that time, follow the late course registration instructions.

Summer session courses are condensed. If you wish to register in more than 10 credits per term you must obtain permission from the Dean of your program.

Most Summer Session courses are condensed. We strongly recommended you begin the course on time. If you are unable to participate at the start of a term, you can maintain your registration status for up to one week by notifying the instructor of your absence by email prior to the first scheduled class.

If you do not show up to the first class and have not notified your instructor, you may be withdrawn without prior notice.

Depending on when you drop a course, it can have a big impact on your tuition fees and/or your grades. If you register for a course but change your mind, you must officially drop it through your online student record. It is not enough to inform your instructor or to just not show up.

Please take note of these important deadlines if you are considering dropping a course:

Notice May Term June Term
Tuition: The last day to drop a course without having to pay any fees for it. Sunday, April 30 Sunday, June 18
Tuition: The last day to drop a course without having to fully pay for it.* Tuesday, May 2 Tuesday, June 20
Grades: Last day to drop a course to avoid getting an ‘F’ grade assigned.** Friday, June 9 Friday, July 28

* If you drop all courses in your May term on May 1 or May 2, you will be assessed a fee of $200 for that term. If you drop all courses in your June term on June 19 or June 20, you will be assessed a fee of $200 for that term.

** Under documented exceptional circumstances, you may request a late withdrawal after this time. Please consult any Registration Centre for further information.

VIU reserves the right to reschedule and/or cancel a course. You will receive a full refund if the course is cancelled.

Official transcripts can be ordered through your online student record or by calling the Registration Centre. The fee is $12.75 per copy. A rush transcript, ordered to go out by mail the next day, is available for $21.20 per copy.

An unofficial transcript is available to you at no charge from your student record.

At the end of each term, your grades will be posted to your online student record. If you choose to appeal your final grade, the appeal procedure is available from the Registration Centre.

You must begin an official appeal within 10 working days of the date the grade is assigned (excluding University closures).

Educational Advisors are here to help and support you throughout your educational journey. Students in degree programs are also served by our Degree Advisors.

Connect with an Advising Centre at any VIU campus.

Email: Advising@viu.ca
Cowichan: 250.746.3509
Nanaimo: 1.888.920.2221 or 250.740.6410
tiwšɛmawtxw (Powell River): 604.485.2878

For further information, please visit VIU Advising

VIU’s Goal Planning System (GPS) can be launched from your online student record. GPS will show how your courses can work towards your academic goals and will list courses you still need to complete.

We strongly encourage you to discuss your GPS results with your Degree Advisor or Program Chair.

For services over the phone or online, we protect your student record by using your student number, your online student record password, and a security question and answer. You create your question and answer, and you may change it at any time.
Photo identification is required to obtain services in person.

A parent, spouse, or friend may not act on your behalf to conduct any business or make any detailed inquiries about your account without your consent. To authorize someone to act on your behalf when speaking to us, you will need to provide them with your student number and the answer to your security question.
If you share this information with a third party, it is good practice to change it afterwards.

The VIU Safety App is available for Apple and Android devices.

In addition to allowing us to send messages to you in times of emergency, it features quick access to Campus Security, a personal safety toolbox, campus maps and more.

If you wish to temporarily withdraw from VIU for any reason, you may apply for a leave of absence for the remainder of the current academic year and the following year. Apply to the Dean of your program for a leave of absence. If your request is approved, when you return you will be considered a continuing student for the purpose of registration.

Pay parking is in effect at the Nanaimo Campus on a “First Come, First Parked” basis. Please check VIU Parking for information on parking regulations. Due to limited parking, alternative forms of transportation are encouraged such as public transit, carpooling, walking, or biking.

Please read our emails!

Emails from Registration@viu.ca will always contain information that is important and timely for you.

To ensure that our emails are not identified as spam and filtered out of your inbox, please add our address (Registration@viu.ca) to the list of contacts in your email program.