Students Life

English Score Requirement

MINIMUM IELTS SCORE

MINIMUM TOEFL IBT

Note: Language proficiency requirements can vary on program basis.

Accomodation

On-Campus Accommodations: Vancouver Island University offers accommodation to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. VIU Student Residence houses over 500 students on VIU's Nanaimo campus each year. Residence offers three styles of rooms: Traditional Singles, Modern Doubles and Modern Singles. 

Off-Campus Accommodations: Students have numerous options of finding accommodation off-campus in nearby areas. Students can have access to studio apartments, paying guest facilities, sharing apartment complexes and many more. 

Homestay: Homestays are an integral system of housing for students. Students have the opportunity to avail homestay facilities as per their discretion and choices. Homestay hosts include single people, young couples with children and pets, and older couples. All homestay accommodations have been inspected, and all adults in the home have completed a required criminal reference check.

Scholarships

VIU World-Wide Entrance Scholarships

• Number: Maximum 20 each year
• Amount: $2,000 each
• Criteria: Provided annually to exceptional new long-term academic undergraduate student applicants (not one semester Education Abroad or Exchange students). Students who come to VIU for ESL with conditional acceptance into an undergraduate program will be considered for these scholarships. Awarded to up to 20 of the top applicants entering in the Fall semester based on entering grades from submitted transcripts. No application necessary.

British Columbia High School International Excellence Entrance Scholarship

• Number: Maximum 3 each year
• Amount: $1,000 per year for up to 4 years of Academic study
• Criteria: All International student applicants who have applied to attend VIU in their graduating year from a British Columbia High School with a Dogwood Certificate. Highest average in combined marks of English 12 (combined provincial and school mark), social Studies 11 and Math 11 (Principles or applications). Awarded as a tuition credit at Vancouver Island University in their second academic semester. No application necessary. Awarding of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year scholarships is dependent on retention of a GPA of 3 or better.

The High School at Vancouver Island University International Excellence Award

• Number: Minimum 2 each year
• Amount: $1,000 each
• Criteria: Awarded to international student graduates of The High School at Vancouver Island University recognizing outstanding achievement in their final academic year of studies. No application necessary, awarded as a tuition credit at Vancouver Island University. 

VIU International Undergraduate Regional Scholarships

• Number: Seven each year
• Amount: $5,000 ($2,500 awarded for the first year of study and $2,500 for the second year)
• 2018 Regions:
  • China - 1 scholarship
  • India - 1 scholarship
  • Eastern Europe/CIS* - 1 scholarship
  • Africa - 1 scholarship
  • Latin America - 1 scholarship
  • ASEAN ** - 1 scholarship
  • Open - 1 scholarship. The open scholarship is available to students from any nation outside of the countries already identified in the other Regional Scholarships.
• Criteria: The scholarships are awarded to International students applying for entry into the first year of an undergraduate academic program. The award is based upon the entered grades from submitted High School transcripts. No application is necessary.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Entrance Scholarship
Full Program Scholarships

• Number: Maximum 3 per year
• Amount: $1,000 per year for up to 4 years of Academic study
• Criteria: Open to all International students who have graduated with an IB diploma. Selection is based upon highest average of combined marks from an IB school. Awarded as a tuition credit at Vancouver Island University in their second academic semester. No application necessary. Awarding of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year scholarships is dependent on retention of a GPA of 3 or better.

Entry Scholarships

• Number: All IB Diploma holders receive this scholarship.
• Amount: $1,000 each for the first year of study
• Criteria: New International student graduates with an IB diploma. Awarded as a tuition credit at Vancouver Island University in their second academic semester. No application necessary.

British Columbia Offshore School Entrance Scholarship

• Number: Maximum 2 each year
• Amount: $1,000 each
• Criteria: All international student graduates from BC Offshore schools are eligible. The awards will be given to the two students with the highest combined scores on any two Grade 12 provincially examinable courses excluding their first language. Awarded as a tuition credit at Vancouver Island University in their second academic semester. No application necessary.
• For further information please go through https://international.viu.ca/international-student-scholarships-and-awards

Vancouver International University offers its students numerous bursaries, awards, scholarships and other financial aids that not only help students with their finances and also provides them the deserving applause for their outstanding performance.

• Helen Brown Book Prize
• Bygone Books Award for History
• William Barraclough History Scholarship
• Dan Hawthorne Sports History Prize
• Karr History Scholarship
• Chuck Hee Wong Memorial Award
• Robert Ross Memorial Scholarship
• British Columbia Historical Association Scholarship
• Burnaby Historical Society Scholarship
• Margaret Ormsby Essay Prize
• W. Kaye Lamb Essay Scholarships
• Effie Galena Kilpatrick Scholarship

Features of Vancouver Island University - Nanaimo Campus