Vancouver Island University is a public university in Nanaimo, on the east coast of Vancouver Island, 90 minutes from Vancouver by ferry. It is best known for business, hospitality and tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, nursing, education and trades, with small classes and a large international community. Choose it for a practical Canadian degree in a coastal setting with strong post-study work and immigration options.
Nanaimo, Canada
Official website: viu.ca
#1201
Students from over 90 countries, around a fifth of enrolment
Average class size under 30
Nanaimo, Cowichan, Parksville-Qualicum and Powell River
CA$20,000 – CA$30,000
International students, undergraduate, post-degree diploma and master's
CA$14,000 – CA$18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on viu.ca before you apply.
Master of Business Administration
Masters DegreeDuration
16 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
Master of Community Planning
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
Post-Degree Diploma in Business Management
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan, May
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
Bachelor of Hospitality Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
Hospitality and tourism — a top-ranked programme with a paid co-op and hotel partners.
Fisheries and aquaculture — hands-on training in one of Canada's main seafood regions.
Small classes — teaching-focused faculty and personal support for international students.
Nanaimo — a coastal city with ferries to Vancouver and forests and beaches at the door.
Graduates join Fairmont hotels, BC Ferries, Island Health, the BC Public Service and Vancouver's business sector.
Graduates can work anywhere in Canada for up to three years on a post-graduation work permit.
Hospitality alumni move into hotel and resort management across British Columbia and Alberta.
British Columbia's provincial nominee programme offers graduates a route to permanent residence.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The Nanaimo campus sits on a hillside above the harbour, with the library, student union and business and hospitality buildings within a five-minute walk, on-campus residences and views across the Strait of Georgia.
Nanaimo is a coastal city of about 100,000 people with lower rent than Vancouver, mild winters and hiking, kayaking and beaches nearby. Vancouver is 90 minutes by ferry and Victoria 90 minutes by road.
Letter of acceptance from VIU
BC provincial attestation letter
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Online IRCC study permit application
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
VIU accepts international undergraduate applications on a rolling basis, but popular programmes fill early, so apply by February 2027 for September 2027 and by September 2026 for January 2027. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme: the MBA closes about four months before each intake, and community planning and education close in spring.
September is the main intake, and most undergraduate programmes also admit for January. The MBA admits for September and January, post-degree diplomas for September, January and May, and community planning and education master's for September only. Check your programme's page to confirm.
You need a Canadian study permit. After you accept your offer, the university issues a letter of acceptance and British Columbia's provincial attestation letter. You then apply online to IRCC with proof of funds and give biometrics. Allow three to four months for processing.
The MBA, community planning, educational leadership, business post-degree diplomas and hospitality management attract the most international applicants. Master's entry needs a bachelor's degree with a B average or equivalent, TOEFL 88 or IELTS 6.5, and work experience for the MBA. Undergraduate entry is based on final-year grades with IELTS 6.0.
Yes. VIU offers entrance scholarships for international undergraduates with strong grades, considered automatically from the application, plus awards for continuing students based on academic performance. Graduate students can apply for programme-specific scholarships and paid research or teaching assistant roles. Check the university's awards pages for current amounts.
