About the university
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is a public university on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with its main campus in Nanaimo and smaller campuses in Cowichan and Powell River. It had 12,022 students in May 2026, including 976 international students from 83 countries, and offers more than 100 programmes, from trades and diplomas to bachelor's and master's degrees.
Indian students look at VIU for its computer science degree with co-op, its business degrees and its 20-month MBA, which needs no GMAT. Undergraduate tuition is the same for all degree programmes (CAD 832.09 per credit, about CAD 24,960 for a 30-credit year).
VIU guarantees first-year housing for new international students who register by 1 May, from autumn 2027.
- Type
- Public teaching university in British Columbia
- Total students
- 12,022 (enrolment snapshot, 1 May 2026)
- International students
- 976 from 83 countries (1 May 2026)
- Campuses
- Three: Nanaimo (main), Cowichan and tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River)
- Programmes
- 100+; more than 50 accept international students
- Intakes
- September for most degrees; some (BBA, MBA) also January
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Major, Honours or Co-op)
- Fee / year
- C$24,963
- Duration
- 4 years; the co-op major adds three summer work placements
- Intakes
- September (international applications 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 for September 2027)
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0), PTE Academic 60 (no section below 60), TOEFL iBT 88 (no section below 20; or 4.5 on the new scale), Duolingo 115 (no band below 105) or CAEL 60; English 12 C and Pre-calculus 12 B also required
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Majors and Minors
- Fee / year
- C$24,963
- Duration
- 4 years; majors in accounting, economics, financial services, HR, international business, management and marketing
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0), PTE Academic 60 (no section below 60), TOEFL iBT 88 (no section below 20; or 4.5 on the new scale), Duolingo 115 (no band below 105) or CAEL 60
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting
- Fee / year
- C$24,963
- Duration
- 4 years
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0), PTE Academic 60 (no section below 60), TOEFL iBT 88 (no section below 20; or 4.5 on the new scale), Duolingo 115 (no band below 105) or CAEL 60
- Postgraduate
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Fee / year
- C$31,462
- Duration
- 20 months, 68 credits, in person at Nanaimo; ACBSP-accredited
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- Graduate English requirement, for example IELTS Academic 6.5, if your degree was not taught in English
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Major, Honours or Co-op) | 4 years; the co-op major adds three summer work placements | C$24,963 | ≈ ₹16.7 lakh |
| Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Majors and Minors | 4 years; majors in accounting, economics, financial services, HR, international business, management and marketing | C$24,963 | ≈ ₹16.7 lakh |
| Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting | 4 years | C$24,963 | ≈ ₹16.7 lakh |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | 20 months, 68 credits, in person at Nanaimo; ACBSP-accredited | C$31,462 | ≈ ₹21.1 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Vancouver Island University with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- All students
VIU scholarships, awards and bursaries
Value: Donors fund more than 2,000 awards a year (values vary)
Eligibility: Open to VIU students; VIU's international page does not list awards only for international students.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- VIU lists India's school-leaving equivalent as the State Higher Secondary School Certificate (Class 12); you must also meet each programme's subject requirements.
- Computer science: English 12 with at least C and Pre-calculus 12 (or equivalent) with at least B; seats are limited and ranked by GPA.
- BBA: one of Pre-calculus 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11 or Computer Science 11/12 with at least C.
- If you meet the academic requirements but not English, VIU may offer conditional admission with its English Language Centre programme.
Postgraduate
- MBA: a bachelor's degree in any field with at least a B average in the last two years, one year of work experience, a résumé, introduction letter and two references. No GMAT.
- MBA international application windows: 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 for September 2027; 1 January to 30 June 2027 for January 2028.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Degree transcripts and certificate (MBA)
- IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo or CAEL result (valid for 2 years)
- Résumé, letter of introduction and two recommendation letters (MBA)
- Application fee of CAD 156.06
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 |
| PTE Academic | 60 with no section below 60 |
| TOEFL iBT | 88 with no section below 20 (tests before 21 January 2026); 4.5 with no section below 4.0 on the new scale |
| Duolingo | 115 with no band below 105. VIU accepts online tests, but IRCC may want an in-person test for your study permit |
| Class 12 English | VIU's page does not list Indian Class 12 English as a waiver; India is not on its list of English-speaking countries |
Accommodation and living costs
VIU has on-campus housing in Nanaimo with traditional singles, modern singles or doubles and apartment singles. From autumn 2027, first-year and new international students who register by 1 May get guaranteed housing, and a new ten-storey residence with a dining hall opens. VIU's housing page does not show prices.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
The main campus is in Nanaimo, with two smaller campuses in Cowichan and Powell River (tiwšɛmawtxʷ).
- Computer science co-op with three summer work terms.
- MBA taught in person in Nanaimo, with September and January starts.
- New first-year residence tower opening in autumn 2027.
- More than 1,200 faculty and staff.
Careers and graduate outcomes
VIU says eligible graduates of its bachelor's and master's programmes, and of selected diplomas and certificates, can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. See our Canada guide for the rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Canada
Photo: aka Tman from Guelph.........Ontario, CANADA, CC BY 2.0 PublicUniversity of Toronto (official website, opens in a new tab)
Toronto, CanadaOften chosen for Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences, Engineering
Photo: CjayD, CC BY 2.0 PublicOften chosen for Life Sciences, Business & Management, Engineering
Photo: JFVoll, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicUniversity of Waterloo (official website, opens in a new tab)
Waterloo, CanadaOften chosen for Computer Science & IT, Engineering, Data Science & AI
Photo: Krylan22, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicUniversity of Windsor (official website, opens in a new tab)
Windsor, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Business & Management, Computer Science & IT
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC0), CC0 PublicMcGill University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Montreal, CanadaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Law
Photo: WinterforceMedia WinterE229, Public domain PublicUniversity of Alberta (official website, opens in a new tab)
Edmonton, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Data Science & AI, Life Sciences
FAQs
How much is tuition at VIU?
Undergraduate tuition is CAD 832.09 per credit, about CAD 24,963 for a 30-credit year, plus student fees. The MBA is CAD 52,436.16 in tuition for the whole 20-month programme.
What IELTS score do I need?
IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or PTE 60, TOEFL iBT 88 or Duolingo 115.
Can I study nursing at VIU?
No. VIU's Bachelor of Science in Nursing is not currently available to international students. The Bachelor of Hospitality Management is also not accepting applications at present.
Is housing guaranteed?
From autumn 2027, VIU guarantees housing for first-year, new and international students who register by 1 May.
Sources
- VIU: International students (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: International admissions and English requirements (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Tuition fee schedule (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Key facts (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Student housing (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Computer Science (BSc) (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Bachelor of Business Administration (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Master of Business Administration (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (opens in a new tab)
- VIU: Bachelor of Hospitality Management (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.viu.ca (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details