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General Information

Tuition

Vancouver Island University has seven tuition categories; each program identifies the appropriate tuition category.

Tuition payments will be accepted by cash, money order, Interac direct payment, personal cheque, or via online banking. Credit cards are not accepted for payment of tuition but may be used for tuition deposits. Students who are unable to pay tuition and cannot obtain financial assistance or sponsorship should check with the Financial Aid & Awards office for further information. VIU reserves the right to cancel registration or withdraw an offer of admission to students who do not pay fees when required.

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Some programs are offered on a cost-recovery basis. Tuition fees for such programs are listed in the Program Outlines section.

All fees are subject to change without prior notice. Please refer to the website for updated information.

Category I: Career/Technology programs

  • $126.12 per semester credit hour ($378.36 per 3-credit course, $504.48 per 4-credit course, per semester).

Category II: Continuing Education courses

  • Fees for C.E. courses vary and are published in the Fall and Spring Continuing Education brochures or on the Continuing Education website. GST is charged for most C.E. courses, as listed in the brochure.

Category IV: English-as-a-Second-Language courses

  • $101.76 per course to a maximum of $407.00 per semester.

Category V: University courses

  • $126.12 per semester credit hour ($378.36 per 3-credit course, $504.48 per 4-credit course, per semester).

Category VI: Career & Academic Preparation programs

  • No tuition is charged for Literacy and Adult Basic Education courses; however, students are required to pay Students' Union and Student Activity fees.
  • Tuition for courses in Access Programs is assessed at $.58 per hour.

Category VII: Trades & Applied Technology programs

  • $378.36 per month for full-time Trades & Applied Technology programs; part-time students pay $227.02 per month. Fees are due in full prior to commencement of programs.

Category VIII: MBA program

  • Canadian (domestic) students: $18,500 per year for MBA program and MBA (International) programs (includes textbooks);  $2,425 for Management Foundation (Pre-MBA) program (textbooks not included).
  • International students: $29,500 (Cdn) for MBA and MBA (International) programs (includes textbooks);  $4,850 (Cdn) for Management Foundation (Pre-MBA) program (textbooks not included).

Co–operative Education Work Placements

Canadian (domestic) student tuition per work placement term is $547.71 per semester.
International student tuition per work placement term is: $1,475 (Cdn) per semester.

Fee Payment

For details see Payment of Fees.

International Students – Tuition

Fee schedule

  • Academic, Career/Technology programs: $5,900 (Cdn) per semester. Where programs require more than 15 credits per semester, or when students choose to study more than 15 credits per semester, there will be additional charges.
  • English Language program: $4,700 (Cdn) for 14-week programs;  $2,400 for 7-week programs.
  • Trades & Applied Technology programs: $1,475 (Cdn) per month, payable in full prior to commencement of programs.
  • MBA programs: $29,500 (Cdn) includes books; $4,850 (Cdn) for Management Foundation (Pre-MBA) program; books extra.
  • Post-Degree Diploma in Business Studies: $14,750 (Cdn) complete program (30 credits).
  • Co-operative Education: $1,475 (Cdn) per work placement term, payable on or before April 1.

A $150 (Cdn) non-refundable Application Fee must accompany all applications for admission; applications will not be processed without this fee.

For up to date fee information for international students, please visit International Education Tuition Fees.

Age Exemption

Domestic students 65 years or older are entitled to free tuition for Academic courses, space permitting. This exemption applies to tuition fees and Student Activity Fees only; it does not apply to Students’ Association Fees, Continuing Education courses, Trades programs, Adult Basic Education courses, or textbook purchases.

Student Activity Fee

A Student Activity fee, equivalent to four (4) percent of tuition, is assessed at the time of registration. The fee is non-refundable and applies to both full-time and part-time students. Excluded from paying the fee are students enrolled in continuing education. The fees are collected to administer campus recreation activities and athletic programs for students.

Students’ Union Fees

Students’ Union and other membership fees are collected by the University and distributed to several student organizations. The Navigator Newspaper Society is the University's student newspaper and supplies news, arts, music and sports information for the campus community. The Radio Malaspina Society is a student and community radio station that supports student broadcasting and provides information for students. The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's national and provincial students' union and works to provide services and representation on behalf of all students in Canada. The VIU Students' Union is the voice of students at VIU and organizes events, hosts services, runs the student pub, provides advocacy and more.

Annually, each of the above organizations is responsible for conducting an audit of its finances to ensure that funds collected from students are spent appropriately. For more information about student fees, or any of these organizations, please contact the Students' Union office at 250-754-8866.

Fees – Nanaimo

On a monthly basis, membership fees break down as follows:

Monthly Fee Cost

VIU Students’ Union membership

$9.11

VIU Students’ Union Club fee

.72

Navigator newspaper society membership

1.01

Canadian Federation of Students membership

2.00

Students' Union Building

2.96

Radio Malaspina

0.27

Total

$16.07


Fees – Parksville, Powell River, Duncan

On a monthly basis, membership fees break down as follows:

Monthly Fee Cost

VIU Students’ Union membership

$6.90

Navigator newspaper society membership

1.01

Canadian Federation of Students membership

2.00

Total

$9.91

  • Fees are non-refundable.
  • Fees are applicable throughout the entire year.
  • Fees are applicable to auditing students at the full rate of the regular fee for any appropriate time frame (e.g., semester or monthly).
  • Fees are applicable only once for each student for each time frame (e.g., semester or monthly).
  • Fees are applicable to part-time students at the full rate of the regular fee rate for any appropriate time frame (e.g., semester or monthly).

Fees are subject to review and change. For further information, please contact the VIU Students’ Union office 250-754-8866.

Health and Dental Plan Fees

Health and Dental plan fees are also collected by the University on behalf of the Students' Union. The plan is currently in effect at the Nanaimo campus only. Some restrictions apply and students with pre-existing coverage are given a time-limited opportunity to opt out. For more information contact the Students' Union office at 250-754-8866 or visit the VIU Students Union website.

Tuition/T2202A Tax Receipts

Official tax receipts are prepared by the end of February and are available to print from the student’s online student record at that time.

Student Sponsorship

Organizations wishing to sponsor students should submit a letter to the Registration Centre stating the terms of sponsorship. Letters must be printed on the organization’s letterhead and include the following information:

  • sponsor name, address, phone number, fax number and contact person;
  • student(s) name(s) and SIN number(s), if available;
  • date of anticipated enrolment in program/course(s);
  • duration of sponsorship (i.e., Fall/Spring semesters);
  • financial limit (if any);
  • books/supplies (if required) and financial limits.
    Note: a duplicate letter should be sent to the VIU Bookstore if books/supplies are included in the sponsorship.

For a brochure containing more detailed information regarding sponsor liability and refund/withdrawal policies, please contact VIU’s Accounts Receivables department at 250-740-6235, or check the Student Financial Information website.

Updated August 10, 2010