Vancouver Island University
Vancouver Island University
This university was established in 1969 and was initially known as Malaspina College, named after the captain of the same name, who explored Vancouver Island. Its main campus is located in the city of Nanaimo, while the other three are in Duncan, Power River, and Parksville. In the first year of its operation, six hundred students were enrolled in the college. Today, Vancouver Island University, or VIU, has more than seven thousand students studying within the walls of Vancouver Island University. More than 2,200 of them came from abroad, and the number of international students is only increasing with each year.
Programs in Vancouver Island University
Vancouver Island University offers international students various programs, that lead to Bachelor and Master's degrees, diplomas, and certificates in a range of fields. For international students whose native language is not English, Vancouver Island University offers an English as a Second Language Course that aims at enhancing students’ skills in English in the shortest possible time. All the classes are held in small groups and twenty hours per week at the Nanaimo campus of the university. This course is non-credit, but upon its successful completion and final examination, students will be allowed to proceed to the main academic programs of Vancouver Island University. The tuition fee for a four-month program is around CAD 5,100. But the final cost and length of a student’s ESL course depends on their initial language level.
For example, in the field of Art, Design, and Performing Arts, students can choose from the following diploma programs: Jazz Studies, Theatre, and Visual Arts. And the following programs that lead to a degree: Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design, Bachelor of Interior Design, Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art.
For example, the program of Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design lasts for four years, and it’s taught only by people who are experienced graphic designers and artists themselves. All the classes contain a minimum of theory and are filled with experiential learning. Students are taught in fully equipped modern studios to experience the real, life-like work environment. Basically, today, graphic designers are needed in every industry to conduct successful advertisement campaigns and provide a customer with an appealing picture of a product. So students learn UI and UX on different levels throughout the whole study period, as well as business and technical writing, Typography, Photography and a lot more. International students are to pay around CAD 19,300 per academic year, which means that a term costs approximately CAD 9600. Vancouver Island University offers students the opportunity to study the following programs that lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: English, Digital Media Studies, Geography, Languages and Culture, Liberal Studies, Political Studies, Media Studies, Psychology, Studies in Women and Gender, Creative Writing and Journalism, and a number of others.
International students can achieve diplomas by studying the two following programs: Criminology, and Physical Education. And certificates are offered by completion of the programs in Addiction Studies, Legal Studies, Proficiency in Language and Culture, and Professional Indigenous Lands Management.
The Creative Writing and Journalism programs can be taken at the Nanaimo campus of Vancouver Island University. It also lasts for four years and aims at teaching students the skills necessary to become a professional writer, a poet, and a journalist. Most of the classes in the program at Vancouver Island University are held in small groups, in the form of workshops or even one-on-one classes with instructors, for students' deeper immersion and comprehension of the subject. Moreover, such an approach allows every student to find their own style and focus on developing their skills in it, with the help of a university instructor. So it’s also experience-oriented, and Vancouver Island University often invites renowned authors and journalists to conduct lectures and classes for students.
The program is divided into five sections, each of which is dedicated to non-fiction, poetry, fiction, publishing, and drama. Through the course of the program, students can choose to advance their studies in specific types of genres and dedicate more time to studying them. International students have to pay the same amount as for the previous program, which is CAD 19,300 per academic year. Together with additional fees, such as health insurance and the cost of books and supplies, international students have to be ready to pay around CAD 22,050 per year. In the field of Business and Management at Vancouver Island University, international students can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in the following programs: Human Resources Management, Accounting, Marketing, Financial Services, International Business, Economics, and others.
Students may also earn a certificate by studying Business Fundamentals for Indigenous Communities, Office Administration, Management Skills for Supervisors, and Business Management.
Students can also achieve a Master of Business Administration degree and a Graduate Diploma in International Trade or Project Management.
The Human Resources Management program can be taken at the Nanaimo campus of Vancouver Island University. Here, students study Macro and Microeconomic Theory, Commercial Law, Labor and Employee Relations, Business and Government Relations, Recruitment and Selection, and other courses. The total cost of the program for international students with all the additional and tuition fees is around CAD 21,000.
In the field of Education, Vancouver Island University offers the programs of Bachelor of Kinesiology and Bachelor of Education, a diploma program in Physical Education, a graduate diploma programs in Inclusive Education; Online Learning and Teaching; and Teacher Leadership. International students can also obtain Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership or Special Education.
The Bachelor of Education program, unlike others, lasts for five years and can be taken at Cowichan and at Nanaimo campuses. Students are taught how to be a teacher in either a secondary school or an elementary school. During the program, students learn various disciplines to understand children’s psychology and behavioral patterns. They learn the principles of teaching, different pedagogical strategies, and profound knowledge of the subject they are going to teach. The cost of the academic year is also around CAD 20,000, with all the extra-fees included.
Students have the chance to participate in one of the exchange programs with the universities VIU collaborates with. For example, while being registered at Vancouver Island University, students can spend a semester or two at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, Mejiro University in Japan, the University of Central Arkansas in the United States; or at other universities in New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Belgium, and Korea.
Accommodation in Vancouver Island University
Nanaimo, where the main campus of Vancouver Island University is located, is often called "The Harbour City," being on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Its population is around a hundred thousand people. It is known for the peculiar location of streets, having a so-called wagon wheel layout. It’s a rather small city, but it has a number of museums and theaters. Various marine festivals are held here. The city also boasts the Pacific Biological Station, which was established back in 1908. International students can rent a flat while living in Nanaimo. On average, a one-bedroom in the city costs around CAD 1,600, but the price can be lower as it depends on the location of a flat, the type of furnishing, and other factors. Students may also find shared accommodation options or rent an apartment with a friend.
Vancouver Island University offers students a place in halls of residence, located right on campus, within a few minutes' walk from the classes. More than five hundred students live in the ten residences of the university, which include different types of rooms: dormitories, townhouses, and apartments.
For example, each apartment features four private bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room that students share. Such apartments are located in two-story houses, overlooking the ocean and mountains.
Students in the dorm-style rooms also enjoy a beautiful view from their windows. They can choose to live in private or double bedrooms, while sharing bathrooms with the students of the same gender. A single dorm room will cost students CAD 3,900 per term. While for a single room in a townhouse or apartment-style room, students are to pay around CAD 4,050, a double room will cost CAD 2,400 per term.
Future Prospects
International students after completing their studies at Vancouver Island University, can stay in Canada to start their working path. They may as well come back to their home countries or continue their education to the next level in other educational establishments in Canada, so it’s all up to a student’s needs and goals. If they choose the first option, then graduates of Vancouver Island University can apply for a post-graduation work permit and work in Canada for up to three years. Afterwards, if they choose to stay in Canada for good, they can get a permanent residence status. It can be further extended to wholesome Canadian citizenship. This is what graduation from Vancouver Island University can bring, so the years and resources spent here are definitely worth it.
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