About Nanaimo

Nanaimo: A great place to live, study, and work

Vancouver Island University is located in the City of Nanaimo, on beautiful Vancouver Island. VIU is a 20-minute drive from the Nanaimo Airport, and a 5-minute drive from downtown Nanaimo.

Nanaimo, a city of 85,000 residents, offers a friendly and supportive community that is within easy reach of major metropolitan areas like Vancouver and Victoria. Nanaimo is an emerging business centre with excellent infrastructure and transportation links.

Nanaimo is also a tourist destination. Surrounded by magnificent mountains and ocean, islands, parks, lakes and wilderness areas, the scenery in Nanaimo is spectacular. Nanaimo’s mild climate allows students to enjoy hiking, sailing, golfing, kayaking, cycling, diving, salmon fishing, and many other outdoor sports and recreation opportunities year-round. In winter, skiing, snowboarding and snow-shoeing are a short drive away at Mount Washington resort.

For more information about Nanaimo, please go to: Tourism Nanaimo. For information on housing options, please go to: VIU International Housing.