Important information

On your student record you can see your grades, update your address, check your place on waitlists, add or drop courses, review your fees, obtain a confirmation of enrolment letter, declare a major and/or minor and more.

Prior to the first day of either term:

• If a seat becomes available, you will be enrolled automatically.
• Remember to drop waitlisted courses if you are no longer interested or you may have to pay for them.

Once the term begins:

• Check your online student record each day for the first two days of the term (May 6 and 7; June 24 and 25).
• If a seat becomes available, it will be held for you temporarily.
• You have until the end of the day to claim the seat, online or by contacting the Registration Centre.
• If you do not claim the seat on the day it’s held, you will be removed from the waitlist.

Prerequisites ensure you have a reasonable chance to be successful in the course.

Check your student record to ensure that you meet prerequisites for courses: select “Web Registration”, and then “Register” for the summer term(s), and then “Check Prerequisites”. Any unmet prerequisites will be noted in red print. Please withdraw from courses if you will not meet the prerequisite.

If you do not meet course prerequisites, you may be withdrawn. By the time you are withdrawn, it may be too late to register for another course.

If you would like to have a prerequisite waived, you need approval from the Department Chair at least 2 weeks before the first day of the term. The Chair will notify the Registration Centre of this waiver.

You can add a Summer term course up to the end of the second day of each term, online or by contacting the Registration Centre.

• May term: up to Tuesday, May 7.
• June term: up to Tuesday, June 25.

If you want to add a course after that time, you need instructor permission. Use Web Registration in your online student record to initiate a request.

Summer session courses are condensed. If you wish to register in more than 10 credits per term you must obtain permission from the Dean of your program.

Most Summer Session courses are condensed. We strongly recommended you begin the course on time. If you are unable to participate at the start of a term, you can maintain your registration status for up to one week by notifying the instructor of your absence by email prior to the first scheduled class.

If you do not show up to the first class and have not notified your instructor, you may be withdrawn without prior notice.

To find your instructor’s contact information, look in your online student record under “my course enrolment history” and select the icon next to the class.

When you drop a course, it can have a big impact on your:

• tuition fees
• student loan eligibility
• sponsorship eligibility
• grades

If you register for a course but change your mind, you must officially drop it through your online student record. It is not enough to inform your instructor or to just not show up.
If you are planning on dropping below a full-time course load, we encourage you to discuss your plans with a VIU Advisor.

If you withdraw from a course or from all courses on or before the start of the term, you get a full refund of tuition fees. If you withdraw in the first week, you get a full refund for individual courses and a 90% refund for withdrawal from all courses. If you withdraw by the end of the second week of the term, you get a 50% refund. There is no refund for withdrawal after that

Please take note of these important deadlines if you are considering dropping a course.

May Term

June Term

VIU reserves the right to reschedule and/or cancel a course. You will receive a full refund if the course is cancelled.

Official transcripts can be ordered through your online student record or by calling the Registration Centre. The fee is $13.00 per copy. A rush transcript, ordered to go out by mail the next day, is available for $21.65 per copy. 

You can access an unofficial transcript at no charge in your online student record.

At the end of each term, your grades will be posted to your online student record. If you choose to appeal your final grade, the appeal procedure is available from the Registration Centre.

You must begin an official appeal within 10 working days of the date the grade is assigned (excluding University closures).

Advisors are here to help and support you throughout your educational journey. Students in degree programs are also served by our Degree Advisors.

Connect with an Advising Centre at any VIU campus.

By email:
advising@viu.ca
advising.cowichan@viu.ca
advising.International@viu.ca

By telephone:
Cowichan: 250·746·3509
Nanaimo: 1·888·920·2221 or 250·740·6410
tiwšεmawtxw campus: 604·485·2878
International students: 250·740·6315

For further information, please visit VIU Advising.

VIU’s Goal Planning System (GPS) can be launched from your online student record. GPS will show how your courses can work towards your academic goals and will list courses you still need to complete.

We strongly encourage you to discuss your GPS results with your Degree Advisor or Program Chair.

For services over the phone or online, we protect your student record by using your student number, your online student record password, and a security question and answer. You create your question and answer, and you may change it at any time.

Photo identification is required to obtain services in person.

A parent, spouse, agent or friend may not act on your behalf to conduct any business or make any detailed inquiries about your account without your consent. To authorize someone to act on your behalf when speaking to us, you will need to provide them with your student number and the answer to your security question.

If you share this information with a third party, it is good practice to change it afterwards.

The VIU Safety App is available for Apple and Android devices.

In addition to allowing us to send messages to you in times of emergency, it features quick access to Campus Security, a personal safety toolbox, campus maps and more.

If you wish to temporarily withdraw from VIU for any reason, you may apply for a leave of absence for the remainder of the current academic year and the following year. Apply to the Dean of your program for a leave of absence. If your request is approved, when you return you will be considered a continuing student for the purpose of registration.

International students planning on being away from VIU for more than 5 months (150 days) should consult with a VIU Immigration Advisor regarding the impacts to health insurance and immigration status.

Pay parking is in effect at the Nanaimo Campus on a “First Come, First Parked” basis. Please check VIU Parking for information on parking regulations. Due to limited parking, alternative forms of transportation are encouraged such as public transit, carpooling, walking, or biking.

New and continuing international students are charged the guard.me international insurance fee of $246.00 per semester for basic medical coverage, until opt-out is confirmed after you receive valid BC MSP coverage. Please see Medical Insurance Information for more information.