Two students are sitting in a classroom, looking off into the distance and smiling

VIU Cowichan campus

At the Cowichan campus you’ll find dedicated faculty, small class sizes and close-knit community to support you in your academic success and well-being.

Browse programs and courses at Cowichan

Walking together

At the Cowichan campus small class sizes and hands-on learning creates real connections—with other students, with faculty, the community, and with the land. 

We focus on Q’ushin’tul (Walking Together). Q’ushin’tul is a Hul’qumi’num word that translates to Walking together. It's an Indigenous approach to education that promotes academic success and student well-being. 

"The spirit of Q'ushin'tul is to walk together in everything: education, employment, and life. At VIU we are walking together with students to create a balance of education and values based in indigenous ways of knowing and being." – VIU Elder Hwiem' (Marlene) Rice

Programs and Courses

Discover the programs and courses available at our Cowichan campus.

Cowichan Programs and Courses

Student Support Services

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Cowichan Student Services

Cowichan Campus and Facilities

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Cowichan Campus

Find out what's new at the Cowichan campus

What's New

VIU News

VIU-led project working to protect Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region ecosystems

Eastern Vancouver Island is one of nine eco-crisis regions in Canada. Only about three per cent of the land in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) is...

Preserving feminist health history to empower future activism and work

Vancouver Island University (VIU) researchers are digitizing Vancouver Women’s Health Collective documents to preserve feminist health activism for future...

Writing from the heart – my reflections on how to action reconciliation

“How many languages do you speak?” Invariably when I ask this to a room full of VIU graduate students there are always a couple who can speak more than five. I...

5 Questions with Dr. Carolyn Swanson

Dr. Carolyn Swanson is a VIU professor and chair of the Philosophy department. She also runs marathons – and she’s fast. Based on her time in last year’s Royal...

Cowichan VIU Events

Oct
9

Positive Space Alliance Socials

VIU’s Positive Space Alliance socials are back for the fall semester! Join us for a fun, inclusive space open to everyone of any sexual orientation and gender…
Oct
9

Green Break

Open to all VIU students!Take some minutes to drop in on October 09, any time between 04:30 – 06:30 pm, to the Cedar Centre at VIU Residence common for a…
Oct
9

Resource Management and Protection Webinar

Email RMOT@viu. ca to express your interest and you will receive the webinar link a few days before the event. This program is designed to prepare…
Oct
9

Future Student Webinar

When you attend an info session with a recruiter from the Office of Future Students you’ll get an overview of VIU. We’ll review the variety of programs VIU…