The rules for Summer Session are different from Fall and Spring.
Courses are shorter and deadlines come quicker.
This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about Summer Session.
The Registration Centre Team is available to provide personal assistance with any of your registration questions.
You can find a lot of helpful information at VIU Students and VIU International.
Your online student record
Access your student record and most registration services at my.viu.ca. 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
• and more.
Here’s what you need to know if you are waitlisted for any of your courses.
Before the first day of the semester:
• You will be enrolled automatically if a seat becomes available.
• You should drop waitlisted courses if you are no longer interested.
Once the semester begins:
• You won’t be enrolled automatically if a seat becomes available.
• You should check your online student record each day for the first three days of the semester (May 5, 6 and 7; June 23, 24 and 25)
• If a seat becomes available, it will be held for you temporarily.
You will have until the end of the day to claim it through your online student record.
• If you do not claim the seat on the day it’s held, you will be removed from the waitlist.
Here’s how to check your online student record to ensure that you meet prerequisites and corequisites for courses:
• Go to “Web Registration,” and then “Register” for the May or June 2025 Term.
• Select “Check Prerequisites/Corequisites”. Any unmet requirements will be noted in red print.
• Please withdraw from courses if you will not meet the requirements.
If you do not meet course requirements, you may be withdrawn. By the time you are withdrawn, it may be too late to register for another course.
If you think you meet the requirements, or you would like to have them waived, you must get approval from the Department Chair at least two 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 third day of each term.
• May term: up to Wednesday, May 7.
• June term: up to Wednesday, June 25.
If you want to add a course after those times, you will need instructor permission. Use Web Registration in your student record to start 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 recommend you begin your courses on time. If you are unable to participate at the start of the semester, you can maintain your enrolment for up to one week by notifying the instructor of your absence by email before 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.
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 just not show up.
When you drop a course, it can have a big impact on your:
- fees
- grades
- student loan eligibility
- sponsorship eligibility
- immigration status
Fees: Please take note of these important deadlines if you are considering dropping a course.
If you have paid a tuition deposit, it is fully non-refundable and will be deducted from any refund you may be eligible for.
May Term
| Date of Withdrawal | Withdrawing from all May Term courses (full withdrawal) | Withdrawing from 1 or more, but not all, May Term courses (partial withdrawal) |
| Before the start of the term: up to and including Friday, May 2 | 100% refund of tuition fees | 100% refund of tuition fees |
| Within the first week of the term: Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9 | 90% refund of tuition fees | 100% refund of tuition fees |
| Monday, May 12 (tuition due date) to Friday, May 16 | 50% refund of tuition fees | 50% refund of tuition fees |
| Saturday May 17 and beyond | No refund | No refund |
June Term
| Date of Withdrawal | Withdrawing from all June Term courses (full withdrawal) | Withdrawing from 1 or more, but not all, June Term courses (partial withdrawal) |
| Before the start of the term: up to and including Friday, June 20 | 100% refund of tuition fees | 100% refund of tuition fees |
| Within the first week of the term: Monday, June 23 to Friday, June 27 | 90% refund of tuition fees | 100% refund of tuition fees |
| Monday, June 30 (tuition due date) to Friday, July 4 | 50% refund of tuition fees | 50% refund of tuition fees |
| Saturday, July 5 and beyond | No refund | No refund |
Grades: The last day to drop a course to avoid getting an "F" grade assigned is Friday, June 13 for the May Term, and Friday, August 1 for the June Term.
Student loan eligibility; sponsorship eligibility; immigration status: If you are considering dropping below a full-time course load, we encourage you to discuss your plans with a VIU Academic Advisor or Immigration Advisor.
VIU reserves the right to reschedule and/or cancel a course. You will receive a full refund if the course is cancelled.
You can order official transcripts through your online student record or by calling the Registration Centre. The fee is $13.25 copy.
A rush transcript, ordered to go out by mail the next day, is available for $22.05 per copy.
You can access an unofficial transcript at no charge in your online student record.
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At the end of the term, your grades will be posted to your online student record. If you choose to appeal your final grade, 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 or
advising.cowichan@viu.ca
By telephone:
Cowichan: 250·746·3509
Nanaimo: 1·888·920·2221 or 250·740·6410
tiwšεmawtxw campus: 604·485·2878
For further information, please visit VIU Advising.
You can launch VIU’s Goal Planning System (GPS) 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 asking for:
• your student number
• your online student record password
• the answer to a security question (you create your question and answer, and you may change it at any time)
Photo identification is required for in-person services.
A parent, spouse 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 give them your student number and the answer to your security question. If you share this information with a third party, it's a good practice to change it afterwards.
The VIU Safety App is available for Apple and Android devices. It allows us to send messages to you in times of emergency and features:
• quick access to Campus Security
• a personal safety toolbox,
• campus maps
• and more
If you wish to temporarily withdraw and maintain your status at VIU, you may apply for a leave of absence for the remainder of the current academic year and the following year. If your request is approved, when you return you will be considered a continuing student for the purpose of registration.
International students considering a leave of absence should consult with a VIU Immigration Advisor regarding the impact to health insurance and immigration status.
Pay parking is in effect at the Nanaimo campus on a “first come, first parked” basis. Learn more about VIU Parking and parking regulations. Due to limited parking, we encourage you to use alternative forms of transportation 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. If you have received BC MSP coverage, you may apply to opt out. See guard.me for more information.
Please read our emails!
Emails from registration@viu.ca or advising@viu.ca will always contain important and timely information for you. To ensure our emails are not identified as spam and filtered out of your inbox, please add our addresses to the list of contacts in your email program.