International students must have a budget of 35,000 CAD-50,000 CAD (20 lakhs to 29 lakhs) to cover tuition, living expenses in Canada, and meals.

Students can live in twelve housing buildings on the Nanaimo campus's western edge. Every year, about 500 students live in Vancouver Island University dormitories. There are three primary construction styles available: townhouse, traditional/dorm, and apartment. The cost of on-campus living ranges from $4,800 to $7,800. The typical off-campus cost of living in Canada for a student ranges from 15,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD, depending on lifestyle and preferences. This varies from province to province in Canada.

The university has a total enrollment of 10652 students, including over 1,800 international students. VIU boasts a 60-70 percent admission rate and admits a rising number of students from all around the world each year.

Nanaimo is the university's main campus, covering 92 acres. In addition, the institution has campuses in Cowichan and Powell River. Parksville-Qualicum Centre is also a university-exclusive study centre. The university's three campuses are all located in lovely coastal communities with a rich cultural diversity. The campuses are outfitted with world-class infrastructure to provide the finest learning experience possible. The campuses have high-tech laboratories, libraries, art studios, mathematics centres, computer labs, writing centres, and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity. The faculty of Vancouver Island University is well qualified. In addition, famous professors, scientists, and industry specialists are invited to give guest lectures on campus.

When it was initially accredited, VIU School of Business was one of three Canadian business schools that had been internationally accredited by ACBSP.

MBA and MSc IB graduates can work in Canada for up to 14 months to three years, in addition to four-month MBA internships; such students have a better chance of developing their careers than their peers. Every spring, the VIU employment centre offers career fairs where students can interact with recruiters. Since 2014, 2053 employers have collaborated with VIU to provide students with work-integrated learning opportunities. The annual pay range for VIU MBA grads is 31,000-60,000 CAD.