Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection at Vancouver Island University

Programme overview

The Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection at VIU is for environmental stewards who are ready to turn their passion for nature conservation, nature protection and natural resource management into a career. The program is the only one of its kind in British Columbia, and offers small classes and expert instruction. Students benefit from experiential learning in a four-month practicum in the industry.

Faculty: Science, Engineering and Technology | Duration: 4 years | Study mode: full-time | Intake: The Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection program has one intake each Fall | Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

What you will study

Courses include Projects in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Monitoring, Research Methods in Natural Resource Management, Research Methods in Geography, Natural Resource Forensic Investigations, Business and Technical Writing, Geographic Information Systems, GIS for Natural Sciences.

Career pathways

Students that graduate with the Bachelor of Natural Resource Protection will be able to find employment in many different fields of natural resource management and protection. This includes Law enforcement officers enforcing natural resource, fish, wildlife, and park related legislation, Environmental consultants, Fish and Wildlife technicians and biologists, among others.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Completion of Vancouver Island University’s Resource Management Officer Technology diploma, Forest Resources Technology diploma, or Fisheries & Aquaculture diploma, with a minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”), or; Completion of a fish and wildlife or natural resource technology diploma program accredited with the North American Wildlife Technology Association (minimum grade point average of 2.33 (“C+”).; Diploma graduates from 2-year natural resource technology programs not accredited with the North American Wildlife Technology Association may apply and the diploma will be assessed for equivalency.; Notes on Admission; Admission to the third year of the degree program is limited. Students who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements may not necessarily be admitted to the program. In times of high demand, applicants may be prioritized by overall grade point average. A...

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Most programmes start in September; January intake is offered for some bachelor's degrees and other programmes; many programmes offer alternative start dates throughout the year.

The deadline to apply for most undergraduate programs that begin in September is March 31; deadlines for other start dates vary by program.

Extended deadline of August 16, 2026 for Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science; Business Management Certificate, Event Management Certificate, Education Assistant and Community Support Certificate, Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care, Health Care Assistant Certificate and Practical Nursing Diploma list ongoing deadlines.

Applications for most academic programs open October 1 in the year before the program start date (applications for programs beginning September 2027 open October 1, 2026); deadlines vary by program.

Application fee: domestic undergraduate $46.98, domestic graduate $121.86, international all programs $156.06 (non-refundable); no application fee for Adult Basic Education.

Apply through the official page: https://www.viu.ca/apply

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