BSc Biology at Vancouver Island University

Programme overview

With VIU's Bachelor of Science in Biology you can immerse yourself in exploration of the living world and gain the skills you need for a rewarding career in life sciences and related fields. Whether you're looking for a pre-med or pre-veterinary degree or you want to pursue marine biology or another discipline, a VIU Biology degree has a lot to offer you. VIU's BSc in Biology focuses on hands-on learning and a personalized approach in the classroom and labs.

Faculty: Science, Engineering and Technology | Duration: 4 years | Study mode: full-time | Intake: The Bachelor of Science Program has four intakes per year; September, January, May, and June. | Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

What you will study

Courses include Introductory Zoology Laboratory, Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Chemistry Fundamentals I Laboratory, Chemistry Fundamentals II Laboratory, Calculus I, Calculus II, Physics for the Life Sciences I, Physics for the Life Sciences II.

Career pathways

A BSc in Biology opens doors to a wide range of rewarding career paths in fields like healthcare, conservation, biotechnology and more. Roles include research scientist; laboratory technician; conservation biologist; ecologist; environmental scientist; biotechnologist; science writer or communicator; teacher or educator.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

General admission requirements apply.; A minimum "B" grade in either Pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12.; Notes on Admission; Courses in first year have different prerequisites. To satisfy all first year course prerequisites, students must complete all of the following B.C. Secondary School course requirements:A minimum grade of "C" in English 12; A minimum grade of "C+" in each of Biology 11 or 12, Chemistry 11 and 12 and Physics 11 (Principles of Physics 11); and,; A minimum grade of "B" in Mathematics 12 (Pre-calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12).; Physics 12 is recommended but not required.; Some seats are available for students who have only completed Chemistry 11 with a minimum "C+".; Students who do not satisfy all of the first year course prerequisites will not likely be able to complete the full degree program in four years. Students who are lacking any or...

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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