The VIU Campus – Semester Abroad Canada

The VIU Campus – Semester Abroad Canada

The VIU Campus

Report by Sabrina H.

VIU

Since my home university is rather small and does not have many different buildings, I considered the VIU Campus to be quite big. However, it took me only a few days to find my way around and you also get a map of the campus on your first day which makes it even easier. The most important building on the first day is the Centre for International Education (255). That is where students get all the information they need for organization purposes.

Way to Campus_Sabrina Haible

The Campus is located on the hillside so student’s at VIU need to prepare themselves for walking up many, many stairs everyday which is a great exercise but can get really exhausting and annoying when you are running late. However, students enjoy a stunning view from the library and some buildings due to the hillside. At some days, depending on the weather, I could even see the mountains and the sea.

Facilities

The Campus provides a Lower-Cafeteria with a Bakery (185), a Main-Cafeteria (300) and a small coffee shop in the library (305). At least these are the Cafeterias/Coffee Shops I used for getting food and coffee during my semester. The Main Cafeteria offers nice snacks as for instance Sandwiches, pastries, and also hot food, however, I liked the coffee from the coffee shop in the library more. Also, for quick snacks as for example cereal bars I would go to the coffee shop.

The Book Store (also in Building 305 in the library) is great for shopping notepads, pencils and simply everything you need during the semester as a student. They also offer VIU Sweaters and other VIU articles which I bought as souvenirs.

Events on Campus

Library_Sabrina Haible

Frequently, different events take place on Campus, too. For example a „puppy day“ for stress relief during the examination period. Many different dogs came on Campus and the students could play and cuddle with them. Sometimes there are events from the Students’ Union including some food like Barbecue or some students would promote their projects from their classes and selling different products. I really enjoyed that there was always something going on On-Campus and it brought variation to the daily lives of the students.

All in all, I really enjoyed studying at VIU and tried to attend as many events as possible during the semester and also tried to take as many opportunities as possible provided by the VIU Campus.