How can I pay my student tuition, deposit and fees?
Student credit and non-credit tuition, deposit and fees can be paid in the following manner:
Make a payment within Canada
Vancouver Island University is registered as a “payee” with most Canadian banks and many credit unions and trust companies.
Log into your online banking:
If your bank is not listed, google search for your Bank’s login page.
Bank Account Set Up
Sign-in to your bank account, either directly through the bank’s website or through your Online Student Record as there is a link to all the major bank websites under “Finances” in your Student Record. Note: Even if you didn't use Web Registration, you can still pay your tuition online. Log onto your Online Student Record, go to “Finances” on the menu bar, scroll down to internet banking, chose your bank and the link will redirect you to your bank login.
- Click on 'Pay Bills’, then 'Create/Update Payee List', then 'Add a New Payee'.
- For 'Payee Name' type Vancouver Island University, click search, then choose it from the match list.
- Enter your 9-digit Vancouver Island University student number as your account number (no spaces or dashes).
- Vancouver Island University (VIU) should now be set up as a "Payee" and you may pay your fees on-line directly from your bank account
Fee Payment
- To make an on-line payment, sign in to your bank account, select 'Pay Bills’, input the required information, selecting Vancouver Island University as the Payee.
- Once the transaction has been confirmed, take a screen shot for your records.
- Always remember to sign out of your on-line banking account and clear the history on the computer if you are not using your personal computer.
Confirmation of Payment Received
The date that you pay through online banking will be the date recorded as the "date paid" in your Student Record when the payment is posted. Allow 2 – 4 business days for the payment to be posted on your student record.
To check that the payment has been posted, sign into your My Student Record, select “Finances” from the menu on the left-hand side. Under account type Click on 'the account name for example Tuition or application fees, the payment should appear under “Payment details”. A receipt button will appear to the right of a payment to allow you to be able to print a receipt if needed.
Interest will not be charged if you pay by the due date.
If you have a hold on your student account due to overdue fees, the hold will lift when the payment is posted to your account.
Cheques, money orders or bank drafts should be made payable to "Vancouver Island University" in Canadian funds. To ensure that your account is correctly credited, you must print your Vancouver Island University nine digit student ID number and full name on the front of the cheque, money order or draft.
Mailed or drop off as follows:
Mail to
Vancouver Island University — Accounts Receivable
900 Fifth St, Nanaimo, BC Canada V9R 5S5
Drop Box location
Main Campus Nanaimo - Cashier's Drop Box
Student Affairs Building 200,
Level three outside main double doors
Nanaimo, BC Canada V9R 5S5
View the Nanaimo Campus Map
We recommend that you use online banking method for payment, if this is not possible, we do accept cheques, money orders or bank drafts. The University is not responsible for mail service delivery, allow adequate time for mailed payments to reach the University. Postmarks on envelopes are not accepted as the received date. If a payment is received past the fee deadline indicated in your student record, interest and/or a late payment fee will be assessed.
For your protection, it is suggested that you use a trackable courier/postal service and for your protection keep the receipt. Once you have confirmation from the trackable courier that delivery has occurred to the University, allow 10 business days for the payment to show on your account. To check that the payment has been received, sign into your Online Student Record, select "Finances" from the menu on the left-hand side. Under account type Click on the account name for example Tuition or application fees. The payment should appear under “payment details”. A receipt button will appear to the right of a payment to allow you to be able to print a receipt if needed.
Log onto your Online Student Record, select "Finances" link on the menu bar to the left. Any fees that can be paid by credit card are visible when viewing “Finances”. The default payment amount is the total currently due or overdue in all your accounts that accept credit cards. Payment will be distributed between all those accounts which have outstanding charges, in due date order. The maximum you may pay is the total balance in all of those accounts.
To make a payment enter the amount you wish to pay below and click on 'Pay Now'. You will be taken to a page where you may enter your credit card information.
Formal sponsorship is based on a letter from the sponsoring organization committing to a legal contract with Vancouver Island University on behalf of the student. Please see Sponsoring a Student, for more information and VIU’s Application for Sponsorship.
Make a payment from outside Canada
Preferred payment method for international students:
Vancouver Island University has partnered with PayMyTuition for international tuition and fees payments. With PayMyTuition, you can pay your tuition and school-related invoices from any bank, in any country in any currency at better than bank exchange rates. PayMyTuition is fast, simple, and cost effective.
How to initiate your payment:
- Sign into your My Student Record portal.
- From the navigation panel, select the “Finances” tab:
3. Then "Fees and Due Dates"
4. To initiate your payment, adjust your Payment Amount if needed, then select “Pay Now: International” to be redirected to the PayMyTuition payment portal:
Or you can visit the PayMyTuition payment gateway directly to make a payment, or to make a payment on behalf of a student.
Please note you will need a valid student ID to create a transaction.
Additional Information on PayMyTuition:
How to make a payment – step-by-step PDFs:
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Vietnamese
- Japanese
- Korean
- Traditional Chinese / Simplified Chinese
- Arabic
- Punjabi
- Hindi
- Farsi
- Turkish
- German / Bernese German
- Swedish
- Dutch
PayMyTuition customer support information:
Call 1.855.663.6839 (toll-free) or through one of their local country contact numbers. You can also reach PayMyTuition Support at support@paymytuition.com or through their support page.
No matter what time zone you are in, you will have a dedicated customer support team available to you through live chat, email and phone to answer any of your questions and help you make your payment.
Methods of Payment Not Accepted or Have Limitations
Student tuition, deposits and fees payment method that are not accepted or have limitations include:
- Payment in Person: Not accepted
- Debit Cards: Not accepted
- Cash: Not accepted
- Credit Cards: Limited to the tuition, deposits or fees listed under “Credit Card” in your Online Student Record when viewing “Finances”
- Third Party Credit Card: Vancouver Island University does not encourage the use of third party credit card payment services
Frequently Asked Questions
Call or email the Central Cashier’s office at 250.740.6236 or email Cashier@viu.ca.
Most tuition fees cannot be paid by credit card.
In your Online Student Record any tuition or other fees that can be paid by credit card are visible when viewing “Finances”. The fees that can be paid with a credit card will be listed under “Credit Card”.
No, it is not possible to pay tuition, deposits or fees in cash.
No, it is not possible to pay by debit card, however through your Canadian bank account you can pay through online banking.
No however computer terminals are available in various areas of the University if you do not have access to a computer.
Yes, someone else can pay your balance. If the person wishing to pay on your behalf has access to internet banking, they can set-up Vancouver Island University as one of their payees and use your Vancouver Island University nine digit student ID as the account number.
Yes, more than one person can make a payment towards your outstanding balance. If the persons wishing to pay on your behalf have access to internet banking, they each can set-up Vancouver Island University as one of their payees and use your Vancouver Island University nine digit student ID as the account number. As the student, you are responsible for coordinating the payments so that your account is not over- or under-paid.
Formal sponsorship is based on a letter from the sponsoring organization committing to a legal contract with Vancouver Island University on behalf of the student. Please see Sponsoring a Student, for more information and VIU’s Application for Sponsorship.
In general, payments should appear on your account within 2-4 business days.
Students should check Financial Aid and Awards for information.