Undergraduate Admission Requirements
Cape Breton University will not be offering admission into the Post-Baccalaureate Diplomas in Business Management or Healthcare Management, or the Diploma in Government Management, for May 2025 and September 2025.
| School of Arts and Social Sciences | |
| Bachelor of Arts | English 12 and 4 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 65%. |
| Bachelor of Arts (CO-OP) | English 12 and 4 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 75%. |
| Bachelor of Arts (Gaelic College Partnership at Beinn Mhabu Campus) | English 12 and 4 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 65%. |
| Bachelor of Arts Community Studies | English 12 and 4 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 65%. |
| Bachelor of Arts Community Studies (CO-OP) | English 12 and 4 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 75%. |
| Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environment | English 12, Mathematics 12, Science 12 (from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics) and 2 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 75%. |
| Bachelor of Social Work | Completion of an undergraduate degree (minimum 90-credit degree) and submission of transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. Minimum 70% average within the last 30 credits. Submission of personal statement which describes the applicant’s interest in social work. Submission of work and volunteer experience. Three references: one academic and two professional. Applications will be screened during the admissions process and selected applicants will move forward to an interview. All course requirements must be met by May 1 in order to be eligible for Fall admission. |
| Diploma in Government Management | English 12 and 4 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 65%. |
| Elmitek Program | English 12 and 4 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 65%. |
| Shannon School of Business | |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | English 12, Mathematics 12 and 3 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 65%. |
| Bachelor of Business Administration CO-OP | English 12, Mathematics 12 and 3 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 75%. |
| Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management | English 12, Mathematics 12 and 3 additional grade 12 courses. Minimum overall average of 65%. |
| Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Business Analytics | Graduate of an appropriately accredited university bachelor’s degree with nan overall average of B or higher. Students must also have 2 Mathematics/Statistics courses with B+ grades in their university courses. |
| Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Business Management | Graduate of an appropriately accredited university bachelor’s degree with an overall average of B or higher. |
| Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Health Care Management | Graduate of an appropriately accredited university bachelor’s degree with an overall average of B or higher. |
| Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Supply Chain Management | Graduate of an appropriately accredited university bachelor’s degree with an overall average of B or higher. |
| Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development | Bachelor’s degree with a B+ (75% average) from a recognized university. A resume detailing employment experience, skills, community involvement, and interests. A 500-800 word statement on desire to enter the program. Three reference letters, preferably one professional and one academic. Official score report showing satisfactory scores on the GMAT or GRE. |
| School of Science and Technology | ||||
| Bachelor of Science | English 12, Mathematics 12, 2 Science 12 (Chemistry, Physics, or Biology) and 1 additional grade 12 course. Minimum overall average of 65%. Physics recommended. | |||
| Bachelor of Engineering Transfer (Engineering Diploma) | English 12, Mathematics 12, 2 Science 12 (Chemistry, Physics, or Biology) and 1 additional grade 12 course. Minimum overall average of 65%. Pre-cal, Chemistry, and Physics recommended. | |||
| Bachelor of Engineering Technology | ||||
| – Electronics and Controls/Advanced Electronics |
|
|||
| – Environmental Studies |
|
|||
| – Petroleum |
|
|||
| – Chemical |
|
|||
| – Manufacturing | Appropriately accredited community college diploma at the technologist level. Interested students should contact the engineering department for further information or review our Articulation Agreement database: CBU Articulation Agreements | |||
| School of Education and Health | ||||
| Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health) |
|
|||
| Bachelor of Science, Nutrition | English 12, Mathematics 12, 2 Science 12 (Chemistry, Physics, or Biology) and 1 additional grade 12 course. Minimum overall average of 65%. Pre-cal, Biology, and Chemistry recommended. | |||
| Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management | Graduate of an appropriately accredited university bachelor’s degree with an overall average of B or higher. | |||
| Master of Education (Educational Technology) | In addition to meeting the requirements in the general degree regulations, Faculty of Education, MUN, candidates must have successfully completed one of: a diploma or certificate in information technology from an accredited institution; CBU EDUC5132; MUN E2751 and MUN E3751; or equivalent, as determined by the program steering committee. | |||
| Master of Education in Sustainability, Creativity and Innovation | Undergraduate degree with at least a 70% average. Current resume/CV. A 700-1000 word statement of intent, as well as an academic and professional letter of recommendation. | |||
| Diploma in Educational Technology | Graduate of an appropriately accredited undergraduate degree. | |||
| School of Nursing | ||||
| Bachelor of Science Nursing |
|
Admission Paths
Students may enter Cape Breton University by any of six paths, subject to restrictions of space and program capacity.
- Transfer: Applicants who transfer from another post-secondary institution and who are in good standing at that institution and who satisfy the admission requirements for their chosen program. Transfer students may be able to obtain credit in their CBU programs for courses taken elsewhere. Transcripts for all previous post-secondary education must be submitted with the application, even when transfer credits are not sought.
- Visiting: Visiting students from other post-secondary institutions who plan to take one or more courses at Cape Breton University, with the permission of their home institution, to transfer those credits back to their home institution. Permission must be granted from their home institution via a Letter of Permission.
- High School Graduates (direct from high school): High school graduates who satisfy the admission requirements of their chosen program. Students may also be admitted as non-traditional learners.
- Mature Learners: Applicants may also be admitted as non-traditional learners, such as a mature student (See Admission Requirement for Mature Students (Non-Traditional Learners).
- Post Degree or Post Diploma: Student returning to post-secondary education who have already completed a diploma or degree in cases where the degree is a requirement to admission (i.e. Master degrees, Post-baccalaureate diplomas, and professional degrees such as Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Education). Even in instances when the degree or diploma is not required for admission, transcripts for all previous post-secondary education must be submitted with the application.
- Auditing a Course: Applicants who wish to audit courses may attend with the permission of the instructor, but normally would not participate in written assignments or examinations set for the course. Applicants must submit an application to No Formal Program and notify the Registrar’s Office of their intention to audit a course.
Students who enter CBU through any of the above paths and who have not made a final decision in a program may register as students in No Formal Program.
Applicants will be required to submit official documents (e.g. transcripts from other institutions) when they apply for admission. Official documents can be submitted to admissions@cbu.ca or uploaded to an applicants’ Future Student Account (the account used to submit an application).
Documents submitted in support of an application for admission cannot be returned. Neither the documents nor copies of the documents will be returned to the applicant. Further, neither the documents nor copies of the documents will be issued to third parties.
Students will also require the approval of the relevant School Dean, via a Letter of Permission, to register at another university or college while attending CBU.
Admission of Students with Learning Differences
CBU recognizes that individual students may learn differently, and this recognition is reflected in its teaching strategies and methods of evaluation. Students who enter CBU who self-identify themselves as learners with exceptional needs will be provided with alternate academic support, so far as possible, within the resources of CBU. For more information contact CBU’s Jennifer Keeping Centre at (902) 563-1404 (voice) or (902) 539-4772 (TTY).
General Admission Requirements for Students from Outside of Nova Scotia
For all provinces except Quebec, students who have successfully completed university preparatory programs will be admitted, subject to the same grade and average requirements expected of Nova Scotia students and subject to program capacity. For Quebec students, the entrance requirement is one year of study at a CEGEP, with a 65% average.
Documents submitted in support of an application for admission cannot be returned. Neither the documents nor copies of the documents will be returned to the applicant. Further, neither the documents nor copies of the documents will be issued third to parties.
Present course code equivalencies from other Canadian provinces can be found at: Canadian Applicants – Cape Breton University : Cape Breton University (cbu.ca)
Admission Policy for International Baccalaureate (IB) Students
Completion of the IB Diploma is accepted as a credential for admission to degree programs, for applicants whose minimum IB Diploma score is 24 and who have completed IB English plus four other IB courses.
Additional requirements may apply to specific programs, in which case these program requirements must also be met. For example, the Bachelor of Science requires applicants to have English, Mathematics, 2 Sciences (from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geology), and one other course at the grade 12 or senior academic level. Applicants would be required to have met all requirements for admission.
Fall Admission for High School Students
Students may apply for early admission, commencing September 15 of the year in which they are registered in Grade 12.
Fall admission is available to those students who have meet the minimum admission grade requirements and who are currently registered in the Grade 12 courses that satisfy the admission requirements for the academic programs to which they are applying.
Students applying for fall admission must include with their application their final Grade 11 marks and proof of registration in their Grade 12 courses (for both semesters where applicable). Admission will be conditional, pending the successful and satisfactory completion of program requirements.
All students who are offered fall admission must submit an official high school transcript to the Office of the Registrar and Admissions by July 15 of their graduating year or the offer of admission may be withdrawn. Documents submitted in support of an application for admission cannot be returned. Neither the documents nor copies of the documents will be returned to the applicant. Further, neither the documents nor copies of the documents will be issued third parties.
**Applicants in previous years would apply for Early Fall Admission, requiring a 75% minimum average in Grade 11 and were registered in the Grade 12 courses that would satisfy the admission requirements for the academic programs to which they were applying. Refer to the Academic Calendar archives for this policy.**
Entrance Scholarships
An admission application and all required supporting documents, including a high school transcript showing both Grade 11 marks and mid-year and/or first semester Grade 12 marks, must be received in the Office of the Registrar and Admissions by March 1, in order to be considered for an entrance scholarship. For more information on scholarships and bursaries, criteria, policies and required supporting documents, visit www.cbu.ca/scholarships or email: awards@cbu.ca.
Admission Requirements for Mature Students (non-traditional learners)
Applicants who do not meet the usual qualifications for admission to Cape Breton University may be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts Community Studies, or No Formal Program as a Mature Student, provided they meet the following criteria:
- is at least 21 years of age (by the first day of classes);
- is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- is applying for the first year of an undergraduate program which does not require previous university-level study;
- and have not studied at the post-secondary level or have attempted one year or less of post-secondary study at least two years ago.
Please Note:
- admission to some programs will require the completion of required coursework (i.e. the Bachelor of Science requires applicants to have completed English, Mathematics, 2 Sciences, and one other course at the grade 12 or senior academic level);
- to prepare for university study, some upgrading may be required (i.e. upgrading Mathematics to meet the Bachelor of Science requirements);
- students who do not possess required admission coursework, can apply for No Formal Program to complete this coursework. It is recommended that applicants meet with an Admissions Specialist to determine what upgrading is required.
- domestic applicants who meet the above conditions and have completed a Canadian General Educational Development (GED) or the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) test are included under the Mature Student Policy for non-traditional learners).
English Language Proficiency
The majority of programs at Cape Breton University are taught in English. Students need strong English communication, listening, comprehension, reading and writing skills to be successful.
Cape Breton University has strong relationships with several English language partners including Cape Breton Language Centre (CBLC), English School of Canada (ESC), EC English Language School and ILAC. If an applicant’s first language is not English, they will need to provide documentation to show that CBU’s English language proficiency requirements have been met. See requirements below.
Please note that some programs have different language requirements other than the requirements noted below. Please refer to the program page of the specific program to confirm language requirements.
Official Testing Scores
Test results must be sent to Cape Breton University from one of the following agencies or upload to the applicant’s CBU Future Student account:
- TOEFL iBT (and iBT Home Edition): minimum overall score of 80 with no score below 20. www.ets.org
- IELTS Academic (and IELTS Indicator): minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. www.ielts.org
- CAEL: minimum score of 60. www.cael.ca
- MELAB: minimum score of 85. www.melab.ca
- Pearson PTE (Academic): minimum overall score of 59 with no score below 50. www.pearsonpte.com
- CanTEST: minimum score of 4.5 (reading & listening) and 4.0 (writing): www.cantest.ca
- Duolingo English Test: minimum score of 120 with no score below 105 for undergraduate programs, diplomas, and certificates. Minimum score of 125 with no score below 110 for Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Education, and Post-baccalaureate diplomas. www.englishtest.duolingo.com
English Proficiency Exemption
If an applicant has completed at least two years in a secondary school (as recognized by CBU) or has completed at least 30 credit hours (or equivalent) at a post-secondary institution (as recognized by CBU) where English is the primary language of instruction, they are not required to submit a language score. Official documentation such as an official Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter from the applicant’s previous institution will be required to confirm this period of study was in English.
If an applicant meets the English Proficiency Exemption and submits a language score anyway, the score will be assessed against the minimum score requirements listed above. If they meet the English Proficiency Exemption and has submitted a score that falls below the minimum score requirements above, the application will be deemed inadmissible. TO be considered for re-admission, an official test score must be submitted demonstrating the minimum scores are met.
In all cases, Cape Breton University reserves the right to require proof of language proficiency before permission will be granted to register in academic courses.
English Language Training
Cape Breton University has partnerships with English language training institutions. Students who successfully complete one of these programs are deemed to have met CBU’s English language proficiency requirements without further testing required. Please visit our web site at www.cbu.ca/admissions for further information.
From Other than High School
CBU recognizes extra-institutional learning and may grant credit for learning experiences acquired outside an educational institution. Students may obtain credit for such prior learning in either of two ways:
By presenting evidence demonstrating that the student has mastered the material covered in the course in question. The Dean of the appropriate academic school is responsible for ensuring that the relevant faculty member appraises such evidence of prior learning.
By challenging a course with the approval of the relevant school dean.
Home Schooled Students
CBU welcomes applications from home schooled students.
Home schooled applicants must also meet our general entrance requirements. Applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should provide as much supporting information as possible, including:
- A letter from the applicant setting out their educational goals
- A writing sample from the applicant
- Information from the educator about the curriculum followed
- List of textbooks used/books read
- Any available transcripts
- Results of any standardized testing (i.e. SAT or ACT)
- For any program requiring Pre-Calculus, we require completion of CBU’s Math Readiness Assessment
- Additional course-specific assessments may be required for admission
If you have questions, contact admissions@cbu.ca or call 902-563-1330
Information can also be found on CBU’s Admission for Canadian Applicants webpage.