Graduate Applications

• A list of current and past job positions (most recent first) that includes
  • company name and industry sector
  • position duration (month and year) and location
  • employment status (full-time or part-time)
  • for part-time employment (less than 35 hours per week), average hours worked per week
• Description of duties and responsibilities that includes
  • managerial and supervisory experience, including project management
  • number of direct reports
  • budgetary responsibilities
• Formal education and training that includes
  • name of post-secondary institution attended
  • degree or program sought or obtained
  • start and end dates (month and year)
  • academic achievements or awards received
  • other training / educational experiences that relate to career and education goals (i.e. courses, workshops attended, etc.)
• Additional information that includes
  • informal activities or life experiences that relate to career and graduate education goals
  • a list of memberships in professional organizations
  • a list of volunteer and community roles and activities

The MBA Admissions Committee requires three reference letters, which may be two business references and one academic reference, or three business references.

References must be submitted by individuals who will be able to attest to the depth and breadth of your managerial experience and suitability for graduate level studies.

References submitted by relatives or friends will not be accepted.

• Academic reference guidelines »
• Business reference guidelines »

Professional Designations and Partnership Applicants:

If you are applying with an accepted professional designation (see list), you can submit two business reference letters plus one “letter of good standing” confirming your membership is in good standing from your provincial or territorial association/society.

To assess your managerial experience and your potential for graduate level studies, completion of a brief (1000 word) essay is required. Please respond to the following four questions in your essay:

• Why do you want to apply to the MBA program?
• How have your managerial responsibilities changed and progressed throughout your career?
• In the positions you have held, what three experiences have had the most impact on the development of your managerial skills and abilities?
• What do you expect the program to offer you in terms of personal development, career development and learning?

Official transcripts of your post-secondary educational achievements must be sent directly to the Faculty of Business, Graduate Studies from the respective institution(s) before the application deadline. These transcripts provide the basis for evaluating your educational history and for determining your capacity for graduate studies.

Your undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree must be a three (3) or four (4) year degree in any discipline from an accredited post-secondary institution.

Applicants applying with an accepted professional designation (see list) must submit an official letter of program completion ("letter of good standing") confirming that the professional designation has been earned and that the member is in good standing.

In addition to official post-secondary transcripts, applicants applying with the CPA or SCMP designation, must also submit an official designation transcript with a "letter of good standing".

Please have each institution email official transcripts to: ssq@fb.athabascau.ca

• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
• World Education Services-Canada (WES)

*If you have a degree accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) or Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the additional assessment is not required.

All applicants are required to complete and submit an online application form. Once you begin the process of applying, the form will save your progress and allow you to return on multiple occasions to complete any required fields and attach required documents.

You may choose to submit the form and all required supporting documents at once or submit one at a time as they are completed.

Applicants without an undergraduate degree must apply to and successfully complete phase one of the MBA (first six courses and comprehensive exam), earning the Graduate Diploma in Management, and then apply to transfer into the remainder of the MBA. When completing the online application form, select GDM as your program type.

Online Application Form

The application fee for Athabasca University Faculty of Business graduate programs is two hundred and five dollars in Canadian currency ($207 CAD), and is non-refundable.

You will be asked to provide payment by Visa, Mastercard, Debit Visa or Debit Mastercard when you submit your online application.

Additional Fees

Applicants applying to the accelerated entry, with an accounting designation or with the SCMP designation are also required to pay a $301 transfer credit evaluation fee.

Course fees due upon registration.

You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

Your resume should include the following information:
A list of current and past job positions (most recent first) that includes

• Company name and industry sector
• Position duration (month and year) and location

Description of duties and responsibilities that includes

• Managerial and supervisory experience, including project management
• Number of direct report
• Budgetary responsibilities

Formal education and training that includes

• Name of post-secondary institution(s) attended
• Degree(s) or program(s) sought or obtained
• Start and end dates (month and year)
• Academic achievements or awards
• Other training / educational experiences that relate to career and education goals (i.e. courses, workshops attended, etc.)

Additional information that includes

• Informal activities or life experiences that relate to career and graduate education goals
• A list of memberships in professional organizations
• A list of volunteer and community roles and activities

References must be submitted by individuals who will be able to attest to the depth and breadth of your managerial experience and suitability for doctoral level studies.

Submit three currently dated letters, one of which is from a current or previous employer. Where possible, one of the three letters should be from an academic who is in a position to judge your previous academic performance. If an academic reference is unavailable, the Admissions Committee will accept three business references. References submitted by relatives or friends will not be accepted.

• Academic Reference Form (PDF)
• Business Reference Form (PDF)

Important: In accordance with the Province of Alberta’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the information contained in letters of reference is not considered confidential. You may, upon request, view the information. It is your responsibility to notify your references of this fact.

Compose a 500 to 1000 word expression of research interests. Please address the following:

1. The topic you would like to research, your research question(s), and potential managerial implications;
2. Personal and/or professional motivations that explain your interest in the topic and why you believe doing research about it is important;
3. Some background knowledge about the topic and proposed research, using a combination of existing publications and applicant experience.

Official transcripts of your post-secondary educational achievements, including any professional designation transcripts, must be sent directly to the Faculty of Business from the respective institution(s) before the application deadline. These transcripts provide the basis for evaluating your educational history and for determining your capacity for graduate studies.

Please have each institution email official transcripts to: ssq@fb.athabascau.ca

NOTE: For applicants with degrees obtained outside of Canada or the United States, your educational qualifications may require independent assessment. International transcripts can be assessed by:

• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS)
• World Education Services-Canada (WES)

Please contact Student Services at 780-488-2832 or 1-800-561-4650 to determine if this applies to you. Details regarding this service will be provided at that time.

DBA applicants must meet the English Language Proficiency Requirements outlined by the University's Faculty of Graduate Studies, subject to the following additional requirements:

• Applicants who submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must obtain a minimum score of 25 on the written component (internet-based test).
• Applicants who submit the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) must obtain a minimum score of 6.5.

Documented proof must be submitted with the application for admission. Scores more than two years old are not acceptable.

Note: In addition, foreign language students may be asked to complete the CanTEST prior to or following registration and, if need be, remedial measures in language skills based on the results of the CanTEST may be recommended.

The application fee for the online DBA program is two hundred and seven dollars in Canadian currency, and is non-refundable. You will be asked to provide payment by Visa, Mastercard, Debit Visa or Debit Mastercard when you submit your online application.

• A list of current and past job positions (most recent first) that includes:
  • Company name and industry sector
  • Position duration (month and year) and location
  • Employment status (full-time or part-time)
  • For part-time employment (less than 35 hours per week), average hours worked per week
  • Description of duties and responsibilities for each position held
• Formal education and training (if applicable) that includes:
  • Name of post-secondary institution attended
  • Degree or program sought or obtained
  • Start and end dates (month and year)
  • Other training / educational experiences that relate to career and education goals (i.e. courses, workshops attended, etc.)
• Additional information that includes:
  • Informal activities or life experiences that relate to career and graduate education goals
  • A list of memberships in professional organizations
  • A list of volunteer and community roles and activities

If you have completed prior post-secondary education, official transcripts must be sent directly to the Faculty of Business, Graduate Studies from the respective institution(s).

Please have each institution email official transcripts to: ssq@fb.athabascau.ca

One letter of reference must be submitted by individuals who will be able to attest to your work experience and suitability for graduate level studies.

A reference submitted by a relative or friend will not be accepted.