Online MBA Entry Routes

There are 4 routes of entry into AU’s MBA for executives.

Athabasca University follows the “Open University” philosophy. A key part of our mission and mandate is to reduce barriers to entering post-secondary education globally. At the master’s level, this includes admission pathways that go beyond recognition of undergraduate degrees: if you do not have an undergraduate degree but have significant management experience (see pathway #4 below), we encourage you to apply.

• Standard Entry
  Undergraduate Degree + 3 years managerial experience.
• Accelerated Entry
  Undergraduate Degree in business completed within the past 10 years + 3 years managerial experience and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher for the last 60 credits taken.
• Professional Designation Holders
  You hold an accepted professional designation and at least 5 years of managerial experience.
• Progressive Management Experience
  You have at least 8 eight years of progressively responsible managerial experience.

Do I Qualify for the AU Online MBA?

Standard Entry

The Admissions Committee considers your entire application profile holistically, including academic records, managerial/professional experience, your essay, and letters of reference. You are assessed on your own merit and your application is considered separately from other applications.

If you have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university plus at least three years of managerial experience (managerial experience must demonstrate progressive responsibility and should include managing people, projects, or budgets, or any combination of these).

Applying with a non-Canadian undergraduate degree

If your undergraduate degree is from a university 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)

*If your business degree is from a university whose business programs are accredited by AACSB or EQUIS, this requirement will be waived.

Accelerated Entry

A new admission route for undergraduate business degree holders.

Finish your Athabasca University (AU) online MBA for executives in as little as 19 months if you already have a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Management, or similar business degree, and at least three years of management experience.

This accelerated route to your MBA for executives acknowledges that your undergraduate studies—in combination with the experience you have gained in the workplace since graduating—provide a solid base from which to advance into senior management study and practice. The accelerated online MBA route gives you the flexibility to tailor your master’s studies to your own interests and career goals.

Once you have completed two mandatory courses, you can design the rest of your program using a combination of online and in-residence electives, international electives and, if you choose, a major research project. Because the accelerated online MBA route is part of our flagship online MBA for executives, all students study together, meaning you will enjoy the full benefits of peer learning within a student body that spans industries, sectors, and organizations across Canada and around the world (see ‘Being an AU MBA Student’).

Professional Designation Entry

At AU, we recognize that achieving certain professional designations requires considerable study and subject mastery.

The following designations have been evaluated by our academic team and deemed acceptable for admission to the online MBA for executives program. Approved professional designations are accepted in combination with at least five years of managerial experience. All other admission requirements must be met.

*Please note that acceptable professional designations are subject to change.

Acceptable Professional Designations

ACCA	Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
ACMA	Associate Chartered Management Accountant
AScT	Applied Science Technologist
CA	Chartered Accountant
CET	Certified Engineering Technologist
CFA	Certified/Chartered Financial Analyst
CGA	Certified General Accountant
CGAP	Certified Government Auditing Professional
CGMA	Chartered Global Management Accountant
CHE	Certified Health Executive
CMA	Certified Management Accountant
CPA	Chartered Professional Accountant
CHRL	Certified Human Resources Leader*
CPHR	Chartered Professional in Human Resources (formerly CHRP)*
EcD	Certified Economic Developer
C Mgr	Chartered Manager
FCIP	Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional
FCMA	Fellow Chartered Management Accountant
FCSI	Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute
ISP	Information Systems Professional
PEng	Professional Engineer
PTech, (Eng)	Professional Technologist, Engineering
PQS	Professional Quantity Surveyor
RET	Registered Engineering Technologist
PBA	Professional Business Accountant
SCMP	Supply Chain Management Professional

Review of New Designations:

If you have a professional designation that does not appear on this list, but you believe it to be academically equivalent, please email us at business@athabascau.ca. Include the designation name, the granting association, and contact information for the association (including a website link, if applicable).

Progressive Management Experience

Students who wish to apply to the Online MBA for executives using this route must apply to the Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) first. Upon successful completion of all Phase One courses and the comprehensive exam, they may apply to transfer into Phase Two of the MBA.

• Learn More about the GDM
• Apply for the GDM
• Speak to an Advisor