All online MBA courses are paced, meaning there are scheduled start and end dates, and assignment deadlines within each course. Students in each intake progress through the program’s core courses as a cohort. Courses are also asynchronous—meaning you are never required to be online at a particular time.

Plan to spend 20 – 25 hours per week on your studies.

All online courses (core and elective) are eight weeks long.

Usual program completion time is two and one-half to three years; the program must be completed in five years.

Graduates earn a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in hockey management, awarded by Athabasca University.

Graduates who have hockey management and leadership experience also are eligible to earn the Certified Hockey Professional (CHP) designation from the Business of Hockey Institute.

Single course registration closes six weeks prior to start date.

Admissions committees within AU will review all applications and select a small class based on a comprehensive review of the applications received. This program is designed for elite individuals working within hockey and hockey-related industries. The right candidate, with an exceptional record of management and leadership outside of hockey, will also be considered.

Students will be assessed based on their progressive background of managing people, projects or budgets within their team, league, or related industry. The Admissions Committees consider your entire application profile holistically, including managerial/professional experience, your essay, letters of reference and academic records if applicable. With a limited number of openings available; this process is highly competitive.

Athabasca University provides admission pathways at the master’s level, that go beyond recognition of undergraduate degrees: if you do not have an undergraduate degree but have significant management experience (see pathway #3 below), we encourage you to apply.

You can apply to the AU online MBA in Hockey Management through one of three pathways:

• 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).
  or
• You hold an accepted professional designation (see list) and at least five years of managerial experience.
  or
• You have at least eight years of progressively responsible managerial experience. *

For more information about our entry routes, please visit: MBA Entry Routes

*Students who wish to apply to the Online MBA for executives using route 3 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.

Your application must include the following:

Resume

• 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

References

The MBA Admissions Committee prefers two business references and one academic reference. However, if an academic reference is unavailable, the Committee will accept 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 »

Essay

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?

Transcripts

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 university.

Applicants applying with an accepted professional designation must submit either official transcripts or an official letter of program completion confirming that the professional designation has been earned and that the member is in 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)

*For accelerated program application, grade equivalency assessment for each course is required in addition to the overall educational credential assessment. Please note that not all of the agencies listed for transcript assessment provide detailed course level assessment. You should check with the agency before applying for assessment.

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.

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