Graduate studies application process

• 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 3 reference letters, which may be 2 business references and 1 academic reference, or 3 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 2 business reference letters plus 1 “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 4 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 3 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 determining your graduate studies capacity.

Your undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree must be a 3- or 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."

Athabasca University accepts transcripts shared through MyCreds™ If you cannot share your transcripts via MyCreds™, kindly request your post-secondary institution to email your official transcripts to fbgradenrol@athabascau.ca.

If official transcripts are received by mail, they must be sent directly from your post-secondary institution to:

Faculty of Business, Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB
T9S 3A3

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

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

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 6 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

All fees for the program are available on the Calendar.

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 reports
• 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 3 currently dated letters, 1 of which is from a current or previous employer. Where possible, 1 of the 3 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 3 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.

Athabasca University accepts transcripts shared through MyCreds™ If you cannot share your transcripts via MyCreds™, kindly request your post-secondary institution to email your official transcripts to fbgradenrol@athabascau.ca.

If official transcripts are received by mail, they must be sent directly from your post-secondary institution to:

Faculty of Business, Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB
T9S 3A3

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

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

Doctorate  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 2 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.

All fees for the program are available on the Calendar.