Cape Breton University European-Canadian Online MBA (Pilot)

Program Duration:

16-24 months

Next Available Intake:

Fall 2025

An Online MBA Designed for Changemakers in Canada and Europe

Weekend Classes

16 weekends/year for 2 years

Courses

16 total

Tuition

Semester-by-semester basis

Online Delivery

Real Time Classes

The Cape Breton University (CBU) MBA in Community Economic Development (CED) is proud to launch its first European-Canadian Online MBA Cohort—a pilot program bringing together professionals from Canada and Europe in a truly collaborative, online learning experience.

Whether you’re working in NGOs, government, non-profits, social enterprises, or community-focused business sectors, this MBA is built for leaders like you—driven by purpose and determined to make a difference.

Who Is This Program For?

This program is designed for individuals who:

  • Are passionate about creating positive change in their communities
  • Aspire to lead in public, NGO, or community-focused business sectors
  • Seek deep knowledge of accountability, social responsibility, sustainability, and inclusive economic development
  • Are working professionals looking to earn an MBA without interrupting their careers
  • Want to join a diverse, international cohort that values collaboration and impact

Why Choose the CBU MBA in CED?

  • One of Canada’s most unique MBA programs with a 25-year legacy of community-focused business education

  • Combines traditional MBA fundamentals (finance, marketing, leadership, strategy) with a distinct focus on community and social impact

  • Fully online, delivered in real time on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) to accommodate full-time work schedules across time zones

  • Learn with a cohort model, building long-term relationships with professionals across Canada and Europe

  • Delivered by experienced Canadian faculty with deep expertise in community leadership, sustainability, economic development, and more.

Admissions

Accessible to European and Canadian degree & diploma holders

GMAT waiver available

The CBU MBA is an accessible program, open to Europeans, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada who do not have an undergraduate degree and show potential for success in graduate level study. GMAT waivers may be granted to 1) Canadian, EU or Georgian degree holders with 75% (B+) average, 2) applicants with average below 75% (B+) and work experience and 3) Canadian, EU or Georgian degree or diploma holders with 10 or more years of work experience.

Potential applicants can send their resumes and unofficial transcript(s) to mba_info@cbu.ca for a preliminary assessment of their program eligibility and potential for GMAT waiver.

  • Bachelor’s Degree with a B+ (75% average) from a recognized University
  • A completed application form, with the non-refundable application  fee
  • official transcripts for all previous post-secondary study
  • a resume detailing employment experience, skills, community involvement, and interests
  • a 500-800 word statement on the desire to enter the program
  • three reference letters, preferably including one professional and one academic reference, each accompanied by a completed reference form
  • Satisfactory scores on GMAT or GRE
  • Satisfactory scores on the TOEFL/IELTS(for students whose native language is not English)
  • Satisfactory performance in an interview
  • For candidates who do not have an undergraduate degree:

Candidates who do not have an undergraduate degree, and show potential for success in graduate-level study, may be admitted to the MBA in CED as non-traditional students. Extensive career and/or volunteer experience are expected. These candidates will be assessed individually in such areas as experience and performance in a number of education/training courses. Applicants must provide all documentation listed above and a 4-6 page essay outlining their desire to enter the program.

Reference letters must be originals, and sent directly by the referees. Only official transcripts sent by the Registrar of the issuing institution will be accepted. The Educational Testing Service must forward GMAT, GRE, and TOEFL/IELTS score reports. Photocopies of any of these documents will not be accepted.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition and fees based on delivery of 16 Online courses. Please note that all the rates are based on the upcoming 2025/2026 academic year.
This is an estimate only; all figures in Euros are calculated as per Bank of Canada exchange rates. A final calculation cannot be determined until the funds are transferred at the prevailing exchange rates and the registration of courses.

Canadian Students Online Tuition: CA $29,641

European Students Online Tuition Amount (in Euros €)
Online Tuition & fees (paid on semester-by-semester basis):
≈ € 30,270
(Less: Pilot Program Bursary)
– ≈ € 11,259*
Total Program Tuition and fees:
≈ € 19,012

*This bursary is designed to offset the international tuition differential, making it more affordable for European students to earn a Canadian MBA without compromising on quality or flexibility.

Course Schedules

Review the course schedules for upcoming intake starting September 2025

Course Curriculum

Designed to foster capacities of analysis, critical thinking, leadership, and effective communication, the MBA in CED program equips students with both theoretical foundations and practical skills; the knowledge and tools to function effectively and productively in an increasingly changing global community.
There is a significant amount of reading, writing and class discussion within each course. In addition, each student is required to complete an Applied Research Project, the culmination of the degree, which approaches a problem in a holistic, multidisciplinary manner and must meet the highest academic standards.

This course explores the theoretical foundations of community economic development, emphasizing business as a means to improve community life and introducing concepts like community development corporations and worker-owned ventures.
This course combines financial and managerial accounting topics, tailored for those in a CED setting, with a focus on interpreting financial statements and addressing cash flow management, budgeting, and relevant costs from a managerial perspective.
This course explores marketing strategies for community and social organizations, covering both strategic and tactical approaches to influence various target markets, including customers, clients, funding sources, policy makers, volunteers, media, and staff, with a focus on the marketing mix.
The course presents the history, theory, models and research in several topics in organization behaviour and organization design, including strategic human resource planning.
This course introduces students to analytical tools used by economic geographers to measure spatial variations in economic growth, explores mechanisms of uneven development, and applies this knowledge to assess the potential for economic recovery in depleted communities.
This practical course examines the relationship between business and the community, focusing on challenges, issues, and implementations in the context of CED and the social economy.
This course covers financial management topics including analysis, planning, asset valuation, capital budgeting, capital structure decisions, short-term finance, and tax principles.
This course utilizes lectures, discussions, cases, and presentations to teach leadership training techniques, emphasizing conflict resolution, mediation, and the impact of cultural and political differences on community organization and leadership.
This course takes a comparative approach to assess development philosophies in both the North and South, focusing on sustainability, natural resources, governance, and strategies for achieving sustainable communities, emphasizing global thinking and local action with sustainability indicators.
This course allows students to apply previous business knowledge to plan and develop a venture, understand and evaluate business plans, and explore the distinctions between traditional business and community economic development.
This course covers various applied research methods, encourages critical analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, and guides students in preparing research proposals aligned with their projects.
This course explores international business topics, including the economic and financial environment, trade issues, and strategic management, with an integrated approach across business functions.
This course introduces basic business strategy concepts and methodologies, emphasizing their application in the context of CED through extensive use of the case method.
The ARP is a multidisciplinary research project in business and CED, supervised by faculty advisors.

To be Announced

To be Announced.

Students pursuing can specialize in a topical Option. Students would substitute designated elective courses in the Option for MBAC Electives I and II. MBAC 6801 Applied Research Project would build on courses within the Option.

MBAC6209 Land Claims, Self‐Government and CED or
MBAC6213 Issues in Indigenous Business
MBAC6211 The Dynamics of CED in First Nations

MBAC6228 International Marketing
MBAC6226 International Finance

MBAC6205 Cultural Tourism Marketing
MBAC6228 International Marketing
MBAC6229 Sustainability Marketing
MBAC6231 Marketing Strategy

MBAC6215 Emergency Management
MBAC6217 Conflict Resolution and Community Reconstruction

MBAC6221 Public Policy
MBAC6223 Government, Business, and Third Sector Relations

MBAC 6227 Environment, Energy, & the Economy: Strategies for Sustainable Futures
MBAC 6229 Sustainability Marketing

MBAC6233 Contemporary Issues: Change Management and Governance
MBAC6219 Social Dynamics of Leadership
MBAC6214 Social Entrepreneurship

MBAC6206 Tourism Management and Planning
MBAC6205 Cultural Tourism Marketing

Next Steps:

Email your resume and unofficial transcripts to mba@cbu.ca for an initial review of your eligibility and potential for a GMAT waiver.

Meet the MBA Program Director in a 1:1 call to ask any questions you may have about the program and get insights into the admissions process, tuition, course schedules and potential for a GMAT waiver.

Request a Preliminary Assessment of your admissibility and eligibility for GMAT waiver by sending your resume and unofficial transcript(s) to MBA_info@cbu.ca (please note the underscore symbol _ between MBA and info@cbu.ca).

Alternatively, you may provide a brief summary of your work experience and education in an email to MBA_info@cbu.ca.  Please include the number of years of full-time work experience, and any years of managerial or supervisory work experience; education details should include university or college name, type of degree or diploma, and grade average (letter grade or percentage).

Please note that EU (and Georgian) degree or diploma holders may be granted a GMAT waiver, and if your studies were delivered in English, an IELTS or Duolingo waiver may also be granted.

Meet the MBA Program Director in a 1:1 call to ask any questions you may have about the program and get insights into the admissions process, tuition, course schedules and potential for a GMAT waiver.

For a more in-depth understanding of the program structure, tuition & fees, admission process and eligibility criteria, speak with an European Representative in your region, email mba_info@cbu.ca 

Register for an Info Session – Held every Thursday, meet the Program Director in a group session to learn more:

Ready to Take the First Step?

Build stronger communities. Lead with Purpose.

Apply to the International Online MBA Cohort – Fall 2025 by September 1, 2025