Cape Breton University

Students from more than 80 countries study at Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton University. The school is dedicated to supporting local communities and emerging regional industries and has a focus on community involvement and entrepreneurship. The university has a strong relationship with the island’s Indigenous communities: CBU was the first in Canada to offer a Mi’kmaq studies program. To help meet community needs, CBU launched a 16-month accelerated bachelor of social work program in 2023, as well as two accelerated bachelor of education programs. CBU is strengthening its online course options and offering a select number of courses for credit, certificate or simply for curiosity. “We are continuously working to create a strong sense of belonging and meaningful connections for students who choose to study with us by always putting their needs first,” says president David Dingwall. “The path to academic and personal success is not necessarily linear and it is equally important to nurture the student as a whole so that every student, no matter where they are from, has a unique, meaningful, and memorable university experience.” CBU helps supply the oil and gas industry of Atlantic Canada with skilled workers, through programs in petroleum technology and petroleum engineering that attract students from as far away as Kuwait. The school is partnering with Dalhousie University to open a Cape Breton Medical Campus in August. Meanwhile, the Centre for Discovery and Innovation, set to open in 2027, will house state-of-the-art research and instructional facilities for science-based programs. Full-time students also have access to the fitness centre at the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex, which includes an eight-lane synthetic track.

Campus Buzz: A $36-million renovation to CBU’s Canada Games Complex will include an event space; fitness, health and counselling centres; studios for yoga, spin and dance; a walking track; and lecture and presentation areas.

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$9,029 ($10,330 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades
Arts: 65% | Science: 65% | Commerce: 65% | Engineering: 65%

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 7,358 | Part-time: 1,390 
Graduates: Full-time: 182 | Part-time: 157 
International Students: First-year: 16.4% | Graduate: 72.5%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 535 (approx. 250 reserved for first-year students)
Cost of double room with meals: $8,570 to $10,910
Cost of single room with meals: $11,180 to $14,360
Cost of apartment-style: $6,940

Standout programs

Social Work: This 16-month post-graduate program is particularly relevant for those interested in working in rural, Indigenous or de-industrialized communities.

Hospitality and Tourism Management: This three-year program includes two paid internships and integrates hospitality and tourism with business education.

Health Sciences, Public Health: Students study food safety, water and air quality, communicable disease control and occupational health and safety. Graduates can become certified public-health inspectors.