Cape Breton University | Maclean's Education

Students from more than 80 countries study at Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton University, which 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: the school was the ﬁrst in Canada to offer a Mi’kmaq studies program. To help fulfill community needs, CBU launched a 16-month accelerated bachelor of social work program in 2023, as well as two new accelerated bachelor of education programs. CBU is strengthening its online course options and offering a select number of courses for credit, certificate or curiosity.

“Cape Breton University is an innovative and community-oriented university,” says president David Dingwall. “We strive to create graduates who are solution-oriented problem solvers. Our purpose is to support our students and shape successful graduates both domestically and globally.”

CBU helps supply the oil and gas industry of Atlantic Canada with skilled workers, creating programs in petroleum technology and petroleum engineering that attract students from as far away as Kuwait. CBU’s art gallery includes works by the Group of Seven and Picasso. Meanwhile, CBU continuously upgrades its facilities; it has renovated the Pit Lounge and Sullivan Fieldhouse, and improved the outdoor soccer pitch and track. 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

Students who don’t go home for the holidays can take part in a number of free activities, including skating, pottery nights, movie nights and tickets to Cape Breton Eagles hockey games.

Standout Programs

• Social Work: This program, which features two field practicums totalling 700 hours, has broad application, but is particularly relevant for those interested in working in rural, Indigenous or de-industrialized communities.

• Sport and Physical Activity Leadership: Offered within a B.A. community studies degree, this program offers a focus on community and experiential learning, training students in health and wellness, sport management and leadership.

• Nursing: This program integrates theory and practice, preparing grads to provide competent, ethical and compassionate nursing care in a variety of settings.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$8,836 ($10,119 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: 65% · Science: 65% · Commerce: 65% · Engineering: 65%

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 4,754 | Part-time: 820

Graduates: Full-time: 169 | Part-time: 130

International Students: First-year: 20.4% | Graduate: 75.7%

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 535 (approx. 254 reserved for first-year students)

Residence Costs: Double room with meals: $10,450 to $10,800 | Single room with meals: $13,010 to $14,180 | Apartment-style: $6,800

Cool Courses

• Indigenous Canadian Drama: Explore plays by Indigenous authors while considering issues such as casting and cultural representation.