Cape Breton University: Ranking, Courses, Fees & Placements

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Cape Breton University is a public research university founded in 1951 and located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university offers world-class education for students, shaping their future and passions. The university offers various programs covering engineering, marketing and education subject areas. CBU is a public university with the lowest tuition fees in the district. CBU’s faculty, cultures, and rigorous academics enrich the student experience.

This blog will cover every specification of the university that will help you decide if CBU is the right choice for you.

Cape Breton University: Overview

Cape Breton University welcomes more than five thousand students from over 50 countries worldwide. The university is highly committed to excellence in teaching and learning, offering students an advantage of experiential learning opportunities in a supportive academic environment. Cape Breton is a popular choice among international students as the university provides prestigious scholarships equivalent to 2.5 million CAD every year. Due to this, the university is home to more than five thousand students from over 50 countries worldwide.

Cape Breton University: Campus life and facilities

The campus sprawls over 17,000 square ft comprising departmental buildings, research labs, administrative blocks, reading rooms, a library and auditoriums that are centres for all events, fests, and competitions. There is a vibrant culture and pristine natural landscape maintained on the campus. Along with this, there are educational and recreational facilities for the students:

  • Safety & security services are provided to students inside the university campus.
  • Beaton Institute, a well-known on-campus research centre, promotes research and learning.
  • The campus has a central library with thousands of collections of books, research papers, journals, research papers, and novels.
  • A wide range of extra-curricular activities is available for students to provide a recreational environment for members of the university community.
  • There are affordable and convenient buses to transport students from one place to another.

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Cape Breton University: Ranking, Courses, Fees & Placements
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Cape Breton University: Accommodation

The university has excellent residential facilities, which make it easier for students to adapt to new surroundings. Here’s what the university offers in its residential facilities:

  • The campus has four residence halls and apartments to provide residential space to its students.
  • The halls are MacDonald Residence, Cabot Residence, Alumni Hall, and Harriss Hall, equipped with electronic keys to provide top-notch security to the residents.
  • The university provides its students with three residential options, ranging from a traditional dorm room to an apartment-style set-up that can be shared among roommates.
  • There is laundry service, high-speed wireless connection, shared living room, shared kitchen, shared lounge spaces, private and shared washroom facilities, restaurant-like dining, etc.
  • The annual rates for residential facilities range from 4,300 CAD to 7,180 CAD, depending on the accommodation you choose. It is best to apply earliest to get the best accommodation.

Cape Breton University: Ranking

CBU Canada is a highly-ranked university, per various rank lists and surveys. The rankings of the university are as follows:

  • MacLean’s – 62nd rank in Canada
  • MacLean’s – 2906th rank in the world
  • Cube Ranking – 79th rank in Canada
  • UNI Rank – 68th rank in Canada
  • UNI Rank – 2294th rank in the world

Cape Breton University: Important Courses – Academic structure

Cape Breton University provides a supportive academic environment extending courses and programs in different categories:

  • CBU provides more than 20 academic programs and 60 areas of study, including both undergraduate and graduate courses. 
  • The areas of study include hospitality and tourism, engineering, supply chain management, business, liberal arts, public administration, science, health and professional programs and more.
  • The university has four departments under its hood: Schools of Arts & Social Sciences, School of Education & Health, School of Science & Technology, and Shannon School of Business.
  • The university also takes the students for industrial visits for a deeper and more practical understanding of the subject. The university also has a student exchange program that facilitates a diverse student population and the opportunity to work with seasoned professionals.

Cape Breton University: Fee Structure

For international candidates aspiring to study at the university, it is mandatory to have an estimate of the cost of living in Canada to survive comfortably in a foreign land. If you want to calculate your total living and study expenses in Cape Breton, you can access the cost calculator provided by LeapScholar, which provides an estimate of the total expense.

FeesAnnual Cost
TuitionUndergraduate: CAD 18,515 approx.
Post-graduate: CAD 10,000-15,000 approx.
Campus Living ExpenseCAD 9,880 approx.

Cape Breton University: Scholarships

Cape Breton also provides scholarships worth 2.5 million CAD every year. They support students financially through paid work-study programs. The university provides scholarships at two stages of their student’s tenure. For more information on scholarships, you can go through Leap Scholar’s Cape Breton University Page.:

  • Entrance Scholarships:  Students wishing to receive the entrance scholarship must submit their transcripts and financial need application at the earliest opportunity and have good academic performance in school. The entrance scholarships provided by the university are listed below:
Scholarship NameTotal Amount (CAD)Yearly Amount (CAD)
Chancellor’s30,0007,500
President’s20,0005,000
Deans’10,0002,500
Fitzgerald20,0005,000
Schwartz14,0003,500
W.M. Reld11,5002,500
Orpha Thayer-Scott10,0002,500
  • In-course Scholarships: Students can apply for in-course scholarships after studying at the university for one semester. An overall average of 80 per cent marks are required for applying for this scholarship. There is no requirement for any separate applications.

Cape Breton University: Career Opportunities & Placements 

The university offers a career and placement for the students by providing advisory and many job opportunities listings. The Student Development Officers are appointed who assist students in making career decisions. Here are some of the major functions of Cape Breton’s career support:

  • Internships, training and part-time job support students by helping them build a network with experts and employers.
  • Offers on-campus part-time and teaching assistant jobs, where students can earn and manage their expenses.
  • Organises career guidance workshops, webinars and seminars and assists in building an outstanding profile, CV and cover letter.
  • Provides on-campus placements by recruiters like NovaScotia Bank, Amazon, Google, Apple, FedEx, etc.

Cape Breton University: Admission Requirements

The admission process at Cape Breton University includes two essential aspects: the application process and the submission of the required documents. International students must also check the country-specific and course-specific requirements before applying. Let us understand in detail the application process: The application happens in three channels of communication:

  • Mail
  • Fax
  • Email
  • Website

The applicants are required to complete the application process with the required documents and can be submitted through the above communication channels. The document requirements for admission at Breton University are as follows:

Undergraduate admission

  • High school transcripts with a minimum of 65% marks.
  • Essay in 500 words
  • Academic and non-academic references
  • Resume
  • Supplementary application
  • English language proficiency score- IELTS- 6.5, TOEFL iBT- 80

Post-graduate admission

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Professional references
  • Work experience
  • GMAT or GRE Score
  • CV / Resume
  • Academic transcripts
  • English language proficiency score- IELTS- 6.5, TOEFL iBT- 80

Cape Breton University: How to apply?

You can apply for any degree you desire at the university’s official website https://www.cbu.ca. The application fee for the same is 75 CAD.

5 Reasons to choose Cape Breton University

  • The university offers the lowest tuition fees in Nova Scotia and invests $3 million in annual research funding.
  • The college offers diplomas and certificates in several unique areas like petroleum, public administration, management, theatre, and education.
  • Cape Breton University is home to 1000 international students from 32 countries. It’s a very liberal and multicultural space to live and study!
  • If you study in Cape Breton, you are eligible to apply for PR within 2.5 years. You need to complete the two-year study and receive a job-offer letter.
  • Cape Breton University offers research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate programs. They have a local, regional, national, and international research centre.

Cape Breton University offers the best educational opportunities, including diploma, undergraduate, and graduate programs. The ultra-modern infrastructure and student diversity make Cape Breton University unique. Several scholarships, awards, and other financial aid for international students make it a student-friendly environment. The above details would have given you the reasons why you should choose Cape Breton. For more information on the university, scholarships, applications and more, get in touch with LeapScholar. Our expert panel will connect with you at every step of your research and application to your dream university.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When do the programs begin at Cape Breton University?

    The courses at the university usually commence in September, January, or May. Students entering the September batch can attend the international student orientation program.

  • Does the candidate need a study permit to study at Cape Breton University?

    International students must apply for a study permit or a temporary Residence Visa (TRV). If the university accepts the application, you will receive the acceptance letter for the study permit.

  • Is there permission for part-time jobs for students at Cape Breton University?

    Yes, full-time students are only allowed to work in Canada if they hold a study permit. To work, you must get a social insurance number once you reach Canada.


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Saket Kohli

An International Higher Ed professional with 7+ years of experience studying, working, and living across three geographies, currently on a mission to share his journey as an International Student.

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