Cape Breton University | Maclean's Education

Cape Breton University is dedicated to supporting local communities and the region’s emerging industries, focusing 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—and recently, CBU announced the establishment of $500,000 in scholarships for students of African Nova Scotian descent. 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.

Standout Programs

• Community Studies: With a focus on problem-solving, community-based research and work placements, this program ensures graduates are job ready.

• Arts and Science in Environment: Students develop skills in both arts and science as they examine today’s urgent environmental challenges and learn to effectively advocate for sustainable practices. Indigenous perspectives are emphasized.

• Emergency Management: This interdisciplinary applied program teaches students the knowledge and skills needed to deal with a range of emergencies and disasters. The program is fully available online.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$8,244 ($9,527 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades

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

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 3,510 · Part-time: 983

Graduates: Full-time: 321 · Part-time: 177

International Students: First-year: 10% · Graduate: 80.4%

Male-Female Ratio: 50 to 50

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 424 (approx. 200 reserved for first-year students)

Residence Costs: Double room with meals: $9,880 to $10,530 · Single room with meals: $12,100 to $13,520 · Apartment-style: $6,460

Cool Courses

• Intro to Indigenous Studies: Study contemporary North, Central and South American Indigenous peoples. Topics include Indigenous film and literature.