Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Management Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Management (PBDM) must have:

• an undergraduate degree from an accredited university, and at least three years of acceptable managerial experience that may include supervisory or professional experience with management-level responsibilities;

  OR

• an acceptable professional designation as approved by the Admissions Committee and at least five years of acceptable managerial experience that may include supervisory and professional experience with management-level responsibilities;

  OR

• a minimum of eight to 10 years of substantial managerial experience.

Applicants must also provide:

• a completed application form;
• a detailed resumé demonstrating appropriate management experience;
• three letters of reference, preferably two business and one academic. References from personal friends or relatives will not be accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to notify his or her references that, in accordance with the Province of Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the information contained in the letter of reference is not considered to be confidential. The applicant, upon request, may view the information;
• a 1,000 word personal essay;
• official transcripts of post-secondary education and/or professional designation(s) sent directly to the Faculty of Business, Athabasca University, from the respective institution(s). Applicants with degrees obtained outside of North America may be required to have educational qualifications assessed independently (see International Transcripts);
• a $200 non-refundable application fee.

Other

Applicants must be proficient in the English language and confirm access to a computer system that meets the program's requirements. A GMAT score is not normally required, but the Admissions Committee may request one should they deem it necessary. Detailed instructions for assembling an application package can be found on the program's website at MBA and PBDM Admissions.

Upon acceptance to the program, students must pay the required non-refundable admission fee.

Advanced Standing

"Advanced standing" means the student is exempt from some or all of the required assignments in a particular course.

At the time of admission, a graduate student may be awarded advanced standing in specific courses in light of the student's combined education and experience. Requests for advanced standing must be made to the Admissions Committee at the time of application to the program. Exemptions to these requirements must be approved by the MBA Program Director.

Students awarded advanced standing in a course:

• are provided with full course materials,
• remain responsible for full program tuition,
• remain responsible to know and understand all components of the course and to demonstrate this knowledge in the comprehensive exam.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit means that students may apply to transfer graduate course credits earned elsewhere at recognized academic institutions into the PBDM program.

Only graduate level course credits that have never been applied toward any degree program, are eligible for consideration.

Courses being considered for transfer credit must be from a fully accredited institution (i.e. members of Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, Canadian Association for Distance Education, Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, etc.). Applicants will be required to complete a transfer credit form, pay a transfer credit evaluation fee, and provide official transcripts and detailed course outlines for each course (outline requirements will be provided by the MBA Program Director).

The MBA Program Director and/or Faculty of Business faculty will determine whether transfer credits will be permitted into the PBDM program. If transfer credit is awarded, a study plan will be provided outlining how students will integrate previous coursework with the program.