Upon admission to the program, MBA students will receive a course schedule for the cohort group to which they belong. Registration information is provided to students on a regular basis.
Courses are paced, with specific start and completion dates. Phase One and Two core courses are offered in sequential order. Subject to the approval of the MBA Program Director, students may be permitted to take more than one course at a time, or to take courses in a different order except for:
a) STMT 500 Strategic Management, which must be successfully completed before students can progress to any other course; and
b) FMAC 503 Financial and Managerial Accounting, which must be successfully completed before taking CFIN 601 Corporate Finance; and
c) STCH 600 – Making Strategic Choices, which must be successfully completed by students admitted through the accelerated route before they can progress to any other course.
Athabasca University may modify the list of available courses at any time.
Students are automatically pre-registered for Phase One and Phase Two core courses according to the course schedule provided when they commence the program. Students are considered registered for a Phase One or Phase Two core course 21 days prior to the start date of each course as indicated on the student's schedule.
Students register for online electives, electives in residence, and the applied project on an individual basis. Timelines for registration and withdrawal for elective courses and the applied project vary and are outlined in the MBA Student Handbook.
MBA students will be permitted to register for one 3-credit in-residence course following completion of MBAO 599 and STMT 500, subject to course prerequisites. Only one such Phase 2 course will be permitted before successful completion of the Phase 1 Comprehensive Exam. If the exam is not successfully completed, the student will be permitted to complete the Phase 2 course or elective they are currently enrolled in but then must defer the program of study until successful completion of the exam occurs. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that any course and/or exam participation and any assignments and/or exam participation and any assignments and/or exam requirements are maintained and submitted on time. Exemptions to these requirements may be made only by the MBA Program Director.
A minimum grade of 60 per cent is required for both the assignments and participation components in each course. The comprehensive examination, written at the end of Phase One, is graded on a pass/fail basis; an overall grade of 70 per cent is required to pass.
It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that any course and/or examination participation and any assignments and/or examination requirements are maintained and submitted on time. There will be no leniency or considerations given to students who choose a double course workload. Exemptions to these requirements may be made only by the MBA Program Director.
Students will be permitted to register for one elective or Phase Two core course following the successful completion of the six Phase One core courses. Only one such course registration will be permitted before successful completion of the Phase One comprehensive examination. If the examination is not successfully completed, the student will be permitted to complete the course or elective in which he/she is currently registered; however, the student will then be required to defer his/her program of study until successful completion of the examination occurs.
A comprehensive examination must be written at the end of Phase One of the MBA program. The comprehensive examination is scheduled on at least two occasions per year as determined by the Admissions Committee.
The comprehensive examination is graded on a pass/fail basis, and a grade of 70 per cent is required to pass. See Re-registrations and Repeats below, for examination re-write information.
The applied project is normally associated with the end of Phase Two of the MBA program but students may receive permission to begin work on their applied projects at any time during Phase Two of their program.
The applied project is completed in two consecutive phases. In the first phase, students register in a course that guides them through the preparation of their applied project proposal. Once the proposal has been approved, each student is assigned to an academic advisor who supervises the project through to completion.
The applied project normally requires four months from the time the proposal has been approved and the academic advisor assigned. This time may be extended with the approval of the MBA Program Director or delegated academic manager, and the payment of the Program Continuation Fee.
The applied project is graded on a pass/fail basis, with a grade of 70 per cent being a pass. Projects that achieve a grade of 95 per cent or higher are awarded a pass with distinction.
Students who have started the program can defer their studies should they find themselves experiencing changed circumstances in either their business or personal lives. A deferral must be requested at least 21 days prior to the start date of the student's next pre-registered or registered course.
Students are considered registered for Phase One and Phase Two core courses on the 21st day before the start date for each course. Students can withdraw from courses in which they are pre-registered or registered subject to the following:
Under extraordinary circumstances, students may receive permission for an incomplete status for a course but they must submit such a request to the academic coach before the course end date. The academic coach will seek approval from the course manager to grant incomplete status.
If approved, students will have up to a maximum of 30 calendar days to complete the outstanding individual written assignments (as approved). Group assignments and participation components of the course are not included under this policy.
Students who have received a Fail (F) or Withdrawal (W) grade in any course in the MBA program may repeat that course only once. Full tuition will be required for each course repeated.
Students who fail to successfully complete the same course twice will be removed from their program of study, with no opportunity for re-enrolment. Students who fail a comprehensive examination may repeat the examination only once. A fee will be charged for repeating the examination and the student must wait until the next scheduled offering of the examination to re-write it. Students who fail the second writing of the comprehensive examination will be withdrawn from the program with no opportunity for re-enrolment.
To maintain active status, a student must successfully complete at least one course or comprehensive examination in his or her program of study within any given 12-month period. Students who do not maintain active status will be deemed to have withdrawn from the program. Those students will be required to pay the tuition portion for courses completed and in which they are currently registered.
Students must complete their MBA program studies within five years of their initial enrolment in the program. Students admitted through the Accelerated Admission Route must complete their MBA program studies within four years of their initial enrolment in the program. In exceptional circumstances, extensions of up to one year will be considered by the MBA Program Director, and will require the payment of a continuation fee.
A student re-enrolling into the program following a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Management (PBDM) completion, or program withdrawal, will be expected to complete his or her program studies within five years less the duration of time the student was in the PBDM or MBA program previously. Exceptions may be made only by the MBA Program Director.
Students may withdraw from any phase of the program by completing the Program Withdrawal Form. Students who wish to withdraw from the MBA without record of registration, must do so within 30 calendar days of the commencement of the program. A withdrawal occurring in this time will not be recorded on the student’s transcript.
Students who withdraw from a program after the 30 calendar-day period from the start of program will have this withdrawal recorded on their transcript and pay the tuition portion for courses completed and in which they are currently registered.
Re-enrolment in the program can occur, but is subject to re-application, review, and approval by the MBA Program Director, and payment of all applicable fees. Students will be required to pay any fee increases that have occurred between the time of their last enrolment and re-enrolment. Credit for courses previously completed will be re-evaluated and applied to the program requirements where appropriate.
Program tuition paid is refunded after the tuition portion for the courses completed and currently registered in is deducted, and any outstanding administrative fees are processed.
Access to a microcomputer is mandatory for the completion of assignments and contact with other students, staff and the Faculty of Business. The Faculty of Business maintains a current list of technical requirements.
Each assignment and participation component that is to be counted towards the final grade for a course shall be given a percentage grade from the academic coach. Please review the Graduate Grading Policy and Academic Records FAQ for more information on grading scales.
Comprehensive examinations and the applied project are graded on a pass/fail basis.
To be awarded the Master of Business Administration, a graduate student must
In addition, students must have paid any fees owed to the University and have returned all library resources.
AU policies and regulations governing academic conduct and appeals apply to all students. Refer to the Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal Regulations website.
Information effective September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2017.
Updated June 20 2016 by laurab
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