Written by Chet Raj Bhandari

About Cape Breton University

Ask a Nepali student in Sydney, Nova Scotia why they picked Cape Breton University over a bigger-name school, and you’ll usually hear some version of the same story: smaller classes where professors actually know your name, a campus where more than three in four students are international – so you’re never the only newcomer in the room – and a post-graduation work permit path that makes the degree pay for itself long after convocation.

CBU is the only public, degree-granting university on Cape Breton Island, and it has leaned hard into welcoming students from abroad: around 30,000 students study here in total, with roughly 4,478 of them coming from more than 40 countries outside Canada.

With around 250 faculty members across the university, class sizes stay small enough that professors notice when you stop showing up – which, if you’re 11,000 kilometres from home for the first time, matters more than any ranking table.

As the best consultancy in Nepal for Canada, Goreto Consultancy has helped Nepali students navigate the CBU application process end to end – from eligibility to visa – and this page covers everything you need to decide if it’s the right fit before you apply. You can also check CBU’s own international students page for the latest official updates.

Cape Breton University-CBU

Cape Breton University currently has 1 campus located in Sydney, actively recruiting international students.

S.NO	CAMPUS NAME	CITY	PROVINCE	COUNTRY
1	Sydney	Sydney	Nova Scotia	Canada

Number Of Courses And Course Levels Offered By Cape Breton University

Cape Breton University currently offers 243 courses.

Check the university’s official website regarding the availability of full-time and part-time courses for international students.

S.NO	PROGRAM LEVEL	NUMBER OF COURSES
1	Bachelors	171
2	Diploma	33
3	Post Graduate	27
4	Masters	6
5	Certificate	3
6	Post Baccalaureate Diploma	3

Campus Life

International students studying at Cape Breton University can enjoy access to the following facilities on the campus.

Cape Breton University student residence details
Bookstore
Parking
Meal fees
Athletics & Wellness
Lockers

Notable Alumni

This university has a total of 30000 alumni.

Some of the popular alumni of Cape Breton University are:

Boitumelo Rabale – Mosotho Footballer
Steve Arbuckle – Canadian Actor
Richie Wilcox – Canadian Singer
Neil Libbey – Historian
Gerald Sampson – Canadian Businessman

Cape Breton University Fees

On average tuition fee for Cape Breton University per semester is CAD 6,500.

You can find semester-wise tuition fees/tuition fees per annum for UG, PG, Diploma, and MBA courses here. For the latest, official figures, always cross-check against CBU’s own tuition fees page.

UG TUITION FEE	PG TUITION FEE	DIPLOMA TUITION FEE	MBA TUITION FEE
CAD $18,500	CAD $19,000	CAD $15,000	CAD $22,500

Library

The CBU Library sits at 1250 Grand Lake Road, right on campus, and gives students access to 1,700 e-books, 50 research guides, and 250 subject databases – enough to cover research for almost every program CBU offers. If you’d rather talk to a person than search a catalogue, the library desk is staffed Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 902-563-1320.

Careers, Placement & Part-Time Work For Nepali Students

Around 86% of Cape Breton University students get placed within a short period after course completion, according to the university’s own reporting.

On the part-time side, CBU’s Career Services office runs a student job board and doesn’t restrict international students from applying to off-campus roles – you’ll typically find openings in retail, hospitality, campus food services, and administrative support around Sydney. Career Services (reachable at 902-563-1818) also runs workshops on resume-building and interview prep specifically for students job-hunting in Canada for the first time.

LEVELS	SALARY IN CAD$
Bachelors	CAD $54,658 per year
Masters	CAD $65,769 per year
MBA	CAD $74,581 per year

Upcoming Intakes For Cape Breton University

Cape Breton University welcomes new international students twice a year – the May intake and the larger September intake, which is CBU’s main entry point for most bachelor’s, diploma, and graduate programs. If you’re aiming for September, that’s the intake to plan your documents and test scores around first.

Top Courses

Top Degrees

Bachelors
Diploma
Post Graduate
Masters
Certificate
Post Baccalaureate Diploma

Eligibility Criteria

BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAM – ELIGIBILITY
Minimum 60% in 10th & 12th.	Minimum 5.5 IELTS reading score , 5.5 IELTS Writing score, Minimum 5.5 Listening score, Minimum 5.5 Speaking score. Overall 6.0 IELTS Band score.	SOP, LOR, Transcript, Resume, Official score reporting, WES.

POST-SECONDARY DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM – ELIGIBILITY
Minimum 60% in 10th & 12th. Minimum 55% in diploma & Bachelor’s courses.	Minimum 6.0 IELTS reading score, 6.0 IELTS Writing score, Minimum 6.0 Listening score, Minimum 6.0 Speaking score. Overall 6.5 IELTS Band score.	SOP, LOR, Transcript, Resume, Official score reporting, WES.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM – ELIGIBILITY
Minimum 60% in 10th & 12th.	Minimum 5.5 IELTS reading score, 5.5 IELTS Writing score, Minimum 5.5 Listening score, Minimum 5.5 Speaking score. Overall 6.0 IELTS Band score.	SOP, LOR, Transcript, Resume, Official score reporting, WES.

Important Details About Cape Breton University

Phone Number

1-888-959-9995

Mobile Number

902-563-1330

Fax

N/A

Email id:

AskMe@cbu.ca

Website:

https://www.cbu.ca/

Location:

view on Google Maps

Address:

P.O. Box 5300, 1250 Grand Lake Rd, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada – NS B1P 6L2

International Entrance Exams – Scores Required For Admission:

Program Level	IELTS Requirement	PTE Requirement	TOEFL Requirement	Duolingo Requirement
Masters	6.5 No Less Than 6.0	59	80	–
Post Graduate	6.5 No Less Than 6.0	59	80	–
Diploma	6.5 No Less Than 6.0	59	80	–
Bachelors	6.5 No Less Than 6.0	59	80	–

Admission Requirements for Cape Breton University

Documents Required

Most Nepali applicants to CBU need the same core set of documents: academic transcripts (10th & 12th, plus any diploma/bachelor’s marksheets), a valid passport, an SOP, a Letter of Recommendation, official IELTS/PTE/TOEFL scores, a resume, and proof of funds (bank statement or sponsor affidavit). A few programs also ask for salary slips or experience certificates depending on your background.

For the full checklist – including sample documents and how to prepare each one – see our complete document guide for studying abroad.

Deadline For Admissions

CBU processes applications on a rolling basis, but international students should aim to apply 9–12 months ahead of their intended intake to leave time for visa processing. For the September intake – CBU’s largest – that means starting your application by December or January of the same year.

Program Details

Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Literature

Cape Breton University

Prog Code:

N/A

Duration:

4 years

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Covers theatre history, playwriting, and performance theory. Good foundation for arts administration, teaching, media, or further graduate study in the humanities.

Bachelor of Arts, Community Studies (Gender and Women's Studies)

Bachelor of Arts Community Studies in Gender and Women's Studies

Cape Breton University

Prog Code:

N/A

Duration:

4 years

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Pairs classroom study with CBU's hands-on Community Studies practicum, so you graduate with real placement experience alongside your degree – useful for roles in NGOs, policy, or social services.

Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Cape Breton University

Prog Code:

N/A

Duration:

4 years

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Blends business fundamentals with hospitality operations – a natural fit given Cape Breton's own tourism economy, and a program area with strong co-op and internship potential.

Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (BET)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (Bachelor of Engineering Technology)

Cape Breton University

Prog Code:

N/A

Duration:

4 years

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

A hands-on, lab-heavy engineering technology degree. CBU's BET stream is a common path for students who want a practical, applied engineering education rather than a purely theoretical one.

BET Advanced Standing (Post-Diploma) – Chemical

Bachelor of Engineering Technology, Advanced Standing Post-Degree – Chemical

Cape Breton University

Prog Code:

N/A

Duration:

2 years (advanced standing for diploma holders)

Part time jobs:

Yes

PGWP eligibility:

Yes

IELTS:

6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

TOEFL:

PTE:

*Note:

Designed for students who already hold a Chemical Engineering Technology diploma and want to top it up into a full Bachelor of Engineering Technology in roughly two additional years instead of starting a four-year degree from scratch.

Accommodation For Nepalese Students Studying At Cape Breton University

On-Campus Accommodation

CBU has four residence halls right on campus – MacDonald Residence, Alumni Hall, Cabot Residence, and Harriss Hall – and you can apply for a room as soon as you’ve been issued your CBU student email. Full details and the application portal are on the university’s on-campus residence page.

Off-Campus Accommodation

If you’d rather live off-campus, CBU’s Off-Campus Housing Coordinator (Kelsey Johnston, 902-563-1792) runs a free listing service connecting students with local landlords – see the off-campus housing page for current listings and how to get matched.