Cape Breton University

This guide is for Nepali students applying to Cape Breton University (CBU) in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It covers the acceptance rate, the grades and English scores you need, the documents to prepare in Nepal and each step from application to study permit. For the campus, fees and scholarships, see our Cape Breton University profile, and for programs, intakes and PGWP status, our CBU programs guide.

What is Cape Breton University’s acceptance rate?

Cape Breton University doesn’t publish an acceptance rate. Percentages quoted on other websites are outside estimates, not official numbers.

What decides an offer is meeting your program’s admission and English requirements while seats are still open. CBU says that if space permits, it accepts all candidates who can show they meet its minimum entry requirements. International deadlines can close early once a program’s enrolment target is met.

Some programs are more selective. The BScN mainly serves Nova Scotia residents and takes only a small number of international students through its advanced-standing route. The MBA adds a GMAT or GRE score, references and an interview, so apply early with a complete file.

What grades do you need from Nepal?

For a bachelor’s degree, CBU accepts the NEB Higher Secondary (+2) certificate with an overall average of about 65%; for a master’s degree it asks for a bachelor’s degree with a B average.

CBU’s country-specific requirements list the Higher Secondary Certificate for Nepal. Its general admission requirements ask for a 65% overall average for most programs. Each degree then adds its own Grade 12 subjects. Examples from CBU’s program pages:

• Bachelor of Business Administration: Grade 12 English and Math, plus three more Grade 12 subjects.
• Bachelor of Engineering Technology: Grade 12 English and Math, two Grade 12 sciences and one more subject.
• Master of Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics: a four-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in science, math, computing, business, economics or engineering. You need a B average (about 73 to 76%) in the last 60 credits and at least 70% in a statistics course.
• MBA in Community Economic Development: a bachelor’s degree with a B+ (75%) average and a GMAT score of at least 500 or a GRE score of at least 304.

The two 16-month business master’s degrees ask for a four-year bachelor’s “or equivalent”, so if you hold a three-year Nepali bachelor’s degree, ask CBU before you apply. To see where your +2 grades stand, convert your NEB GPA to a percentage with our NEB GPA calculator.

What English scores does Cape Breton University accept?

IELTS 6.5 with no band under 6.0 for most bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and IELTS 7.0 with no band under 6.5 for the BScN and the Master of Healthcare Leadership and Innovation.

CBU also accepts CAEL, the Michigan English Test and Oxford ELLT; the scores are on its language requirements page. You may be exempt if you studied at least two years of secondary school, or 30 university credit hours, in English and can send an official medium of instruction letter. The exemption doesn’t apply to the BScN or the healthcare leadership master’s, and a score below the minimum makes your application inadmissible even if you qualify for it.

If your score is short, CBU’s English partners, such as the Cape Breton Language Centre and ILAC, run pathway programs into CBU. To compare scores across Canadian universities, see our IELTS and PTE guide for Canada.

Which documents do you need from Nepal?

Your +2 transcript (and your bachelor’s transcripts for a master’s), your English test result and your passport details, uploaded to your CBU Future Student Account.

• Your final official NEB Higher Secondary (+2) transcript with your senior-level courses and grades, or your latest transcript if you are still studying. Our guide explains how to get transcripts in Nepal from NEB, TU and other boards.
• Official transcripts from every college or university you have attended, including your bachelor’s for a master’s degree.
• Your IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo or other English score report (CBU’s TOEFL code is 9142), or a medium of instruction letter if you claim an exemption.
• A valid passport for the application and your study permit. If you don’t have one yet, see getting a Nepali passport for study abroad.
• For the MBA, a resume, a 500 to 800-word statement, references and a GMAT or GRE score; our CV guide for university applications and recommendation letter guide show the format.

CBU accepts scans of official documents but can ask for originals from the issuing institution. Documents not in English need a notarized English translation, and documents are never returned. Nepali certificates and bank documents often carry Bikram Sambat dates; our Nepali date converter helps you match them to the A.D. dates on your forms.

How do you apply to Cape Breton University, step by step?

You apply through CBU’s own online application with a CAD 80 fee (CAD 100 for master’s). After your offer, you pay the tuition deposit, CBU requests your PAL automatically, and then you apply for your study permit.

1. Choose your program and check the deadline on CBU’s international application deadlines page, then read the program page’s admission requirements.
2. Apply online. Create a CBU Future Student Account, fill in the application and pay the non-refundable fee by Visa or Mastercard. Then upload your transcripts and English score under “Supplemental Items and Documents” until each shows as received.
3. Get your decision. CBU sends notices to the personal email on your account, and your acceptance letter appears in the account. The letter shows your deposit amount and the deadline to accept.
4. Accept and pay the deposit. Pay the non-refundable tuition deposit to confirm your seat; it counts toward your fees. To send tuition from a Nepali bank you need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Education; see how to apply for an NOC in Nepal.
5. Get your Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). You don’t fill in a form: once you confirm your seat, CBU checks your PAL eligibility and requests it from Nova Scotia. The PAL is uploaded to your account, or your agent’s, and you must apply for your visa before its expiry date. Read what a PAL is and who needs one.
6. Apply for your study permit with your acceptance letter, PAL, proof of payment (downloadable from your Compass student account 5 to 7 business days after you pay) and proof of funds. Add a statement of purpose explaining your study plan; see our SOP guide for a Canada student visa. BScN students also need a co-op work permit.
7. Arrange housing and register. Apply for residence once you have your CBU email, then meet an academic advisor and register for courses in Compass.

CBU doesn’t publish a fixed decision time, so check your email and account regularly. Apply 9 to 12 months before your start date so there is time for the offer, the PAL, your study permit and housing. For the visa stage, read our guides to Canada student visa requirements and proof of funds.