Continuing Studies at UVic

Add a business certificate to your career development plan. 

The Certificate in Business Administration (CBA) is designed to fit the needs of mid-career professionals, full-time employees and people looking for professional development. Learn about business administration, marketing, technology, and more. The CBA can be taken part-time or full-time, courses are offered on campus, online or through intensive workshops so you can complete the certificate at the pace that meets your needs.

If you're planning to come to Canada to study with us, please review the information related to international students.

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Description

Courses and fees

Application information

Questions?

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Program at a glance

Program description

The Certificate in Business Administration (CBA) is a flexible full-time or part-time program that provides a foundation of core business knowledge and a diverse range of elective courses so you can tailor your business education to fit your needs. Multiple course types—from online courses to face-to-face courses to intensive one-week workshops—mean you can complete the program on your terms and your own schedule. You’ll leave this program with an effective working knowledge of the analytical tools and vital management concepts used in modern business, as well as grounding in the practical skills, values and perspectives required for success in a changing world.

Students may apply for the program before they register in courses, or take individual courses for professional development and decide to enroll in the program at a later date. 

The CBA program can also be completed by taking the CBA – Fast Track option, which is a full-time 12-week program held on campus. Find the right business program to suit your needs with our helpful comparison chart.

Program information session

Join us for a free 30-minute Zoom session where we will introduce you to the Business Administration program as a whole and outline the differences between the certificate and the diploma.

View information session details

Accredited by

CIM logo

Our business programs allow you to become certified with the CIM (Certified in Management) professional designation.

Courses are offered in a variety of formats:

FORMAT DETAILS
Face to Face

Many courses are 13 weeks in duration and consist of one three-hour class per week. Classes are primarily held on campus, and will be scheduled for a weekday, weekday evening, or weekend day times. A more limited selection of course topics may be offered during the Summer (May) term. Please note that course schedules may vary, depending on class format and location.
Online

Many CBA program courses may be completed online. Students login to the course and communicate with the instructor and fellow students via the course management system Brightspace. All assignments and course activities will be submitted electronically to the course instructor. Students should be sure to review Brightspace Computer Requirements when registering for online courses.

Intensive

A limited selection of full-day, short (1-2 week) intensive face-to-face courses may also be offered each term.

Program outcomes

Students who complete the CBA program will:

  • Understand and describe how the marketing, finance and organizational functional business units integrate for success
  • Use analytical, decision-making and problem-solving frameworks to recommend initiatives in line with strategic goals
  • Apply global, cross-cultural and Indigenous perspectives to business strategies, functions and operations
  • Apply ethical, social and sustainable responsibility to business strategies, functions and operations
  • Understand and describe effective business strategies in a variety of contexts
  • Develop and use effective communication, teamwork and analytical skills and competencies in a variety of specialized and functional business disciplines

Who is this program for?

The CBA program will be of value to you if:

  • your previous education is specialized and an understanding of business management will help you meet professional goals
  • you're looking for an opportunity to enhance your professional knowledge
  • a business credential would help advance your career
  • you want your employees/staff to get more business training and professional development

Career options

Some of our learners pursue careers in the following roles:
  • Small Business Owner/Manager
  • Government Manager/Director (Provincial/Federal)
  • Consultant
  • University Administrator
  • Restaurant/Hotel/Retail Manager
  • Police/Fire Department Administrator

Instructors

News and resources

VIEW SCHEDULE: Upcoming CBA courses

READ ARTICLE: Celebrating community in the classroom

BROWSE OPTIONS: Career services for current students

LEARN MORE: Important program dates and deadlines

LEARN MORE: Frequently asked questions about CBA

REGISTER NOW: Orientation for CBA students

Courses and fees

To qualify for the CBA program, candidates must successfully complete eight courses as outlined below.

Restrictions: A maximum of three BIDA/TECH electives can be applied toward the CBA requirements (with the exception of TECH100 and TECH110). Students can complete more, to qualify for a Professional Development Certificate or for general interest, but they will not count toward their Business Program Requirements.

Please note that Computing Concepts and Management Computing are equivalent courses. Only one of these courses may count towards the certificate.

CBA program completion updates effective May 2021: Students who submitted a completed application to the CBA program or deferred after Feb. 1, 2021 will be required to meet the program completion requirements listed below. CBA students who applied to the CBA program or were registered in the CBA program before Feb. 1, 2021 may continue in the previous program structure.

Apply online
= Courses open for registration
Five (5) required courses
Plus Three (3) electives below

Program planning

The length of the program varies depending on how many courses you take per term. On average students complete the program in one year full-time or three years part-time. 

Courses are offerred face-to-face or online. Please note that not all courses are available online, and not are all courses are available face-to-face. As such, please plan to complete a mix of face-to-face and online courses through your time in the program. 

A different selection of courses are offered every term. To see our upcoming offerings, please view our anticipated course schedule. To assist in your program planning, you can also view all course descriptions. Please review back to the course requirements on this page when selecting courses. Students are welcome to contact our office (bstadvisor@uvic.ca) for help with course selection.

Graduation information

For students who are in their final term of study or those who have completed the program requirements, please be sure to submit an Application to Graduate. The deadline to apply for Spring (June) convocation is Feb. 28, and the deadline to apply for Fall (November) convocation is Aug. 15. Students are responsible for ensuring they apply to graduate in their final term or once their program requirements are complete. 

Estimated fees

Full-time Canadian students International students
Full-time program application fee (non-refundable) $150.00 $300.00
Non-refundable program deposit (due within 3 weeks of program offer) -- $2,000.00
Tuition (includes deposit, if applicable) $4,760.00 $6,360.00
Student services fees $1,203.00 $2,028.00
Textbook costs (estimated) $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Estimated Total $7,113.00* $9,688.00*
*IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fees listed in this section are an estimate for the full one-year program. Total program fees may vary depending on delivery format, tuition rate, course selections, student and service fees, textbooks and taxes. Tuition and fees are subject to annual increases. 
Part-time     Canadian students International students
Part-time program application fee (non-refundable) $150.00 $300.00
Non-refundable program deposit (due within 3 weeks of program offer) -- $2,000.00
Tuition per course $595.00 $795.00
Textbook per course (estimated) $125.00 $125.00
*IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fees listed in this section are an estimate. Total program fees may vary depending on delivery format, tuition rate, course selections, student services fees, textbooks and taxes. Tuition and fees are subject to annual increases.

There are two financial support options available for business students. View financial support

Application information

Admission requirements

To qualify for the CBA program, candidates are required to provide a transcript showing a minimum of high school completion. Mature applicants who do not meet this requirement may also be considered on the basis of minimum five years' work experience and must provide a resume. In addition, two years of professional, full-time work experience (or post-secondary educational equivalent) is recommended. 

It is recommended that candidates for the CBA program review the program completion requirements. Students are welcome to consult with program staff (bmt@uvic.ca) prior to enrolling in courses to ensure that their planned selections will satisfy the Certificate program requirements.

If your first language is not English, you will be asked to provide evidence of proficiency through one of the following:

  • Transcript showing graduation from a Canadian secondary school
  • Four years of full-time academic studies in which all language of instruction is English at a high school or post-secondary institution in a recognized English-speaking country
  • Successful completion of a recognized degree program from an accredited university in which all language of instruction is English, in a recognized English-speaking country
  • IELTS (academic) 6.0 overall (no sub-score less than 5.5)
  • TOEFL IBT 79 (no sub-score less than 17)
  • TOEFL Paper-based Test 550 (discontinued) 
  • UVic ELC Intensive English (ELPI) level 570
  • Successful completion of approved English partner pathway level

Please note we will not accept tests taken more than two years prior to the date of your program application. 

In rare circumstances we may request secondary verification of English proficiency prior to admission. 

Advanced standing

Students may transfer up to three courses from UVic credit programs or from other colleges and universities, providing the course content and learning outcomes closely match our certificate courses.

To request advanced standing, students can submit the Request for Advanced Standing form and upload the following mandatory documents:

  • transcript (showing term, instructional hours, final grades)
  • full course outlines for each course, including course learning outcomes (course descriptions will not be accepted)
  • optional: any other supporting documents

Mandatory documents must be in English, or accompanied by an official translation. Requests received without the mandatory documents will not be reviewed. An advanced standing fee of $350 applies to each approved course (max of three).

International students should note that adding advanced standings to their program may shorten their overall program length, as there will be fewer courses to complete with UVic. Before submitting a request, we recommend you review the IRCC web page for post-graduation work permit (PGWP) validity and the 'Transfers between educational institutions' section for more information about how transferring courses for advanced standing may affect PGWP validity: View IRCC website.

Policies

For more information about fees, processes and requirements, please visit the Business and Management Programs policies page. It is recommended that all students review the complete policies page prior to application to the program.

How to apply

Please apply by completing the online application form. Fully-complete applications will be reviewed by our admission staff in the order in which they were received. In order for an application to be fully-compete, students must also submit all required supplementary documents such as transcripts, proof of English proficiency and other documents as requests. All supporting documentation must be received within 30 days of the original application submission, or the application will be cancelled.

The program may edit or change application deadlines without notice, depending on seat availability. As such, we strongly encourage early application to the program. Acceptance into the program does not guarantee registration in individual courses.

Before you apply, please read though our Frequently Asked Questions to make sure you understand important details about this program.   

Application dates

 

Starting in
September 2023
 
Availability
  Program full*
Apply by
  Open until filled
Program full*
Starting in
January 2024
 
Availability
  Not Currently Accepting
Apply by
  Open until filled
Applications open
June 21, 2023
Starting in
May 2024
 
Availability
  Not Currently Accepting
Apply by
  Open until filled
Applications open
June 21, 2023

* This program has reached maximum capacity at this time. You may contact us at bmt@uvic.ca to discuss your options. Please note we do not accept waitlists for program applications.

Questions?

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 Tel {{ data.responsibleStaffPhone || '250-472-4747' }}
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