The MBA that
puts you first
Full-Time MBA
Requirements
Successful candidates are ready to make a difference in the world and push themselves to their highest potential. As a part of this cohort, we expect you to pull your weight, while bringing out the best in others.
Here’s what it takes to get into the program.
Undergraduate Degree
- A four-year undergraduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0/4.33 (B) or a grade point average of at least 3.33/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 credits of undergraduate courses from a recognized University.
- All graduate work is also considered.
- Please note: If your transcripts are not in English and no translation is provided by the University, please download the International Transcript requirements.
- Need to upgrade your qualifications? Consider the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration.
GMAT
- We require a minimum GMAT score of 550. We also accept the GRE exam (minimum score of 155 in each section). Competitive recommendations - GMAT: 600+ or GRE 310+ on the combined verbal and quantitative section. Note that a GMAT is not required from graduates of SFU's GDBA program who have earned a CGPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Applicants must instruct GMAT to send the original score report directly to the MBA Office, code 6G8-N3-47. It takes up to 20 business days for official scores to arrive at SFU. To ensure there is no delay in the application process, please forward your unofficial GMAT scores to mba@sfu.ca.
- The GMAT may be taken as often as desired, and SFU will only consider the highest score. The GMAT score is valid for five years from the exam date.
Waiver Eligibility (Fall 2021)
Given the current circumstances surrounding COVID- 19, which has led to the temporary closures of GMAT and GRE test centers, we have decided to consider GMAT/GRE waivers for the first & second round deadlines (Round 1: November 27, 2020; Round 2: January 29, 2021). Applications must be submitted in full including all supporting documents uploaded to the online application form. To be eligible, candidates are required to submit a statement of qualification* and meet one or more of the following requirements:
- A master’s degree with a minimum academic average of B+ or equivalent, combined with a bachelor’s degree being at least one of those a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degree
- For non-STEM degrees, a minimum of four quantitative courses is also required
- CFA (any level) and a bachelor’s degree with a minimum academic cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0/4.33 (B) or a grade point average of at least 3.33/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 credits or equivalent
- A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree
* Statement of Qualification: In one page or less, please provide details to explain how you are eligible and why we should consider you for a GMAT/GRE waiver. We want to ensure our candidates are successful in the MBA Program and do not take these decisions lightly, therefore, please include specific examples that highlight your quantitative aptitude. This can be uploaded in place of the GMAT score as a Word or PDF document. Upon review of your completed application, the Admissions Committee will be in touch regarding next steps.
Work experience
- Applicants should have a minimum of two years of full-time professional work experience following completion of an undergraduate degree.
- We take a holistic approach in accepting students for our program. We take into consideration your work and life experiences in addition to your grades and test scores.
Language proficiency
All courses in the FT MBA program are taught in English, therefore all applicants must be fluent in English.
If your primary language is not English or your previous education has been conducted in a country where English is not the primary language (see a full list of accepted countries), you must demonstrate sufficient command of the English language as evidenced by achieving a satisfactory score on a standardized English test acceptable to the University. Find more information about this requirement.
The six tests we accept are:
- Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS)
- The Canadian Academic English Language Test (CAEL)
- Pearson English Language Test (PTE)
- Cambridge English Qualifications
Minimum test scroes
The minimum University requirements for test scores are:
Internet-based TOEFL |
93 with minimum of 20 in each category. In order to satisfy the requirement, applicants must achieve the scores listed above on a single test date. TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) results will not be used. |
Paper-based TOEFL |
580 and TWE 5 |
IELTS (academic) |
Overall band score of 7.0 of the academic (NOT general) test with a minimum of 6.5 in each section |
CAEL |
Overall 70; minimum 60 in each section |
Pearson Academic (PTE) |
Overall 65; minimum 60 in each section |
Cambridge English Qualifications |
C1 Advanced - minimum score of 193 |
Please note: Candidates below the English Language requirements will be asked to retake the test.
Status in Canada
- If you are not a Canadian citizen or don’t have landed immigrant status you must have a valid Canadian student visa.
- Learn more about being an international student at SFU.
- Download a copy of SFU’s Pre-Arrival Guide for newly admitted international and exchange students.
Transfer from the GDBA
Students who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (and have met the CGPA and other requirements of the MBA program) may qualify to apply to have some courses in the MBA program waived. Completion of the GDBA with a 3.5 GPA allows prospective applicants for the MBA program to waive the GMAT requirement.

Connect with our team
Our admissions team is more than happy to answer your questions so you know what you can expect before, during, and beyond your program.