Online Learning
Real-world Impact

Who it’s for

If you have an undergraduate degree in any discipline, at least two years of full-time professional work experience, and the motivation and self-discipline to learn business in an interactive online setting, the GDBA could be the best next step in your career. It’s ideal for someone who wants to test business graduate level courses before fully committing to an MBA, and/or who wants the flexibility of an online program. Or, if you’ve already decided you want to study for an MBA, the GDBA could be the pathway you’re looking for.

What you’ll learn

Graduate-level courses ground you in business theory and practice. Learn to communicate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds across the functional areas of business as you prepare to move forward into an MBA, a new organizational role or a new career.

Our online learning system is interactive and user-friendly. It’s a collaborative learning space providing everything you need to succeed as a graduate student, including 24/7 educational resources. You can take classes whenever works for you. There’s no need to be online at the same time as your classmates and instructors.

Where it can take you

The GDBA can help prepare you for an MBA. It helps you build a stronger application for an MBA when taking the quantitative courses prior to the MBA, and you won’t have to take the GMAT if you want to climb the FT MBA ladder. In addition, some GDBA course credits can be applied to the MBA program of your choice. It also spreads out the costs of taking an MBA and reduces your future workload as an MBA student.

The GDBA is also a valuable graduate qualification in its own right. It lets you:

• Demonstrate your business acumen to future employers
• Try out graduate-level business education in a low-risk setting
• Gain the core business skills you need to launch or progress your career
• Expand your network with your fellow SFU Beedie students and join SFU Beedie's global alumni community

We schedule lectures, exams, and assignments to accommodate individuals working Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm PST. If you fall outside of this time zone or schedule, you may need to make occasional adjustments to your schedule.

We move through the modules at the same rate, meeting the same dates for individual and team assignments. That keeps you on track and engaged with the coursework. Instructors deliver each course online in weekly or bi-weekly modules. During that time, you are free to study whenever it suits you. Expect to spend 8 to 10 hours per week on each course (a full course load is two courses per semester). Each course in the program ends with a final exam/paper.

Most GDBA students complete the program in two years. However, you have the option to study at your own pace, adjusting your academic plan to accommodate your changing life and career.

MBA-level courses and instruction

All GDBA courses are equivalent to courses taught in our MBA programs, and our MBA professors teach most GDBA courses. That makes the GDBA a valuable program and qualification in its own right.

• Begin the program in January, May or September
• Attend GDBA orientation, a 14-day online orientation before classes begin
• Complete the GDBA in 24 months (six semesters) by taking one course per semester while working full-time—or take more or less time
• Each course is delivered online in weekly or bi-weekly modules
• Each course typically involves 8-10 hours per week
• Each course in the program ends with a final exam/paper

Tuition

Tuition for Fall 2023: $18,260¹.

Tuition is paid each term depending on the number of credits (Full class $3,083*; Half class $1,541*)²

¹Approximate total for 24 credits taken in 12 months.
²Tuition will vary based upon intake term.
*Subject to Board of Governors approval.

Fees and other costs

Additional fees & costs: $1,600 approx.

For information on funding opportunities, visit Fund Your Degree. Employer sponsorship is also an option; to learn more, visit Benefits to your company.

Maybe you already know your ideal role. Maybe you have only a vague idea of what the future holds for your career. Either way, our GDBA program gives you access to the same valuable online career resources available to all graduate students. These include:

• An SFU Beedie-specific job board with more than 2,000 jobs posted annually
• Online job search resources designed specifically for business students, including career guides developed by the Career Management Centre

The GDBA program is delivered entirely online. You can participate in classes wherever you are in the world and on your own schedule. You don’t even need to be online at the same time as your classmates or instructors. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be on your own. Our online learning environment is designed to be interactive and ensure your voice is heard. In fact, instructors and students often connect more closely than they do in a traditional classroom setting.