Admissions

The Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) is an online graduate-level program that equips you with essential business acumen and skills to give you a competitive edge in the workplace. As both a standalone qualification and a pathway to the SFU Beedie MBA, it paves the way for those aspiring to further their academic and professional journey with an MBA.

Who Should Apply?

The GDBA is perfect for those seeking to explore graduate-level business education or for laddering into an MBA. Whether you're starting your journey or advancing your career, the GDBA offers a flexible and robust platform for career growth. We welcome applications from international students. However, this part-time, online program does not qualify for a Canadian study permit.

For more information, please refer to our Application process.

Requirements

An undergraduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5/4.33 (B) or a grade point average of at least 2.67/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 credits of undergraduate courses from a recognized university. Please review the academic requirements for the country where you completed your degree.
Applicants with extensive work experience may be considered without an undergraduate degree. Each applicant under this category will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates can upload unofficial transcripts during the application stage to expedite the process.

Applicants should have at least two years of full-time professional work experience after completing an undergraduate degree.
Submit a current resume that includes academic experience, work experience, memberships in professional associations, and volunteer and community activities.

Unofficial transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution you attended where you have taken courses for credit. Unofficial documents are acceptable for the initial admission review. Official documentation will be requested only if an offer of admission is issued.

You must submit contact information for two professional references on the online application form.
Ideal references include your current supervisor or any individual with whom you have a professional relationship who can attest to your professional and educational journey.
References must be submitted from their professional email addresses.

Please review the Appraiser Form.

The essay questions are designed to help us get to know you. There is no “right” answer. Essay prompts are provided in the application system.

Once you have started your application, you will be provided with a link to the KIRA Platform to complete these five random questions.
The questions allow the Admissions Committee to get to know you better.

Please review the language requirements for your country of citizenship and/or the country in which you completed your degree.
The minimum university requirements for the six test scores we accept are:

Internet-based TOEFL	90 with minimum of 20 in each category. In order to satisfy the requirement, scores must be achieved in a single test. TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) or TOEFL Essentials results will not be used. TOEFL iBT Home is accepted.
IELTS (academic)	overall band score of 6.5 of the academic (NOT general) test with a minimum of 6.0 in each sectio
CAEL	overall 70; minimum 60 in each section
Pearson Academic (PTE)	overall 65; minimum 60 in all of their sections
Cambridge English Qualifications	C1 Advanced - minimum score of 180 C2 Proficiency - minimum score of 180
Duolingo English Test (DET)	Provisionally through the Fall 2026 admission cycle: Duolingo English Test (DET) 125 overall with a minimum of 105 in each section.

Candidates below the English Language requirements will be asked to retake the test.

For professionals who have completed eligible SFU Continuing Studies certificates and have 8+ years of work experience, taking the next step and earning a valuable business credential became more accessible.

If you have completed one of the identified Continuing Studies non-credit certificates, you could be eligible for admission even if you have not completed an undergraduate degree. To determine your eligibility, review this self-assessment checklist.

Application process

Begin your journey with the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration and build the essential business skills. Apply today to take a decisive step in advancing your career, investing in your future, and preparing for leadership in the business world. Seize this opportunity to make a significant impact—start now.

Application Deadlines

Summer 2025 (May)

Round 1: January 31, 2025
Round 2: February 28, 2025
Final Round: March 28, 2025

Fall 2025

Early Round: April 11
Round 1: May 9
Round 2: June 13
Final Round: July 4

Before the program starts, students must attend a mandatory online orientation over 14 days. During this period, they should expect to spend approximately 10-15 hours completing the various learning activities.

Please remember that we process applications as completed and admissions decisions are made between application deadlines. You do not need to wait for a deadline to apply. The application process is detailed below. Please apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed/admitted on an ongoing basis after each application deadline.

If you have any questions during the application process or are unable to apply online, please contact the GDBA office at gdba@sfu.ca

Review the GDBA admission requirements and gather the documents before the application deadline.

VIEW GDBA REQUIREMENTS

Create an account

In this step, you must create an account within our application system. Once your account is created, you can save your application progress and continue where you left off.

CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT

The application fee is $110 CAD (students with Canadian transcripts) or $150 CAD (students with international transcripts).

It's time to upload your documents to your online application. Once you successfully upload all required documents, your application is complete and will enter the formal review process. Once we receive all application components, we review applications for interview consideration. Candidates will hear back on an interview decision within two weeks of application completion.

If you have questions during the application process or cannot apply online, please email gdba@sfu.ca or contact your Advisor.

Unofficial documents are acceptable for the initial admission review. Official documentation will be requested when an offer of admission is issued.

Application Advice

Unofficial documents are acceptable for the initial admission review. Official documentation will be requested only if an offer of admission is issued.

Upon Acceptance

Within 14 days of receiving your acceptance letter, a non-refundable deposit of $500 CAD must be submitted.
This deposit reserves your seat in the GDBA program, and will be applied towards your tuition.
Graduate students can pay by credit card through the graduate student online application system, or use one of the other methods listed on this page.

Transcripts

Official transcripts for credit courses from the Registrar of each post-secondary institution you attended must be sent directly to the SFU Beedie Graduate Programs office. If the transcripts are issued to you, they must be signed and sealed by your post-secondary institution.
An official translation for transcripts not in English or French must be supplied. As part of their translation, a declaration that they received an official, sealed copy of the transcripts that they then proceeded to translate.

Transcripts may be sent electronically via a secure delivery service such as Parchment or directly from official institutional email addresses to gradap@sfu.ca.

Otherwise, please arrange to have your transcript sent to the following address:

SFU Beedie Admissions Team
Segal Graduate School – 3rd Floor
500 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1W6

For transcripts not in English or French, an official translation must be supplied. An official translator must include, as part of their translation, a declaration that they received an official, sealed copy of the transcripts that they then proceeded to translate.

GMAT or GRE scores

Applicants must instruct GMAT or GRE to send the original score report directly to the MBA Office.

GMAT: code 6G8-N3-47

GRE: Institution Code 7112 Department 4201

English Scores

For TOEFL, SFU's Institution Code is 0999. A departmental code is not required. Code for TOEFL results: Department code 01; Institution code 0999.
For IELTS, log in to the IELTS test centre website and click 'Apply for additional TRFs' in the left-hand menu of your results page. Fill out the application form online.
In India, the British Council can transmit electronically to SFU. Please use the following information when submitting your test scores.

Organization ID 2036 - Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6

For all other scores, please follow the instructions outlined by our Graduate Studies office here: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/applying/english-language.
For more information, please refer to our Application Process.

We begin reviewing applications for interview consideration as soon as we have received all application components. Candidates will hear back on an interview decision within two weeks of application completion.

If you have any questions during the application process or cannot apply online, please contact the GDBA office at gdba@sfu.ca or your GDBA Advisor.

SFU Beedie School of Business

Graduate Diploma in Business Administration

Online Learning. Real-world Impact