Welcome to Cape Breton University! We can’t wait to welcome you for the Spring/Summer 2025 semester. Below you will find helpful information that will help you prepare for your travels to Canada to begin your studies.
In preparation for your arrival in Canada, please carefully review the terms from the Government of Canada to make sure you meet the criteria for travel. Students who have not secured housing and accommodations should not travel to Canada and are encouraged to defer their studies to a future semester.
Refer to the Pre-arrival Checklist that will guide you to prepare yourself before you arrive in Canada.
Starting January 1, 2024, students must complete at least 50% of their program in-class inside Canada. The time spent studying outside of Canada will be deducted from the length of the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). We recommend that students not take more than one course online per semester to give themselves the best chance to get a three-year PGWP.
Detailed information on PGWP can be found on the IRCC website.
Wondering if you can work while studying. Please click here for more information and remember that you can not work until your classes start on May 5.
When you arrive at a port-of-entry into Canada, you’ll meet a border services officer who will make sure you meet the basic requirements for arrival in Canada.
CBU is happy to offer a free airport pick-up service from JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport from April 24, 2025 to May 4, 2025. Airport pick-up requests must be submitted 48 hours prior to your arrival time in Sydney, Nova Scotia. For any additional question about the free airport pick-up service, please reach out to airportpickup@cbu.ca.
All students must have accommodations secured before booking. For more information about on- and off-campus housing, please visit CBU.ca/accommodations or CBU.ca/off-campus.
Arriving in Canada on January 1 or later? Your international student health insurance plan with Cape Breton University will begin on January 1, 2025, or on the date you arrive in Canada if you arrive after January 1, 2025. Arriving in Canada before January 1, 2025? We strongly encourage that you enroll for the emergency plan to cover you until December 31, 2025.
Please visit www.guard.me/cbu and click EARLY/LATE ARRIVALS. You can also learn more about international students health insurance at CBU. A list of international students health insurance FAQs is also available.
To ensure you are prepared to begin your studies in May 2025, we are thrilled to share that CBU recently hosted a week-long pre-arrival series from Monday, March 10-Friday, March 14.
CBU’s pre-arrival series provided an opportunity for students to connect with members from their Student Success Team over Microsoft Teams where they will learn more about life at CBU and ask questions.
Miss a session? Following each session a full recording, including the key takeaways, will be posted below.
CBU’s International Student Advising team met with you on Monday, March 10, on Microsoft Teams for an information session on what new international students need to know before coming to Canada.
Missed the session? View the recording at the link here:
Guard.me International Student Health Insurance team met with us for an information session on health insurance in Canada on Monday, March 10, from 11:00am-12:00pm.
Missed the session? View the recording at the link here:
Join the CBU Health and Counselling Services, Student Affairs and Library teams for an information session on CBU’s Code of Conduct, academic integrity and respectful campus expectations. The event will take place on Tuesday, March 11, from 9:30am-10:30am on Microsoft Teams.
Meeting ID: 268 159 267 110
Passcode: vT3GG7kX
Join the CBU Finance and Registrar’s offices on Tuesday, March 11, from 11:00am-12:00pm on Microsoft Teams for an information session on managing your CBU student account.
Meeting ID: 227 546 639 735
Passcode: wu23W7u3
Join the CBU Nancy Dingwall Health and Counselling Centre on Wednesday, March 12, from 9:30am-10:30am on Microsoft Teams for an information session that highlights the health and wellness supports available to students on the CBU campus.
Meeting ID: 216 283 152 242
Passcode: VM6DF2t5
Join the CBU Food and Ancillary Services team on Wednesday, March 12, from 11:00am-12:00pm on Microsoft Teams for an information session about finding appropriate accommodations in Canada.
Meeting ID: 243 153 185 192
Passcode: bt9hc2gr
CBU will host representatives from Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency on Thursday, March 13, from 9:30-10:30am on Microsoft Teams for an information session on how these government services work.
Meeting ID: 288 001 141 583
Passcode: fN6Tn7aV
Join the CBU Academic and Post-Baccalaureate Advising teams on Thursday, March 13, from 11:00am-12:00pm on Microsoft Teams for an information session on Advising at CBU.
Meeting ID: 268 265 984 587
Passcode: 8ay9xB6V
Join the CBU Student Success Coaches and Student Life and Career Services team on Friday, March 14, from 9:30-10:30am via Microsoft Teams for an information session on the many supports and services available to students in Student Affairs.
Meeting ID: 286 054 112 269
Passcode: sh9Be2UT
