Join our information session for new students. In this session, we will talk about everything related to traveling, what to expect at the border, immigration rules, documents, orientation, airport pickup, healthcare insurance at CBU and introduction of services provided by CBU for international students along with receiving their Pre-arrival checklist.
Student Travel and Pre-Arrival Sessions
Welcome to Cape Breton University! We can’t wait to welcome you for the Fall 2025 semester. Below you will find helpful information that will help you prepare for your travels to Canada to begin your studies.
International Student Travel: Fall 2025
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.
Distance Learning and its Potential Impact on Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
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.
Work in Canada
Wondering if you can work while studying? Please click here for more information.
Arriving at your port-of-entry into Canada:
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.
Travelling to Sydney, Nova Scotia
CBU is happy to offer a free airport pick-up service from JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport from August 18-August 31, 2025. Airport pick-up requests should be submitted 48 hours prior to your arrival time in Sydney, Nova Scotia. For additional questions 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.
International Student Health Insurance
Arriving in Canada on September 1 or later? Your international student health insurance plan with Cape Breton University will begin on September 1, 2025, or on the date you arrive in Canada if you arrive after September 1, 2025. Arriving in Canada before September 1, 2025? We strongly encourage that you enrol for the emergency plan to cover you until your CBU plan begins.
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.
Pre-Arrival Sessions
To ensure you are prepared to begin your studies in September 2025, we are thrilled to share that CBU will be hosting a pre-arrival series on Tuesday, June 17 and Wednesday, June 18.
CBU’s pre-arrival series will provide 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.
Unable to attend a session? Following each session a full recording, including the key takeaways, will be posted below.
Pre-Arrival Session Schedule
In this session we will provide in depth information of services and supports that are in place for the support of international students at CBU – students will be introduced to CBU’s On-arrival checklist (that includes CBU handbook, CRA information and how to get your SIN number, Student ID card, bus pass and more), information regarding service fairs, Orientation, Nancy Dingwall Health & Counselling Centre, exploring your Moodle account along with your Compass Student Account and Outlook e-mails, Housing supports (On campus & Off campus), Registration supports, Important Dates and Deadlines along with checking their Academic Calendar.