Overview
Advance your career in accounting with the Bachelor of Applied Business Administration (Accounting). This post-diploma applied degree program is available through full-time studies. Learn from faculty with real-world accounting experience as you develop practical knowledge in taxation, advanced management and financial accounting, auditing, leadership, and more.
This program consists of ten academic courses and followed by two semesters of Directed Field Studies (DFS). In DFS, you secure your own paid work placement, with approval from the Academic Chair, and apply your skills in a real-world setting. You graduate from this program with pre-requisite courses you need to enter the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Professional Education Program.
Is this the right fit for me?
To be successful in this program, you should:
- invest time and energy into your coursework
- have access to a computer prior to enrolling in the program due to the amount of technology used in the curriculum
- be able to read, write and understand the English language at a high level.
Credentials
After successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT Bachelor of Applied Business Administration degree.
This applied degree is recognized as meeting the pre-requisite educational requirements needed to enter the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Professional Education Program.
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Career opportunities
Graduates can pursue job opportunities in accounting, financial and information management in business, industry, government and public practices.
Potential positions include:
- Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA)
- controller
- financial analyst
- project accountant
- tax consultant
Related careers include:
- auditor
- accounting manager
Tuition and fees
Estimated cost per year:
Domestic total 2023/24
- Year 1: $8,830
- Year 2: $3,936.20
International total 2023/24
- Year 1: $28,096.30
- Year 2: $11,384.73
Final costs are dependent on the number of courses a student takes per semester.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
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Admission Requirements
Program requirements
Completion of the following courses or equivalents.
- Applicants must have completed a two-year Business Administration or Accounting diploma or equivalent at an accredited post-secondary institution, with a minimum 2.3 grade-point average, (67% or C+).
- This diploma must include a minimum of 20 courses, or 60 credits, and contain the following coursework: Intermediate Accounting, Business Communications, Financial Management, Management Accounting, Systems and Marketing.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
When should you apply?
Visit our Apply page to see when applications open and close for upcoming semesters.
To see which semesters this program has intakes for, look at the Available Intakes information at the top of this page.
Direct entry: five-step process
Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.
Step 3: Review the selection information to understand the process and deadlines.
- Applications and proof of the admission requirements must be submitted by Aug. 15 (fall intake) or Dec. 1 (winter intake) to be included in selection.
- Applicants who have graduated from SAIT with a diploma in Business Administration majoring in Accounting with a minimum GPA of 2.3 will be offered admission on a first-qualified, first-offered basis. Once the program is full, qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist.
- Applicants who do not have a diploma in accounting from SAIT will be placed into selection for review.
- Applicants who have not completed the following SAIT courses must demonstrate successful completion of coursework containing content similar to the following courses:
- Intermediate Financial Accounting II - ACCT 350
- Communication and Presentation Skills - COMN 220
- Finance Management - FNCE 390
- Introductory Management Accounting - ACCT 338
- Marketing Essentials - MKTG 260
- Information Systems - MNGT 322
Step 4: Apply to the program and submit your transcripts.
Step 5: Continue to monitor changes to your application status through mySAIT.ca.
You must submit final transcripts/grades to show you have completed the courses and met the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline or your seat will be rescinded.
Program completion
Students in applied degree programs have seven years to complete the credential requirements. The time limitation begins on the date the student starts the first course in the credential. For more information, refer to AC.3.1.1 Grading and Progression.
This program meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for international students as long as the student is enrolled in the on-campus delivery mode or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for the blended option). International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications.
We recommend you add the business.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year-end date |
|---|---|---|
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | Aug. 18, 2023 |
| Spring 2023 | May 8, 2023 | Aug. 18, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
| Winter 2024 | Jan. 8, 2024 | Aug. 16, 2024 |
| Spring 2024 | May 6, 2024 | Dec. 13, 2024 |
Courses
Program update
This program is currently under review and is subject to change for the upcoming academic year. Please check back for updated information.
Program outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
Students must complete any four courses from this program before proceeding to ACWE 500 and 501. Please contact business.advising@sait.ca for further information about registering for these courses.
Third year
Semester 5
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT-411 | Personal and Corporate Taxation | 3.0 |
| ACCT-434 | Advanced Financial Accounting | 3.0 |
| ACCT-491 | Advanced Management Accounting | 3.0 |
| ACCT-495 | External Auditing | 3.0 |
| LDSH-405 | Leadership | 3.0 |
| Total credits | 15.0 |
Semester 6
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT-415 | Accounting Theory | 3.0 |
| MNGT-405 | Strategic Management | 3.0 |
Electives (three courses required)
Note: Not all electives are offered as daytime, full-time study. For certain electives, students will have to study in the evening and/or part-time to complete this semester.
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT-413 | Internal Auditing and Controls | 3.0 |
| ACCT-416 | Advanced Information Systems | 3.0 |
| ACCT-417 | Applied External Auditing | 3.0 |
| ACCT-418 | Applied Personal and Corporate Taxations | 3.0 |
| BFIN-492 | Advanced Corporate Finance | 3.0 |
| MNGT-407 | Operations Management | 3.0 |
| Total credits | 30.0 | |
Fourth year
Semester 7
Directed Field Studies (DFS)
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ACWE-500 | Directed Field Studies - Accounting I | 15.0 |
Semester 8
Directed Field Studies (DFS)
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| ACWE-501 | Directed Field Studies - Accounting II | 15.0 |
| Work experience total | 30.0 | |
| Program total | 60.0 | |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year. *
Domestic students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $7,260 | $948 | $622 | $8,830 |
| 4 | 2 | $2,686.20 | $628 | $622 | $3,936.20 |
International students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $26,526.30 | $948 | $622 | $28,096.30 |
| 4 | 2 | $9,814.73 | $948 | $622 | $11,384.73 |
*For a detailed breakdown of tuition costs per course, visit the domestic and international fee tables.
Fees
Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)
Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside of the typical 15-week program.
Learn more about what your fees are for
Fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fees | < 9 credits per semester | > 9 credits per semester |
| SAIT fees | ||
| Campus athletic and recreation | $51.50 | $103 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| UPass* | N/A | $160 |
| Total | $157 | $474 |
| Saitsa fees | ||
| Student association fee** | $16.23/credit | $146 |
| Health plan*** | N/A | $86 ($172 annually) |
| Dental plan*** | N/A | $79 ($158 annually) |
| Total | $311 maximum | $476 |
*Additional eligibility requirements apply for students to obtain a UPass. To check your eligibility, visit our Upass page.
**Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.
***Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. In most cases, program fees quoted are based on students paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Learn more at saitsa.com/benefits.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about your tuition and financial aid options
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
Program orientation (ORNT 118) for students starting in Fall 2023 will take place on campus August 31. Check your schedule in mySAIT for the time and location details.
Learn more about campus orientation.
How to register for classes
You'll need to register for your classes ahead of each semester.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn how to register for your classes and find important registration deadlines.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a standard hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.
Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck, no textbook purchase required this term.
Contact
For any questions, or to set up a virtual advising appointment please contact our School of Business Advising Centre at:
Phone: 403.284.8485
Email: business.advising@sait.ca
Academic chair
Grace McKenna, Academic Chair
Email: grace.mckenna@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Next steps for accepted students
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
Your journey starts here
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