All classes in this program will be delivered online for the Winter 2021 term due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health and safety guidelines. Learn more
Overview
Advance your accounting career with the Bachelor of Applied Business Administration (Accounting) program. Learn from faculty with real-world accounting experience and develop practical knowledge in advanced management and financial accounting, taxation, auditing and leadership.
Graduates meet the entrance requirements for the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) program.
This program consists of ten academic courses 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.
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.
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 per year*
Year 3: $7,762
Year 4: $3,080
Year 3 (International): $26,372
Year 4 (International): $10,585
Year 3: TBA
Year 4: TBA
Year 3 (International): $25,310 (+fees TBD)
Year 4 (International): $10,021 (+fees TBD)
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change
Full costs Tuition and financial aid
Requirements
This is a direct entry program. Applicants who meet the admission requirements are offered spots based on first qualified, first acceptance if space is available.
When can you apply?
- Applications for winter 2021 are accepted beginning March 30, 2020.
- Applications for fall 2021 are accepted beginning Oct. 7, 2020.
Term | Program start |
---|---|
Winter 2021 | Jan. 11, 2021 |
Fall 2021 | Sept. 7, 2021 |
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Admission Requirements
Admission and selection
- Winter 2021 start: applications are accepted March 30, 2020 until the program start date but are subject to change.
- Fall 2021 start: applications are open Oct. 7, 2020 until the program start date but are subject to change.
Admission requirements
- 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 evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada.
Direct entry: six-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 ( transcripts and/or anticipated final grades) 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 course work 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
Step 4: Apply to Bachelor of Applied Business Administration and submit your transcripts.
Step 5: Log in to mySAIT.ca to check your admission status. If eligible, your status will indicate that you're "In Selection."
Step 6: Continue to monitor changes to your application status through mySAIT.ca.
Failure to meet anticipated final grades will result in offers being rescinded.
Communication during selection
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 business.advising@sait.ca and the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
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.
Courses
Program outline
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.
This program is being reviewed and could undergo changes.
Accounting major
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 day time, 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 |
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
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.
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education through transfer to, within or from SAIT is available. Visit transfer options to learn more.
Costs
2020/21 Domestic Tuition and Fees*
Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2020/21 total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | $6,540 | $682 | $288 | $252 | $7,762 |
4 | $2,420 | $372 | $288 | - | $3,080 |
2020/21 International Tuition and Fees*
Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2020/21 total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | $25,059 | $682 | $288 | $344 | $26,372 |
4 | $9,272 | $682 | $288 | $344 | $10,585 |
2021/22 Domestic Tuition and Fees*
Check back for updates on the 2021/22 domestic tuition and fees.
Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2021/22 total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | TBA | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
4 | TBA | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
2021/22 International Tuition and Fees*
Check back for updates on the 2021/22 fees and program total.
Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2021/22 total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | $25,310 | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
4 | $10,021 | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
*Fees and tuition are based on a two-semester full course load structure. There may be additional fees for practicums and terms held outside this time frame.
SAIT Fees
Campus athletic and recreation Fee: $171.20
Universal transit pass (UPass): $310 - Check eligibility here.
Student support fee: $100
Student technology fee: $100
Health and Dental Fees
Domestic Students
- Health Plan: $122
- Dental Plan: $130
- For students with existing health and/or dental plans, please refer to the Saitsa website for information on opting out.
International Students
- Health and Dental Plan: $344
- For more information on Health and Dental Benefits for International students please contact the International Centre.
Books and supplies*
-
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.
- Find out about tuition and financial aid.
* 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.
Winter 2021
Orientation
Program orientation details will be available closer to the program start date — watch your inbox.
To find the time and platform, visit our orientation page.
Delivery
All classes in this program will be delivered online for the Winter 2021 term due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health and safety guidelines.
How to register for classes
You'll follow an open registration process to enrol in your classes. Learn how to register on our registration and schedules page.
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, SAIT offers some short courses before classes start, including PREP 100: The SAIT Experience and ETHI 110: SAIT Ethical Practices.
Required textbooks
The Winter 2021 booklist will be available beginning in late November.
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.
Schedule changes
First-semester students can’t make changes to their schedule until the first day of classes. The add/drop period, when changes can be made to registration and schedule, is from Monday Jan. 11 to Friday, Jan. 22 for full-time students.
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
Fall 2020OrientationOrientation for new students will take place online on Sept. 3, 2020. To find the time and platform, visit our orientation page. DeliveryAll classes in this program will be delivered online for the Fall 2020 term due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health and safety guidelines. How to register for classesYou'll follow an open registration process to enrol in your classes. Learn how to register on our registration and schedules page. Computers and laptopsThis 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 coursesTo support your success, SAIT offers some short courses before classes start, including PREP 100: The SAIT Experience and ETHI 110: SAIT Ethical Practices. Required textbooksThe booklist will be available about two weeks before classes start. 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. Schedule changesFirst-semester students can’t make changes to their schedule until the first day of classes. The add/drop period, when changes can be made to registration and schedule, is from Tuesday, Sept. 3 to Friday, Sept. 13 for full-time students. |
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.