Leadership and Management Development frequently asked questions
The online courses are graduate level study, with challenging readings and assignments.
Each online course is four weeks long and requires a minimum time commitment of 8-12 hours per week. Students receive a detailed work plan which outlines required readings, weekly assignments, online discussions and final paper details and deadlines to allow for ample planning.
Each participant receives a letter grade which will appear on your transcript.
Online courses are developed and taught by the Faculty of Business’s academic coaches who are generally academic faculty at Athabasca University (AU) or other institutions or practitioners in the field. Their role is not to lecture, but rather to guide discussions and collaborations toward effective peer learning.
Students have access to their academic coaches within the online learning system and via email.
The courses are online, asynchronous and paced.
You are never required to be online at any particular time (asynchronous), but you have a set start and end date, and assignment and discussion deadlines.
As you meet your deadlines, you can work at any time and place that suits you. Online courses are designed to be compatible with any device you choose to work with—laptop, tablet or handheld device—it’s your choice!
All materials are included in the online learning environment. You do not need to source textbooks for your online courses. The course environment only requires that you to be connected to the Internet. Online courses are designed to be compatible with any device you choose to work with—laptop, tablet or handheld device.
Each online course may vary slightly in proportions, but generally both discussion participation and assignments/papers are factored into each final grade. You may repeat an online course if necessary. Additional tuition fees apply and scheduling will depend on the course calendar.
Depending on the online course, there could be practical exercises, discussion forums, papers and/or case studies. There are not exams or quizzes in the online courses. Instead, students will apply what they are learning directly to their industry, organization or role within their organization.
If you feel you cannot complete the online course, you may withdraw. Unfortunately, this will result in a longer completion time as you may have to wait for the missed online course to be scheduled again. Withdrawals will not occur by default and must be requested within the regulated time frames and you must choose the applicable withdrawal as per the timing of your withdrawal as indicated below. Students needing to withdraw can send an email to fbgradenrol@athabascau.ca to request a withdrawal form.
LMD online course withdrawals
7 plus days prior to the course start date—no charge
7 days or less prior to course start date and up to 7 days after course start date—$423.00
Certificate of completion
No, online LMD courses do not need to be taken in sequential order. However, online LMD courses are scheduled at certain times throughout the year.
Generally registrations close one month prior to when an online course starts. However, in order to secure your spot in the online course and to plan your course scheduling, it is recommended that you register for all online LMD courses necessary to earn a certificate of completion.
Online LMD courses are delivered at the graduate level but do not lead to an academic credential. You can transfer up to 3 course credits into one 3-credit MBA online elective course should you apply and meet the MBA entry requirements.
There are no admissions requirements, prerequisites, or application process. Simply register and begin! You may start at any time throughout the year.
If you feel you cannot complete the online course, you may defer. Unfortunately, this will result in a longer completion time as you may have to wait for the missed online course to be scheduled again.
If you must withdraw from an online course this must be done before the seventh day of the course to receive a refund of tuition fees (minus a $383 withdrawal fee).
If you are paying for your tuition, you will receive an email requesting payment after you register.
If your organization is paying, choose that option on the registration form. This will prompt you to provide your organization’s name and a contact person within your company and they will be invoiced. Your organization may be eligible for tuition reimbursement based on the Canada Job Grant.
AU alumni (degree holders only) will receive a 20% reduction.
Yes, 3 credits may be transferred into Athabasca University’s Online MBA for executives program should you apply and meet the MBA entry requirements.
The certificate is a statement of completion. It will denote that you have completed the necessary online LMD courses to earn a completion certificate. Please note that while this is a significant achievement, it is not recognized as a “University Certificate,” which is an academic qualification authorized by the Province of Alberta.
Updated September 03, 2025 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)