6 of Canada’s finest universities to pursue your MBA

Over the last few decades, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) has become one of the most demanding programmes among international students. Obtaining it helps you develop business skills, build an entrepreneurial mindset, and expose you to the business world on a global stage — all in all, making you industry-ready. 

While Canada has reduced its international student study permit approvals for undergraduate programmes, those hoping to pursue MBAs in Canada have been spared.

Currently, more than 40 higher education institutions in the country offer MBAs. Six of these universities are among the top universities in Canada, ranked under the top 100 in QS Global MBA rankings for 2024. 

The best universities to pursue MBAs in Canada:

1. University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management

The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto is on a mission to become one of the world’s top ten business schools. The university provides an Executive MBA and full-time MBA programme to students.

The Rotman full-time two-year MBA programme was ranked first in Canada in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2024. It combines 16 months of academic study with a four-month opportunity for a paid internship during one of three work terms. Here, you can choose from over 100 electives, hone in on up to two MBA emphases, participate in experiential learning, and gain a global perspective with international study opportunities.

Outside of this, Rotman students can work alongside the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) with the university’s business partners to help develop financial models, evaluate potential markets, and fine-tune strategies for scaling. 

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students is US$102,069, and graduates of the programme even benefit from a 3-year Canadian work permit.

 

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2. Queen’s University, Smith School of Business

The Smith School of Business at Queen’s University offers a 12-month programme that is flexible and highly personalised. It allows you to tailor your studies according to your career goals, placing it at the top of the list for the Financial Times Global MBA 2024 Ranking. 

Smith School of Business promotes leadership and a career-driven approach towards business studies. It implements an innovative, effective, and unique teaching style, making classes dynamic and relevant to the industry. 

The most appealing aspect of this MBA is the opportunity to tailor it according to your career goals. The programme begins with an overview of business fundamentals in the first six months, which also includes integrated team projects. In the second year, you get to choose your individual project and complete your electives. 

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students is US$80,350 (110,000 CAD). Graduates here report an average base salary of US$74,057 plus an average signing bonus of US$9,777 and US$19,781 in other compensation.

Western University is located in London, Canada. So no, you won’t be spotting Big Ben here. Source: AFP

3. Western University’s Ivey Business School

Recognised for its excellence worldwide, Ivey Business School at Western University is defined by its outstanding education in management programmes. The school offers a full-time MBA, an accelerated MBA, and an Executive MBA.

The one-year, full-time MBA programme focuses on learning by doing. Teaching is delivered largely through case studies, encouraging students to think of business challenges outside of the traditional function-based approach. Students go through over 300 cases in a year, reflecting the challenges and complexities of the real-world business environment, all from within the classroom.

Here, it’s easy to make connections that last, especially when students work together to refine their assessments of a case, brainstorm ideas, and develop a plan of action. They then participate in a class discussion where they debate and learn from the diverse perspectives of other individuals and teams. This way, every student is given a training ground to practice their business leadership skills and apply their theoretical business knowledge.

Career readiness is just as important at Ivey. The career management team helps students in building solid resumes, preparing for interviews, and networking effectively. This helps students find career opportunities and plan strategies to reach their goals.

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students is US$94,776 (129,750 CAD). But fret not, for you’ll make it back easily enough — graduates report US$103,163 average total compensation (including base salary, signing bonus, and other guaranteed compensation) based on an 87 per cent salary reporting rate.

Montréal is a world leader in industries like aeronautics, information technology, and biotechnology, and the city has also made significant innovations in medicine, multimedia, the arts, and urban planning. Source: AFP

4. McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management

Located in downtown Montréal is McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, home to one of the world’s most reputable, international, and dynamic MBA programmes. It is ranked number one in Canada for “Overall Satisfaction” as rated by alumni in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2024.

The McGill MBA programme provides students with a global perspective to help shape future world leaders. Experiential learning is at the heart of this, with plenty of opportunities for internships, case studies, real business projects, and international study trips. From their studies, students gain a mastery of AI, financial technology, data analysis, design thinking, and leadership.

The faculty itself hosts more than 100 firms on its campus every year for both students and firms to explore various career opportunities. Additionally, the programme has full-time career coaches, specific stream advisors, and dedicated professional development programming to help students become successful in the job market post-MBA.

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students is US$76,698 (105,000 CAD).

5. York University’s Schulich School of Business

Located in the business hub of Toronto is York University’s Schulich School of Business. Its flexible MBA programme allows students to switch between full-time or part-time status, reaping the benefits equally throughout their studies. 

Awarded the number one position by the prestigious Forbes, Economist, CNN and more, this is one of the best MBAs in Canada. Employers seem to agree: in 2023, 89% of Schulich MBA students were hired within three months of graduation. 

Here, students pick from 15 specialisations to meet their unique career objectives and give them a competitive career advantage. From Arts, Media and Entertainment Management to Digital Transformation, and from Sustainability to Health Industry Management, students combine these focuses with 33 credits of core courses designed to equip them with a common set of capabilities necessary for effective management in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

Students also participate in the strategy field study as the capstone of the programme. The strategy field study is a two-term consulting project where the student team conducts a strategic assessment of an organisation and its environment. 

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students is US$104,756 (143,412 CAD). For your future prospects, 82% of students were hired within three months of graduation, and graduates reported an average total compensation of US$66,733.

 

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6. University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business

In Vancouver, the University of British Columbia‘s (UBC) Sauder School of Business prepares leaders to set the highest standards for ethical and effective business practices. As a whole, UBC’s full-time MBA programme emphasises the latest in theoretical and applied knowledge by integrating an innovative curriculum with new technologies and pioneering teaching methods.

It’s a norm for students to experience unforgettable work, study, and travel opportunities, cross the globe with the Global Immersion Experience, and forge connections through mentorship and networking opportunities with the school’s alumni.

Beyond that, the programme offers five career tracks for students to specialise in: technology and analytics leadership, finance, product and service management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and the newest addition, climate. And if you want to explore more than what is offered, the Custom track will take you there.

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students is US$72,524 (99,287 CAD).

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on July 16, 2024.