5 best universities in Canada for an MBA

Over the last few decades, an MBA has become one of the most demanding programmes among international students. Obtaining an MBA helps you to 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. 

As one of the most popular study-abroad destinations with over 621,656 international students, it is no surprise that pursuing an MBA in Canada has become a dream for many international students. At the moment, the nation is home to about 47 institutions that offer MBA. Six of these universities are among the top universities in Canada ranked under the top 100 in QS Global MBA rankings for 2023. 

MBAs in Canada have risen to prominence in recent times, making it one of the top three countries globally to obtain the qualification. Elon Musk and Margaret Atwood are among the personalities who have studied in Canada.  

Canadian universities provide full-time and part-time MBA programmes in different specialisations with scores of scholarship opportunities. The tuition fees for MBAs in Canada range from CAD $30,000 to $40,000 for international students. 

The best part is, after the completion of your course from any of the best MBA colleges in Canada, you are eligible to apply for a post-study work permit. This is a great opportunity for students aspiring to work abroad after their education.

What are you waiting for? Kickstart your MBA dream at one of the top-ranked universities in Canada. 

Here are the top five best universities to pursue MBAs in Canada:

Obtaining an MBA at a top-ranked university is a great way to kickstart a successful career. Mike Moore / AFP

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 is one of the largest and most diverse programmes offered in Canada. It ranks third for Bloomberg Best Business School for an MBA in Canada, with a campus located in downtown Toronto — a large commercial and financial hub.

The Rotman MBA curriculum is divided into core courses — spread out over the first year — and elective modules. Students can choose from up to 90 elective courses and 15 majors in the second year to tailor their MBA programme.

Rotman’s flexible internship programme also offers students the opportunity to pursue experiential learning opportunities after the first year of the course. 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. There is a competitive selection process for the CDL course.

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students at Rotman School of Management is $133,740.

 

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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 takes a flexible and highly personalised approach, allowing you to tailor your studies according to your career goals. It’s this that makes it the number one MBA School in Canada for international students.

Smith School of Business promotes leadership and a career-driven approach towards business studies. From allowing students to design their own career paths to ensuring they have attractive opportunities and exposure, this university is one of the best places to be. 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 at Smith School of Business is CAD $104,100.

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. It has a great alumni network of over 23,000 students from over 98 countries.

It offers a one-year, full-time MBA programme that 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.

Students work in teams 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.

Quality education, top job opportunities and several scholarships offered make it one of the best MBAs in Canada to pursue.

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students at Ivey Business School is CAD $123,500.

 

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4. McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management

Located in downtown Montréal is McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, which is home to one of the world’s most reputable, international, and dynamic MBA programmes. It is ranked second in Canada and 90th in the world by the 2022 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, making it one of the top-rated MBAs in Canada.

The McGill MBA programme has been redesigned to provide 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.

The faculty itself hosts more than 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 of the full-time MBA programme for international students at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management is $99,500.

5. York University’s Schulich School of Business

Located in the business hub of Toronto is York University’s Schulich School of Business. It has a flexible MBA programme which allows students to switch between full-time or part-time status. Students can choose to study at any of the two campus options located in downtown and uptown Toronto.

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: 89% of Schulich MBA students were hired within three months of graduation. 

The MBA curriculum includes 33 credits, which includes core courses that ground students with a common background and equip them with capabilities for effective management of public, private, and non-profit sectors. In addition to core courses, students are required to complete 27 credits of electives, which allows for a more in-depth exploration of an area of focus.

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 student teams then present their recommendations to senior management.

The estimated tuition fee for the full-time MBA programme for international students at York University’s Schulich School of Business is $133,700.20.