MBA in Canada: Deadlines, Fees, Scholarships & Jobs

MBA in Canada: Deadlines, Fees, Scholarships & Jobs

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Veda Burman Study Abroad Content Specialist

Study Abroad Content Specialist

Highlights:

  • Intakes: Admission to MBA in Canada is offered through several rounds between September and May. Indian students should try to apply in the upcoming September rounds to have the highest chance of admission.
  • Co-Op Opportunity: The universities like McMaster University, and Concordia University provides MBA with co-op option. This will help you gain 1 year of Canadian work experience, which is extremely important while securing jobs in Canada.
  • Top Employers: Some globally-recognized companies hiring MBA graduates in Canada are, Google, Accenture, Amazon, PwC, EY, RBC, Abbott, Air Canada, and Capital One.

Masters in Business Administration in Canada is a 1-2 years graduate degree course. Indian students choose MBA over many other courses in Canada, due to the top-notch academic structure, easy visa process, and high-paying employment opportunities. For admission to the program, you will require a 4-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in business with at least 3.0/4 GPA (85% overall score). Some other necessary admission requirements for MBA in Canada are:

  • Minimum GMAT score of 550-600+ or equivalent GRE score of 315+ (GMAT waivers available in institutes like York University, UBC)
  • Post-bachelor’s work experience of 1-3 years
  • IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent test scores
  • SOP
  • 1-2 LORs

Indian students can estimate international tuition fee rate between 49,612 and 139,140 CAD (30.15 and 84.58 lakhs INR) per year. The approximate cost of living in the student cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Vancouver ranges between 2,620 and 3548 CAD (1.59 to 2.15 lakhs INR) per month for a family of 2. However, the program is highly rewarding, with graduates earning up to 148,478 CAD (90.26 lakhs INR) as average salary.

Indian students often face the issue of not being eligible for MBA degree in Canada for not having 16 years of education. Some universities like University of Toronto, UBC, York University, Vancouver Island University, Thompson Rivers University, and others enrol students with 15 years of education. However, these universities expect at least 1-2 years of work experience for admission.

Top MBA Institutes in Canada

Check out the best MBA colleges in Canada in 2024, according to QS Rankings, and their respective admission information:

QS Global MBA Rankings 2024: Canada University Application Deadline Total Tuition Fees (CAD) Course Duration
#1 University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management Jan 15, 2025 (Tentative) 139,140 2 years
#2 McGill University - Desautels Faculty of Management Mar 15, 2025 (Tentative) 102,500 12 months / 20 months
#3 Western University - Ivey Business School Sep 23, 2024 | Nov 18, 2024 | Jan 10, 2025 129,750 12 months
#4 University of British Columbia - UBC Sauder School of Business Sep 3, 2024 | Oct 15, 2024 | Jan 10, 2025 | Mar 11, 2025 | May 6, 2025 103,258 16 months
#5 Queen’s University - Smith School of Business Sep 1, 2024 110,000 12 months
#6 York University - Schulich School of Business Oct 9, 2024 | Jan 15, 2025 | Feb 19, 2025 123,732 8 months or 2 year
#7 University of Alberta - Alberta School of Business Nov 1, 2024 | Mar 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 70,000 20 months
#8 Concordia University - John Molson School of Business Mar 1, 2025 | Jun 1, 2025 53,511 2 years
#9 Université de Montréal - HEC Montréal Nov 15, 2024 | Jan 15, 2025 | Mar 1, 2025 62,600 1 year
#10 McMaster University - DeGroote School of Business Oct 16, 2024 | Nov 27, 2024 | Feb 16, 2025 Without Co-op: 113,500 Without Co-op: 20 months
With Co-op: 120,500 With Co-op: 28 months (Including up to 12 months work experience)
#11 Dalhousie University - Rowe School of Business Oct 31, 2024 | Jun 1, 2025 49,612 22 months
#12 Simon Fraser University - Beedie School of Business Sep 26, 2024 | Nov 14, 2024 | Jan 23, 2025 | Mar 13, 2025 | May 1, 2025 69,704 24 months

Why Study MBA in Canada?

MBA is one of the most sought-after programs by Indian students in Canada. Some significant reasons to choose Canada over other countries for MBA are:

  • Top Universities: Currently, 5 MBA universities in Canada rank among the top 100 institutes in the world, according to QS Global MBA Rankings 2024. Indian students can avail practical learning opportunities in Canada to prepare with real world problem-solving skills.
  • Graduate Employment Rate: MBA graduates of top universities like University of Toronto, and McGill University has 3-6 months employability rate above 90%. Moderately ranked institutes have around 70% graduate employability rate, ensuring high job opportunities for Indian students.
  • High Paying Jobs: MBA graduates in Canada are paid well with annual average salary between 71,320 to 148,478 CAD (43.35 to 90.26 lakhs INR).
  • Easy Work Permit and PR: Securing a work permit in Canada is easier as compared to USA. For a 2-years MBA course, you can get a 3 years work permit in Canada. For a 1 year MBA course, you will get a WP of 1 year.

According to recent graduates in Canada, chances of getting a PR in Canada after MBA is higher than any other course.

Learn More: Post-Graduate Work Permit in Canada

Admission Requirements for MBA in Canada

For admission to MBA in Canada, Indian students require a bachelor’s degree, preferably in business disciplines with 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 (85%) or above. Unlike in India, post-bachelor’s work experience is of utmost priority for MBA admission in Canada. The additional requirements for admission to the program are as follows:

  • GMAT Score: The universities expect a competitive GMAT score of above 550. Few institutes like McGill, Queen, and York University expect a minimum GMAT score of 600-670. However, GMAT waivers are available in few institutes like York University with academic score of B+ average in previous years and relevant work experience.
  • GRE Score: Most of the Canadian universities accept GRE scores as an alternative of GMAT. You can aim for a GRE score of 315+.
  • Professional Experience: Unlike in India, the universities in Canada require a minimum relevant work experience of 1-3 years after bachelor’s degree. Institutes like Western University and Dalhousie University accept up to 10+ years of work experience.
  • English Proficiency Requirements: For admission to the universities in Canada, Indian students should demonstrate proficiency in English through the following test scores:
    • IELTS: 7.0-7.5 with 6.5 band score
    • TOEFL iBT: 90-114 overall with 20-22 in each section
    • PTE: 61-70
    • Duolingo English Test: 120-130

Know More: MBA in Canada Without GMAT

While difficulty for MBA programs in Canada is average, the passing marks are quite higher than in India. In some Canadian universities, below 60% or 70% is fail and if you get between 70-73% for twice or more, the university has the right to expel you.

Cost of Living in Canada

Your living expenses in Canada can widely vary across cities. Among the popular student cities, Montreal has the lowest average monthly living cost of 2,620 CAD (1.59 lakhs INR). Living in cities like Toronto or Vancouver can be the most expensive, ranging from 3465 to 3548 CAD (2.10 to 2.15 lakhs INR) per month. The average cost of living across some popular student cities in Canada for a family of 2 are provided below:

cost_of_living_in_canadian_cities_for_indian_students

MBA Scholarships in Canada

Indian students can get up to 70,000 CAD through various scholarships for MBA in Canada. Here are a few scholarships available to international students, which Indians might also get:

Scholarship Eligibility Criteria Award Value
University of Toronto - The International Student Fellowship Fee paying international students with demonstrated need Up to 9,000 CAD
Adam Dinkes MBA Leadership Award International students with academic merit, demonstrated leadership skills, and interest in entrepreneurship 10,000 CAD
Kriplani MBA Scholarship Full-time Indian student enrolling to MBA in Ivey Business School, preferred GMAT score of 700+ 73,300
Ross N Clouston MBA Award Professional and academic success, financial need, enrolled to MBA in Ivey Business School 70,000
UBC Sauder Early Entrance Award All international students applying by September 3, 2024 1,500 CAD
Smith School of Business - Dean’s MBA Admission Scholarships Academic merit Variable

If you are unable to get a university-provided scholarship, look for externally-funded popular scholarships in Canada. These scholarships might cover up to 100% tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses.

Jobs and Salaries After MBA in Canada

An MBA degree from Canada does not ensure high salary packages. You must demonstrate academic excellence, prior work experience, and talent to present yourself uniquely, to secure high-paying jobs. You can seek employment in Hospitality, Finance, Marketing, Human Resource and various other fields, after graduation.

Toronto, being the largest contributor to Canadian economy, produces a plethora of job opportunities for MBA graduates in Canada. Check out some top employers hiring MBA graduates and the respective average salaries of best universities in Canada for MBA:

Institute/ Faculty Average Annual Salary of Graduates (CAD) Top Employers
Rotman School of Management 123,438 PwC, NBF, RBC, Tesla, Panasonic, Uber, Wipro
Desautels Faculty of Management 119,595 Abbott, Air Canada, KPMG Canada, RBC, Capital One, Deloitte, EY, IQVIA, Scotiabank, Google
Ivey Business School 148,478 Accenture, KPMG, McKinsey & Company, Johnson & Johnson, RBC, Scotiabank, Ivey Business School
UBC Sauder School of Business 98,336 British Columbia Investment Management Corporation, EY, KPMG, PwC Canada, RBI
Smith School of Business 114,771 BMW, Amazon, Accenture, KPMG, Scotiabank, Bain & Company, Capgemini, GSK
Schulich School of Business 10,974 Deloitte, Bell Canada, Tiktok, RBC, PepsiCo, Inc., Morgan Stanley, McKinsey & Company
Alberta School of Business 93,252 Google, Deloitte, KPMG LLP, Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Company, RBC, Scotiabank
John Molson School of Business 98,051 Microsoft, AECOM, RBC, Deloitte, Nestle Canada, Morgan Stanley, Merck, Shopify
HEC Montréal 103,500 Amazon, KPMG, RBC, EY, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte
DeGroote School of Business 91,300 Google, Amazon, CIBC, TELUS, RBC, Microsoft, P&G, Scotiabank, EY
Rowe School of Business 71,320 RBC, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Tire
Beedie School of Business 85,400 RBC, MEC, PwC, HSBC, TELUS

If you are a working professional, you can pursue EMBA in Canada to complete the program within a year. However, if you are planning to settle in Canada, then a 2-year degree will help you in the visa extension and PR visa issuance. If you have sufficient funds to pursue the program, and it aligns with your life goals, MBA in Canada could open the best opportunities for you.

FAQs

Ques. Which university is No.1 in Canada for MBA?

Ans. The top MBA in Canada is currently offered by University of Toronto. University of Toronto is currently ranked at #1 in Canada and #40 in the world for MBA, according to QS Global MBA Rankings 2024. The 2 year full-time program delivered at the Rotman School of Management is followed by McGill University’s McGill Desautels Faculty of Management, ranking at #2 in Canada and #73 in the world.

Ques. Which are the top MBA colleges in Canada?

Ans. Some of the top universities in Canada for MBA, based QS Global Rankings 2024 and QS MBA Rankings in Canada 2024 are as follows:

University QS MBA Rankings 2024: Canada QS Global MBA Rankings 2024
University of Toronto #1 #40
McGill University #2 #73
Western University #3 #74
University of British Columbia #4 #89
Queen’s University #5 #92
York University #6 #98
University of Alberta #7 #121-130
Concordia University #8 #131-140
University of Montreal #9 #151-200
McMaster University #10 #151-200

Ques: Is an Indian MBA valid in Canada?

Ans. An Indian MBA from IIM or IIT is valid in Canada. However, if one opts for ECA by WES for Indian MBA from universities other than IIT or IIm it will be considered as one year PG Diploma instead of 2 year MBA. Hence, students with MBA from other Indian universities may opt for University of Toronto ECA to get accurate equivalency. It can be costllier than an ECA from WES and takes more than 8 weeks.

Ques. How can I get MBA admission in Canada?

Ans. The basic admission requirements for MBA in Canada are as follows:

  • Undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 (85%)
  • English proficiency test score of 7.0 in IELTS or 100 in TOEFL iBT
  • GMAT score of 550+ or equivalent GRE score
  • SOP/Personal essay between 500-1000 words
  • Up to 3+ LORs including academic and professional LORs
  • 2+ years of work experience in a relevant field
  • CV or resume
  • Canada student visa credentials
  • A personal interview with someone from the admissions team

Ques. How much work experience is required for an MBA in Canada?

Ans. Each university has its personalized requirement for admission to the MBA programs in Canada. As an international applicant, you need anywhere between 2 to 10 years of full-time professional work experience for admission to MBA in Canada.

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