MBA in Canada: Top Colleges, Specializations, Eligibility, and Fees.

Kritika Yadav

Kritika Yadav

mba in canada

MBA in Canada: Besides being home to the tallest free standing structure in the world -the CN tower- and a co-home of the Niagara Falls, Canada is becoming a haven for international students. In fact, 7 of the world’s top 150 universities are in Canada (according to the QS World University Rankings of 2018). It’s relatively affordable education, world class resources, multi-cultural exposure and more importantly, the convenience of transition from studying to a legal working status, have made Canada a preferred choice and Canadian cities have found top spots in the list of the Top 10 Cities in the World to be a Student.

Quick Points to Note before applying for study Abroad in Canada.

Capital City: Ottawa
National Language: English and French
Major Cities: Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec City, Victoria
Largest City: Toronto
Currency: Canadian Dollar
Time Zone: Canada (Ottawa) is 9.5 hours behind Indian Standard Time (IST)

Table of Contents

Why MBA in Canada?

MBA is a big investment in your future.  It prepares you for more than just reading a spreadsheet or leading a team. An MBA program is a door that can welcome change and opportunity. Canadian MBA programs do just that. Universities such as Queen, McGill, Rotman and University of Canada West offer programs that give the students an opportunity to develop their skills to tackle real-world business challenges very well.

 Moreover, opting for an MBA from a country with a booming economy and a hunger for highly educated people assures good jobs after MBA in Canada.

Canada gives you more than one reason to choose it as your MBA study abroad destination. However, there may still be a few more factors that you’d like to consider before you take a decision. Below are a few pointers that may help you –

  • Globally Valued Qualification: Just like a degree, diploma or certificate from the United States or the U.K., a degree from Canada will be recognized across boundaries.  
  • Diverse Cultures:  The Canadian society comprises of several ethnic groups. This multi-cultural society allows you to experience the cultures of the world making you better capable of working alongside and even leading an organization with different culture groups.   
  • Ease of Immigration: It is easy quite easy to get a Canadian Student Visa and you can even apply for permanent residency post completion of your program. Read: Visa for Canada Bound Students
  • Opportunities and Possibilities: Canadian business schools give a lot of importance to academics and several avenues where students can showcase their creativity and other skill sets.

(Also read: Why choose to study in Canada)

MBA in Canada Program Structure

The duration of MBA programs in Canada varies from just about 10 months to 2 years, making it difficult to specifically describe the curriculum. Nevertheless, we have broadly categorized the programs offered by the best MBA colleges in Canada into 4 sections:

Programs                                                         Duration
 Part – time MBAThe duration of this program is 3- 6 years, which is relatively a lot longer than full time MBA. This program is more suitable for students wanting to do an MBA while working part time.
Full – time MBAThis program usually lasts from 1- 2 years.
Executive MBAThis program is for high level and senior professionals with good experience in the field and for students who want to gain practical experience of the corporate world while studying.
Dual degreeA dual degree or joint degree, enables students to two degrees simultaneously.
International MBAIn an international MBA program, students are exposed to global experiences with the help of international field study, integrated curriculum, global courses, and many other modes. I

 

MBA specialization in Canada for international students.

Several Canadian universities offer Master of Business Administration (MBA) in many specializations. Here’s the list of some MBA specializations in Canada.

S.NO.MBA specialization in Canada
   1MBA in Finance
   2MBA in Human Resource
   3MBA in Operations
   4MBA in Information Technology
   5MBA in International Business
   6MBA in Marketing
   7MBA in logistics and supply chain
   8MBA in Healthcare
   9MBA Data Science

Eligibility for MBA in Canada

Although Canada offers alluring business programs, a student needs to meet certain criteria to be eligible to undertake those MBA programs. Mentioned below are some of the eligibility factors –

  • A related bachelor’s degree, which is equivalent to the Canadian bachelor’s degree, from a recognized institution
  • A Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score between 500 – 600
  • Some universities filter the best candidates for their MBA program  by adding the criteria of a minimum years of work experience
  • International applicants, non-native English speakers or students whose primary language of education is not English are required to appear for a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Also, the score obtained on these tests must meet the minimum requirement criteria of the university applied to.  Learn more about the TOEFL test
  • Some universities may have criteria, other than the ones mentioned above.

Top 10 Colleges for MBA in Canada

The top 10 MBA colleges/ universities in Canada are listed below.

S.NO.CollegesProgrammes offered
1Ivey Business SchoolFull-time, Executive, dual degree
2Schulich School of BusinessFull time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree
3Rotman School of ManagementFull time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree
4Desautels Faculty of ManagementFull time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree
5Sauder School of BusinessFull-time, Part-time, dual degree
6Queen’s School of BusinessFull time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree
7HEC MontrealFull time, Part-time, and Executive MBA
8Alberta School of BusinessFull time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree
9Beedie School of BusinessFull time and Part-time
10Edwards School of BusinessFull-time and Part-time MBA

How to Apply for MBA in Canada

Just like for any other programs, the admissions for the best MBA programs in Canada tend to fill up much faster. Therefore, we highly recommend early applications. Usually, the entire application process, depending on whether the academic faculty operates within deadlines, requires approximately 10-12 weeks. Most universities charge a modest application fee as well.

Modes of Application

  • Request for application forms via email: If you think that a certain college offers the program of your choice, you can simply request for their application material by filling up an online form on their website.
  • Download it from the university website: Most universities have a provision to download the application form their website and print it.
  •  Requesting Applications from CEC in Delhi: Another option is to visit the Canadian Education Centre in New Delhi or email them. The CEC has forms for all universities.

Important Note

The admission or application process varies depending on the Canadian province. For example – If you wish to apply for Universities within Ontario, you must apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. For any other university outside Ontario, you must do so directly through the school.

Almost all Canadian colleges accept online applications. To apply for the colleges, you will have to visit each college’s website. In most of the cases, you will have to create an account on the website where you will need to fill up your basic details, submit your scanned documents and pay your application fees.  You can log in to this account to keep a track on the progress of your application.

However, please note that the process of application may vary from college to college. Please refer to the institute of your choice for more details on the application process.

Even though the application process may vary, there are some common steps that you can follow –

Steps: The common steps to applying for  MBA in Canada are as follow –

  • Explore colleges and courses
  • Visit schools websites and get in touch with them for more information
  • Shortlist the schools of your choice
  • Appear for entrance exams like SAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS
  • Write SOPs and ask for LORs
  • Apply for colleges that match your interests
  • Appear for video interviews of the colleges that shortlisted you
  • If you’re accepted into the University, apply for a student visa

MBA in Canada fees for Indian students.

In comparison with other countries, the tuition fees and cost of living in Canada is much lower as most universities in Canada are government funded. Although international students have to pay a higher fee than native students, scholarships and financial assistance, the cost of living can be lowered.

Here’s the list of some popular colleges in Canada with their tuition Fees.

S.NO.UniversitiesTuition fees in INR per year
1University of Toronto38 Lakhs
2McGill University59.3 Lakhs
3Cape Brenton University5.2 Lakhs
4University of Canada West13.7 Lakhs
5University of British Columbia53.7 Lakhs
6University of Alberta17.7 Lakhs
7Concordia University20.4 Lakhs
8Dalhousie University10.2 Lakhs
9McMaster University26.7 Lakhs and 25 Lakhs
10Queen’s University76.1 Lakhs

Cost of Living in Canada for Indian Students

In Canada, the cost of living varies from city to city and the area in which the school is located. Also, the best estimated living expense is majorly dependent on the university you are applying to. Generally, every university provides an estimated fee and cost of living per month or year.

The table below helps you understand the approximate cost of living in Canada per month as well as the annual costs.

Average Cost of Living in Canada for a Single Person

EXPENSESMONTHLYANNUAL
Tuition–$8,000
Student Fees–$400
Health Insurance$70$840
Textbooks–$600
On-campus Rent$600$7,200
Mobile phone (basic package)$30$360
Public Transport Pass$40$480
Food & Groceries$300$3,600
Entertainment/Shopping Expenses$80$960
Total Expenses$1,120$22,440

MBA in Canada Scholarships for Indian students

The cost of studying in Canada can be really high if you consider both tuition fees and living costs. To help you with these high costs, students can also consider applying for scholarships to study in Canada provided by Canadian universities.

Here are some of the scholarships for MBA in Canada.

  1. The Canadian commonwealth scholarship program: This scholarship is provided by the Canadian government and their goal is to promote Canadian values and identity around the world by providing scholarships to students wanting to study abroad. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel expenses and living costs.
  2. Rotman School of Management scholarships: The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto provides admission scholarships, fellowships, and awards to about one-third of its enrolled students. They aim to eliminate any financial obstacles that could stand in the way of competent candidates seeking admission to the business school.
  3. Alberta MBA Scholarships: Numerous MBA scholarships are offered by the Alberta School of Business to deserving and excellent international students. Typically, these scholarships are available for the entire MB program. Students get around $10,000 in this scholarship.

Read: How to write a scholarship essay.

Free or cheapest MBA colleges in canada for indian students

Canadian universities are catering their education to students from all over the world. Keeping this in mind, many Canadian universities offer MBA programs at affordable rates. Studying at a low cost university does not mean that you will be compromising on the quality of your studies.

Here’s the list of affordable universities in Canada with their tuition fees.

S.NO.UniversitiesFees in INR per year
1University of Alberta14.35 Lakhs
2Memorial University of Newfoundland3.8 Lakhs
3University of Prince Edward Island21.37 lakhs
4Wilfrid Laurier University12.96 lakhs
5University of New Brunswick13.09 Lakhs
mba in canada 1

MBA in Canada without work experience.

Many students believe that studying for an MBA in Canada requires having some work experience. However, this is not true for all universities in Canada. Some Canadian universities offer MBA admissions to students without work experience. Here’s the list of universities offering MBAs in Canada without work experience.

S.NO.Canada Universities offering MBA without work experience.
1Thompson Rivers University
2York University
3University of Toronto
4Queen’s University
5University of Windsor

Jobs after MBA in Canada

Canada is a land of opportunities, especially for those who have graduated from Canadian universities. The average per annum after MBA in Canada can range between C$65,000 – $86,000. International students can work in Canada for up to 3 years after their education.

UniversitiesAverage Annual Salary (INR)
University of Toronto51.81 Lakhs
University of British Columbia54.93 lakh
University of Alberta47.12 lakh
Concordia University51.29 lakh
McGill University51.01 lakh
York University56.20 lakh
Western University70.40 lakh
Queen’s University54.93 lakh

Read: Work permit in Canada

FAQs

The typical cost for an MBA program in Canada is between $30,000 and $40,000, which is considered reasonable compared to other study abroad destinations.

The cost of an MBA in Canada is lower than that of the US and the UK, but it is unquestionably more expensive than that of business schools in Asia. The annual tuition for MBA programmes at business schools in this nation ranges from 59 lakhs to 1.4 crore INR.

No, an MBA in Canada is not free. However, there are some universities that are cheaper than others. Also, students can apply for scholarships to help them with their tuition fees.

India has far lower living expenses than Canada. Everything is more affordable, including local market food, rent and real estate, childcare, and even cell phones.

The annual cost of an MBA programme in Canada ranges from 11,18,100 to 87,97,600 INR. Indian students, in contrast, can make up to 59 lakhs to 1.4 crore INR annually. It is reasonable to conclude that earning an MBA from Canada is worthwhile.