Dear All (especially Duncan):

First off, thank you for contributing to building this super valuable platform of information.

I am a journalism graduate, with around a decade of experience working for international organisations (World Bank, ADB, USAID) in Pakistan. I recently had my immigration application to Canada approved, and I am interested in getting an MBA with the following goals:
- entering the communications/PR/government sector in or around GTA/Ontario
- eventually getting a PhD and moving towards academia

. Your advice will be immensely helpful for me.

My only condition is having an AACSB accredited qualification.

1. Scenario 1: My employer is willing to partially sponsor an Executive MBA from LUMS, Pakistan's only AACSB accredited university - this is a 2 year program. I'll still end up spending around US$10,000 from my own pocket, which combined with the upcoming is making me consider alternatives.

2. Scenario 2: I can opt for an AACSB accredited online program from a school like Georgia Southwestern State ($9200 for any student, anywhere in the world), University of Texas Permian Basin ($10220), or the iMSM from UIUC. Would this be more impactful in terms of career progression in Canada?

3. I'm really looking at the most cost-effective Master's degree in or around the GTA with a co-op. Any solid recommendations? I havent written the GMAT/GRE yet, so would prefer a school without.

Thanks in advance.

An MBA will have almost no content relevant to PR/corporate communications. There are many relevant programmes in the GTA: https://cprstoronto.com/education/ 

Very few MBAs have any assessed work that is scholarly research. I suggest you work out which of these GTA schools have scholars engaged in research on your topic, and then you start to co-operate with them by attending seminars and offering data, also start volunteering as a reviewer for the relevant journals. 

An MBA will have almost no content relevant to PR/corporate communications. There are many relevant programmes in the GTA: https://cprstoronto.com/education/ 

 

If your eventual goal is a PhD, then you should strongly consider a research masters in Canada.  In Canada, almost all research masters degrees are fully funded (free tuition + stipend for living expenses) for domestic students (citizens and permanent residents).  Since you're a new immigrant, you would qualify for funding.   Research masters degrees (MSc) have a major paper / thesis requirement that comprises 1/3 to 1/2 of the program.  Professional masters degrees such as MBAs and Masters in Finance do not require a thesis and also do not get a government subsidy (thus they charge full tuition).  

If you want to learn more, just use google to find research masters degrees within each business school or university in Canada.  There are just too many to list here.  

With all the options available in Canada, I would not even consider any of your current options like LUMS (which would have zero recognition among Canadian employers).  

[Edited by MKennedy on Jun 24, 2022]