Thinking about doing an MBA in Canada? Many international students find that Canada — with its strong and varied industries across the country — is a great place to do their MBA. It doesn't hurt that Canada's post-MBA visa policies are among the most liberal in the world. This means that many students who do their MBA in Canada can and do stay to work in country for at least a couple of years after graduating. Popular destinations for international MBA students range from Toronto, the country's financial center, to the west coast, where the oil and gas industry is prominent. Some students might also consider doing their MBA in Québec, the country's French-speaking province.
That's not to say that the best MBA programs in Canada can't be found all across the country. The programs below can be found in several different provinces.
In terms of reputation, these degrees are up there with the best: Canadian MBA programs are increasingly showing up on international rankings. Many of the top business schools in the country now publish post-MBA career statistics, so that potential applicants can get a sense of the average salaries and other indicators.
Although, at least compared to the country's neighbor to the south, there aren't that many business schools in Canada offering MBA programs, there are indeed a handful of world-class offerings. Among the several dozen or so business schools in the country, fewer than 30 are accredited by AACSB, AMBA, or EQUIS; the following is a list of the best MBA programs in Canada.
Ranked by Businessweek, many of McGill’s grads go into industries that are traditionally popular with MBAs, such as finance and strategy consulting, both in Montréal and across Canada. However, an increasing number are leveraging their degree to go into technology companies and even start their own businesses.
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Businessweek ranks the school higher than any other MBA in Canada in its full-time, non-US MBA ranking. Midway between Toronto and Montréal and right on the US/Canada border, the school’s location provides various networking options. Students can choose from a variety of MBA concentrations, including Consulting, Finance, and Healthcare Management, among others.
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Since it can be completed in one year, Ivey’s MBA program is popular with time-crunched students. The program is ranked by the Financial Times, Businessweek, and The Economist. Ivey has strong MBA placements in financial services and consulting, across Canada.
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For sustainability-minded students, this west-coast business school is a good choice: it has been ranked in the “Global Green MBA” listing from Corporate Knights magazine. It has also been ranked in more traditional MBA listings, such as the Financial Times’ Global MBA rankings. MBA students often find work in Vancouver's technology sector.
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Schulich is ranked in a number of major publications, including the Financial Times and the Economist. In terms of post-MBA jobs, although Toronto’s financial services sector is popular among graduates, placements are quite varied: FIND MBA lists Schulich as a top school for careers in several different fields, including Nonprofit Management. The school's MBA programs offers a range of concentrations.
View School ProfileRotman appeals to a variety of interests through its range of unique MBA specializations, including Brand Management, Investment Banking, and Real Estate. The school is ranked in the Financial Times and Businessweek, and is listed on FIND MBA as a top business school for a career in Finance or Financial Services, for Corporate Finance, and for Strategy.
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Sustainability-minded applicants take note: Concordia has been ranked highly in both Corporate Knights’ magazine “Top 30 Global Green Schools” list as well as the “Beyond Grey Pinstripes” ranking from the Aspen Institute. The school is also AACSB-accredited and has previously been ranked in the Economist.
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Alberta’s specialization in Natural Resources, Energy & Environment can be a good springboard into energy careers in the area and across Canada. The school is listed as a top school for careers in Energy and Natural Resources, Real Estate, and Public Sector Management and Government by FIND MBA.
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Triple-accredited and ranked by Businessweek, HEC Montréal holds its own against the other world-class business schools in the city. The school is popular with French-speakers, who can choose to do the MBA program in their native tongue. The MBA's graduates tend to go into the financial services, technology, and consulting sectors, in Montréal and across Canada.
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The school’s MBA specialization in Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development and its strong placements in Canada's energy industry helped it land a spot on FIND MBA’s Top School for a Career in Energy and Natural Resources list. But the MBA is about more than just energy: it offers several different concentrations, ranging from Finance to Real Estate Studies.
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