

Canada has some of the top MBA programs at B-schools with state-of-the-art facilities in terms of infrastructure and faculty in cities comparable to those in the United States and Europe at considerably lower tuition and living expenses.
Among the advantages of studying in Canada is that it is considerably easier to apply and get a study permit that allows you to work part-time on the campuses of Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). It saves you the hassles of applying for a separate work permit.
Also, you could continue to work for a year or more, depending on the length of the full-time graduate program, in the country by applying for an extension of the study permit. The Post-graduation Work Permit Program (PWPP) also paves the way for securing permanent residence in Canada.
While the standard of living in Canada is similar to that of the United States and Europe, most of the cities are less expensive in terms of rent, food and other essential needs. Canada also has a healthcare system paid for by taxes collected from the citizens. So, you need not worry about medical expenses.
Now, let us look at the top business schools and the MBA options offered by them as per rankings.
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Rank 1 – Rotman School of Management, Toronto
University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management offers a 20-month full-time MBA program that includes a four-month paid internship after the completion of the academic study.
Rank 2 – McGill Desautels
At McGill University’s Desautels business school, you get the option of completing the MBA program in 12, 16, 20 or 28-months.
Rank 3 – Ivey Business School
Rank 4 – Smith School of Business at Queen’s University
Rank 5 – Schulich School of Business at York University
Rank 6 – Alberta School of Business
Rank 7 – Sauder School of Business
Rank 8 – John Molson School of Business
John Molson School at the University of Concordia offers flexible scheduling for full-time/part-time MBA with students of both streams having access to classes in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Rank 9 – HEC Montréal
Rank 10 – Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University
Choosing The Right Program For You
Business school rankings are not to be taken as the ultimate guide to choosing what is best for you. You should carefully consider if the program meets your expectations about career goals, learning experience, networking and other aspects.
The program duration varies from 20-month full-time ones to those that can be completed in one year. It’s your call whether you want to spend two years in the campus or speed through the program in 12 months.
You would also find that the composition of the cohort, in terms of numbers, GMAT scores, average age and employment opportunities post the degree and salary on offer varying from school to school as well as region to region. Take time to reflect on these aspects and good luck in your future quest!
Many top ranking Candian Universities offer 1 Year MBA (accelerated MBA programs). Let’s look at the tuition fees and application deadlines for the top One Year MBA programs in Canada:
University Name | MBA Tuition Fee (CAD) | Application Deadline |
Western University | 117,500 | Rolling Admissions |
Queen’s University | 99,500 | Rolling Admissions |
HEC Montreal | 54,000 | Round 1: November 15 Round 2: January 15 Round 3: March 15 |
McGill University | 99,500 | Round 1: November 15 Round 2: January 15 Round 3: March 15 |
University of Alberta | 16,129 | April 15, 2021 |
University of Saskatchewan | 47,883 | October 2020 |
Lakehead University | 37,800 | February 1 (to be considered for funding opportunities) |
Royal Roads University | 33,495 | January Session: October 13 May Session: December 18 September Session: June 6 |
Ryerson University | 38,740 | Spring Session: February 22 Fall Session: April 26 |
More relevant for Canadian citizens rather than international students, given the on-off part-time format of Executive MBA programs, these programs are nevertheless some of the options to consider if you are looking for a management course:
Program | Duration | Tuition |
Rotman School of Management Executive MBA | 13 months | $89,325 |
Queen’s Smith School of Business Executive MBA – The National Program | 16 months | $101,000 |
Kellogg – Schulich Executive MBA | 16 months | $94,212 |
Queen’s Smith School of Business Executive MBA, Cornell-Queen’s | 17 months | $137,794 |
University of Alberta – Executive MBA | 20 months | $67,000 |
HEC Montréal/McGill – Executive MBA | 15 months | $69,900 |
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