Choosing one of the best Universities in Canada for an MBA is a good choice for individuals seeking a top-tier education and a gateway to global career opportunities.
International students are welcome to apply for these MBA programs in Canada. Many of these universities actively recruit international students, and the application process is typically similar to that for domestic applicants. However, international students may need to meet additional requirements, such as language proficiency tests (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL).
Table of Contents
Why Study an MBA in Canada?
Canada offers an affordable MBA course compared to other countries like the USA, UK, and Australia. The cost of living is also lower in Canada.
Canadian colleges and universities provide world-class education, with excellent infrastructure, exposure, and scholarships. According to QS Global MBA Rankings 2022, Canada has six MBA programs in the top 100 in the world.
Many prominent business institutions in Canada are featured in global rankings, with 5 of 18 Canadian business schools ranking in the top 100.
International students completing their MBA in Canada are offered jobs from the best companies in Canada, providing a good return on investment.
Additionally, 90% of students prefer studying in Canada due to the country’s high safety index (62.42), which is higher than other popular study-abroad destinations like the US, UK, and Australia.
Criteria for Ranking the 70 Best Universities in Canada for MBA
The following elements were considered throughout the rating process:
1. Employability of Graduates: One important indicator of a university’s performance is its alumni/graduates’ employability.
2. Research Output and Impact: Institutions that had made significant contributions to their fields through research were given preference.
3. Rankings and Accreditation: Rankings and accreditation from reputable organizations such as QS World University Ranking, and Best Global Universities.
List of the Best Universities in Canada for MBA
Below is a table showing the best Universities in Canada for MBA:
20 Best Universities in Canada for MBA
1. University of Toronto
- Founded: The program was founded in 1904.
- Location: The program is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a thriving business community.
- Tuition fee: (CAD 136,410) International students on a study permit.
- Ranking: The program is ranked #1 in Canada and #15 in the world by the Financial Times.
- Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: The program offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans. These can help to make the program more affordable for students.
The University of Toronto MBA program is a full-time, two-year program that is ranked among the best in the world.
2. University of British Columbia
- Founded: 1947
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Tuition fee: The tuition fees for the MBA program at the University of British Columbia are CAD 94,559 for international students.
- Ranking: The UBC MBA program is ranked 31st in the world by the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2023.
- Accreditation: The UBC MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: The UBC MBA program offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, loans, and grants.
The UBC MBA is a full-time, 18-month program that is ranked among the top MBA programs in the world.
3. University of Alberta MBA
- Founded: 1916
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Tuition fee: The University of Alberta MBA program fees are approximately CAD 54,000 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
- Ranking: 91st Financial Times Global MBA Ranking
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The University of Alberta offers a variety of financial aid options for MBA students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
The University of Alberta MBA program is a full-time, 16-month program offered on campus in Edmonton, Alberta.
4. McGill University MBA
- Founded: 1906
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Tuition fee: CAD 82,500 for Canadian residents, and $99,500 for international residents.
- Ranking: 25th in the world (QS Global MBA Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: Available for qualified students, including scholarships, fellowships, and loans.
The McGill MBA is a full-time, two-year program that prepares students for careers in business.
5. University of Waterloo
- Founded: 1957
- Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) program for the 2023/2024 academic year is approximately CAD 67,941.
- Ranking: 10th in Canada (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The University of Waterloo MBA program offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Waterloo MBA program is a full-time, 16-month program that prepares students for careers in business.
Here are some additional details about the program:
- The program is taught by a faculty of experienced business leaders and academics.
- The program offers a strong focus on experiential learning, with students completing various real-world projects and internships.
- The program has a strong alumni network, which can provide students with networking opportunities and career advice.
6. Western University
- Founded: 1922
- Location: London, Ontario, Canada
- Tuition fee: Business (MBA) – International: $120,500 for 2024.
- Ranking: #1 in Canada (Financial Times), #12 in the world (Bloomberg Businessweek)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The Ivey Business School offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, fellowships, and loans.
The Ivey Business School at Western University offers a full-time MBA program, a one-year MBA for experienced professionals, and an Executive MBA.
7. University of Calgary
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Tuition fee: All students; $67,000
- Ranking: QS World University Rankings; 95th (2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The University of Calgary offers a variety of financial aid options for MBA students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Calgary MBA program is a full-time, 16-month program that is offered on campus in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
8. McMaster University
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Tuition fee: $49,300 (Domestic Tuition) / $111,300 (International Tuition)
- Ranking: #71 in the world (QS Global MBA Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The MBA program offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The McMaster University MBA is a full-time, 16-month program that is ranked among the top 100 MBA programs in the world.
It is designed for experienced professionals who want to advance their careers in business.
9. University of Ottawa
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Tuition fee: The total cost of the Telfer MBA program at the University of Ottawa is $28,000 for Canadian students.
- Ranking: The University of Ottawa MBA program is ranked 101-150 in the world by the Financial Times.
- Accreditation: The University of Ottawa MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: The University of Ottawa MBA program offers financial aid to students who qualify.
The University of Ottawa MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program that prepares students for careers in business.
10. York University
- Founded: 1959
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Tuition fee: $29,464 per term for full-time students (international students)
- Ranking: 92nd in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: York University offers a variety of financial aid options for MBA students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
The MBA program at York University is a full-time, 16-month program that is offered on-campus in Toronto, Canada.
11. Queen’s University
- Founded: 1960
- Location: Kingston, Ontario.
- Ranking: The Queen’s University MBA is ranked 10th in Canada by Maclean’s magazine.
- Accreditation: The Queen’s University MBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which is the highest international accreditation for business schools.
- Financial aid: The Queen’s University MBA offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans. These options can help to make the program more affordable for students.
The Queen’s University MBA is a full-time, two-year program that is ranked among the top MBA programs in Canada. It is designed to give students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s business world.
12. Simon Fraser University
- Founded: 1965
- Location: British Columbia, Canada.
- Tuition fee: International Students; $52,500 (total program fee).
- Ranking: The Simon Fraser University MBA program is ranked 101-110 in the world by the QS World University Rankings.
- Accreditation: The Simon Fraser University MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: The Simon Fraser University MBA program offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Simon Fraser University MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program offered on the university’s Burnaby campus in British Columbia, Canada. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in business and management.
13. University of Montreal
- Founded: 1878
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Tuition fee: For international students, the tuition fee per session is CAD 8,186.
- Ranking: #1 in Canada (QS Global MBA Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: Association of MBAs (AMBA), Association of Management Consulting Firms (AMFC), and Canadian Business School Accreditation Commission (CBSAC)
- Financial aid: The University of Montreal offers a variety of financial aid options for MBA students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
The University of Montreal MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program that is ranked among the top MBA programs in Canada.
It is designed for students who want to develop their business skills and knowledge in a global context.
Here are some additional details about the program:
- The program is taught in English and French.
- Students can choose from a variety of specializations, including finance, marketing, management consulting, and entrepreneurship.
- The program has a strong focus on experiential learning, with students completing internships and participating in case competitions.
- The program also has a strong global focus, with students spending a semester studying abroad or completing an international internship.
14. Concordia University
- Founded: 1969
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Tuition fee: $6,900 (CAD) for Quebec residents, and $47,900 (CAD) for international students for the full-time MBA program at Concordia University in Quebec.
- Ranking: The Concordia University MBA program is ranked #100 in the world by the Financial Times.
- Accreditation: The Concordia University MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: The Concordia University MBA program offers financial aid to students who qualify.
The Concordia University MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program that prepares students for careers in business.
15. Laval University
- Founded: 1959
- Location: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Tuition fee: $16,000 per year for MBA programs (International students).
- Ranking: The Laval University MBA program is ranked 11th in Canada by the Financial Times.
- Accreditation: The Laval University MBA program is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
- Financial aid: The Laval University MBA program offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
The Laval University MBA program is a full-time, 16-month program offered in French. It is designed for working professionals who want to advance their careers in business.
16. University of Manitoba
- Founded: 1877
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Tuition fee: The estimated tuition and fees for the MBA program at the University of Manitoba are $35,300 for domestic students and $48,300 for international students.
- Ranking: #84 in Canada (QS World University Rankings)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The University of Manitoba offers a variety of financial aid options for MBA students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
The University of Manitoba MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program offered on campus in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
17. Carleton University
- Founded: 1965.
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario.
- Tuition fee: $31,117.20- $37,097.20 (international students)
- Ranking: The Carleton University MBA program is ranked 103rd in the world by the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2023.
- Accreditation: The Carleton University MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: There are a variety of financial aid options available to students in the Carleton University MBA program. These include scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
The Carleton University MBA program is a full-time, 16-month program offered on campus in Ottawa, Ontario.
18. University of Victoria
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Tuition fee: International students; $40,920.32 (Daytime MBA)
- Ranking: 96th (QS Global MBA Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Financial aid: The University of Victoria offers a variety of financial aid options for MBA students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Victoria MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program offered on campus in Victoria, British Columbia.
19. University of Guelph
- Founded: 1964
- Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Tuition fee: The total cost of the MBA program at the University of Guelph is $40,607.
- Ranking: The University of Guelph MBA program is ranked #1 in Canada for sustainability by Corporate Knights.
- Accreditation: The University of Guelph MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: The University of Guelph offers a variety of financial aid options for MBA students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The University of Guelph MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program offered on-campus. It is designed for working professionals who want to advance their careers in business.
20. Dalhousie University
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for the MBA program at Dalhousie University is $91,320.
- Ranking: The Dalhousie University MBA program is ranked 15th in Canada by Maclean’s magazine.
- Accreditation: The Dalhousie University MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
- Financial aid: The Dalhousie University MBA program offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
The Dalhousie University MBA program is a full-time, 18-month program offered on-campus in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
FAQs on the Best Universities in Canada for MBA
What are the career prospects for MBA graduates in Canada?
MBA graduates in Canada have promising career prospects. They often find opportunities in various industries, including finance, consulting, technology, healthcare, and more. The MBA can enhance your leadership skills and open doors to high-level positions.
What are the typical admission requirements for MBA programs in Canada?
Typical admission requirements include a bachelor's degree, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, standardized test scores (GMAT/GRE), and sometimes work experience.
How long does it take to complete an MBA program in Canada?
The duration of MBA programs in Canada can vary. Full-time programs usually take two years, while part-time and executive MBA programs may extend over a more extended period. Accelerated and online programs may have shorter timelines.
Are there any opportunities for networking and building connections during an MBA program in Canada?
Yes, MBA programs in Canada often provide ample opportunities for networking and building connections. You can engage with professors, fellow students, alumni, and industry professionals through events, and networking sessions organized by universities and business associations.
Recommended Articles
- Top 100 MBA Colleges in the World
- 25 Best Business Associate Degrees
- 25 Best Business Associate Degrees
- Top 80 Best Universities in Belgium.
Conclusion
Also, when choosing an MBA program in Canada, consider factors like location, specialization, cost, and reputation. Think about your career goals and personal preferences to find the program that best suits your needs.
We’ve come to the end of this article.
Share and Help us Reach out to Other Students