The QS Global MBA Rankings 2021 have been released today, ranking business schools from around the world. The rankings are also split up into regions: Asia, Europe, Canada, Oceania, Latin America, and the US.
MBA programs were ranked based on the indicators of employability, entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes, return on investment, thought leadership, and diversity. You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.
This year, 20 schools in Canada were ranked – the top 10 MBA programs in Canada in the 2021 rankings are:
QS Global MBA Rankings 2021: Top MBA Programs Canada | |||
Rank | Global Rank | Business School | Location |
1 | 45 | Toronto, Ontario | |
2 | 59 | Montréal, Quebec | |
3 | 66 | Kingston, Ontario | |
4 | 69 | London, Ontario | |
5 | 88= | Toronto, Ontario | |
6 | 94 | Vancouver, British Columbia | |
7 | 101-110 | Edmonton, Alberta | |
8 | 121-130 | Montréal, Quebec | |
9 | 141-150 | Montréal, Quebec | |
10 | 151-200 | Halifax, Nova Scotia | |
10) Dalhousie University
- Tuition fees: US$55,577
- Percentage of female students: 48
- Percentage of international students: 20
- Students in class: 46
Rowe School of Business at Dalhousie University kicks off the Canadian top 10 this year. The Corporate Residency MBA is 22 months with a number of courses and electives.
Rowe’s Corporate Residency program incorporates a number of classes, including: Corporate Responsibility, Ethics & Society; Self-Management & Engagement; Management Without Borders; PPE Capstone: Leading & Influencing.
Students also utilize the program’s Corporate Residency (eight-month paid work experience) element. Many students are offered full-time positions by their corporate residency employers.
9) HEC Montréal
- Tuition fees: US$37,727
- Percentage of female students: 38
- Percentage of international students: 60
- Students in class: 106
The 12-month MBA program begins in September. Of the 54 credits, 40.5 credits are earned through compulsory courses like: Ethics and Social Responsibility; Macroeconomic Environment; Organizational Design: People, structure and Culture.
The remaining 13.5 credits are earned through elective courses in: Consulting; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Digital Business; Finance and Economics; Leadership; Strategy and International Business.
HEC Montréal boasts 16 professors in the Royal Society of Canada, and 27 research chairs, including five Canada Research Chairs. Students pay US$37,727 in tuition, but note an average salary of US$62,894.
8) John Molson School of Business
- Tuition fees: US$21,558
- Percentage of female students: 37
- Percentage of international students: 87
- Students in class: 60
The first part of the 16-month MBA program is made up of 10 core courses, providing students with an integrated body of basic practical skills. Each core course is worth 3 credits.
In the second part, students must complete 15 credits from a variety of electives, and/or experiential learning activities, like the MBA Community Service Initiative; Small Business Consulting Bureau, and Strategies in Action.
7) Alberta School of Business
- Tuition fees: US$42,479
- Percentage of female students: 39
- Percentage of international students: 43
- Students in class: 49
The UAlberta MBA is a 20 course (60-credit) program completed over 20 months. Following orientation, the MBA Association organizes a weekend retreat to the Rocky Mountains.
Students can expect to be in a class of approx. 40 students on core courses, with closer to 25 participants on elective courses. 84 percent of students accepted jobs three months after graduation.
Participants can follow one MBA Career Track including: Energy Finance; Public Sector & Healthcare Management, and more, or the Real Estate focus area.
Outside the classroom, students can represent Alberta at the MBA Games, create social change with Net Impact, or get involved with the MBA Association.
6) Sauder School of Business
- Tuition fees: US$61,641
- Percentage of female students: 38
- Percentage of international students: 74
- Students in class: 98
Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia’s 16-month UBC MBA program encompasses: Creativity; Decision Making; Global Issues & Macroeconomics; Ethics & Sustainability; Leadership Development.
Students can choose from five career tracks in Finance; Product & Service Management; Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Technology & Analytics Leadership; Custom.
The Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre (BCC) is staffed with MBA Career Coaches who will help you develop your market skills and shape your career.
5) Schulich School of Business
- Tuition fees: US$79,900
- Percentage of female students: 35
- Percentage of international students: 47
- Students in class: 360
Schulich’s 16-month MBA program earned the highest score for ROI in Canada. 90 percent of students were hired within three months of graduation, and 155 companies hired Schulich grads.
The MBA curriculum includes 33 credits of core courses, with the opportunity for students to complete 27 credits of electives.
Schulich’s Graduate Business Council hosts social events including getaway weekends in September and January, an annual Graduate Formal, pub nights and Schulich representation at the MBA Games in January – and there are over 30 student clubs and committees for you to explore.
4) Ivey Business School
- Tuition fees: US$81,999
- Percentage of female students: 32
- Percentage of international students: 48
- Students in class: 156
Ivey’s 12-month program earned the third-highest score for employability in the Canadian table.
Of the MBA Class of 2019, 91 percent of those seeking, received an offer by September 1, based on a 95 percent reporting rate; $115,146 average salary (includes: base salary, signing bonus, and other guaranteed compensation); 91 percent of Ivey grads made at least one career transition (change in industry, function, and/or geography).
Students have the option to participate in an international exchange in their final semester (January to April). Participants can travel to exchange schools in Chile; Brazil; Spain; Netherlands; China; Singapore and more.
The Ivey MBA curriculum is delivered using Ivey’s case study method (the only case-based program in Canada).
3) Smith School of Business
- Tuition fees: US$70,101
- Percentage of female students: 44
- Percentage of international students: 42
- Students in class: 91
Smith’s 12-month MBA program landed the second-highest spot for employability in Canada – with 97 percent of graduates receiving an offer within three months of graduation.
The curriculum boasts 13 courses plus an integrative project that runs for six months.
For the Mastery module, students complete a series of core and elective courses. If you pursue a specialization, participants earn an MBA and a Graduate Certificate in one of the following: Consulting; Digital Transformation; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Finance; Management Analytics; Marketing & Sales.
As the first Canadian business school to join the Forté Foundation, Smith awards numerous Forté Foundation Fellowships to highly qualified female MBA students.
2) McGill University
- Tuition fees: US$68,525
- Percentage of female students: 39
- Percentage of international students: 77
- Students in class: 70
McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management’s 20-month program scored the second-highest scores for thought leadership and diversity in the Canadian top 10.
Desautel’s MBA program offers a number of international study opportunities including the 10-day international study trip whereby all students travel together as a cohort.
Students at the institution in Montréal can also pursue a variety of local and/or international internships opportunities or choose to study in another top business school through the exchange program. Students can also complete a specialized project during their MBA if they wish.
1) Rotman School of Management
- Tuition fees: US$93,833
- Percentage of female students: 42
- Percentage of international students: 66
- Students in class: 295
Landing the number one place for MBA programs in Canada yet again is Rotman School of Management – also earning the highest score for employability, thought leadership and diversity in Canada. 83 percent of students accepted jobs three months after graduation.
Rotman’s 19-month program has more than 90 elective courses to allow for maximum customization.
The Flexible Internship Program offers three internship periods after your first year: May-August, September-December, and January-April.
Rotman’s Self-Development Lab (SDL) gives personalized feedback on your behavioural performance and communication style (among other areas) through a series of individual coaching sessions and small group workshops – ensuring students develop key interpersonal skills required to become effective problem-solvers in business.
