The Best Part-Time MBAs in Canada
Canada continues to grow as a global powerhouse for business education. The diversity of the student population, seeing the benefit of the country’s inclusive education system and healthy job market, often bypass the U.S. entirely for its neighbor to the north.
Canada’s high number of top-notch part-time programs only add to the appeal, as ever increasing numbers of people choose alternatives to a full-time MBA. Here are some of our favorite picks for the best part-time Canada MBA programs.
Best Part-Time Canada MBA Programs
Because “not everyone can press pause on their career,” the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University offers working professionals a 24 month degree option. Classes take place in the evening, and 80 percent of Beedie part-time students receive a promotion or change positions during their time at SFU. Applicants must have four years of full-time work experience, and a competitive career of eight years is suggested. Strong candidates may also be eligible for a GMAT waiver during the admissions process.
Current tuition for domestic students is $41,200 CAD which can be paid over six semesters. For inquiries on international tuition visit Beedie’s financing page.
With one of the world’s highest percentages of international faculty, the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University is another leader in part-time MBA education in Canada. Students in the Desautels PMBA meets for six hours per week in the evening, completing the program over 36 months. In the first and second years of the program, students participate in a full week session early in the summer, followed by a break during July and August.
Professional development seminars and reflection sessions take place on one or two Fridays during each semester, providing students with insight on how their studies are informing their careers. Another feature of the Desautels part-time program is an international study trip during which PTMBAs widen their studies to a global scale.
Visit the school’s tuition and financial aid site for details on costs for international students.
Described as “practical in every way” the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University part-time MBA offers students a flexible schedule that is fully customizable. Classes are offered in the morning, afternoon, or evening for part and full-time students alike.
The 45 credit program is comprised of three 15 credit courses, and part-time students typically complete their studies in three to four years. To start, part-time students take an online ‘on-ramp’ set of prerequisites, followed by 10 core courses during the first section of the MBA and 15 credits in specialization courses.
Molson offers an international exchange program, in which students can choose to study in Germany, Israel, France, India, Japan, Trinidad, China, or Australia. Tuition and financial aid details can be found on the official school website.
The part-time MBA at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management offers classes in either the morning or evening, with applications accepted on a rolling basis. Students attending Rotman benefit from the vast opportunity available to them in Toronto, one of the world’s leading startup communities.
Classes take place over 32 months with one year of core courses and the second year of both core and elective classes. In the third years students hone in further on their specialization with even more elective courses.
Two years of work experience is required for admission, and the average student has six years of previous work experience. The Rotman website offers info on scholarships, entrance awards, fellowships, and more.
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The York University Schulich School of Business, like Rotman, holds classes both in the morning and evening in Toronto. Students complete the degree in ten terms (roughly three years). Students choose from 18 specializations, and time commitment can be shifted between full and part-time.
Schulich part-time MBAs begin the program with foundation courses, followed by a strategy field study in year two. During the third year, students hone further in on their specialization, based in their current careers or in a new field. Two years of work experience along with a four year degree, or three years of work experience with a three year degree are required. See Schulich’s MBA/PMBA brochure for more details on the degree.
At the Ryerson University Ted Rogers School of Management in downtown Toronto, part-time MBAs can choose from a 24 or a 36-month option. The 36 month option is open to those without a business undergraduate major. Evening classes take place for three-to-six hours per week, and applicants can plan on 10-20 hours of group work or study time per week.
Current tuition for domestic students is just $22,328 CAD, and $35,818 CAD for international applicants.
At the Wilfrid Laurier University Lazaridis School of Business, MBAs can earn their degree in as few as two years or as many as five; making it one of the most flexible options in the country. Graduates of all four-year undergraduate programs (not just business) may attend, as long as they have at least two years of work experience.
During the first four terms of the program, classes take place two evenings a week, and the fifth through tenth terms, classes are Monday through Thursday evenings with a daytime option. The program, according to recently published figures, cost around $34,009.60 CAD inclusive of program fees.
The University of Alberta School of Business part-time MBA is a 60 credit program. Classes are offered in the evening, supplemented by a one week intensive course in the spring and summer.
The Alberta part-time MBA, like many other programs on this list, begins with core courses, followed by a focus on one of five career tracks, including: Energy & Finance; Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Operations & Business Analytics; Public Sector & Healthcare Management; and Strategy & Consulting. A focus in real estate is also an option. More financial aid and tuition details can be found on the official school website.
About the Author
Maggie Boccella
Maggie Boccella, a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, is a freelance writer, artist and photographer. She has consulted on various film and multimedia projects, and she also serves as a juror for the city's annual LGBTQIA Film Festival.
