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.
Rotman and Bocconi Design New Global Executive MBA, and More – Toronto News
Toronto’s best business schools have seen some exciting developments this week. We’ve laid out some highlights below.
New Partnership for a Global Executive MBA Program Announced by University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and SDA Bocconi School of Management – Rotman Media Centre
The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management is banding together with the SDA Bocconi School of Management to offer a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA). Students in the program have the opportunity to study at seven international business hubs, including Toronto and Milano. This program allows students to graduate with both and MBA from Rotman and a GEMBA from SDA Bocconi. Both institutions are enthusiastic about the opportunities this joint venture will present.
Alongside the Rotman School of Management, SDA Bocconi has recently introduced its brand new, joint GEMBA program.
Ferdinando Pennarola, Director of the SDA Bocconi Global EMBA program, says:
“The program will expand each participant’s global understanding and business skills, as it is delivered through a dynamic blend of classroom discussions, convenient self-paced learning, and valuable interactions with leading businesses around the globe.”
Find out more about the brand new Rotman and Bocconi Global EMBA here.
Courses Spring Up to Train Students in the Business of Bus – The Globe and Mail
As the cannabis industry in Canada expands, so too does the need for acknowledgement of the industry in business education. In response to this need, Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management has banded with the Chang School of Continuing Education to launch a course called The Business of Cannabis.
The creation of the course was spearheaded by Brad Poulos, Academic Coordinator of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Ryerson. The course deals with the marketing, logistics, sale, and finance aspects of the cannabis business. The non-credit, 39-hour course (coded 420) is designed to help entrepreneurial students get a leg up in a relatively new industry.
Poulos, profiled in the Globe and Mail, says:
“There is a massive influx of people into [cannabis industry] jobs. With any other consumer good, there is already a huge pool of people to pull from, but that’s not the case here. What we’re trying to do is fast-track.”
You can read more about the cannabis course here.
Arcane Wins Prestigious Google Award For Work With Ivey – MARTECHSERIES
Marketing and analytics firm Arcane received the Search Innovation Award at the 2018 Google Premier Partner Awards, for its work with Western University Canada’s Ivey Business School. The award ceremony occurred at The Press Lounge in New York City.
“Over the past year and a half, the organizations have worked together to refine their digital marketing footprint and drive significant growth for their programs,” according to MARTECHSERIES. The award was based on innovative work with Google’s search advertisements. Arcane is the first Canadian agency to receive the prestigious award.
Ron Gallagher, Director of Marketing at Ivey Business School, says:
“I have been impressed by the innovation and impact of our partnership with Arcane. The Google Search Innovation Award is testament to Ivey’s progressive, results-oriented, and highly accountable approach. We are proud to see Arcane recognized for their digital marketing work with Ivey.”
You can find out more about the award and event here.
Ivey Launches New Academy, and More – Toronto News
Toronto’s business schools have seen exciting developments this week. We’ve laid out the highlights below.
Ivey Launches Full-Service Academy to Boost Business Education – Financial Post
Western University Canada’s Ivey School of Business recently launched The Ivey Academy, which, according to News@Ivey, “blends top-ranked university-based executive education with strategic design, talent assessment and leadership coaching to create the first of its kind executive education experience in Canada.” Some features of the academy include: Instructional design and advisory services, talent assessments, and leadership coaches.
Mark Healey, Executive Director of the Ivey Academy, says:
“There’s been a gap in Canada’s learning and development market, with companies typically engaging multiple vendors to deliver competency assessments, learning modules, training content and executive coaching. Combining all aspets of learning with independent expertise across the development journey, we are able to deliver sustained behavior change, not just knowledge transfer, and stronger retention and succession pipelines for organizations.”
You can learn more about the recently launched The Ivey Academy here.
Why Likeability Gets You Hired and Promoted – The Globe and Mail
Dan Richards, Professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and author of Getting Clients, Keeping Clients, recently wrote a piece for The Globe and Mail in which he discussed what qualities employers respond to.
First, Richards listed off the more standard characteristics employers appreciate, “the demonstrated ability to produce results, a strong work ethic and being a team player,” but he went on to discuss a trait people rarely list on their resumes: likeability.
Richards cites a study, which finds that when candidates are comparable in every objective area, the more likeable one will get the job a staggering 90 percent of the time. According to The Likeability Factor, it is a skill, and can improve with attention to: “Being seen as friendly, connecting over shared interests, demonstrating empathy, and being genuine.”
You can read more from Richards’ Globe and Mail entry here.
The Top 10 Women in L&D, Serious Games and Virtual Reality – LinkedIn
Dr. Deborah Fels, Professor at the Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, was named one of the top 10 women in gaming, according to David Chadross, Ph.D. Fels has helped make strides in terms of accessibility of media and technology, including co-creating TerpTube, “a signed language mentoring management system.”
Chadross says:
“Deb runs entirely gamified courses and has done more work in the field of user experience then anyone I have met.”
The article also mentions fellow Ryerson professor, Naza Djafarova, Director of Digital Learning. Fels praises her increasing the revenue of her apartment my $3 million in just a year, spearheading the first large scale conference on serious games.
You can check out the rest of the list here.
Adam Grant’s Favorite Books, Olympic Winners, and More – Toronto News
Recent weeks have seen exciting developments and events for Toronto metro business schools. We’ve laid out some of the high points below.
17 Business Leadership Books That Have Helped MBA Students Succeed in the Business World – Business Insider
Business Insider contributor Adam Grant, perhaps the most famous business school author in the world today, just released a list of 17 books that he finds beneficial for MBA’s entering the workforce. His list includes “The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers” by Ben Horowitz. Noura Sakkijha, co-founder of Mejuri and graduate of McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, was highlighted as someone who found Horowitz’s book particularly beneficial:
“I love learning through successful people’s real-life experiences and this book provides an extremely practical and honest experience about running a company, managing people, and handling tough problems.”
Grant also highlights “Power Up: How Smart Women Win in the New Economy” by entrepreneur Magdalena Yesil, who was one of the primary investors in what would become multi-billion dollar tech powerhouse SalesForce, and “Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose” by Tony Hsieh, the CEO of online shoe giant Zappos. Check out the rest of Grant’s 17 favorite books here.
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir: “The Perfect Partnership” – News@Ivey
Olympic figure skating medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir recently spoke at Western University Canada’s Ivey School of Business, delivering the keynote address for HBA Leadership Day. In addition to providing advice on how to succeed in a competitive sport, the couple offered insight into what has made their relationship work over the past two decades.
Olympic figure skating medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the keynote speakers at the Ivey School of Business HBA Leadership Day / Photo via ivey.uwo.ca
“We always skate well when we’re on the same page both on and off the ice,” Moir says. “Having each other’s back was our biggest advantage over our competitors.” Virtue also shared the obstacles that come with being a woman in an athletic field. She indicated that as her success rose, so did the amount of scrutiny, criticism, and vulnerability she experienced.
“Every time you get to the top of a mountain, there’s another summit. You’re at one of the best—if not the best—business schools in Canada. You’ve already accomplished so much. But this is where you take off. This is the beginning of a great journey for you.” – Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue
You can read more about the skating duo and the recent Ivey HBA Leadership Day here.
Ryerson, Maple Leafs Announce New Future of Sport Lab – MetroMBA
The brand new Future of Sport Lab, was announced on Tuesday, Sep. 11, 2018 as a brand new partnership between Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Ltd. (MLSE) and Ryerson University. The school, according to a recent press release, notes, “the objective of the FSL is to be Canada’s leader in sport innovation, creating a sport business ecosystem that will connect Canadian sport properties and industry partners, entrepreneurs, faculty, and students. Together, they will support and foster innovative sport business solutions and technologies along with sport industry research, insights, and education.”
The new program will be directed by Dr. Cheri L. Bradish, the Loretta Rogers Research Chair in Sport Marketing with the Ted Rogers School of Management. In an interview, Bradish says, “Toronto is truly a world-class sport business city. The Future of Sport Lab will bring together the incredible talent that’s already here and give them a chance to collaborate and create solutions with real world impact. This will be the new home of sport innovation in Canada.”
Cheri Bradish, Director of the Future Sport Lab (back, right), with Humza Teherany, Sumit Arora, Teresa Resch, and Jennifer MacInnis / Photo via ryerson.ca
You can learn more about the Future of Sport Lab here.
Ryerson, Maple Leafs Announce New Future of Sport Lab
The Future of Sport Lab, was announced on Tuesday, Sep. 11, 2018 as a brand new partnership between Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Ltd. (MLSE) and Ryerson University. The school, according to a recent press release, notes, “the objective of the FSL is to be Canada’s leader in sport innovation, creating a sport business ecosystem that will connect Canadian sport properties and industry partners, entrepreneurs, faculty, and students. Together, they will support and foster innovative sport business solutions and technologies along with sport industry research, insights, and education.”
The new program will be directed by Dr. Cheri L. Bradish, the Loretta Rogers Research Chair in Sport Marketing with the Ted Rogers School of Management. In an interview, Bradish says, “Toronto is truly a world-class sport business city. The Future of Sport Lab will bring together the incredible talent that’s already here and give them a chance to collaborate and create solutions with real world impact. This will be the new home of sport innovation in Canada.”
Cheri Bradish, Director of the Future Sport Lab (back, right), with Humza Teherany, Sumit Arora, Teresa Resch, and Jennifer MacInnis / Photo via ryerson.ca
The Future of Sport Lab will focus on these four specific activities, according to the school:
- Creative research and innovation partnerships
- Applied research and needs assessments to identify emerging opportunities and solve real world problems
- Support for startups including the potential opportunity to have MLSE pilot testing of products/services
- Research forums to bring together experts to identify emerging trends and solve practical sector challenges
Humza Terehany (pictured above), Chief Technology & Digital Officer at MLSE, also adds; “Delivering championship teams and the ultimate fan experience for our fans is MLSE’s primary focus. Innovation is a key part of our ability to enable our teams to perform at the highest levels but also to deliver new ways to engage our fans with exciting new technology.”
Applicants can begin submitting proposals in October, available for MBAs and undergrads. For more information on the sport lab here.
Rotman Prof Talks MeToo Movement, and More – Toronto News
Professors and alumni from Toronto’s top business schools have been making headlines this week. See what they’ve been up to below.
The Corporate Climb: Women Locked Out of Old Boys’ Club in Misguided Me Too Backlash – Canada’s National Observer
The MeToo movement began as a way to shed light on the pervasiveness of sexual assault and harassment following the allegations against Hollywood power-producer Harvey Weinstein. Ideally, the MeToo movement would lead to more accountability for people in positions of power, and consequently, better boundaries in working and personal relationships. Unfortunately, progress often comes with backlash, which may be the case in Canada’s business world.
Instead of increased education about harassment and consent, many workplaces have taken to diminishing their liability via actions that hinder women. Because of this, some men in upper-level positions shy away from mentoring women or being in more intimate situations with them (e.g. a client dinner, or a business trip). However, Sarah Kaplan, professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, feels strongly that focusing on the backlash of the movement is counterproductive to the cause. In Canada’s National Observer, Kaplan says:
“It is just one more way that even an effort to lead to more liberation and equality has been co-opted. It is as if people don’t understand what they shouldn’t be doing. As long as you don’t grab someone or proposition them, you can take someone to lunch … It is completely obvious how to be professional.”
You can read more about the reaction to the MeToo movement here.
Tattoo Company Fosters a New Kind of Art – Ryerson Today
Braden Handley, a Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management Entrepreneurship graduate, co-founded Inkbox with his brother Tyler in 2015. Since then, the business has recently accrued $10 million CAD in funding. Inkbox offers semi-permanent tattoos made with organic materials, that last around two weeks.
Braden Handley (left) with his brother Tyler / Photo via ryerson.ca
“Ryerson helped me get into work mode immediately,” Handley tells his alma mater in a recent interview. “You were taught how to be an employee … We were given a lot of assignments that were real work assignments.” The company employs 60 people, who contributing to the distribution of 60,000 tattoos per month.
“Chase your dreams, but your dreams have to align with your natural abilities as well. Everyone has predispositions and skills.”
Get more familiar with Handley’s journey here.
Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders – Assent Compliance
Assent Compliance’s new list of the “Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Leaders” has arrived. The ranking analyzes those whose “efforts contribute to improvements throughout global supply chains, helping individuals and companies make a positive difference.”
The list includes notable people like Laura Chapman Rubbo, who helped create the human rights policy for Disney.
Dirk Matten, Professor at York University’s Schulich School of Business, lands 44th on the list. Matten, who holds the Hewlett-Packard Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility, serves as Schulich’s Associate Dean of Research.
Discover the full list here.
