Is Now a Good Time for Indian Students to Pursue an MBA in Canada?
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Canada has long held a reputation as being among the world’s top study destinations for international MBA students.
But, is during a pandemic a good time for Indian students to study business in Canada?Even in normal times, choosing where in the world to pursue your international MBA, put down roots, and advance your career are major life decisions that require the consideration of many different variables. You may be wondering now how to take COVID-19 into account when planning your MBA applications.
Only you can decide what’s right for you, your education, and the future of your career, but you can use these key pieces of information and resources to help you make the right choice.
What you need to know about Canada during COVID-19
First things first: how is Canada faring with COVID-19?
While the situation is far from resolved anywhere in the world right now, relative to its peer and neighboring countries Canada to date has handled the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well. The United States, for example, has reported more than three times as many infections per capita as Canada. It has the advantage of greater geographic distribution between major population centers, and as a country it has performed well during critical moments of the pandemic. In addition, its single-payer national health-care system allows people to seek care for COVID-19 without fear of out-of-pocket costs.
As the state of affairs remains fluid, the High Commission of Canada in India encourages prospective students to Canadian universities to get the latest updates from the COVID-19 page of the EduCanada website—the central site for everything you need to know about studying internationally in Canada. The latest information on study permits and visas can be found on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) COVID-19 and international students page.
Why should you pursue an MBA in Canada?
Business schools in Canada are many students’ destination of choice for high-quality education at an affordable cost in a safe, welcoming, multicultural environment. There are a number of reasons why Canada is an especially attractive study destination for prospective Indian MBA applicants.
For one, Canada and India have incredibly strong people-to-people ties that grow stronger with each passing year. In total, around 1.4 million Canadians trace their origin to India, which is the largest source country for new permanent Canadian residents, including more than 370,000 over the last 10 years.
Now India is also the top source country for foreign students studying in Canada. In 2019, out of more than 600,000 international students in Canada, 34 percent came from India. If you choose Canada as your study destination, you can count on having a significant Indian student community to help with your adjustment and providing a source of support as you complete your studies.
Canada is an immigrant friendly environment
Why have so many Indian students found success in Canada? Canada offers an incredibly open, tolerant, safe, and multicultural environment for immigrants from all over the world to study and thrive. In fact, more than 1 in 5 Canadians are immigrants themselves. Canada’s values are informed strongly by its multicultural, multiethnic, and multilinguistic citizenry.
Study permits, work opportunities, and pathways to permanent residence
Of course, Canada’s immigrant friendly environment extends to its policies around student study permits, work opportunities for international graduates, and pathways to citizenship.
After taking the GMAT exam, submitting your applications, and being admitted to a Canadian MBA program, you will apply for a study permit online with your letter of acceptance, proof of identity, and proof of financial support. For an MBA internship, you will need to apply for a co-op or intern work permit.
Interested in working in Canada after earning your MBA? You can obtain a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) after your studies, allowing you to work anywhere in Canada for up to three years—depending on the duration of your MBA program. Canada offers multiple different programs for becoming a permanent resident, as well. The Canadian government’s Come to Canada Tool makes it easy for you to understand which immigration programs you can apply for.
The GMAT exam is your passport to Canada’s leading MBA programs
For decades, Canada’s leading MBA programs have accepted the GMAT exam because it’s a proven predictor of your ability to succeed in their classrooms. Applying with a competitive GMAT exam score demonstrates your commitment and motivation and helps you stand out in the admissions process.
Here’s a sample of some of the leading MBA programs in Canada for international candidates, with some useful details about their locations, target GMAT exam scores, and tuition costs, as well as links to their latest COVID-19-related information. For more, go to Program Finder and search “Canada” as your location, select MBA as your degree, and full-time as your program type.
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto – Full-time, two-year MBA
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto—steps from Canada’s commercial and financial hub—the Rotman MBA program gives you the knowledge, agility, and confidence you need to transform your future.
• Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• GMAT score target: Rotman encourages applicants to put their best foot forward with a score of 550 or higher. Their class of 2021 profile shows an average GMAT exam score of 669.
• International student total tuition cost: CAD$127,930. See their fees page here.
• COVID-19 updates: Check out Rotman’s COVID-19 FAQs page for the latest from their admissions team.
Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University – Full-time, two-year MBA
McGill’s diverse group of accomplished MBA students journey from all over the world to study in the vibrant, multilingual cultural hub of Montreal.
• Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• GMAT score target: The latest class profile shows an average GMAT exam score of 670.
• International student total tuition cost: CAD$94,554. See their fees page here.
• COVID-19 updates: Check out McGill’s COVID-19 FAQ page for the latest from their admissions team.
Schulich School of Business, York University – Full-time, two-year MBA
The Schulich MBA will equip you with the specialized knowledge and leadership skills you need to gain a competitive advantage in your career.
• Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• GMAT score target: Schulich requires a minimum score of 550 to be considered for admission. Their admissions site says a competitive score is 660, with each section’s score being at least at the 50th percentile.
• International student total tuition cost: CAD$106,888. See their fees page here.
• COVID-19 updates: Check out Schulich’s COVID-19: Admissions FAQs for the latest from their admissions team.
Ivey Business School, Western University – Full-time, one-year MBA
Ivey's one-year MBA program starts in March and is designed for high-achieving leaders who are ready to accelerate their career success.
• Location: London, Ontario, Canada
• GMAT score target: Ivey considers your highest GMAT score for admission and does not list a minimum requirement on the GMAT exam page. Their latest class profile says their median GMAT score is 680, with an overall range of 520-760.
• International student total tuition cost: CAD$117,500. See their fees page here.
• COVID-19 updates: Check out Ivey’s COVID-19 updates page for the latest from their admissions team.
HEC Montreal – Full-time, one-year MBA
The HEC Montreal MBA will give you the skills and abilities you need to become a first-rate manager and gain a formidable network of contacts as well as the confidence to make decisions and meet the challenges of today’s business world.
• Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• GMAT score target: HEC Montreal’s admissions page suggests minimum score of 570, and says a competitive score is 630 or higher.
• International student total tuition cost: CAD$49,000. See their fees page here.
• COVID-19 updates: Check out HEC Montreal’s COVID-19 Information and Instructions page for the latest from their team.
Smith School of Business, Queens University – Full-time, one-year MBA
The full-time MBA from Smith School of Business takes a flexible and highly personalized approach that allows you to build the right program for your career goals.
• Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
• GMAT score target: The Smith MBA admissions page says that most students GMAT exam scores exceed 600. The program’s latest class profile lists an average GMAT score of 654.
• International student total tuition cost: CAD$99,500. See their fees page here.
• COVID-19 updates: Check out Smith’s COVID-19 page for the latest information from their admissions team.
Want to explore more great full-time MBA options in Canada? Go to Program Finder and search “Canada” as your location, select MBA as your degree, and full-time as your program type.