Getting educated
With several schools to choose from, it can be difficult to know which will be the best fit. Having a good understanding of different programs can make the decision easier. But with so many options, where do you begin?
Looking at some of Canada’s top schools and programs may be a good place to start. These three schools are considered some of the best that the country has to offer business students.
Rotman School of Management – University of Toronto
Undergraduate
Rotman offers a four-year Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) program. The program starts in the second year of study. First-year students who meet the grade requirements in specific courses are guaranteed admission. In the second year, students choose one of three specializations: management, accounting or finance and economics. Upper year students have options to study abroad or gain work experience through Rotman’s career services.
Admission requirements vary depending on whether applicants are Canadian students, international students or mature students. For Canadian high school students, Rotman requires a minimum average in the mid-to-high 80s for consideration. Particular attention is given to English and calculus grades, both of which are prerequisites for the program. Applicants are also required to submit a supplementary application comprising short written and video responses.
Postgraduate
Rotman offers a wide range of postgraduate programs, one of these being the full-time Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program. The program consists of 16 months of study and a four-month paid internship. Students can specialize in certain areas of study such as brand management or consulting.
To be considered, Rotman requires at least a 3.0 GPA in the applicant’s final year of their bachelor’s degree. They are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Two years of full-time work are required (though the average applicant has five years). Two professional recommendations, a short essay and two interviews are also part of the application process.
Ivey Business School – University of Western Ontario
Undergraduate
Ivey’s four- to five-year Honours Business Administration (HBA) program begins in the third year of study. Students may study in any other faculty during their first two years. Students may take a fifth year to complete a Chartered Professional Accountant accreditation, study abroad or earn a combined degree. That consists of the HBA degree and the completion of the degree from their first two years of study.
High school students may apply for Ivey’s Advanced Entry Opportunity (AEO), which offers conditional, pre-admission status to the HBA program. To become an AEO student, a 93 per cent overall average is considered competitive. Students must also have completed a mathematics course for university bound students and demonstrated leadership through extracurricular activities.
Students typically apply to the HBA program at the end of their second year. They must have maintained a full course load. They must also have maintained at least a 70 per cent average over those two years. Though, 80 per cent or more is considered competitive. They must have also taken the Business 2257 course at Western or an equivalent course at another school.
Postgraduate
Among their many postgraduate programs, Ivey offers a one-year MBA program. This program focuses on case-based learning instead of traditional lectures, using real-life examples and practice scenarios as teaching tools. Ivey MBA students have the opportunity to partake in an international study trip or a four-month exchange program.
The admission requirements include GMAT/GRE completion, a minimum of two years of work experience and two professional references. Plus, two written essays, two video questions and an interview for select candidates.
Sauder School of Business – University of British Columbia
Undergraduate
Sauder’s four-year BCom program allows students to choose one of ten disciplines. These include accounting or entrepreneurship, to focus their studies in their third year. The program also offers different opportunities abroad, including an exchange program.
General admission requires a high school diploma and 70 per cent or higher in Grades 11 or 12 English. The BComm also requires the completion of an advanced functions course and a video interview. Students may also choose to transfer from another school into year two or three of the program.
Postgraduate
Among its other postgraduate options, Sauder offers a 16-month MBA program. Students choose one of four career tracks: technology and analytics leadership, finance, product and service management or innovation and entrepreneurship. Students may also choose to create a custom track to experience different areas of study. The program also offers various global study or work opportunities.
Admission requirements include completion of a bachelor’s degree with at least a B+ average. As well as, GMAT/GRE completion, a minimum of two years of work experience (though three to five years is considered competitive), two professional references, a written essay and an interview.
With so many options, some of the selection comes down to personal fit. If possible, visit the campuses or take virtual tours, and always do research before applying. Proper preparation can help to ensure a student thrives in their future endeavours, no matter which school they attend.