MBA Masters in Canada

Many of our tips talk about how you can strengthen your application, but you can build a stronger one when you’ve done the things this program values in the years before the application. The application itself is the communication part (in which you communicate what you’ve done to the admission committee), but this section gives guidance on the substance part (what you can actually do before you apply). In this section we talk about what you can do in the years leading up to applying that can make you an ideal candidate. Supplement the following tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘Pre-Application’) to become a competitive applicant. 

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Degree Requirement: 

To apply for an MBA program, you will need to have an undergraduate degree before applying. Ideally, this should be a degree in Business or a related field — some programs require this. If you don’t have an academic background in Business or a related subject (i.e. undergraduate degree in Business), then that shouldn’t stop you from applying. In this case, you should compensate for this lack of background by doing your research, practical work and other efforts outside the classroom to show your commitment to the field. The admission committees want to see dedicated and motivated applicants.

CourseWork and Transcripts:

Most programs require applicants to submit a sealed copy of the transcripts. These may also need to be attested across the seal for verification purposes. Make sure to check program requirements for more detailed information on this. If the transcripts are not in English then these will need to be translated by the issuing authority or university – other translating bodies will not be accepted.

• Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on transcripts (under the tab of ‘transcripts’).

GPA Requirement:

Note that requirements are likely to vary and the following are just general ranges (some programs may have higher requirements while others are laxer)

Usually, a minimum of a 3.0-3.5 GPA is required (on a 4.0 scale).

If you have a GPA below the minimum requirement, that shouldn’t stop you from applying, Many admissions committees understand that circumstances may have led to lower grades and that this information may be outdated — that you are likely to have gained experience since your undergraduate degree that can compensate for this. So if you have a relatively lower GPA, you should compensate for this through your other application components (for example through your GMAT). 

It is advised not to convert your grades/marks into the Canadian GPA or any other system, because the conversion may not be accurate. You should try to contact the university if you are unsure about your standing and find out if there are any processes you are required to follow to submit these grades/GPA points. You may include a letter/explanatory note within your application package explaining your academic standing within the university — this can include any rank you have received, where you stand compared to the class or university average, the number of students in the university and other relevant information that may be useful. 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Research experience is not a requirement for the degree.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Many MBA programs require applicants to have at least 2 years’ worth of full-time work experience to be eligible to apply. Other programs require more years of professional experience, some requiring a minimum of 5 years. Admissions committees, in general, want candidates who can bring a range of real-world learnings into the classroom. Since an MBA is largely a practical application degree, such experience can strengthen your application and make your study in the program more fruitful. 

Leigh Gauthier, acting director of recruitment and admissions at Rotman School of Management, comments “We’re looking for candidates who will be able to contribute based on experiences they’ve had and problems they’ve tried to solve already at work, and who are looking to grow into that next level with an MBA”.

Experiences that strengthen your application will be those that develop leadership and teamwork-related skills. If you have such relevant experiences, make sure to highlight them in the various components of your application (e.g. resume, personal statement, interview, etc.).

For EMBA: EMBA candidates need to have 10-15 years of experience in the field. Admission committees generally look for more varied or diverse work experience.

GENERAL ADVICE

MBA programs in Canada look for motivated applicants who have a career path in mind. It is important to do your research, about careers, specializations, etc. before applying so you can make an informed decision about your degree. The admissions committees look for applicants who know exactly why they want to pursue the MBA degree and why they want to apply to that particular program. Teresa Pires, assistant director of recruitment and admissions at the Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business comments “We like to see candidates who are able to identify why they’re applying to our business school and who are able to showcase that they’ve researched really well, perhaps by speaking to current students or alumni. If we see they’ve done that legwork, it shows us that they’re really committed”.

Refer to the Program Selection Section for further information.

COMPONENTS

Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on overview (under the tab of ‘overview’).

Applicants suffer most because of inadequate information — or wrong information — about essays and personal statements. This section will address those inadequacies specifically in relation to applying for this program. Supplement the following field-specific tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘essay’) to craft a stellar personal statement. 

BASIC INFORMATION

The admissions essay/s is a good opportunity to present yourself as a potential candidate to the admissions committee, in your own words. Most programs provide a question or prompt that you will need to respond to as a part of your essay. Many programs require students to submit more than one essay, with each essay answering a different question/prompt, etc. Some require applicants to answer a few short questions and then submit a separate admissions essay. In this way, it is very important to refer to the program requirements, so that you are sure about what is required of you before you start preparing to write. Other guidelines may also be given so make sure to closely go over the essay requirements when attempting this part of your application. 

Programs usually change their essay questions yearly but below are certain general guidelines.

Note that some programs don’t require an essay. 

TIPS ON GOOD AND BAD STATEMENTS

What is essential in the statement:

• You should write about your past experiences (both academic and professional, with an emphasis on professional), and how they led to your decision to pursue an MBA. You should also write about how these things are contributing to your end-career goal. 
• Some level of introspection or self-reflection is required when writing this admissions essay. The purpose of the essay is to get an idea about who you are as a professional within the field. Some programs in fact add a self-reflection component where they ask you to describe yourself — word limits or a specific number of characteristics to be described (e.g. describe yourself using 3-5 characteristics) are often used for this purpose. 
• Note that it is likely that the essay will be used as a way to get an idea about your English writing and communication skills. Such skills are very important to succeed in the business world — by writing and communicating well you show that you have the potential to do well in this field. 
  • Leigh Gauthier, acting director of recruitment and admissions at Rotman School of Management remarks that “In business, there’s a requirement to be able to communicate effectively, and in the admissions essays, we really want to see people articulate a concept—something that’s important to them—in a way that’s meaningful. It’s definitely testing an ability to write, but also an ability to think concisely and to be able to communicate an idea in a very small amount of words.”

This section will cover the basics of recommendation letters, which are one of the most important parts of the application process. Supplement the following field-specific tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘recommendations’) to ensure you have strong letters of recommendation.

BASIC INFORMATION

Generally, 2-3 letters of recommendation are required for MBA applications. Professional LORs tend to be preferred. In rare cases, academic LORs are accepted — in this case it should ideally be a teacher who has taught you Business or a related subject. 

You should choose referees who know you well and can strongly attest to your capabilities and potential. Admission committees take references very seriously because these are 3rd party reviews, done by credible individuals, about your skills and traits. The aim of these LORs is to confirm your suitability for the program. The program wants to read a review done by someone who has witnessed your work experience and so can comment on your skills etc. in the workplace. This can include your direct supervisor or someone similar. 

Make sure to reach out to your referees as soon as you can. Professionals will not be able to stop their work in order to write a recommendation or fill out a recommendation form. Additionally, some may not respond or decline your request, so it’s better to have time to find alternatives. 

For EMBA: Many programs require proof that the applicant has the permission of their employer to embark on this further study. Since EMBA is part-time, the study may affect work and vice versa, and so it is important to get permission from employers when pursuing this degree. This is required for all applicants working, whether their studies are sponsored by the employers (employer pays for the degree) or not.

This section will cover everything else related to the application process; including transcripts, interviews, resumes, and standardized tests.

VIDEO APPLICATIONS

Basic Information:

There is a growing trend of including a video component of the overall application. It is not always a requirement for all candidates.

In some cases, universities only ask short-listed candidates to do so. 

This aims to add a different medium of expression for the candidate (in addition to writing). Usually, programs have a video app that is used for this purpose — you will be asked some predetermined application and given a specific amount of time to answer these. The run-time of this video varies, usually lasting for 1-2 minutes. Usually, 1-2 questions are asked as a part of this test. Some programs may give students the chance to do a practice question first, after which the official video starts rolling. Once the video starts, you will not be able to pause the video. Some programs require you to record the video and upload it onto a YouTube or Vimeo page. Details of the process will be available on the program page (for programs that require this component). Programs will also likely let you know about the kind of locations they require the video to be filmed at (some may give you the freedom to choose most of the features of the video).

Note that the purpose of the video isn’t to test how you look in front of the camera or to check your production abilities — the admissions committee just wants to see how motivated you are. They want to see that you have put thought and effort into your answers. They will pay attention to the kind of response you give and the location you choose to film the video. Some require candidates to dress up in professional attire and record the video in a professional setting.

Some programs have replaced the admissions essay with this video essay because many students submitted essays written by consultants. The video thus becomes a way to check the real attitude and personality of the candidate. Your verbal skills (English language proficiency) may also be checked through the video.

Tips:

• Remember that although this is a video to show your enthusiasm, you shouldn’t be too informal. This is still a part of your MBA application. Consider it to be a kind of interview and approach it in that way.
• While it is important to show your professional attitude during the video, you should also show that you are a creative personality. Your creativity can be shown through the setup of the location of the video. For example, some candidates include items that reflect their interests in the background of the video — this is a subtle way of showing your interests and creativity. 

INTERVIEWS

Basic Information:

You may be required to take an interview as a part of your application process — this is likely to be online-based. Interviews are a way to test or assess things that are not as easily understandable in the other application components. For example, Cynthia Law, John Molson’s (Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business) manager of graduate admissions and student academic services remarks that “we might ask someone to come in for an interview because we just want to ask the candidate more questions and make sure that they’re ready, and that they’re very serious and committed to doing their MBA”. 

Interview Tips:

• During the interview, you should project your confidence and ability. Show that you are prepared for this degree. This is particularly important if you are younger than other applicants or if you have a relatively lower GMAT score. Sharon Irwin-Foulon, director of career management at Western University’s Ivey Business School, comments that “an interview gives you an opportunity to demonstrate maturity in terms of recognizing what you’re bringing to the table and what you want as an objective at the end”. 
  • Make sure you have a clear understanding of your motivations for this degree. You will likely be asked “Why do you want to do an MBA?”, and you need to have a good and clear answer for this.
    • Weak answers include:
      • Your parents want you to do it.
      • You don’t like your current career/job and want to take a ‘break’.
    • These are weak answers because they don’t assure the admissions committee of your competence for this degree. Even if these are the reasons, you should reframe the answer in such a way so that you give hints about your skills or qualities while answering. For example, if you are doing the MBA because you are unhappy with your job, you can reframe it to, “I’ve had this great run at this organization, this is what I’ve learned. This is what I loved, this is what I didn’t love, and the MBA is where I can pivot.” (as provided by Irwin-Foulon).
  • Remember to interact with the admissions committee during the interview. Just as they are questioning and evaluating you, you should ask them questions about the program too. This can show that you are motivated to apply to the program and that it is an informed decision. Rather than just sitting under their scrutiny, use the situation for your benefit too. Note that this doesn’t mean that you have to throw loads of questions at them — just that if you have any questions in mind then you should ask. 
    • Irwin-Foulon gave the example of a student who asked the admissions committee what the program would do if she didn’t achieve her goals. This showed that the students had a strong and specific purpose behind pursuing this degree and she was thinking of its long-term potential.
    • It is useful to ask questions specific to the program that the interview is for. This will show the admissions committee that you have done your research before applying and thus shows initiative, which programs value. 
• Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on preparing for interviews (under the tab of ‘interview’).

RESUME/CV

Basic Information:

When writing your resume, you should quantify all of your accomplishments. Rather than just writing about your responsibilities, you should write about how you have added or contributed to that organization. 

It is usually required that the resume be 1 page in length — you should check program requirements to confirm this but generally, this is the case. 

Through your resume, you need to show the admissions committee who you are as a professional, as a prospective student and finally as a person.

Resources:

For a detailed guideline on how to write/build your resume/CV, go over the following links:

• https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/management/programs/undergraduate/cdc/media/MBA_Resume_Guide_2016_2017.pdf

Resume/CV Tips:

• Remember that your MBA resume is not being read alone — the rest of your application components come with it. In this way, it is very important to make sure the resume is in sync with other components, such as the LORs or the admissions essay. 
• Your resume should be structured so that includes 3 main sections: Academic background, work experience and extracurriculars. Some resumes also include awards or skills but it is important to remember the 1-page limit and structure accordingly.
  • With regards to the work experience section, you can structure it chronologically or according to skill (or any other format you think would better present the information). 
• When including dates within your resume, make sure to maintain a consistent format — so if you start by using the MM/YY (month/year) format, make sure you stick to it throughout. 
• Similarly, take time to think about how you want to structure the content of the resume and make sure to stick to one structure/format — this is especially important for when you are using bullet points (indent the bullet points and content generally, in a consistent manner).
  • Avoid using paragraphs — you should use bullet points as much as you can.
• The best font size is 12 — avoid going below font size 10 because the content becomes hard to read after that.
• It is good to use bold and italics to emphasize things or to get the reader’s attention to things, but at the same time, there is a limit to their use. You should use them where necessary. Avoid using them in the middle of sentences unless absolutely necessary, because it can make the resume harder to read.
• Some people use different colors and pictures throughout their resume — but it is recommended that you stick to the traditional style of black font. Pictures will reduce the space available for your content so that is also discouraged. 
• With regard to the type of language you should use, it is important to stay informative, concise and formal.
  • You should try to start each sentence with an action verb
  • You should also try to quantify all of your achievements — rather than giving a vague term about what you have done, give specifics. Try and use numbers to emphasize exactly what you have achieved or done.
  • Also, you should avoid using jargon when writing up a resume for MBA programs — candidates usually come from different backgrounds and sometimes use jargon based on these backgrounds. So for example, if you are from an IT/Computing background, you should avoid using technical terms about programs, etc. You can’t expect the admissions committee to research what exactly a term means. Keep it simple and informative.
    • Similarly, avoid using acronyms or abbreviations because these may be confusing to the reader (for example, writing PM — this could mean project manager, program manager, or product manager).
  • Overall the content should be self-explanatory. Each bullet point or section should give a mini-story to the admissions committee. In job applications you will likely get the chance to explain your resume but for MBA applications that is not always likely. So it is important to make sure all your points are easy to understand for a third party.
• Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on building a resume (under the tab of ‘Resume/CV’).

STANDARDIZED TESTS

Basic Information:

As an international student, you will be required to prove that you have proficiency in the English Language (this is done through certain tests, mentioned below). Additionally, most programs also require students to take the GMAT. 

Tests Needed:

Note that the following are just general guidelines — you should always check with the program requirements to find out minimum acceptable scores.

• GMAT: Scoring high scores on the GMAT is a good way to show the admissions committee that you have what it takes to pursue such a higher-level study. This is especially important if you come from a business background because it is expected that you will have developed the skill set to do well in this test.
  • The minimum score required to be admitted into top-tier programs ranges between 550-600 (on your overall GMAT score).
  • Even if schools don’t have a minimum GMAT score specified, you should still try to get a good score. It is best to score above 600 in order to make your application competitive. 
  • You should generally try to be at least in the 50th percentile across the 4 components of the exam.

For EMBA programs: The GMAT is generally not required for this degree unless you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field. This is because it is assumed that candidates have developed their business knowledge due to their extensive work experience. Some programs have their own admission test as an alternative to test the student’s knowledge base, while others may adopt the version of the GMAT that targets EMBA students. 

Some programs accept GRE scores as an alternative for the GMAT — in this case, you will need to get a relatively high score for your application to be considered competitive (in both the verbal and quantitative components).

• English Proficiency Tests: Most universities require TOEFL results, but some may accept IELTS. The minimum TOEFL score varies — usually the minimum score for the paper-based test is between 550-600, while the minimum score for the computer-based test ranges between 213-250. 

Test Tips:

• Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on preparing for standardized tests (under the tab of ‘tests’).

See Canada Country Profile | Shaheen

These tips were compiled with the valuable help of SHAHEEN volunteers.

We thank our volunteers for their contribution and hope their tips and advice help you in your application.

In addition, the following sources were consulted in developing this tip-sheet and we encourage you to consult these sources for additional information and guidance on your application.

• Application Tips by Touch MBA

Furthermore, the following sources were also consulted in developing this tip sheet: 

Top 10 MBA programs in Canada, 5 tips for better MBA applications, How to apply for an MBA in Canada?, How to handle an MBA admissions interview?, Study in Canada, MBA or EMBA, which one is right for you?, MBA vs EMBA, what’s the difference?, Common career paths for MBA grads, MBA programs in Canada, and MBA in Canada.

Good luck!