FAQ

We may, in exceptional circumstances, consider credits from another MBA program for exemption from our standard MBA curriculum. However, any exempted courses must be replaced with another elective; students must complete the full 45 program credits at John Molson.

We take a holistic approach to admissions, meaning we take all parts of an application into account. However, should your CGPA be slightly below our minimum requirement, we recommend showing some academic improvement through a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or through additional courses in an undergraduate program. Contact us for more information and to discuss your case: gradadvisor.jmsb@concordia.ca.

No. The MBA program is only offered on our downtown Montreal campus.

(COVID-19 update: Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 will be online. We look forward to returning to campus when it is deemed safe by university administration, government and public health officials.)

The MBA and the MSc programs offered at the John Molson School of Business are very different.

The MBA (Master of Business Administration) offers a very hands-on, case-based approach to business administration, focused on developing a wide range of professional skills that are needed to move into managerial and leadership roles. The MBA is entirely course-based, with no mandatory research aspect to it (i.e., no thesis). A minimum of two years of work experience is required of all candidates to contextualize the theoretical concepts being taught.

The MSc (Master of Science) programs are research-based programs, which help students to become specialists in one subject (finance, management, marketing, or supply chain management). In the first half of the program, students complete advanced academic seminars, while the second half of the MSc programs involves the production of an independent research thesis under a faculty supervisor. The MSc leads to specialist roles in industry, or further into academia through a PhD. No work experience is required for this program, although relevant experience is considered an asset. 

The Graduate Diploma and Certificates in Business Administration (GDBA, GCBA, GCQBS) are between five to 10 courses in length (core courses + one elective) and can be completed between 6–12 months. The programs are designed for graduates of non-business programs who wish to enhance their profile with a wide range of business skills sought by employers. The courses consist of a mix of lectures and case work in broad business topics. Work experience is not mandatory to apply to this program. 

The Full-time/Part-time MBA program consists of 15 courses (10 core courses and five electives) which can be completed in 16–20 months full-time, or 3–4 years part-time. The core courses are taught entirely through a case-based approach, allowing candidates to go deeper into business administration in a practical way. A minimum of two years of work experience is required of all candidates to contextualize the theoretical concepts being taught. The MBA  offers further skill-development opportunities through a wide variety of electives, both in-class and experiential (e.g., Co-op, Community Service Initiative, Concordia Small Business Consulting Bureau, International Case Competition, and much more).

The Full-time/Part-time MBA is a general business administration degree with 10 case-based core courses and five electives covering a wide variety of topics. The program provides students with the flexibility to build a broad skillset and move into various fields post-graduation, such as consulting, finance, marketing, etc. The average profile of students in this program is around six years of full-time, post-graduation, professional experience. However, we do consider candidates with as little as two years of full-time professional experience.

The MBA in Investment Management is a specialized MBA program that integrates the CFA charter materials and focuses on building a skillset in finance. Offered by the Goodman Institute of Investment Management, the program is available in both Montreal and Toronto. Delivered over three years, classes are held on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays, allowing candidates to continue working or pursue work opportunities while studying. The program boasts a high pass rate for CFA Level I first-time takers (double the global average). No work experience is required for this program, although relevant experience in finance is considered an asset. 

The John Molson Executive MBA (EMBA) is a 46-credit program that covers fundamental contemporary business concepts. The program is divided into four themes over the fall and winter terms. Each term is capped by an integrative course where the acquired knowledge is applied to real business contexts. Classes are held weekly, alternating on Fridays and Saturdays, and are designed for professionals to work full-time while completing their MBA simultaneously over 20 months. Cohort members average between 12 and 15 years of professional experience. This dynamic environment is set for executive-level discussions that go beyond the classroom and underscore the need to keep abreast of rapidly changing business landscapes. The program includes an international study trip, executive coaching, and health and wellness modules — features that help students develop their careers even further as leaders.

Case-based learning is a unique approach in which students break off into groups to work out strategies and reasoning for resolving a business issue. While the team’s solution is being presented, the class has the opportunity to ask questions so that the team can be further challenged by their peers in order to improve their learning. This hands-on approach is common among leading MBA programs.

Co-op is a non-credit, optional, four-month, full-time, paid work-term to be completed in the second half of the MBA program. Co-op internships allow students to get work experience in a desired industry and to develop their professional network before graduating. In order to apply for Co-op, students must have maintained a 3.3+ CGPA after completing 24 credits in the program.

On a full-time basis, the program is typically 20–24 months long, but it can be completed in as little as 16 months if a student were to take five courses each term. Part-time students can complete the program in 3–4 years.

Tuition is paid in instalments each term. An approximate breakdown is available on our website.

The University’s health insurance plan is mandatory for all full-time students, for Canadian and international students. Immigration Quebec regulations require that all international students be covered by a health insurance plan that meets government standards, while studying in Quebec. In keeping with this government directive, Concordia University has negotiated a compulsory health and accident insurance plan with Blue Cross at a competitive cost that all Concordia international students must have. Consequently, personal health insurance plans are not accepted. Please consult the Health Insurance section for more details.

Applicants to the MSc., MBA and PhD programs who submit their documents before March 1 are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships and entrance awards. In-course scholarships (based on program CGPA) and application-based scholarships through external organizations are also available throughout the program. Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents may qualify for financial aid from Canadian and Quebec student loans and bursary programs. More information available on the Financial Aid and Awards Office website or on the School of Graduate Studies Awards and Funding website.

Yes. Though not guaranteed, Teaching and Research Assistantships are available in all John Molson graduate programs, which are awarded at the discretion of the supervising professor.

All of them! Our MBA program is a general business administration program with 15 of the 45 credits being electives, allowing students to steer their career into any field. Our graduates quickly accelerate their career after completion of the program, becoming business consultants, managers, analysts, specialists, team leads, and more. For details on our employment statistics, please consult our Career Management Services website.

Absolutely! Please contact our team so we can assess which of our ambassadors would be the best fit to chat with you and to share experiences that are relevant to your goals.