Deciding where to study business in Canada can be tough, especially if you’re trying to narrow down your options to find the best undergraduate business schools in Canada.
The Canadian business school market is growing every year. An undergraduate degree in business can help you develop skills that will allow you to work in a wide range of sectors and industries.
Fortunately, we’ve done the research and compiled this list of the top 15 undergraduate business schools across the country, so all you have to do is peruse your choices and pick out your top choice.
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Top 15 Undergraduate Business Schools in Canada, and Why They’re Great
The top fifteen undergraduate business schools in Canada. These schools offer a diverse range of programs from accounting and human resources to marketing and finance.
The following are some reasons why these colleges are great:
- They offer specialized courses that can help you get a leg up when it comes time for your first job
- You have the opportunity to learn from professors who have years of experience
- You will be surrounded by peers who share your passion for business success.
- They are flexible when it comes to scheduling classes so they won’t interfere with your work or personal life.
Top 5 Ways To Apply to Business School
If you’re looking to apply to undergraduate business school, you’ll want to know the basics of how to do so.
There are a few different ways to apply, and we’ve compiled the top 5 below:
1. Apply as a high school student and take the SAT or ACT during your senior year.
2. Apply before high school and take the ACT (if you live in the U.S) or SAT (if you live outside of the U.S.) during junior year.
3. Apply by sending a request for an information packet. Most schools have online forms that will allow you to submit your request. You should also include which undergraduate programs you’re interested in, any related professional experience and extracurriculars if applicable, expected family contribution, and more if needed.
4. Take the GMAT! The GMAT is not required but it is encouraged that students submit one if they have taken it.
5. The final way to apply is by submitting a school-specific application. Some schools require this instead of using the Common Application. It’s worth checking with each school you’re applying to individually to see what their specific application process entails.
All these steps are vital when applying to business school, from knowing which tests are appropriate, understanding the individual application requirements, and gathering all the necessary information beforehand. Follow these tips when applying.
List of the Best Undergraduate Business Schools in Canada
Below is the list of the top 15 undergraduate business schools in Canada:
- University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management
- York University – Schulich School of Business
- McGill University – Desautels Faculty of Management
- McMaster University – DeGroote School of Business
- Western University – Ivey Business School
- Queen’s University – Smith School of Business
- Université de Montréal – HEC Montréal
- Dalhousie University – Faculty of Management
- Concordia University – John Molson School of Business
- University of Alberta – Alberta School of Business
- University of Calgary – Haskayne School of Business
- University of Ottawa – Telfer School of Management
- Laval University – Faculty of Business Administration
- University of Victoria – Peter B. Gustavson School of Business
- Ryerson University – Ted Rogers School of Management.
Top 15 Undergraduate Business Schools in Canada
1. University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management
- Founded: 1950
- Address: 105 St George St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E6, Canada
The University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management is one of the top business schools in Canada.
Rotman is ranked as one of the best business schools in Canada by Forbes and it has been recognized repeatedly as one of Canada’s top universities.
The school was founded in 1950 and today it has a total enrollment of over 5,000 students from around the world including more than 4,000 international students.
2. York University – Schulich School of Business
- Founded: 1966
- Address: 111 Ian MacDonald Blvd, North York, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
The Schulich School of Business at York University is one of the top business schools in Canada, and it was ranked #1 by Maclean’s Magazine in 2016.
It’s also ranked second by The Economist, which says that the school has “a reputation for excellence.”
The Schulich School of Business offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including an MBA that has been ranked among the best in Canada.
The school also offers specialized programs in accounting, finance, information systems management, international business, management science & engineering, and real estate.
3. McGill University – Desautels Faculty of Management
- Founded: 1906
- Address: 1001 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G5, Canada
McGill University – Desautels Faculty of Management is an internationally recognized business school with a deep history in Canada. Located in downtown Montreal, it’s ranked 5th in the world for business and economics.
The BCom program at McGill is ranked 4th in Canada and has been named among the top 20 undergraduate business schools worldwide by The Economist magazine.
It also has been named one of Canada’s Top 50 Entrepreneurship Universities by Canadian Business Magazine.
4. McMaster University – DeGroote School of Business
- Founded: 1952
- Address: Michael G. DeGroote School of Business, Hamilton, ON L8S 4E8, Canada
The McMaster University – DeGroote School of Business is the largest business school in Canada and one of the most prestigious business schools in North America.
It has a student population of over 6,000 students from over 100 countries worldwide.
The school offers an international internship program that allows students to gain practical experience at companies around the world through paid placements or volunteer work (up to 12 weeks).
Students can also apply for sponsorship through major Canadian corporations such as TD Bank Group or Rogers Communications Inc., which helps them get placed the first time around with these organizations if they meet their criteria for sponsorship (attendance at an interview session, submitting resumes/CVs, etc.).
5. Western University – Ivey Business School
- Founded: 1922
- Address: 1255 Western Rd, London, ON N6G 0N1, Canada
Western University – Ivey Business School is a top business school in Canada. The school was ranked 1st in Canada, 5th in North America, 12th worldwide, and 7th among MBA programs worldwide by Bloomberg Businessweek magazine.
Ivey’s faculty includes leading academics from around the globe who have extensive experience teaching economics and accounting courses to students at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Students have access to state-of-the-art learning technologies such as webcasts, podcasts, and videos that can help them learn more efficiently than ever before.
The largest business school in Ontario has been located on its west side campus since 1970 when it opened its doors with just 60 students enrolled across three programs: Bachelor of Commerce (BComm), Bachelor of Management Studies (BMgmt), and Bachelor of Science (BSc).
6. Queen’s University – Smith School of Business
- Founded: 1919
- Address: Goodes Hall, 143 Union St, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
Queen’s is a public research university in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Queen’s has an undergraduate enrollment of 17,000 full-time and part-time students, with more than 300,000 alumni worldwide.
The university offers more than 450 programs at the undergraduate level and over 150 postgraduate programs.
Queen’s offers courses through its colleges and schools including the Faculty of Arts & Science, Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, School of Graduate Studies/School of Continuing Studies (School) as well as other departments such as Centre for Learning Technologies (CLT), Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE).
7. Université de Montréal – HEC Montréal
- Founded: 1907
- Address: 3000 Chem. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 2A7, Canada
HEC Montréal is a global business school with an international and entrepreneurial spirit. It is the largest business school in Canada, offering programs to help students gain the skills and knowledge necessary for success in today’s world.
HEC Montréal has over 30,000 alumni across 80 countries who continue to make an impact on their communities.
The school offers undergraduate programs through its partners Université de Montréal (UdeM) or McGill University, graduate programs through its partner École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), executive education courses through its partnership with INSEAD, as well as distance learning opportunities on its website or by phone.
8. Dalhousie University – Faculty of Management
- Founded: 1969
- Address: 6299 South St, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
Dalhousie University is a private research university in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It has more than 13,000 students and offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs to its students.
The Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University is home to two business schools: the Faculty of Commerce (FC), which offers BA degrees in commerce; and the Faculty of Management (FM), which offers both full-time MBA programs as well as executive MBAs through its affiliated university consortium partners across Canada and around the world.
The FM also has an international business program with partner universities in Spain, France, and Germany that allows international students to earn an undergraduate degree from one campus while studying part-time elsewhere during their studies at Dalhousie’s main campus in Halifax.
9. Concordia University – John Molson School of Business
- Founded: 1963
- Address: 1450 Guy St, Montreal, Quebec H3H 0A1, Canada
Concordia University – John Molson School of Business is one of the best business schools in Canada. It’s ranked 3rd by Forbes, 6th by Bloomberg, 8th by Financial Times, and 24th by US News & World Report.
The school is accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. It has also been ranked as one of the best business schools in Canada for many years.
The school has a student body of over 6,000 students. It offers undergraduate and graduates degrees in various fields including business administration, finance, marketing, and management.
10. University of Alberta – Alberta School of Business
- Founded: 1916
- Address: 11211 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R6, Canada
The University of Alberta’s School of Business is an institution that has been around since 1908. It was founded as a graduate school and has since grown into one of Canada’s top undergraduate business schools.
With 7,000 undergraduate students and 2,700 graduate students enrolled overall, it’s clear that this school attracts some serious talent!
The academic calendar at UAB runs from September through April with classes held in both the fall and winter months (October-December) before moving on to the spring semester starting in January.
You’ll be able to take various courses like finance or marketing over your four years here depending on what major you choose when applying; however, if you wish to become experienced before being accepted into post-graduate programs then we highly recommend taking as many courses offered by our faculty members such as management or economics courses so they can guide you towards success after graduation.
11. University of Calgary – Haskayne School of Business
- Founded: 1967
- Address: Haskayne School of Business, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
The Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary is one of Canada’s top business schools.
It’s located in Calgary, Alberta, and has been ranked 6th by QS World University Rankings for its undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The school was founded in 1918 as a faculty within the Faculty of Arts & Science at UCalgary but became an independent entity when it gained accreditation from AACSB International in 1971.
In 2004 it took over responsibility for all business education activities from Sauder Business School (now known as Sauder School of Business).
12. University of Ottawa – Telfer School of Management
- Founded: 1969
- Address: 55 Laurier Ave. E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
The University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management is ranked in the top 100 worldwide, and it’s easy to see why.
With a strong focus on entrepreneurship, the school has a strong international student population as well as students from all over North America.
The school also has an emphasis on technology and innovation, which makes it one of the most cutting-edge business schools you’ll find anywhere in Canada or even abroad.
The Telfer School offers programs that include management and leadership development, financial accounting, marketing management, human resource management (HRM), information systems (IS) or information technology (IT), strategic management & corporate finance among many others.
13. Laval University – Faculty of Business Administration
- Founded: 1924
- Address: Pavillon Palasis-Prince, 2325 Rue de la Terrasse, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
The university is located in Quebec City, with a business school that’s ranked as one of Canada’s top 15 undergraduate business schools.
Laval University has a strong reputation for entrepreneurship and innovation.
The university has been ranked as one of the best universities in Canada by Maclean’s magazine and U.S.-based Forbes magazine, giving it a strong track record of producing high-level executives who can advance their careers through education or work experience after graduation.
14. University of Victoria – Peter B. Gustavson School of Business
- Founded: 1990
- Address: Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
The University of Victoria is one of Canada’s top business schools, making it one of the best undergraduate programs in Canada.
The school offers several different types of master’s degrees and doctorates in business administration and economics, as well as MBA programs.
The school has been ranked by Financial Times as one of the top 100 business schools worldwide and also ranked 20th on their list of Canadian universities with the most international students enrolled at their undergraduate level.
It has an excellent reputation for its small class sizes (around 200 students per class), which makes it ideal for students who want personalized attention or want to explore new topics before deciding on a career path or specialization within their field.
15. Ryerson University – Ted Rogers School of Management
- Founded: 2006
- Address: 55 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5G 2C3, Canada
Ryerson University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario. The university is Canada’s largest institute for undergraduate business education.
The school is known for its Ted Rogers School of Management and its faculty includes many distinguished academics from around the world including Nobel Prize winners Robert Aumann (economics) and Oliver Hart (microeconomics).
The school offers many programs including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. It also has an executive education program that offers a range of courses and seminars for professionals. The school has been ranked as one of Canada’s top business schools by the Financial Post.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the difference between a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Administration?
The Bachelor of Commerce is more focused on economics while the BA tends to focus more on business. A BA might be better if you plan to work in a managerial position instead of being an entrepreneur or economist.
What is the difference between business administration and business management?
Generally speaking, business administration focuses more on managing people and processes, while business management deals with marketing and sales.
What are your top tips for picking a business school?
Picking the right school is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Ask yourself what kind of institution you want to attend, where it is located, and how much it costs. You should also consider things like the program offerings and size of the student body.
How important are rankings?
If your goal is to get hired by a big company like Google or Apple, rankings do matter. But most undergraduates don’t work for these types of companies after graduating. So if you're interested in starting your own company, then rankings may not matter as much.
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Conclusion:
The top undergraduate business schools in Canada are highly rigorous, but they also offer programs that emphasize entrepreneurship and leadership.
These programs offer real-world experiences that can prepare students for their careers after graduation.
The schools on our list have a range of programs that can help students prepare for careers in business. They also offer opportunities for students to get real-world experience through internships and co-op programs.
These schools are well known for their research and publications, which makes them excellent places to study business.
