Top Business Programs in Canada

A university business degree can open doors to many different exciting career paths. If you're the parent of a high school student who is interested in studying business at the post-secondary level, you may be wondering which Canadian universities offer the best programs. Read on for a roundup of some of the best business schools in Canada.

University of British Columbia

Located in Vancouver, one of Canada's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities, the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia is another top choice for business students. The school offers a well-rounded education with a strong focus on practical experience. Students can participate in international exchanges, co-op programs, and internships, allowing them to build their resumes and network with potential employers before they even graduate.

If you're the parent of a soon-to-be university student, you're probably already thinking about their future career. After all, a university education is a significant investment, and you want to make sure it pays off. Fortunately, if your child chooses to attend the UBC Sauder School of Business, they'll have a good chance of landing a well-paying job after graduation. Here's what you need to know.

Stats:

• Employment Rate: 95%
• Average starting salary: $75,000

For a complete guide on getting into UBC Sauder, you can read our UBC Sauder Admissions Guide!

What makes a competitive candidate?

Sauder employs a holistic admissions approach, which means they consider more than just your grades when making decisions. However, grades are still an important part of the equation, and we do have minimum requirements that all applicants must meet. At GrantMe, we recommend the following criteria to be a competitive candidate:

• GPA: 93%+ UBC Sauder school has an average acceptance rate of 6%, so you must be a strong candidate
• Extracurriculars: 1 Initiator Role related to your future major (entrepreneurship, finance, marketing etc.)
• 3-5+ extracurricular activities

What do students say about UBC Sauder?

Paige joined GrantMe in high school to help her prepare for university and scholarship applications. She was determined to get into the Sauder School of Business but felt overwhelmed trying to balance her extracurricular involvement, sports, and academics.

" GrantMe gave me a sense of direction in approaching the daunting scholarship and university application process."

• Paige worked on perfecting her Personal Profile and scholarship applications. And through this process, she was also able to reflect on what her goals were. She learned the importance of balancing all of the commitments in her life, and this helped further solidify her career path decisions.

As a result, Paige won the $80,000 UBC Presidential Scholarship and was admitted to the Sauder School of Business to pursue her dream career.

"I am now more confident than ever about what I hope to do. Sauder has the career support & learning opportunities that will allow me to advance my career. I've always wanted to work in the technology field & UBC's Combined Major in Business, and Computer Science (BUCS) was the perfect opportunity for me. By allowing me to pursue a career in both business & technology at the same time, UBC Sauder was a no-brainer for me."

Check out Paige's full story here.

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management is consistently ranked as one of the top business schools in the world. Located in the heart of Canada's financial capital, Rotman is well-connected to the business community and offers students unique opportunities to gain real-world experience. The school's program combines rigorous academic study with hands-on learning, giving students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today's competitive job market. And with world-renowned faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and partnerships with some of the biggest names in business, it's no wonder that Rotman is considered one of the leading business schools in Canada. If you're looking to see what it takes to get into the University of Toronto, you can read our UofT Rotman Commerce Admissions Guide.

• Employment rate: 92%
• Average starting salary: $68,455

What makes you competitive for the University of Toronto?

• GPA: 92%+ The minimum admission requirements for Rotman Commerce are an 80% average in prerequisites. However, the average admission GPA for successful applicants is usually much higher than that. In fact, for the 2019-2020 admissions cycle, the mean admission GPA was 92%.
• Extracurriculars: 1 Initiator Role related to your future major (entrepreneurship, finance, marketing etc.)
• 3-5+ extracurricular activities
  • In addition to strong academics, Rotman Commerce is looking for well-rounded applicants who have demonstrated leadership experience and are actively involved in extracurricular activities. The Admissions Committee places a strong emphasis on involvement in extracurricular activities because they want to see that you are driven and motivated outside of the classroom.

What do students say about Rotman?

Hunter Atchison, a 2020 Rotman Commerce Graduate, said the following about his experience.

"I've always been passionate about driving change through my work & wanted to ensure I had the most options for my employment. Rotman Commerce gave me the space to explore my interests & see what opportunities were available to me before I stepped into my career."

Was it worth it?

"Yes. I don't think I could've asked for a better experience."

Queen's University

The Queen's Smith School of Business is one of the world's leading business schools. Located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the school offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in business and economics. The school has been ranked as one of the top business schools in the world by the Financial Times and Bloomberg Businessweek. If you want to learn how to get into Queen's Commerce, you can read our guide here.

With GrantMe's support, he applied to over 90 scholarships and won over $35,000 in scholarships, including the Queen's Commitment Bursary Scholarship worth $8,000. With GrantMe's support, he will be attending the Smith School of Business at Queen's University next year.

Stats:

• Employment rate: 89%
• Average starting salary: $64,428

What makes you competitive for Queen's University?

• GPA: 90-95%+ In order to be competitive for Queen's Commerce, students will need an average higher than 90%. This is just a general guideline, though, and admission is based on much more than just grades. The admissions committee looks at things like extracurricular involvement, letters of recommendation, and essays. That being said, grades are still a very important part of the equation, and students should aim to have one of the highest averages in their school.
• Extracurriculars: 4+ Extracurriculars, 1 Initiator role. Get involved in extracurriculars that show leadership skills. Queens Commerce is looking for students who will be able to take on leadership roles within the school and beyond. Getting involved in activities like student council, debating, or sports teams will show them that you have the ability to lead and be a part of a team. We recommend creating at least 1 initiator role related to the field of business to maximize your chances.

What do students say about Queen's Commerce?

Meet Matthew Tran. With GrantMe's support, he applied to over 90 scholarships and won over $35,000 in scholarships, including the Queen's Commitment Bursary Scholarship worth $8,000.

Originally located in Surrey, British Columbia, he is a second-year student in the Queen's Commerce Program and has the following to say about his experience.

"My goal with my commerce degree is to eventually pursue a sports marketing career back home in British Columbia to highlight the social impact occurring in the sports industry. Queens & GrantMe have already supported his sports journey by helping me secure a youth internship with the National Hockey League. Queen's connections & alumni network is the perfect opportunity for me."

Western University

Ivey Business School at Western University rounds out our list of the best universities for business programs in Canada. Ivey offers an integrated approach to business education, with a curriculum that covers all aspects of management, from accounting and finance to marketing and strategy. The school also places a strong emphasis on leadership development, giving students the opportunity to hone their skills through extracurricular activities like case competitions and student organizations.

Western University is one of the most prestigious schools in Canada, known for its highly selective admissions process. The average high school student has a slim chance of getting in—but there are a few things you can do to give your child a better shot at being accepted.

Commerce is one of the most popular programs at Western, and it's not hard to see why. A degree from Western Commerce is highly respected by employers, and graduates of the program go on to have successful careers in a variety of industries. Plus, the program provides students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for any number of different professional paths.

If your child is interested in studying commerce at Western, read here for some tips on how to get into the program—as well as a look at the average admissions grades for recent years.

Stats:

• Employment rate: 86%
• Average starting salary: $58,731

What makes you competitive for Western University?

• GPA - 91% The average admission grades for students accepted into Western's commerce program fluctuate from year to year but remain high—for the 2019/2020 school year, the average was around 89%. However, competition is always strong, and only the strongest applicants are admitted into the program. If your child is interested in applying to Western's commerce program, encourage them to aim for an admission grade in the 90+ percentile range.
• Extracurriculars: 1 entrepreneurship-related initiator role
• 5+ Extracurriculars
  • The admissions team at Western University looks for students who are well-rounded and involved in their community. So, if you're planning on applying to the school, be sure to highlight any volunteer work or leadership roles you've taken on outside of school. If you can demonstrate that you're a well-rounded individual with a history of involvement in your community, you'll be well on your way to getting into the program of your choice!

What do students say about Western's Commerce program?

Jesse Liu is a first-year student at Western Ivey studying in the BBA Program. Jesse secured over $40,000 in scholarships and received offers from multiple business programs across Canada. He chose Western due to the alumni network of Western Ivey graduates working in the management consulting industry.

"I've always dreamed of working with major Fortune 500 brands & eventually entering the consulting world at major firms like Boston Consulting Group & McKinsey & Bain Consulting. Western Ivey's connections & alumni network at these major firms made it a perfect fit for me to pursue my degree here."

1. McGill University

• Employment rate: 90%
• Average starting salary: $61,382

Choosing the right university is an important decision – one that will have a lasting impact on your child's future career prospects. If they're interested in studying business, there are plenty of great programs to choose from across Canada. But if you want to ensure that they get the best possible education, consider enrolling at one of the institutions on our list: the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management; UBC's Sauder School of Business; Queen's Smith School of Business or Western University's Ivey Business School.