MBA in Canada without GMAT: Cheap Universities & Programs

Did you know that you can pursue an MBA in Canada without GMAT? Several top universities in Canada offer an MBA degree without GMAT for students who are not able to score the cut-offs set by the universities or have not taken the GMAT test due to the intensity and intricacies involved. These Canadian universities take into consideration other factors for admission in place of the GMAT score.

An MBA in Canada is a 2-year degree program that can be pursued in several Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and others. International students can enroll in a general MBA program for a degree in management or also go for a specialized degree in a subject like finance, consulting, or marketing. 

One of the most important requirements for an MBA in Canada is a GMAT score in addition to IELTS/ TOEFL scores, work experience, letter of recommendation, statement of purpose, CV, etc. A few universities offer an MBA program in Canada without GMAT by taking work experience into consideration for admission. Students are selected based on relevant hands-on experience in the field of management or intense scholarly research in a particular field of study.

Find out more about some of the best universities in Canada offering MBA without a GMAT score along with the other requirements considered for admission.

Top MBA Colleges in Canada without GMAT

A valid GMAT score is one of the most important requirements for pursuing an MBA anywhere in the world. International students are shortlisted for the MBA program in Canada based on the GMAT score and other eligibility criteria. However, certain Canadian universities do not require that the students have a GMAT score. Listed below are a few universities offering MBA in Canada without GMAT:

Schulich Business School

International students with grades better than B+ in their bachelor’s degree are offered a GMAT waiver for pursuing MBA at Schulich Business School. The student should have scored more than 87-89% aggregate and a GPA over 3.3 on a scale of 4.0 in their undergraduate studies. The basic requirements for admission to the MBA program at Schulich Business School are shown below:

• Work Experience: Minimum 2 years
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• 1 Personal Essay
• TOEFL: 100
• IELTS: 7.0

DeGroote Business School

DeGroote Business School is the business school of McMaster University that offers GMAT waivers for admission to both full-time and co-op MBA programs. Its MBA program is ranked #150- #200 as per the QS MBA Rankings. Listed below are all the admission requirements to be fulfilled by international applicants to stand out among other applicants:

• Work Experience: Minimum 4 years
• 75% score in the undergraduate degree
• CV
• Online Interview
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• TOEFL: 100
• IELTS: 7.0

Thompson Rivers University

Any student applying for the MBA program at Thompson Rivers University need not provide their GMAT scores unless specifically asked to do so. TRU is one of the best options for an MBA program as they accept both 3-year and 4-year bachelor’s degree students for admission. Some of the general entry requirements for students applying for an MBA at TRU are:

• Work Experience: Recommended
• GPA: 3.0 out of 4.0 or B grade or 83-86% in bachelors degree
• Letter of Intent
• CV
• IELTS: 7.0

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)

NYIT accepts students with excellent academic scores into their MBA program. A GPA score is only expected from those students who have scored below B or GPA less than 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (less than 83%) in their bachelor’s degree. The English language proficiency requirement is also low at NYIT. Listed below are a few admissions requirements for an MBA at the New York Institute of Technology:

• Work Experience: Not mandatory
• GPA: 3.0 or higher or an equivalent percentage of 83% or more 
• TOEFL: 79
• IELTS: 6.5

Lakehead University

Students willing to pursue an MBA program at Lakehead University should display exemplary academic performance in order to avail themselves of a GMAT waiver. This may not be easily available for international applicants. Given below are a few basic admissions requirements for an MBA program at Lakehead University:

• Work Experience: More than 2 years
• Statement of Intent
• CV
• 3-year/ 4-year undergraduate degree with additional five-course equivalents
• TOEFL: 85
• IELTS: 6.5

Wilfrid Laurier University

Wilfrid Laurier University offers GMAT waivers for students who have completed their bachelor’s education within Canada. International students who have completed their bachelor’s level education in Canada can get a GMAT waiver while applying for the MBA programs at WLU. Some of the basic admission requirements at Wilfrid Laurier University for the MBA program are listed below:

• Work Experience: Minimum 2 years
• CV
• Personal Statement
• TOEFL: 89
• IELTS: 7.0

McGill University

The Executive MBA program is offered by the partnership of McGill University and HEC Montreal and is a 15-month bilingual program designed to meet the development needs of experienced managers. Listed below are a few admission requirements for international applicants to the Executive MBA program with a GMAT waiver:

• Work experience of at least 10 years
• Management experience of minimum 5 years
• A bachelors’ degree
• English and French language proficiency

Ivey Business School

Ivey Business School provides GMAT waiver to students enrolling in the Executive MBA program based on professional experience and prior academic work. Some of the other admission requirements for the Executive MBA program at Ivey are:

• Updated resume with professional experience
• 2 Reference Letters
• Work experience of at least 8 years
• An undergraduate degree

Concordia University

Concordia University offers the Executive MBA program through its John Molson School of Business. A GMAT waiver is provided to students based on their academic backgrounds. Listed below are a few general admission requirements for the Executive MBA program at Concordia University:

• A minimum of 5 years of full-time work experience
• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution with satisfactory grades
• 2-3 letters of reference
•  Executive Assessment (EA) in place of a GMAT score
• Interview

University of Toronto

The Rotman School of Business under the University of Toronto offers a 1-year Executive MBA program to students who display a well-rounded combination of abilities such as professional achievement, interpersonal skills, leadership potential, and ability to add value to the class. Find below some of the admissions requirements for the Executive MBA program at the University of Toronto :

• Over 8 years of full-time work experience
• More than 3 years of experience in a mid-to-senior management role
• Teamwork and Leadership skills
• People/ Project management experience
• The applicant should also be employed full-time currently.

Also Read: MBA in Germany: Top Universities, Deadlines, Eligibility, Fees

Eligibility Criteria and Documents Required

International students are required to fulfill certain university-specific requirements in addition to the general admission requirements for an MBA in Canada without GMAT. Some of the common eligibility requirements to pursue an MBA without a GMAT score in Canada are as follows:

• Relevant work experience: International students must have more than 3 years of work experience to get into MBA in Canada without GMAT scores. This is beneficial for students who have completed a three years bachelor's degree instead of a four-year degree to pursue an MBA in Canada
• Good GPA at the undergraduate level: Students who have scored excellent GPAs that are much higher than the minimum required GPA for admission to a particular university are always preferred. This always works in favor of students who have low GMAT scores or no GMAT score at all
• Updated CV/ Resume: A detailed CV including all details of undergraduate education, paid internships, and other roles that showcase the skills of the applicant can help in securing admission to an MBA in Canada without GMAT
• Letters of recommendation: International students with good letters of recommendation from recognized sources and previous recruiters can get admission to top Canadian universities.

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MBA Programs in Canada Without GMAT

One of the most important requirements for international students willing to pursue an MBA program in Canada is the GMAT score. However, several universities also offer MBA in Canada without GMAT. These MBA programs are offered on both full-time and part-time basis. Listed below are some of the popular MBA programs in Canada without GMAT:

• Executive MBA at McGill University
• Accelerated and Executive MBA at Ivey Business School
• Executive MBA at Concordia University
• Executive and Part-time MBA at the University of Toronto
• Executive MBA at HEC Montreal

Also Read: MBA in Canada vs MBA in USA: Which is Better?

Cheap Universities for MBA in Canada Without GMAT

An MBA in Canada is slightly expensive as compared to other master's degree courses. The average fee for international students at top business schools ranges from $16,000 to $80,000. There are very few Canadian universities offering an affordable MBA program without GMAT scores. Find below some of the cheap universities for MBA in Canada without GMAT:

College/ University Name	MBA Fee/ Year
Wilfrid Laurier University	$11,000- $33,000
Thompson Rivers University	$22,928
Lakehead University	$27,000
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)	$30,000
DeGroote Business School	$32,625
Schulich Business School	$40,087

Also Read: MBA in UK or MBA in USA: Which is Better?

Cost of Living in Canada

There are various factors like location, lifestyle, type of accommodation, etc., that affect your overall cost of living in Canada. The table below provides you a general idea of the living expenses that you will incur during your stay in the country:

Expenses	Costs per month (in CAD)
Accomodation	270-810
Books and supplies	327
Food	250-300
Transportation	100
Other related expenses	78-163

Also Read: Study MBA in Canada: Top Universities, Fees & Admissions