This Country Is The Next Hot Spot For An MBA

The next hot destination to pursue an MBA?

Think Canada.

With its relaxed study and work rules and cheaper tuition costs, Canada is becoming an attractive destination for international MBA candidates, The Globe and Mail reports.

Canada Is Leading In International Applications

International student applications to Canada have shown an increase compared to the US, where applications have dropped significantly.

According to GMAC, MBA programs in Canada are twice as likely to report growth in international applicants compared to the US. For instance, only 32% of US programs report growing international application volumes in 2017. Compare that to 77% of Canadian programs that reported increases in international applications for 2017.

What Prospective International Students Are Looking For

Outside of politics, experts say that Canada’s quality of education is highly attractive to international students.

“It is not just a political thing,” says Gregg Schoenfeld, director of research for GMAC, in an interview with The Globe and Mail. “We have seen a shift away from the U.S. as quality education has been growing outside the U.S., and economic conditions are changing.”

Another important aspect is the diversity a school or country can provide.

At HEC Montréal, diversity is a key selling point for students. According to The Globe and Mail, international students make up 53.8% of all applications to HEC Montréal’s full-time French and English MBA programs. China and India are the school’s largest applicant pools, but the school enrolls students across 29 different countries.

“You have to reach some balance in the group,” HEC dean Michel Patry tells The Globe and Mail. “The cachet of the MBA is important.”

Sources: The Globe and Mail, GMAC