The Desautels MBA: What You Need To Know

The Desautels Faculty of Management MBA at McGill University is ranked second in Canada and 90th in the world in the 2022 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, one of only four Canadian schools that made the list.

McGill is located on the island of Montreal, Quebec, recognized as one of the best student-oriented cities known for their thriving arts and cultural scene, low cost of living, and plentiful job opportunities that attract students from all over the world. The Desautels MBA has been producing quality MBAs for almost 60 years now, graduating their first class in 1965. This year, they welcomed a cohort of 66 students. The program duration is flexible, with options of a full-time 1 year 48 credit MBA, or a full-time 2-year 54 credit MBA.

The difference in credits comes down to the time spent in the internship. Both options begin with “base camp;” an intensive one-week workshop to give all students a level of quantitative competency, then move into the core curriculum. Sustainability is integrated into the core curriculum to create a dynamic next generation of changemakers. Being a core value of the program, it is woven into the foundational courses in interactive lectures and case studies.

Students can customize their degree by selecting up to two specializations from Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Strategy & Leadership, and Marketing. Students can choose from over 50 management elective courses and have the option of pursuing an independent research project in collaboration with a faculty member.

The Desautels MBA program includes a 10-day international study trip, where the entire cohort visits an international destination to experience business as a whole in that country; visiting companies and meeting with senior executives.

Among other materials prospective Desautels MBA’s must submit GMAT/GRE scores, show two years minimum of relevant full-time post-graduate work, answer essay questions and by invitation, participate in an interview.

“We recognize that employers are hungry for skill sets that most MBA programs have historically neglected to teach, like AI, financial technology, data analysis, and design thinking. When the market speaks, we listen. With flexible specializations, our students can personalize the content of their degrees to gain a competitive edge. Our MBA program charters its own course because we expect our students to do the same,” says John-Paul Ferguson, Academic Director of the MBA Program.