Enrollment: 17
Average GMAT: 600.00
Regular Application Deadline: 05/31
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Private
Average Age: 34.00
Average Work Experience (months): 84

Evening Program: No
Executive MBA Program Offered: Yes

In-State Tuition: $27,000.00
Financial Aid Deadline: 03/06

Students Say - Academics

HEC Montreal, the "little school that could," has truly ascended the ranks of international MBA programs in recent years. A relatively obscure school until the 1990s, HEC Montreal launched a curriculum overhaul midway through the decade that yielded dramatic results: within a decade, the school had become the first North American institution to earn accreditation from EQUIS (the European Foundation for Management Development), AMBA (the Association of MBAs of the United Kingdom), and AACSB International.

HEC Montreal offers both a full-time and a part-time MBA program. International students are eligible for the full-time program only; this program, aptly named ‘the Intensive MBA,' "is really a full two-year program condensed into 54 weeks. If you are motivated and disciplined, then you will succeed in this environment." Students warn that "it is very intensive and there is a solid workload throughout the program, with very few breaks in between." Cohort-based education and an emphasis on team projects helps students develop an esprit de corps to weather the program's challenges; explains one MBA, "We, all 180 students, take all the same classes for the first six months, which makes for great understanding amongst ourselves. We all know what the others are going through regarding workload and projects." While most here praise the full-time program, a few complain that "Sometimes the pace is a bit too fast and we don't have time to sit back and reflect on what we've learned. Also, the pace does not allow much time for extra-curricular seminars." Students may choose between French-only instruction and English-only instruction; roughly 60 percent of students opt for the English-only program.

The part-time program at HEC Montreal, called the MBA in Action, takes three years to complete. The curricula for the full-time and part-time programs are virtually identical; the major difference is that part-time students are exempted from the requirement to complete a field project. Part-timers warn that "occasionally we get professors who are low-level outsiders rather than the mostly experienced professors who teach the entire full-time program, and some of them are not such great teachers." They also point out that the program's team-learning format is hampered by the fact that "lots of students drop out or don't show up for meetings because of work obligations. Not enough effort is put into restoring team spirit when that happens." Students in both programs agree that the school "makes good use of classroom technology" and that "teaching methods tend to be very participative and pragmatic."

Students Say - Admissions

Applicants to HEC Montreal must hold a baccalaureate earned "with a satisfactory average." Students must also demonstrate "at least two years of relevant full-time work experience" subsequent to completing undergraduate study. Applications must also include an official score report for the GMAT and two letters of recommendation (at least one from an employer). Non-native English speakers applying to the English-only program must pass the HECTOPE business English test (administered by HEC Montreal) or submit scores for either the TOEFL or IELTS. Non-native French speakers applying to the French-only program must complete the Test de français international (an ETS-administered exam). Applicants who are not citizens of Canada must obtain a certificat d'acceptation du Québec (C.A.Q.) and a document attesting to their right to reside in Canada (Student Authorization or Ministerial Permit). The school recommends that accepted students apply for these documents as soon as they receive confirmation of their admission to the program.

Students Say - Campus Life

The MBA program at HEC Montreal is "very well located in Montreal, near the subway with access to all the Université de Montreal complex for other classes, if wanted." Facilities include "a new building that is aesthetically very nice, with lots of services for students," and "the biggest business library on campus." Students appreciate that the School is situated on "a nice, open space and that everything you needâ€"food, lodging, subway, sportsâ€"is available on site." The gym facilities, students tell us, "are considered to be the best in Montreal."

For both full-time and part-time students, "the compressed six-week course terms (including exam period) makes the work pace fast and heavy," so "there is not necessarily a lot of time for social activities. However, the student association does try very hard to coordinate activities for" students, including "cinq à sept happy hours, a Quebec tradition that is alive and well at HEC Montreal. Every other Thursday, the student association takes over the campus lounge and we blow off a little steam! The parties are so much fun that the undergraduates try to sneak in, no doubt attracted by the dancing on the bars!" One student observes, "Our MBA association aims to involve all students in deciding what types of activities are provided. They concentrate on providing social activities that encourage the integration of English and French speaking students, as well as the international student community of HEC Montreal. Events such as the Magic of the Lanterns in the Botanical Gardens and an International Pot-Luck dinner are perfect ways of opening up cultural barriers and introducing a broader, more international environment, where students are encouraged to share experiences and learn from each other."

Students Say - Careers

The HEC Montreal Career Centre provides career and placement services to undergraduates, graduates, and alumni. According to the school viewbook, "The Centre is well known for its personalized approach, and provides constant support for students as well as recent and past graduates: helping them prepare for interviews and draw up their résumés, providing information on the labor market, job-search strategies, conducting psychometric assessments (academic guidance and skills profiling), and career planning, assessment and redirection."

Companies that recruit on campus include Bank of Canada, Bombardier Inc., Canadian National, CDP Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Crédit Commercial de France, Deloitte Consulting, Johnson & Johnson, KPMG, Merrill Lynch, National Bank, Peugot, Procter & Gamble, Scotiabank, and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

University of Toronto
York University (Schulich); Canada

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