In the first part of the interview, Imran Kanga - Assistant Director, Graduate Recruitment & Admissions shares about the various MBA program options and the teaching methodology used at Schulich School of Business.
The Schulich MBA has an unusual option – switching from Full-time to part-time and vice versa. How does it work logistically? When should candidates opt for this option?
The Schulich MBA program is one of the most flexible programs in the country today. Students have the option to start the program part-time or full-time but can also switch back and forth during the program.
Students need to complete 20 full courses (60 credits) to graduate. They can do this full time in 4 terms (taking 5 courses per term) or part-time over 10 terms (taking 2 courses per term).
A student would benefit from this option because it helps students maintain a work-study balance. Let’s say a student is working with a company and he starts the program part-time in the Fall. During the winter term, if work is relatively slow the student can add a few more courses and study Full time for that term. In the next term, as work picks up again, the student can take fewer courses and switch back to being part-time. So students have the flexibility to design the program to best fit their work schedule.
This option, however, is not available to international students because Study Permits are valid for 2 years (the length of the program) in which time students must complete the requirements, and hence they need to study full-time.
What are the other MBA program options available at Schulich?
In addition to switching between Part time or Full time, students in the MBA program (both international and domestic) have the option to take courses at both our Keele Campus (York University) as well as our downtown Nadal Campus located in the heart of the financial district of Toronto.
We have two other formats of the MBA program. Our International MBA (IMBA) is an internationally immersive program catered for students, who speak a 2nd language and demonstrate an interest in pursuing a global business career.
We are also the first international business school in the world to set up a campus in India and offer our MBA program in India. Students (both Indian and international) have the opportunity to complete Year 1 on the MBA program at our campus in Hyderabad and Year 2 at our Toronto campus.
In addition to different MBA program options, we offer joint degree programs such as the MBA/JD (Juris Doctor), MBA/MA (Master of Arts), and the MBA/MFA (Master of Fine Art).
Who should take the accelerated option? 8-month is one of the shortest lengths we have seen in a top MBA program. Would the length be sufficient to gain functional expertise?
Students who have completed a 4-year Undergraduate degree in Business (BBA) from a North American accredited University can skip Year 1 of the MBA program (core component) and go directly into Year 2. The idea here is that if students have already completed a 4-year BBA degree, they do not need to repeat the same courses again if they already know the material and can dive directly into the elective terms, focusing on the specializations and the team consulting project.
What teaching methodology is adopted at Schulich Full-time MBA?
We do not follow one specific format because different courses cannot be (and should not be) taught using the same method. Courses will have a mix of case analysis, lecture, guest speakers, group projects, classroom discussions and business simulations
The experiential learning component of our program truly differentiates us from other business schools, because all students in the program must complete a live consulting project in Year 2 of the program. This is a real-time consulting project with real clients and offers tremendous learning and employment opportunities for students in the program.
Schulich MBA Program Options - Find out More
About Imran Kanga
After completing a BA (Hons) Business Economics from York University in 2006, Imran Kanga went on to pursue a career in Capital Markets and Private Equity in India for 3 years and then completed the International MBA program at the Schulich School of Business, York University in 2010.
Upon graduation Mr. Kanga began his career in Higher Education first as Associate Director of Schulich's MBA in India program and currently as the Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions for the MBA and IMBA program at the Schulich School of Business.