DeGroote School of Business
Promoted by McMaster University

DeGroote School of Business MBA: Opening doors to successful careers

An MBA can enhance your marketability as a professional and increase the quality and quantity of job opportunities. McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business offers an MBA that unlocks such potential.

Andres Avila Otazo knows this. Choosing to study here was easy for him. “When you look at the options that you have available, it is hard not to pick DeGroote,” he says. “In my particular case, the unique Co-op experience offered by DeGroote was key in making my decision. Experiential learning is at the core of the programme and it allows you to experience different roles and career paths while building up your resume.”

DeGroote School of Business

DeGroote School of Business offers an MBA programme that integrates work experience into the curriculum. Source: DeGroote School of Business

McMaster is a world-class university. It is ranked 80th in the 2022 Times Higher Education rankings, one of only four Canadian universities in the world’s top 80. Graduates are some of the most employable in the world as well — known worldwide for their creativity, innovation and collaborative spirit.

The DeGroote School of Business MBA graduates boasts a high employability rate, with 94% securing a job just three months after graduation. Many of their graduates have gone on to work at top companies like Amazon, Deloitte, EY, Microsoft, Scotiabank, Whirlpool, and many more.

This high number is a result of the programme’s Career and Professional Development (CPD). A dedicated team works together with MBA students to offer guidance and support to expand their skills, potential and career options. Their services take place in person and digitally. This includes personalised career coaching, industry expertise, networking with alumni and corporate partners, mentorship activities and many more.

Full-time MBA with Co-op student Camilo Peron credits the CPD team for helping him to hone his skills and begin a successful career. “I got internships in world-class companies because I had the right coaching, Resume and Cover Letter preparation, mock interviews, and feedback that I needed during the recruiting processes,” he says.

“When I came to DeGroote, I had a lot to be developed, and the CPD team made it possible. They are experienced professionals who prepare themselves to assist us even before we meet. They research about the companies we are applying for internships, so they have the right advice.”

Abubakar Asif from Lahore, Pakistan felt set for real-world success after completing his MBA. After five years of working,he had decided to pursue an MBA to learn the theory and practices of business. Recognising the opportunities offered through the MBA at DeGroote School of Business, choosing the Full-time MBA programme was easy.

“After doing thorough research before applying at DeGroote, I learned that the programme has been continuously evolving based on employer requirements,” he says. “DeGroote has assisted me in closing that knowledge gap while providing me with tools to help me grow as a leader and gain more confidence in my strategic management abilities.”

DeGroote School of Business

With an MBA from DeGroote School of Business, students are given real-life scenarios to prepare them for their careers. Source: DeGroote School of Business

Asif notes that with the skills, tools and resources provided by the CPD team, 91% of his batch was able to secure summer internships despite the difficult job market at the time.

Being a part of the MBA programme is more than just academics, networking and extracurricular activities are just as important. Asif took advantage of the opportunities offered and was an MBA student ambassador, president of the DMI club and represented BlackBerry as a guest panellist at DeGroote.

Full-time MBA with Co-op

The Full-time MBA with Co-op programme is one of the most popular in the country. This programme is ideal for fresh graduates who lack work experience but are eager to pursue an MBA and gain insight into the industry.

Students pair a traditional classroom education with co-op, a work-integrated learning opportunity — 12 months of paid work experience that is carried out over three work terms. While networking and exploring career options, students will be paid an average annual salary of 47,000 Canadian dollars.

“An MBA with Co-op gave me the opportunity to grow in both soft and hard skills. During the internships, I could develop hard skills and add valuable credentials and experiences to my resume,” Peron shares.

Aside from the two full-time MBA programmes, two other options are available. The Accelerated MBA spans over just eight months and is catered towards business graduates looking to complete an MBA and enter the workforce as quickly as possible. The Executive MBA is a 14-month programme that focuses on equipping executives with the tools, resources, and knowledge to lead their companies through digital disruption.

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