MBA frequently asked questions

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If you are a prospective student, many questions concerning the MBA program and the application process may be immediately answered by reviewing this list of Frequently Asked Questions, or you may contact us.

Admissions

Application process

International students

Tuition and fees

Program structure and study options

Admissions

What are the admission requirements for the MBA program?

Successful applicants to Memorial’s MBA program must have:

  1. Education: The equivalent of a four-year Canadian undergraduate degree with a minimum B average, or second class standing, from a recognized university. For universities that use the four-point grade point average, this is a minimum requirement of 2.75. For applicants with a three-year bachelor degree, whether your degree meets the requirements depends on the courses you have taken and your level of academic achievement. Your credentials will be formally assessed after you have submitted your application and supporting documents.

  2. GMAT or GRE: An acceptable, balanced GMAT score (normally a minimum of 550, GMAT Focus Edition: 515) or an acceptable and balanced GRE General Test score (normally 302) is required for all applicants. However, this requirement may be waived for applicants meeting at least one of the following criteria:

    a. have earned a four or five-year bachelor’s degree in business or commerce from an AACSB International (AACSB)-accredited program;

    b. are a graduate of the Faculty of Business Administration’s Graduate Diploma in Business Administration who achieved a minimum cumulative average of 80 per cent with no grade below 75 per cent;

    c. are an associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (ACIA) in good standing;

    d. have attained the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and are members in good standing of the CFA Institute;

    e. have obtained the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and are members in good standing of a CPA provincial association;

    f. have earned a juris doctor (JD) or bachelor of laws (LLB) and are members in good standing of a provincial law society;

    g. have earned a doctor of medicine (MD) and are registered physicians in good standing with their governing body;

    h. have earned a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and are in good standing with their governing body; or

    i. have obtained the Professional Engineering (P.Eng.) designation and are members in good standing with their governing body.

  3. Work Experience: A minimum of two years of relevant full-time paid work experience or self-employment, deemed acceptable to the Faculty of Business Administration, is required. This will be evidenced by a CV or resume that details work experience and provides employer contact information for verification. Work experience need not be continuous and may have been obtained prior to or concurrent with a previous degree program.

  4. English Language Proficiency: Applicants whose prior university instruction was not in English must demonstrate completion of either the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Minimum TOEFL scores are: 580 for the paper-based test; 237 on the computer-based test; or 92 on the Internet-based test. TOEFL iBT Home Edition taken after May 2023 is not accepted. The minimum IELTS score is an overall band score of 7.0.

    Applicants who have completed an undergraduate program, or a graduate program at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English, are not required to take an English proficiency test. If the institution is located outside of Canada or the United States, applicants are advised to provide a document (e.g. transcript or letter) from their university stating the language of instruction as English (as “Grad Proof of English Proficiency”). A list of recognized English speaking countries and English language universities may be found here.

  5. References: Two letters of appraisal from two referees are required. At least one referee must be from someone who has had close professional contact with the applicant within the past two years, and at least one must be capable of appraising the applicant's academic potential as a graduate student.

Am I guaranteed admission if I meet the minimum requirements?

Admission to the program is limited and competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. We receive over 150 applications annually and typically accept approximately 50 new students each year.

Can I apply to the MBA program if I am currently completing my undergraduate degree?

Yes. We will consider your application immediately after you complete your undergraduate degree as long as you meet the admission requirement of two years of full-time work experience in addition to the meeting the minimum requirement for the GMAT and for demonstration of English language proficiency.

Does my undergraduate degree need to focus in a specific area such as commerce or economics?

No. In fact, the MBA program is designed for students who have no previous business courses completed. We accept students with a broad range of undergraduate degrees. Our students have undergraduate degrees in arts, business, engineering, science, education, medicine, nursing, music and more.

I don’t have a full two years of full-time work experience. How strict is this requirement?

A minimum of two years of relevant full-time paid work experience or self-employment, deemed acceptable to the Faculty of Business Administration, and as evidenced by a CV or resume that shows, in detail, work experience and provides employer contact information for verification, is required. However, work experience need not be continuous and may have been obtained prior to or concurrent with a previous degree program.

I don’t meet the minimum requirements. Can I still apply?

That would depend on which requirement(s) you do not meet. A shortcoming in one aspect of your application may be compensated for by another. For example, a lower GPA in your undergraduate degree may be offset by years of managerial work experience and/or a high GMAT score.

Do you offer a Pre-MBA Program?

While we don’t have a pre-MBA Program per se, our five-course Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) is a stepping stone toward our MBA.

Do I need to write the GMAT or GRE?

Maybe. An acceptable and balanced GMAT score (normally a minimum of 550, GMAT Focus Edition: 515) or an acceptable and balanced GRE General Test score (normally 302) is required. However, this requirement may be waived for applicants meeting at least one of the following criteria:

  • have earned a four or five-year bachelor’s degree in business or commerce from an AACSB International (AACSB)-accredited program;
  • are a graduate of the Faculty of Business Administration’s Graduate Diploma in Business Administration who achieved a minimum cumulative average of 80 per cent with no grade below 75 per cent;
  • are an associate of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (ACIA) in good standing;
  • have attained the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and are members in good standing of the CFA Institute;
  • have obtained the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and are members in good standing of a CPA provincial association;
  • have earned a juris doctor (JD) or bachelor of laws (LLB) and are members in good standing of a provincial law society;
  • have earned a doctor of medicine (MD) and are registered physicians in good standing with their governing body;
  • have earned a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and are in good standing with their governing body; or
  • have obtained the Professional Engineering (P.Eng.) designation and are members in good standing with their governing body.

Is there a GMAT preparation course available in St. John’s, NL?

No, there currently is no GMAT preparation course available in St. John’s, NL. We suggest that students study and prepare for the GMAT by using the GMAT preparation books which are available in bookstores.

What if I have been out of school for many years and cannot find an academic reference? Can I provide two professional references instead?

While we will accept two professional references if applicants are unable to obtain an academic reference, it is preferred that applicants submit one professional reference and one academic reference.

I want to re-write the GMAT or GRE. Do you offer conditional acceptances to the MBA program?

No. However, it may be possible for your application to be deferred for reconsideration.

I need financial assistance. Do you offer entrance scholarships at admission time?

No, we do not offer entrance scholarships when admission offers are extended. In general, most MBA students don’t receive financial support.

However, there are a limited number of competitive scholarships available for MBA students once they begin study in the program. These scholarships, which range from $1,000 to $5,000 CDN, are awarded based on the student’s superior academic performance in our MBA courses.

Application process

How do I apply?

To apply to the MBA program, click here or visit the School of Graduate Studies at www.mun.ca/sgs/

What is the application deadline for the MBA program?

  • International applicants -
    • Fall semester start: Feb. 1
    • Priority deadline for fall admission: Dec. 1
  • Canadian residents
    • Fall semester: June 30
    • Winter semester: Oct. 31
    • Spring semester: Feb. 28

Applications and all supporting admission documents must be received by the application deadline.

International students

Are there language requirements for international students?

Yes. Applicants whose prior university instruction was not in English must demonstrate completion of either the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests.

Minimum TOEFL scores are: 580 for the paper-based test; 237 on the computer-based test; or 92 on the Internet-based test. TOEFL iBT Home Edition taken after May 2023 is not accepted.

The minimum IELTS score is an overall band score of 7.0.

Applicants who have completed an undergraduate program, or a graduate program at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English, aren’t required to take an English proficiency test. If the institution is located outside of Canada or the  United States, applicants are advised to provide a document (e.g. transcript or letter) from their university stating the language of instruction as English (as “Grad Proof of English Proficiency”). 

A list of recognized English speaking countries and English language universities may be found here.

Tuition and fees

What is the cost of Memorial’s MBA program?

The Memorial School of Graduate Studies provides detailed information on tuition and related fees on their website and their expense form, including any differential and special fees for the MBA program.

Program structure and study options

How long will it take me to do MBA program?

The MBA consists of 20 courses and can be completed in two years over four to six academic semesters of full-time study. Part-time students normally take three to four years to complete the program, depending on the number of courses they are able to complete per semester.

Can I take the MBA program by full-time or part-time studies?

Yes, we accept both full-time and part-time students.

Please note we only accept applications for full-time studies for the Fall (September) semester. The application deadline for the Fall (September) semester is June 30.

For part-time studies, the applications deadlines are June 30 for the Fall (September) semester, October 31 for the Winter (Jan.) semester and February 28 for the Spring (May) semester.

I work full-time. When are MBA classes held?

As our MBA is a small program, some of our courses are only offered once or twice a year. To ensure course availability for both our full-and part-time students, we try to ensure that courses are offered during the lunch hour period (i.e. 12:30 – 1:45 pm) or in the evenings (i.e. 5:00 – 6:45 pm or 7:00 – 9:30 pm).

Can I complete the MBA online?

No. The MBA program at Memorial is an on-campus program which must be completed in St. John’s, NL.

Can I switch from full-time to part-time or from part-time to full-time status?

Students can apply to change their degree status once they have started the program. Full-time students are permitted to work a maximum of 24 hours per week. If students work more than 24 hours per week their status must be considered part-time.

What if I finish my MBA sooner than expected?

Students who finish their MBA program sooner than expected are still obligated to pay the full program fee. If any program is completed in fewer semesters than the number of semesters indicated for their payment plan, a payment of an amount equal to the program fee for the remaining number of semesters is required (i.e. if 9 semesters are to be paid and the program is complete in 7 semesters, the program fee for the 2 remaining semesters must be paid).