Program FAQs
1. What is the difference between the Daytime MBA and Evening MBA?
The Haskayne Daytime MBA is an immersive full-time study experience for early to mid-career professionals; the program is structured to enable students to explore career opportunities through a summer internship between the first and second year.
The Haskayne Evening MBA is a flexible program designed for working professionals. The program typically takes students around 32 months to complete but can be accelerated or extended over a longer time if the student’s personal and / or professional situation changes. Note that minimum admission criteria are the same for both programs; international (visa) students are not eligible to join the Evening MBA.
2. What is the reputation of the program?
The Haskayne Daytime MBA program has a strong reputation locally, nationally and internationally.
The Haskayne School of Business is an AACSB accredited business school, a recognition awarded to less than 5% of business schools worldwide. Our MBA program is internationally recognized by independent bodies. For example, The 2016 Better World MBA ranking placed Haskayne’s MBA in the top 10 from over 100 programs it examined around the globe and Haskayne MBA was ranked #4 in the world on the Global Green MBA in Corporate Knights (2013).
We also have a very strong local reputation with employers, as 85% of our alumni remain in Calgary and the surrounding area.
3. How will the Daytime MBA impact my career?
Many students are seeking to make a career transition or accelerate their career through their MBA. In addition to enhancing your critical thinking skills and business knowledge there are a myriad of opportunities to expand your leadership capacity. Students benefit from networking opportunities with other MBA students and alumni, faculty and local business leaders.
Click here to see statistics on job placement rates and salaries for the graduating class.
4. Can I specialize?
Students in the Haskayne Daytime MBA program have the option to specialize in one of six areas:
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Finance
- Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Real Estate Studies
For more information, see Specialization Opportunities.
Alternatively, students can fully customize their MBA program by selecting from across the broad range of electives available.
5. What is the difference between the Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development specialization and the Global Energy Executive MBA?
The Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development specialization is designed for early to mid-career professionals who are seeking to explore a potential career transition to the energy sector or to consolidate and broaden their knowledge within the sector. The Global Energy Executive MBA is targeted at senior leaders who have already achieved significant professional success within the energy sector.
6. What is the difference between the Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development specialization and the M.Sc. in Sustainable Energy Development?
The Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development specialization is comprised of management courses within the topics of Energy Management and Sustainability as part of the Daytime or Evening MBA. The M.Sc. in Sustainable Energy Development is a multi-disciplinary (business, engineering, law and environmental design) degree providing a balanced education relating to energy and environmental management.
7. What is the typical makeup of the class?
Each Daytime MBA cohort brings a rich diversity of experience across educational background, industry and functional experience and international mix. The profile of the current incoming class is as follows:
- 3.3 average GPA
- 630 average GMAT
- 4.5 years’ average work experience
- 40% female and 60% male
- 26% of the class is international
8. Will I stay with the same group of people throughout the program?
Assuming that you follow our standard schedule of classes and have no course exemptions, you will stay with the same group of people for all 14 core courses. For electives, Daytime MBA and Evening MBA students share classes and, in some cases, courses may be combined with undergraduate business or other University of Calgary programs.
9. What sort of networking opportunities are there?
Integrated across the program are opportunities to network with your classmates, other MBA and EMBA students at Haskayne, MBA students from other universities, faculty, alumni and business leaders. These networking opportunities could take numerous forms, such as case competitions, guest speakers from different courses or the Leadership Development Program.
10. Can I work while completing the program?
The Haskayne Daytime MBA is an immersive experience whereby students are encouraged to take advantage of the myriad of experiential opportunities on campus in addition to a heavy workload of study. Students are therefore discouraged from working during the semester.
11. How much time will I need to study?
Students in the Haskayne Daytime MBA program are engaged in full-time study, equating to 70-90 hours per week.
12. What is the mix of classroom versus online learning?
The Haskayne Daytime MBA program is a classroom based program; faculty may choose to provide supplemental tutorials online through our learning management system as part of class preparation or review.
13. Is there more than one start date?
There is one intake of the Haskayne Daytime MBA program each year, commencing in Fall.
14. How long does the program take?
The program duration is typically 20 months; there are accelerated options available for students who previously completed an undergraduate business degree in Canada or the US.
15. What is a typical schedule for a semester?
During the first year of the program, students are in class full-time during the daytime with a block week at the start of each semester and 6 semester based classes. In the second year, students complete their studies through a combination of block week and evening classes.
16. What qualification do I receive when I complete the program?
Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration; if an individual fulfills the relevant requirements, their specialization will also appear on their parchments and transcripts.