Ivey MBA Guide 2026–27: Admissions, Class Profile, Curriculum, Employment, Fees & Scholarships

The Ivey MBA has traditionally been easy to summarize:

one year, case method, no conventional summer internship.

That shorthand is now incomplete.

The standard MBA remains an intensive 12-month program.

Beginning with the current structure, however, students can also opt into a post-academic MBA Internship lasting approximately 12–16 weeks after completing the degree's academic requirements.

The internship currently focuses on two career areas:

• Technology;
• Capital Markets.

That creates the central Ivey fit question:

"Can I make the career transition I want inside Ivey's compressed one-year case-method MBA—or do I need the optional post-academic internship to create the employer evidence that a harder switch requires?"

That question matters because Ivey's academic calendar is deliberately intense.

Students move through a common management foundation, then customize with electives, an Ivey Field Project, international opportunities and career preparation—all within one year.

There is no conventional first-year / summer internship / second-year sequence.

The case method asks students to make management decisions repeatedly from the beginning.

Career Management is embedded early.

Electives arrive after the core rather than after a full first academic year.

A candidate returning to a sponsor may value the speed of the standard 12-month path.

A consultant moving into corporate strategy may not need an internship at all.

A candidate trying to switch from engineering into product management may find the new Technology internship extension more valuable.

A candidate entering investment banking, asset management or private markets may value the Capital Markets internship stream because employer evidence can matter more than another classroom course.

The right question is therefore not:

"Is one year enough?"

It is:

"What must an employer believe about me by graduation—and can the core, cases, Ivey Field Project, electives and recruiting process establish that without extending the MBA?"

That is the most useful way to evaluate Ivey.

The program's current career data also supports a transition-oriented reading.

For the MBA Class of 2025, Ivey reports:

• 89% of graduates seeking employment received at least one job offer within six months of graduation;
• average total compensation was CAD $123,932;
• 95% of graduates who accepted an offer made at least one career transition across industry, function or geography;
• 314 employer events were held, including 80 exclusive to Ivey;
• 150 firms posted roles for the Class of 2025.

Those are meaningful outcomes.

They do not mean every career switch is equally easy.

A consultant moving from Toronto consulting into corporate strategy is solving a different recruiting problem from an engineer attempting:

• a new industry;
• a new function;
• a new geography

at the same time.

The optional internship can add professional runway.

It does not erase the importance of prior experience.

This guide focuses on the full-time Ivey MBA at Western University in London, Ontario, not the Accelerated MBA, Executive MBA or other Ivey programs.

It uses the current Class of 2027 profile, current January 2027 admissions information, the live curriculum and internship pages, the latest public Class of 2025 career outcomes, current 2027 tuition and scholarship pages, and current Government of Canada post-graduation work-permit rules where relevant.

Ivey MBA at a Glance

The current Ivey MBA page describes the program as an accelerated one-year MBA beginning in January.

The current MBA Internship page adds an important new layer: eligible students can extend the professional runway through an optional post-academic internship.

What Makes the Ivey MBA Distinctive?

Five features shape the program more than any ranking headline.

1. A compressed one-year calendar.
2. The Ivey Case Method as the dominant learning model.
3. A common management foundation followed by substantial elective customization.
4. The Ivey Field Project as a major real-world capstone.
5. A new optional internship extension that can add employer evidence after the academic program.

The strongest fit comes from knowing whether the one-year core is enough for the career move—or whether the internship extension materially changes the probability of executing it.

The Standard Ivey MBA Is Still a One-Year Program

The standard MBA has not become a 16-month degree.

Its academic program remains:

12 months

The optional internship occurs:

after all MBA academic requirements have been completed

and extends the professional experience beyond the academic calendar.

That distinction matters for:

• duration;
• tuition comparisons;
• opportunity cost;
• recruiting expectations.

Applicants should not describe the Ivey MBA itself as a 15- or 16-month program.

The Optional Internship Extends the Career Runway

The current internship runs approximately:

12–16 weeks

and is currently designed around two focus areas:

Technology

Possible themes include:

• Digital Transformation;
• Product Management;
• Technology Consulting;
• AI & Analytics;
• Business Technology;
• Innovation.

Capital Markets

Possible themes include:

• Investment Banking;
• Asset Management;
• Private Markets;
• Wealth Management;
• Investment Research;
• Financial Services Strategy.

These are career markets where real employer experience can be particularly useful.

The Internship Is Optional, Not Guaranteed

Students decide whether to pursue the internship after beginning the MBA.

Ivey provides:

• information sessions;
• application process;
• Career Management support.

But the school is explicit that:

internship placements are not guaranteed

Employers choose candidates.

The student still needs to compete.

The Internship Happens After the Academic MBA

This creates a different sequence from the traditional North American MBA:

academic MBA → optional internship extension

rather than:

Year 1 → summer internship → Year 2

The advantage is that the student enters the internship after completing the full academic MBA.

The disadvantage is that the internship occurs later in the career-search process.

A Standard One-Year Route Can Be Ideal for Career Accelerators

The 12-month route can make sense when the candidate:

• is sponsored;
• is returning to the same employer;
• is moving into an adjacent function;
• has a strong existing industry network;
• values a fast return to work;
• does not need internship-based recruiting.

The one-year structure reduces:

• months without full-time salary;
• living expenses;
• time away from the workforce.

A Harder Career Switch May Benefit From the Internship Extension

Consider:

engineering → product management

The candidate may already prove:

• technical knowledge;
• project delivery;
• cross-functional execution.

The employer may still doubt:

• customer judgment;
• product ownership;
• commercial prioritization.

A Technology internship can create direct evidence.

Similarly:

corporate finance → investment banking

may benefit from a Capital Markets internship if the target market relies heavily on deal experience and technical readiness.

The MBA Starts With Optional Preparatory Knowledge Work

Ivey offers a:

Preparatory Knowledge Program

before the formal MBA.

Current optional primers include:

• Economics;
• Finance, Accounting and Spreadsheets;
• Quantitative Analysis.

The PKP is useful for candidates who need to refresh technical foundations before the compressed academic calendar begins.

Pre-Study Matters More in a One-Year MBA

A one-year program has less room to spend several months catching up.

A non-business applicant may benefit from entering with:

• basic financial literacy;
• spreadsheet comfort;
• economics;
• quantitative readiness.

A finance professional may need much less preparation in those areas.

The PKP lets students close gaps before the case method accelerates.

The First Six Months Build the Common Foundation

The current Ivey curriculum describes the first half of the MBA as a common management foundation.

Students typically have:

• three classes per day;
• 90 minutes each;
• Monday through Friday mornings.

Afternoons are used for:

• case preparation;
• learning teams;
• Career Management;
• projects;
• clubs;
• recruiting.

The timetable is intensive by design.

The Business Essentials Curriculum Has Ten Core Courses

Current Business Essentials are:

• Accounting and Control for Managers;
• Managing Operations;
• Communicating Effectively;
• Leading People and Organizations;
• Macroeconomics for Business Decision;
• Developing and Executing Strategies;
• Leveraging Information Technology;
• Decision Making with Analytics;
• Marketing Products and Services;
• Managing Financial Resources.

The curriculum covers the standard management foundation.

Its distinctive feature is how those subjects are taught.

The Ivey Case Method Is the Academic Spine

The case method places the student in the role of the decision-maker.

Instead of asking only:

"What happened?"

the classroom asks:

"What should you do next?"

Students prepare cases before class, form a view and then defend or revise it through discussion.

That creates repeated practice in:

• judgment;
• ambiguity;
• persuasion;
• decision making;
• listening;
• synthesis.

Case Learning Is Especially Relevant to Experienced Professionals

A professional with five years of experience already knows that business problems rarely arrive as clean textbook questions.

They arrive with:

• incomplete data;
• competing stakeholders;
• time pressure;
• uncertainty.

The case method is designed to simulate that environment repeatedly.

Communication Is a Required Management Capability

Communicating Effectively is part of the common foundation.

That matters because an MBA graduate is rarely paid only for getting the analysis right.

The manager also needs to:

• explain;
• persuade;
• simplify;
• influence.

A technically strong applicant may discover that communication is the more important development gap.

Analytics and Technology Are Inside the Common Core

Ivey includes:

• Decision Making with Analytics;
• Leveraging Information Technology

inside the required foundation.

That means data and digital technology are treated as basic management responsibilities.

They are not reserved for students pursuing a technology career.

Strategy Appears Before Elective Customization

Developing and Executing Strategies is part of Business Essentials.

That gives every student a strategic framework before the elective phase begins.

It also prepares students for:

• consulting recruiting;
• general management;
• corporate strategy;
• Ivey Field Project.

The Second Half Becomes Highly Customizable

After the common foundation, students can take:

up to 12 electives

across major areas including:

• Finance;
• Entrepreneurship;
• Marketing;
• Corporate Strategy & Leadership;
• International Management.

The exact course portfolio can change.

The important structural point is that half the one-year MBA becomes much more individualized.

Finance Electives Support Several Different Careers

Current elective examples include areas such as:

• Corporate Governance;
• Portfolio Management;
• Derivatives and Risk Management;
• Investment Banking and Capital Markets;
• Financial Analytics;
• Financial Models.

This can support:

• investment banking;
• corporate finance;
• asset management;
• financial strategy.

The applicant should define the role.

"Finance" is too broad.

Analytics Electives Add Technical Depth Beyond the Core

Current elective topics can include:

• Competing with Analytics;
• big-data work using SQL, Python and Tableau;
• Financial Analytics;
• modeling.

This can support careers in:

• consulting;
• technology;
• finance;
• operations;
• analytics.

The useful question is:

"Which decisions in my target role require stronger analytical capability?"

Marketing Goes Beyond Advertising

Marketing electives can cover:

• strategy;
• customer behavior;
• market decisions;
• commercial leadership.

A student can use that depth for:

• brand;
• product marketing;
• growth;
• sales;
• commercial strategy.

The target industry still matters.

Corporate Strategy & Leadership Is a Natural Consulting and General-Management Path

This elective area can support:

• consulting;
• corporate strategy;
• general management;
• transformation;
• leadership.

The case-method foundation complements the pathway because consulting interviews also require structured decision making under ambiguity.

International Management Adds Geographic and Institutional Context

International Management can help students understand:

• global markets;
• institutions;
• regional business systems;
• cross-border strategy.

Students can deepen that work through:

• International Study Trip;
• exchange.

The academic path should connect to a real target geography.

Ivey Leadership Essentials Defines Five Core Behaviors

The current MBA Leadership Essentials framework highlights five capabilities:

• Take Action;
• Communicate Persuasively;
• Leverage Team Talent;
• Manage Priorities;
• Embrace Complexity.

These are behavioral, not abstract.

They align closely with the case method.

Case Learning Becomes a Leadership Simulator

A case classroom repeatedly forces students to:

• commit to a view;
• listen to disagreement;
• update assumptions;
• make a recommendation.

That trains a leadership behavior that can be difficult to teach through lectures:

making decisions without perfect information.

Team Learning Adds Another Leadership Layer

Students prepare cases and work in teams.

The development challenge can involve:

• influencing peers;
• handling disagreement;
• dividing work;
• speaking up;
• changing one's mind.

The strongest leadership goal is therefore specific.

"I want to become a better leader" is too broad.

A Better Leadership Goal Is Observable

Examples include:

• make decisions faster when data is incomplete;
• communicate recommendations more concisely;
• challenge senior peers without becoming defensive;
• delegate rather than solving every problem personally;
• lead teams across cultural and functional differences.

The MBA creates repeated opportunities to test those behaviors.

The Ivey Field Project Is the Major Capstone

The Ivey Field Project is a core experiential element.

Students work in teams of approximately:

six

on a significant business problem.

The project can involve:

• an existing organization;
• a new venture.

Teams historically devote substantial time to the engagement.

Employer-facing material describes more than:

600 hours of strategic consulting work per team

under the current project model.

The Ivey Field Project Can Function Like a Consulting Engagement

A client project can require:

• market research;
• strategy;
• analysis;
• recommendations;
• presentation.

That can be particularly valuable for a career changer who needs evidence of:

• client work;
• strategic thinking;
• commercial judgment.

A New-Venture IFP Solves a Different Problem

Students can also use the Field Project to develop a new venture.

That creates evidence around:

• customer discovery;
• market opportunity;
• business model;
• financing;
• launch planning.

For a founder, that may be more valuable than working with an established company.

Entrepreneurship Has a Dedicated Certificate Path

The current Entrepreneurship Certificate includes:

• entrepreneurship electives;
• New Venture Project;
• founder mixers;
• mentoring;
• funding exposure;
• bootcamps;
• masterclasses.

Students can also connect with the Western Accelerator.

This creates a more structured entrepreneurship experience than simply taking one elective.

The New Venture Project Builds Toward an Investor Pitch

Students develop or refine a business idea through:

• market research;
• opportunity validation;
• business-model development;
• planning;
• investor presentation.

The project is relevant to:

• founders;
• startup operators;
• corporate innovators.

Venture investing remains a different career.

International Study Trips Add Shorter Global Exposure

The current global opportunities page includes optional International Study Trips for elective credit.

Recent or current destinations have included:

• Costa Rica;
• Portugal;
• Silicon Valley;
• Dubai;
• Paris;
• Santiago.

The specific destinations can change.

The experience combines:

• companies;
• alumni;
• local business context;
• cultural exposure.

Exchange Is Available in the Final Semester

Students can also pursue a longer exchange during the final semester.

Exchange solves a different problem from a study trip.

It can provide:

• deeper academic exposure;
• another school network;
• more time in a target geography.

The trade-off is time away from Ivey's home recruiting market.

The Current Ivey MBA Class Profile: Class of 2027

The current official MBA Class Profile reports:

This current dedicated profile is the operative class snapshot.

The Opening-Day Story Reported 156 Students

Ivey's March 2026 welcome story initially described:

156 students

entering the Class of 2027.

The current dedicated class-profile PDF now reports:

154 students

The most specific current class-profile source is used here.

The difference is small, but the two official sources describe different snapshots in time.

Finance Is the Largest Pre-MBA Industry

Current pre-MBA industry backgrounds include:

• Finance / Insurance / Banking — 22%;
• Other — 19%;
• Consulting — 14%;
• Technology — 9%;
• Not-for-Profit / Government — 6%;
• Marketing / PR / Advertising — 6%;
• Healthcare — 5%;
• Wholesale / Retail — 5%;
• Engineering — 5%;
• Manufacturing — 3%;
• Accounting — 3%;
• Energy / Utilities — 3%.

The class therefore has a strong finance-and-consulting base without being dominated by one sector.

Academic Backgrounds Are Broad

Current undergraduate backgrounds are:

• Business — 42%;
• Engineering — 23%;
• Sciences — 19%;
• Arts — 16%.

More than half the class comes from non-business academic backgrounds.

That makes the common business foundation important.

Forty Percent of the Current Class Is International

The Class of 2027 is:

• 60% domestic;
• 40% international.

That creates an internationally mixed Canadian MBA.

It is different from a European MBA where international participation may exceed 90%.

The recruiting market remains strongly Canadian.

Ivey MBA Work-Experience Expectations

The current admissions criteria generally expect:

2–10 years of full-time professional experience

Ivey requires at least:

two years of full-time, consecutive professional experience

under the current framework.

The Class of 2027 averages:

five years

These are different measures.

Two years establishes baseline eligibility.

Five years describes the current classroom.

Ivey Does Not Publish a Minimum GPA

The current admissions criteria require an undergraduate degree.

Ivey evaluates academic performance with emphasis on the:

last two years

of university study.

The school does not publish a fixed minimum GPA on the current MBA requirements page.

Three-year undergraduate degrees can also be considered.

Ivey Accepts Multiple Standardized Tests

The current application framework accepts:

• GMAT;
• GRE;
• GMAC Executive Assessment.

Current online application materials also reference:

• LSAT;
• MCAT

as accepted standardized-test evidence in the relevant routes.

Ivey does not publish one universal current GMAT or GRE minimum on the public MBA page.

GMAT Current and Previous Editions Are Both Accepted

Ivey accepts both:

• current GMAT;
• previous GMAT edition

and says they are viewed equitably.

Applicants should not compare raw current and legacy scores without version context.

GRE Is Evaluated Alongside GMAT

Ivey accepts the GRE as an admissions test.

The school does not publish a current class GRE average or a public hard GRE minimum on the live MBA requirements page.

A strong score should demonstrate the quantitative and verbal readiness needed for the accelerated curriculum.

Executive Assessment Is a Valid Route

The GMAC Executive Assessment can satisfy the standardized-testing requirement under current Ivey materials.

It also appears within the school's exemption / alternate-testing framework.

Applicants should use the live application portal to confirm how their score is submitted.

Several Professional Designations Can Support a Test Exemption

Current exemption routes include qualifications such as:

• CFA;
• CPA;
• P.Eng;
• ACIA / FCIA.

A strong quantitative academic and professional background can also support a pre-assessment request.

These are evidence-based exemptions.

Ivey is not broadly test-optional without qualification.

LSAT and MCAT Can Also Matter in Exemption Review

The current FAQ indicates that a valid competitive:

• LSAT;
• MCAT

score can also support admission without GMAT/GRE under the relevant conditions.

Candidates should confirm their exact route with Admissions before relying on an exemption.

A Test Waiver Can Have Recruiting Trade-Offs

Ivey notes that certain employers, particularly in:

• investment banking;
• selected consulting recruiting

may still ask for a GMAT score.

That creates a strategic distinction:

admissions test requirement ≠ employer test preference

A candidate may be eligible for an admission exemption and still choose to test for recruiting.

Ivey MBA Admissions Requirements

The current MBA admissions criteria require:

• undergraduate degree;
• professional work experience;
• standardized-test evidence or approved exemption;
• references;
• essays;
• video questions;
• interview for selected candidates.

The current MBA starts:

January 4, 2027

Two Professional References Are Required

Ivey's admission criteria require:

two professional references

The online application preparation material can accommodate two to three professional referees, but two are the core requirement.

The strongest referee is usually someone who can discuss:

• performance;
• progression;
• leadership;
• collaboration;
• judgment.

The Current Application Includes Two Written Essays

Ivey's current online application includes:

two required written essays

The public MBA site does not publish the operative prompt wording and limits for the current application.

Applicants should therefore use the live portal as the source of truth.

A publication-ready profile should not recycle an old essay prompt and label it as current.

Two Video Questions Are Also Required

The current application includes:

two video questions

The live public application information does not publish a fixed list of questions in advance.

The exercise is designed to assess:

• communication;
• judgment;
• authenticity;
• fit.

The Interview Is Unusually Career-Oriented

Ivey uses a:

one-hour virtual interview

with a member of:

Career Management

under the current process.

That is significant.

The admissions interview is closely connected to employability and career clarity.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss:

• career path;
• goals;
• target roles;
• transferable skills;
• fit;
• recruiting realism.

About Three-Quarters of Applicants Can Reach the Interview Stage

Ivey's current admissions guidance says approximately:

75% of applicants are selected for the interview stage

under its current process.

That should not be interpreted as an admission rate.

Interview selection and final admission are separate decisions.

Ivey Normally Responds Quickly After a Complete Application

Applicants selected for interview are generally contacted within:

two to five business days

after the application becomes complete.

Final decisions are commonly made within:

four to six weeks

depending on the stage and volume.

January 2027 Admissions Are Already Late in the Cycle

The current live application page shows the remaining:

Round 5 — November 2, 2026

for January 2027 entry.

Earlier rounds have closed.

As of October 2, 2026, the next visible deadline is:

November 2, 2026

January 2027 Is Closed to Applicants Requiring a Study Visa

This is one of the most important current admissions facts.

Ivey's live application page says the January 2027 intake is:

closed to applicants who require a study visa

That means an international applicant needing a Canadian study permit should not treat November 2 as an available deadline.

The next January 2028 application calendar is not yet published on the current MBA page.

This guide does not invent those future dates.

Ivey Describes Admissions as Rolling

The school reviews applications on a:

rolling basis

The current page also says earlier rounds do not receive a better admission or scholarship probability purely because they are earlier.

Applicants should still consider:

• seat availability;
• visa timing;
• personal preparation.

The Latest Public MBA Application Handbook Lists a CAD $150 Fee

Ivey's current general application pages do not prominently surface the application fee.

The latest official Full-Time MBA application handbook lists:

CAD $150

Applicants should verify the amount displayed in the live portal before submitting in case the fee has changed.

English-Language Requirements Are Version-Specific

For applicants who need English testing, Ivey currently lists benchmarks including:

• IELTS — 7.0;
• TOEFL iBT on the pre-January-2026 scale — 100;
• revised TOEFL scale — 4.5;
• MELAB — 85;
• PTE — 70;
• CAEL — 60, with no part below 60;
• Duolingo — 125.

Candidates should use the current international-admissions page for the version of the test they take.

Career Management Is Embedded Into the MBA

The current Career Management page emphasizes individualized coaching throughout the MBA.

Career Management helps students with:

• target roles;
• personal positioning;
• recruiting strategy;
• interviews;
• networking;
• employer access.

In a one-year MBA, career preparation cannot be postponed.

Get Connected Adds Alumni Practice

Ivey's career programming includes:

Get Connected

where alumni participate in:

• practice interviews;
• panels;
• networking.

This gives students direct feedback from professionals who understand the Ivey recruiting market.

Industry Treks Start Recruiting Conversations Early

Ivey also uses:

Get Connected Industry Treks

to begin employer and sector engagement.

The timing matters because the MBA is compressed.

A student targeting consulting, finance or technology needs to understand the market early.

Current Ivey MBA Career Outcomes: Class of 2025

The current MBA page reports:

89% of graduates seeking employment received at least one job offer within six months of graduation

The denominator is explicit:

graduates seeking employment

This is an offer-received measure.

It is not:

• acceptance rate;
• employment rate for every graduate.

CAD $123,932 Is Average Total Compensation

Ivey publishes:

CAD $123,932 Average Total Compensation

The school defines the measure to include:

• base salary;
• signing bonus;
• other guaranteed compensation.

That is important.

The figure should not be relabeled:

• average base salary;
• median salary.

It is a school-defined total-compensation measure.

The Current Public Page Does Not Expose the 2025 Base-Salary Table

Ivey's official employment-report index confirms a current:

MBA Class of 2025 employment report

The public MBA pages expose the headline total-compensation and offer measures.

The current detailed Class of 2025:

• industry table;
• function table;
• geography table;
• base-salary breakdown

is not exposed in readable public text through the current pages used for this guide.

This guide therefore does not import Class of 2024 industry or salary detail and label it as Class of 2025.

Ninety-Five Percent of Offer Acceptors Made a Career Transition

Ivey reports:

95% of graduates who accepted an offer made at least one career transition

The transition can involve a change in:

• industry;
• function;
• geography.

That denominator matters.

It is not 95% of the entire graduating class.

It is graduates who accepted an offer.

A Career Transition Can Mean Very Different Things

A move from:

consulting in India → consulting in Canada

is a geographic transition.

A move from:

engineering → product management in the same country

is a functional transition.

A move across:

• geography;
• sector;
• function

at the same time is materially harder.

The 95% figure confirms broad mobility.

It does not make every triple switch equally realistic.

Employer Engagement Is a Major Part of the Ivey Career Model

For the Class of 2025, Ivey reports:

• 314 employer events;
• 80 exclusive to Ivey;
• 150 firms posting jobs to the class.

These figures describe employer access.

They do not guarantee an offer.

The student still needs to convert access through:

• networking;
• preparation;
• interviews;
• fit.

The New Internship Extension Is Too New for a Mature Outcome Table

The optional post-academic internship structure is a current program development.

The live internship page lists current design, focus areas and employer examples.

The current Class of 2025 employment report predates a mature multi-year outcome history for the internship extension.

This guide therefore does not invent:

• placement rate;
• average internship pay;
• return-offer rate.

Applicants should evaluate the program as a new optional professional bridge whose current placements remain employer-dependent.

Is Ivey a Good MBA for Consulting?

Ivey's case method is naturally aligned with consulting-style problem solving.

Relevant resources include:

• case-based decision making;
• Corporate Strategy & Leadership electives;
• Ivey Field Project;
• Career Management;
• employer events;
• practice interviews;
• alumni.

Consulting candidates should still define:

• office;
• geography;
• practice area.

The one-year timetable means case preparation should begin early.

Is Ivey a Good MBA for Finance and Capital Markets?

Finance is one of the largest pre-MBA backgrounds in the current class.

Relevant resources include:

• Finance electives;
• Financial Models;
• Investment Banking and Capital Markets;
• Derivatives and Risk Management;
• Portfolio Management;
• Career Management;
• new Capital Markets internship stream.

This is especially relevant to candidates trying to build direct financial-market experience.

Is Ivey a Good MBA for Technology and Product?

Technology represents 9% of the current Class of 2027 pre-MBA industry mix.

Students can build technology capability through:

• Leveraging Information Technology;
• analytics electives;
• strategy;
• entrepreneurship;
• optional Technology internship stream.

Current internship themes include:

• Product Management;
• Digital Transformation;
• AI & Analytics;
• Technology Consulting.

That makes the internship particularly relevant to career changers.

Is Ivey a Good MBA for Entrepreneurship?

Ivey offers:

• entrepreneurship electives;
• Entrepreneurship Certificate;
• New Venture Project;
• Western Accelerator;
• founder events;
• mentoring;
• funding exposure.

The MBA can serve:

• founders;
• startup operators;
• corporate innovators.

A future venture investor should add finance and investment preparation.

Is Ivey a Good MBA for General Management and Leadership?

The case method is particularly relevant to general management because students repeatedly make cross-functional decisions.

The Leadership Essentials framework emphasizes:

• action;
• communication;
• teams;
• priorities;
• complexity.

A candidate moving from a specialist role into broader P&L responsibility may find that combination especially useful.

Who Should Consider Ivey Most Seriously?

Ivey deserves close consideration if you:

• want a one-year Canadian MBA;
• value a highly case-driven classroom;
• want to reduce time away from full-time work;
• are interested in consulting, finance, technology, entrepreneurship or general management;
• want a capstone consulting / venture project;
• value individualized Career Management;
• want the option of a post-academic internship for Technology or Capital Markets.

Applicants should think more carefully if you:

• need a conventional two-year MBA;
• want a guaranteed internship;
• need a long exploration period before choosing a career;
• want the internship to occur between two academic years;
• are an international applicant requiring a study permit for January 2027, because that intake is currently closed to such candidates.

How to Decide Whether Ivey Fits Your Goals

1. Define the target before the MBA starts

Specify:

• function;
• sector;
• geography;
• employer type.

One year moves too quickly for vague exploration.

2. Decide whether the case method fits how you learn

Ask whether you prefer:

• active discussion;
• ambiguity;
• decision making;
• peer debate

over lecture-heavy instruction.

3. Identify the capability gap

What does the current resume not yet prove?

• finance?
• product?
• client work?
• strategy?
• Canadian market experience?
• leadership?

4. Use electives to close the gap

The elective phase is where the MBA becomes substantially more individual.

Choose courses that strengthen the target story rather than simply collecting interesting topics.

5. Use the Ivey Field Project strategically

Choose a client or venture challenge that creates evidence for the intended career.

6. Decide whether the optional internship is necessary

The internship can be particularly valuable when the switch requires:

• employer evidence;
• Canadian experience;
• a new function;
• a new sector.

If the standard one-year MBA already solves the transition, the extension may add unnecessary opportunity cost.

7. Build a realistic adjacent path

A capital-markets candidate might also consider:

• corporate finance;
• financial strategy;
• investment research.

A product candidate might consider:

• technology strategy;
• digital transformation;
• consulting.

A founder might consider:

• innovation roles;
• growth-stage operations.

Ivey MBA Tuition for January 2027

The current MBA tuition page publishes:

• CAD $84,915 tuition for Canadian citizens / permanent residents;
• CAD $136,310 tuition for international students.

These figures apply to:

2027

under the current published schedule.

The CAD $5,000 Deposit Is Credited Toward Tuition and Fees

Admitted students pay a:

CAD $5,000 non-refundable deposit

Ivey says the deposit is:

credited to first-term tuition and fees

It should not be added on top of total tuition as a separate permanent academic cost.

Tuition Is Paid in Three Main Installments

The current 2027 schedule uses payments around:

• January 8, 2027;
• May 7, 2027;
• September 8, 2027.

Each main payment is approximately one-third of tuition, with relevant ancillary/program fees applied according to the invoice schedule.

Current Program and Ancillary Fees Add Several Thousand Dollars

The current tuition page lists estimated items including:

• Western Student Organization and ancillary fees, including MBA Association — CAD $2,300;
• Ivey case books / course materials — CAD $2,700;
• optional USC Health & Dental plan — CAD $1,200;
• international UHIP — CAD $820.

The health/dental plan is optional under the current page.

UHIP applies to international students under the current framework.

A Current Mandatory Institutional Baseline Is About CAD $89,915 Domestic

Using:

• CAD $84,915 tuition;
• CAD $2,300 student / ancillary fees;
• CAD $2,700 course materials

produces:

approximately CAD $89,915

before:

• optional health/dental;
• living costs;
• PKP;
• international trip;
• financing.

This is a planning calculation from Ivey's current published line items.

The Current International Baseline Is About CAD $142,130

Using:

• CAD $136,310 international tuition;
• CAD $2,300 ancillary / MBA Association fees;
• CAD $2,700 course materials;
• CAD $820 UHIP

produces:

approximately CAD $142,130

before living expenses and optional items.

Again, this is a planning calculation rather than an official consolidated cost-of-attendance label.

The Preparatory Knowledge Program Costs Extra

Current optional PKP pricing includes approximately:

• Economics primer — CAD $678;
• Finance, Accounting and Spreadsheets — CAD $1,130;
• Quantitative Analysis — CAD $904.

A student who needs all three should budget separately.

International Study Trips Also Add Cost

The current tuition page gives a planning range of approximately:

CAD $3,000–$4,000

for an optional international study trip.

Actual cost depends on destination and travel choices.

Ivey's Living-Cost Table Still References the Prior March-Start Calendar

The current live tuition page still labels its living-cost estimates around the earlier:

March 2026

program start.

That means the values remain useful as a London, Ontario planning reference but should not be called a January 2027 official cost of attendance.

Current monthly examples include:

• room in student house — CAD $700+;
• one-bedroom unfurnished apartment — CAD $1,450+;
• two-bedroom apartment — CAD $1,750+;
• utilities — CAD $100+;
• food — CAD $500;
• cell phone — CAD $80;
• miscellaneous — CAD $425.

A bus pass is included in tuition/fees under the current schedule.

A Rough Monthly Living Floor Starts Around CAD $1,800

Using the current listed lower-end room option plus basic listed expenses creates a rough monthly planning floor near:

CAD $1,800+

A one-bedroom lifestyle pushes the monthly total materially higher.

The program is one year, but a candidate using the optional internship extension should budget beyond 12 months.

About Eighty Percent Receive an Admission Scholarship

The current scholarships page says approximately:

80% of incoming domestic and international students

receive an admission scholarship.

Current awards generally range from:

CAD $10,000 to CAD $70,000

under the admission-scholarship framework.

The Scholarship Application Is Built Into the MBA Application

Applicants complete the scholarship section within the MBA application.

There is not a separate application for each standard Ivey admission scholarship.

Scholarship decisions are normally communicated with the admission offer.

General Admission Scholarships Are Merit-Based

Ivey says scholarship selection considers factors such as:

• academic performance;
• GMAT / GRE where applicable;
• professional experience;
• leadership;
• extracurricular involvement;
• interview performance;
• contribution to the Ivey community.

General admission scholarships are not primarily need-based.

International Applicants Are Automatically Reviewed

Exceptional international applicants are automatically considered for Ivey admission scholarships.

Current typical international awards fall in the:

CAD $10,000–$70,000

range under the school's published framework.

Ivey Global Leader Awards Provide CAD $50,000

The current:

Ivey Global Leader Award

provides:

CAD $50,000

to:

10 recipients

under the current MBA scholarship framework.

Eligibility includes applicants who were:

• born outside Canada;
• residing in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America or the Caribbean at the time of application.

Selection includes:

• academics;
• interview performance;
• leadership potential.

Indigenous Entrance Scholarships Provide Five Awards

Ivey currently lists:

five MBA Indigenous Entrance Scholarships

worth up to:

CAD $10,000

for eligible Indigenous candidates.

These awards are separate from broader merit scholarships.

Rise Awards in Resilient Leadership Provide CAD $22,500

The current:

Rise Awards in Resilient Leadership for Indigenous Students

provide:

CAD $22,500

under the published award framework.

The award recognizes leadership and resilience.

Current Canadian PGWP Rules Can Matter to International Applicants

Ivey's current MBA FAQ identifies the MBA as eligible for Canada's post-graduation work-permit framework.

The current Government of Canada PGWP rules say eligible master's graduates can apply for a:

three-year PGWP

even when the master's is shorter than two years, provided the program is at least eight months and the applicant meets all other eligibility requirements.

Current master's-level rules also include:

• language requirements;
• other federal eligibility conditions.

The program's one-year duration does not by itself prevent a three-year permit.

Individual eligibility is never guaranteed, and immigration policy can change.

Ivey MBA FAQs

How long is the Ivey MBA?

The standard full-time Ivey MBA is:

12 months

Does Ivey now offer an internship?

Yes.

Students can opt into a:

12–16 week post-academic internship

after completing the MBA's academic requirements.

Current focus areas are:

• Technology;
• Capital Markets.

Does the internship make Ivey a 16-month MBA?

No.

The academic MBA remains a 12-month program.

The optional internship extends the professional experience beyond the academic requirements.

Is the internship guaranteed?

No.

Placements are employer-selected and not guaranteed.

Where is the Ivey MBA based?

At Ivey Business School, Western University:

1255 Western Road, London, Ontario, Canada

When does the current MBA begin?

January 4, 2027

How large is the current class?

The current Class of 2027 profile reports:

154 students

Why did another Ivey story say 156?

The opening-day March 2026 story reported 156.

The current dedicated class-profile PDF now reports 154, which is the current profile figure used here.

What is the average age?

28.5

What is the age range?

23–36

How much work experience do students have?

The Class of 2027 averages:

five years

What percentage of the class is international?

40%

What percentage of the class is women?

43%

Does Ivey require GMAT or GRE?

Ivey accepts multiple standardized-test routes, including:

• GMAT;
• GRE;
• Executive Assessment.

Specific exemptions and alternate accepted test evidence also exist.

Does Ivey publish a minimum GMAT?

The current public MBA admissions page does not publish one universal GMAT minimum.

Can I get a test exemption?

Yes.

Current routes include certain:

• CFA;
• CPA;
• P.Eng;
• actuarial

qualifications and strong quantitative academic/professional profiles.

How many references are required?

Two professional references

How many essays are required?

The current application includes:

two written essays

The public page does not publish the operative prompts.

Are there video questions?

Yes.

The current application includes:

two required video questions

How long is the Ivey MBA interview?

Approximately:

one hour

and the current process uses a virtual interview with Career Management.

What is the current application fee?

The latest official MBA application handbook lists:

CAD $150

Applicants should verify the live portal before payment.

What is the next January 2027 deadline?

As of October 2, 2026:

Round 5 — November 2, 2026

Can international applicants still apply for January 2027?

Applicants who require a Canadian study visa are currently:

closed out of the January 2027 intake

under Ivey's live application page.

What is the latest employment cohort?

MBA Class of 2025

What percentage received a job offer within six months?

89% of graduates seeking employment

received at least one offer.

What is the latest Ivey compensation figure?

CAD $123,932 average total compensation

The school defines total compensation as including:

• base salary;
• signing bonus;
• other guaranteed compensation.

Is CAD $123,932 average base salary?

No.

It is average total compensation.

How many graduates changed careers?

95% of graduates who accepted an offer

changed at least one of:

• industry;
• function;
• geography.

Does Ivey publish the Class of 2025 industry/function table publicly?

The current public MBA pages expose headline Class of 2025 outcomes but not a readable detailed Class of 2025 industry/function/base-salary table in the public material used for this guide.

This article does not relabel older employment data as current.

How much is Ivey MBA tuition for 2027?

• domestic / PR — CAD $84,915;
• international — CAD $136,310.

Is the deposit extra?

No.

The CAD $5,000 deposit is credited toward first-term tuition and fees.

How much scholarship funding is typical?

About 80% of incoming students receive an admission scholarship under the current published framework.

Awards commonly range from:

CAD $10,000 to CAD $70,000

What is the Ivey Global Leader Award?

Ten current awards of:

CAD $50,000

for qualifying internationally based candidates under the program's eligibility rules.

Is Ivey's one-year MBA eligible for a three-year PGWP?

Under current federal rules, eligible master's graduates from qualifying programs of at least eight months can apply for a three-year PGWP if they meet all other requirements.

Individual approval is not guaranteed.

Final Thoughts

The Ivey MBA is best understood as a compressed case-method MBA whose traditional one-year model now has an optional professional extension for candidates who need more evidence in Technology or Capital Markets.

The academic program remains one year.

That year moves quickly through:

• accounting;
• operations;
• communication;
• people and organizations;
• macroeconomics;
• strategy;
• technology;
• analytics;
• marketing;
• finance.

The Ivey Case Method makes those subjects active rather than purely lecture-based.

Students repeatedly face a decision, commit to a position, debate it and revise their thinking.

The second half of the MBA becomes much more customizable through up to 12 electives across areas such as:

• Finance;
• Entrepreneurship;
• Marketing;
• Corporate Strategy & Leadership;
• International Management.

The Ivey Field Project adds substantial real-world work.

Students can solve a client challenge or develop a new venture.

Entrepreneurs can go deeper through the Entrepreneurship Certificate and New Venture Project.

International exposure can come through study trips or exchange.

The new internship option changes the career equation.

A student who can execute the transition with:

• cases;
• electives;
• IFP;
• Career Management;
• employer recruiting

can retain the one-year speed advantage.

A candidate who needs more direct employer evidence can add the 12–16 week internship after completing the academics.

That distinction makes Ivey more flexible without turning it into a conventional two-year MBA.

The current Class of 2027 is:

• 154 students;
• average age 28.5;
• five years average work experience;
• 43% women;
• 40% international;
• 28 passports;
• 25 birth countries;
• 41 industries.

The latest public career headlines for the Class of 2025 are:

• 89% of job seekers received at least one offer within six months;
• CAD $123,932 average total compensation;
• 95% of offer acceptors changed at least one career dimension;
• 314 employer events;
• 150 firms posting jobs.

The salary definition matters.

CAD $123,932 is average total compensation, not average base salary.

The financial model is substantial but shorter than a two-year MBA.

Current 2027 tuition is:

• CAD $84,915 domestic;
• CAD $136,310 international.

Current mandatory academic and ancillary line items bring the approximate institutional baseline to:

• CAD $89,915 domestic;
• CAD $142,130 international

before living costs and optional activities.

Scholarships can materially change that investment.

About 80% of incoming students currently receive an admission scholarship, usually in the CAD $10,000–$70,000 range.

Ivey also offers:

• 10 Global Leader Awards of CAD $50,000;
• Indigenous Entrance Scholarships;
• CAD $22,500 Rise Awards.

The strongest reason to choose Ivey is therefore not:

"It is a prestigious one-year Canadian MBA with a strong case method."

It is:

"I already have enough career clarity to benefit from a compressed one-year MBA, I want to develop judgment through the case method and real client work, and I can decide whether the standard 12-month route gives me enough evidence—or whether the new Technology or Capital Markets internship extension is worth adding to make the transition credible."

If Ivey is on your target list, continue with Admit Expert's MBA application deadlines tracker.