The Rotman MBA is certainly not a traditional degree!

If you think an MBA is all about crunching numbers to cut costs, you are wrong! Maybe that was the definition of business back in the day but in this day and age, it has been proven that good managers need strong leadership skills to motivate people and manage the business to the best interest of the community they operate in.

What are the competitive advantages of the Rotman MBA?

The Rotman MBA program is very hands on with a strong focus on the human factor. Through [Integrative Thinking] we help our students develop a thought process that will enable them to think like a business leader and through [Business Design], we help our students consider the human factor while practicing the design of the optimum business solution.

How do we teach both technical and soft skills? When you look at the curriculum at the Rotman School, we have the core business courses such as accounting, finance, marketing, macro economics and we have some very good courses to hone your soft skills. Some of these courses are negotiations, ethics, leadership, global managerial perspectives. In the second year of the program, we offer some good Integrative Thinking electives to strengthen your integrative thinking mind! Our majors will help you specialize in any area you’d like.

For more detailed descriptions of our courses, you can check the “Areas of Interest” section on our website. It is definitely a wonderful resource which will give you specific information not only about the courses but also about the events, case competitions, public speakers pertinent to our courses.

Our curriculum will help you build a solid foundation in core business functions and you will have the opportunity to develop strong leadership skills. We try to provide you with a generalist degree because we believe an effective business leader is versatile and should have a good understanding of all the aspects of business as well as s/he is able to manage his/her people effectively in the organization.

Are you an international student who would like to pursue an MBA in another country? It is a very big decision and you are half way there by researching your options. Making up your mind to move to another country to further your education is a big step in your career.

When you look at the business rankings, there are many good business schools all over the world. However one important thing to consider is what happens post-MBA. Every business school has a good curriculum that will help you improve your technical and soft skills. However, you have to take into consideration the consequences after you complete your MBA. Some of the things to ponder would be the job prospects, the diversity of the country and of course immigration policies for international students.

Having moved to this country almost a decade ago, I can say with certainty that I cannot imagine a better place than Canada for any international student. Canada’s diverse environment is very welcoming and the ethnic communities in Toronto will ease your transition. Not to mention Rotman’s diverse environment!

You pursue your MBA to advance your career. The ultimate goal is to get a better job after your MBA. You are equipped with great knowledge; you have improved your technical and soft skills. You invested two years of your time, energy and money into this program and now it is time to enjoy the return on your investment. However, before you embark on an exciting career, you will need to have a work permit to work in the foreign country. This is where Canada has a very strong competitive edge. Our international students are eligible to get a post graduation work permit for up to three years upon successful completion of our program. What a great advantage our two-year, full-time program has over one-year MBAs and those business schools in the US! You are not required to find a sponsor nor do you need a job offer to get your post-graduation work permit.  Due to this advantage, our employers give international students an equal chance. Having been an international student once, I cannot emphasize enough the great advantage of having a work permit valid for up to three years!

Are you married or do you have a common-law?  Great! Your spouse or common-law can also get a work permit while you are in school. Your study permit will sponsor his/her work permit and once you graduate s/he can extend the work permit. Canada is fair to couples! For more info on work permits for spouses and common-laws, please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-spouse.asp

An MBA is a transformational degree and will help you further your career in a relatively shorter time. While an MBA itself is a wonderful opportunity, by choosing to pursue your MBA in a country where diversity is embraced will provide you with a smooth transition into the new culture and possibly your new life.

Two more good reasons to choose Canada!:

• Canada has been named among ten best places to escape from world conflict http://www.expatify.com/advice/10-best-places-to-live-for-escaping-world-conflict.html
• Canada has been named the second happiest country in the world. http://www.bnet.com/photos/10-happiest-countries-in-the-world/6247506?seq=9&tag=mantle_skin;content

At Rotman, we look at everything in a holistic manner. We believe that a good business education is a combination of strong analytical and soft skills. For us, you are not just a GMAT score or a final year GPA; the human factor is important. We would like to learn as much as we can from you.  The Admissions Team’s mandate is to find the best fit to produce top notch graduates who will then represent us in the world!

Once you start the program, you will be exposed to a lot of different resources such as the Alumni Database, Corporate Connections Centre, Program Services Office and of course the endless events at Rotman. Those of you who have met me before will definitely remember how much I emphasize the importance of networking. Every day there is an event taking place at the Rotman School. To name a few: Speaker Series, various alumni events and employer sessions. Our News & Events page is regularly updated.

Another great resource available to our students is the Student Clubs @ Rotman. We have three types of clubs.

• Industry Clubs and Associations
• Regional Clubs and Associations
• Social Clubs and Associations

These clubs are organized by the Graduate Business Council . Joining one of these clubs or participating in one of many of them will show your commitment to your community. You will cultivate lifetime friendships and develop good future contacts. Even though we have a good number of student clubs, you are also able to form your own club. Once you have a clear idea of what type of club you would like to start, you can work with the Graduate Business Council to promote your club to attract new people and organize events.

One might think that the clubs would be a lot of work on top of the course load.. Well, yes and no! The MBA program hones your time management skills, and juggling with multiple projects will be part of your daily routine when you become a leader. Managing different departments, dealing with different people on different occasions will make up of a good chunk of your day. Your Rotman MBA will prepare you for this fast-paced environment.

For employers it is very important to see a reputable school on your resume because they would like to hire people who can survive this rigorous process. The Rotman MBA is a great venue to hone your soft skills, expand your network and expose yourself to different fields. We try to increase your exposure through different activities and the clubs run by our students will provide you with wonderful opportunities to meet with new people and exchange opinions.

*You can follow our clubs on Twitter and also follow GBC’s e-newsletters.