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Admission

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Congratulations on your decision to embark on your MBA journey.
Here is everything you need to know to get started.

Our MBA applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, in the order in which they are received. Review the list of items that you need to apply, and follow our step-by-step checklist for submitting your online application. You can also book an appointment with a recruitment specialist who will walk you through the process. Once your application is complete, it will be reviewed by our admissions team for the next available academic year.

The sooner you submit your application, the closer you are to joining Telfer Nation.

Admission Criteria

NEW! The admission test (GMAT, GRE, TAGE MAGE, TCT) can now be waived. Find out how ›

A minimum of three years of full-time managerial or professional work experience is required. Part-time positions, summer jobs, internships and co‑op placements do not count toward this experience, but they are considered favorably during your file evaluation. Preference is given to those who have greater work experience, particularly when there is evidence of management responsibilities and a net career progression.

A Canadian baccalaureate degree, or equivalent, with a minimum admission average of B (70%) is required. The admission average is calculated in accordance with the Graduate Studies guidelines (the last 60 units for Canadian and American transcripts, or the last 20 courses for foreign transcripts). All post-secondary studies are considered at the time of admission, with the most recent studies considered first.

*Exceptionally, a limited number of candidates may be considered for admission on the basis of substantial managerial or professional training, and at least 10 years of work experience. This experience indicates strong evidence of management responsibilities and career progression, even if such candidates do not hold a Canadian bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, or if the candidate does not meet the minimum academic requirements.

Test Waiver

  1. Applicants who have completed their BCom, PhD, CPA, JD or MD degree at the University of Ottawa or other Canadian universities with an average of 75% (B+) or above (calculated using the last 60 units) at the time of their application will not be required to write either the GMAT or the GRE test to apply to either one of our programs in English, or the TAGE MAGE or the TCT to apply to our program in French.
  2. If you have completed any other undergraduate degree or master's degree at the University of Ottawa or other Canadian universities with an average of 80% (A-) or above (calculated using the last 60 units) at the time of application,  you will not be required to write either the GMAT or the GRE test to apply to either one of our programs in English, or the TAGE MAGE or the TCT to apply to our program in French.

All other applicants must submit official test results in either the GMAT (General Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examinations), or the TAGE MAGE or the TCT to apply to our program in French.

GMAT

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): a minimum overall score of 550 with a minimum of the 45th percentile in verbal and quantitative. 

GRE

Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®): a minimum overall score of 310 with at least the 45th percentile in verbal and 40th in quantitative.

TAGE MAGE

French speaking students who are applying to the MBA in French have to take the TAGE MAGE or TCT Test instead of the GMAT or GRE.

The results are an essential part of the candidate's file. A competitive and above-average result is a positive element in the analysis of the application file. The medians for the overall and TAGE-MAGE sub-test results are:

Final score: 257/600 points

Part I - Problem Solving: 23/60
Part II - Verbal skills: 26/60
Part III - Logical Reasoning: 27/60

  • A TAGE MAGE test can only be taken once between January 1 and June 30, as well as between July 1 and December 31. A candidate may take the test twice in a calendar year. A fee will apply for each test.
  • A score on the TAGE MAGE test is valid for 2 calendar years.
  • For more details about the TAGE MAGE

The Telfer School of Management will not be offering TAGE MAGE sessions for the 2023-2024 Academic year. Sessions will be offered by HEC Montréal and FNEGE only. 

TCT (Telfer Competency Test) 

The TCT test is only offered to candidates applying to our French MBA program. Once we receive your application, we will provide you with the link to register for the test. In order to reserve your place, you must register and proceed to the payment of the test ($180 CAD). 

The two-hour test is composed of three sections and divided as follows: 

Essay questions: 

  1. Case analysis - 30 points (1/2 hour) 
  2. Reasoning skills (1 question) - 30 points (1/2 hour) 

Multiple Choice Questions: 

      3. Quantitative test (30 questions) - 30 points (1 hour) 

  The total of the Telfer Competency Test is out of /90

TCT
Score Mention
0 - 14 Insufficient
15 - 20 Acceptable
21 - 26 Good
27 - 30 Excellent

A score of "acceptable" is required in all three sections of the Telfer Competency Test. 

A score of 45/90 is a passing score provided the candidate has achieved 50% or more on all three sections of the TCT.  

Please find the dates for the 2024 admission cycle below:

  • Saturday, April 27 (Domestic only)
    • Deadline to register: April 13, 2024.

Candidates whose mother tongue is neither English nor French are required to provide evidence of proficiency in one of these languages. Candidates applying to the English MBA must submit ONE of the following to confirm their English proficiency (the language test scores cannot be more than two years old as the date of application of potential entry into the MBA program):

  • Proof of completion within the last five years, of a previous degree program in an English language university.
  • Proof of recent prolonged residence and exercise of a profession in an English speaking country (normally at least four years over the last six years).
  • A score of at least 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  • A score of at least 7 in at least three of the four Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) and at least 6 in the fourth. The General Training IELTS test is not accepted.
  • A score of at least 68 on the Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE Academic).

Applicants may be contacted for an interview with one of the admissions members. The interview explores the student’s background in a team-based working environment, their objectives for following an MBA, and their ability to communicate effectively. 

Application Process

www.ouac.on.ca - If this is your first time filing out an Ontario university application, create a new account. Otherwise, log in to your OUAC account.

  • Get ready in advance, you will be required to upload the following documents within your uoZone portal once you have submitted your online application through OUAC.
  • Curriculum vitae (resume): Outline your managerial and professional experience, as well as any pertinent volunteer work.
  • Letter of Intent: State your reasons for pursuing a graduate program, as well as your contribution to the program given your background and experience. The letter should be at least 500 words.
  • Admission test scores (GMAT, GRE or TAGE MAGE): To speed up the evaluation process, please upload a copy of your GMAT, GRE or TAGE MAGE report. At your testing centre, request that official GMAT, GRE or TAGE MAGE test results be available electronically to the Telfer Graduate Office.
    • GRE institutional code is 0993
    • The GMAT department code is 4BZ-76-75 (MBA)
  • Transcripts: Please upload one transcript from each post-secondary institution that you attended. Transcripts from the University of Ottawa will be requested by our office.
    • Transcripts from non-Canadian and non-American institutions should include the grading scale (often found at the bottom or the back of the transcript. If not, you need to obtain it from your school). 
    • If the transcript is not in English or French, a certified translation must be submitted.
    • Note: Official and recent transcripts will be required in the event of an admission offer. 
      • Please have them delivered to the following address:
        Telfer School of Management
        55 Laurier Avenue East, Room 4160
        Ottawa, ON
        K1N 6N5 Canada
    • In the event of an admission offer, candidates who completed their studies in China must submit official translations (transcripts and diplomas) certified by the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC). They must be sent directly to our institution.
  • Official language proficiency test scores: Test scores from one of the following tests need to be submitted if applicable: TOEFL, IELTS,  other. To be valid, the test score must be less than two years old at the time of application. To speed up the evaluation process, please upload a copy of your language test report. Ask an officer from ETS (TOEFL) or IELTS to make the results available electronically to the Telfer Graduate Office.
    • TOEFL institutional code is 0993.

When all sections of the online application have been filled, you can proceed to submit your complete application. If you forgot to fill-in mandatory sections you will be re-directed to the error/warning section. Review these notifications. Once reviewed you can proceed to submit your complete application and pay the application fee.

In order for your application to be submitted to the Telfer School of Management, you will need to pay the non-refundable fee. Application fees cannot be waived.

You will receive an email from the University of Ottawa within ten days following your online submission. This email will contain your student number, uoAccessID, and password to access the uoZone student portal. If you did not receive this email, make sure to check your OUAC account to ensure that your application was successfully submitted.

Once you have received your uOttawa log-in credentials, sign in to the student portal where you will be able to submit the required documents to complete your application.

Once you have logged in, you must go in the "Applications" section to have access to uoDoc: Upload Admissions Documents application where you will be able to upload your documents.

Add at least two referees’ contact information in uoZone. Your referees will receive an email from the University of Ottawa with a link to a recommendation form that can be submitted virtually.

Once you have completed these steps, you will have officially applied to the Telfer School of Management! An admissions decision will be communicated with you via uoZone.

Application Deadlines

We strongly advise candidates to apply as early as possible to increase their chances of being considered for a scholarship. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis.

MARCH
1

International application deadline

May
15

Canadians, permanent residents and Americans application deadline

Fees and Financing

Learn more about the fees accompanied with the MBA program, and opportunities for financial support and scholarships.

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Have any questions? Talk to a recruiter via email, chat, or book an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

To apply for an MBA at Telfer, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years of full-time work experience to ensure a common level of professional competency.

Part-time positions, summer jobs, and co-op placements throughout your bachelor’s degree do not count towards the three years of work experience. However, when you apply for an MBA, they are considered during your file evaluation.
 

In your MBA application, you need to submit your completed application with a resume or CV, letter of intent, admission test scores, all post-secondary transcripts, and contact information of two referees.

You must also submit your language proficiency test scores in your MBA application if English or French are not your first languages. Discover how to prepare a strong application.

After you submit your application, you can expect to hear from the Graduate Office about MBA admissions in six to eight weeks once the assessment period begins. Assessment begins in the late fall for the following year on a rolling basis.

Depending on the volume of applications, you may experience a delay in your MBA admissions decision.
 

Yes, you can submit your MBA application before completing the GMAT, GRE, TCT or TAGE MAGE. However, your file will be considered incomplete until your test scores are submitted.

We offer admissions student scholarships of up to $5,000 for English-speaking students and up to $6,000 for French-speaking students.

View the full list of MBA scholarships and bursaries offered at Telfer.

View all FAQs

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