The following is a list of the most frequently asked questions about our BLPT MBA program and its application process. Don’t see the answer to your question? Send it directly to us here.
Ready to take the next step and start your part-time MBA journey? Visit the School of Graduate Studies McMaster University Application site.
We host information sessions and events where you can get an in-depth program overview, speak directly with our team, and have your questions answered. You can register here.
DeGroote offers several MBA formats ranging from full-time and co-op programs to accelerated and executive options. Explore all our MBA offerings here.
It depends on the courses you’re taking and will vary from week to week.
Our best estimate is that you’ll spend an average of eight to fifteen hours a week on coursework.
Your first year builds essential leadership and management skills while introducing core business concepts. In your second year, you’ll take intermediate courses in accounting, finance, marketing, and operations, plus electives tailored to your career goals. Your third year culminates with the strategic integration project, culuminating everything you’ve learned with your professional experience.
View the full course list for each year here.
You can choose from some courses delivered to students in other graduate-level courses at DeGroote. Plus, there are elective courses being developed specifically for BLPT students.
Elective courses are posted prior to the semesters in which they will be offered.
The strategic integration project is the program’s capstone assignment.
During the final two semesters of the program, you work with a team of students in a collaborative process with a “host” company. Together, you develop recommendations which will help the company improve its performance based on specific metrics
No, you are not required to take any preparatory courses before starting the program.
There may be specific skills or prior knowledge required for particular courses. If that’s the case, your instructors will provide a list of online resources before your first residency to help you prepare.
The heaviest demand on your computer will likely be during web conferencing during the online components of the program (webinars, virtual office hours, and team meetings).
We recommend:
If you own a Mac, please contact askBLPT@mcmaster.ca for special accommodations.
Due to the structure of the program, it’s mandatory that all students attend every residency for the duration of the program.
We recommend scheduling vacations in December, April, or August. There are no weekend residencies or deliverables due during those months.
All applicants, international and domestic, are considered for entrance scholarships and admission awards at the time of application. We determine award amounts based on a holistic assessment of a student’s profile. Awards can range from $1,000-$15,000 CAD. More information is available here.
Unfortunately, students in the Blended Learning Part-Time program are not eligible to receive OSAP funding.
Yes. They include personalized career coaching and workshops focused on skill development for career acceleration. Learn more here.
Yes. You’ll have opportunities to network with other students and faculty members during class, virtually, and at scheduled events. Get to know what kind of connections you will make by viewing our alumni and current students here.
We look for students who are self-motivated working professionals with strong leadership potential, exceptional
collaboration skills and the drive to excel academically. On average, our students have eight years of professional work experience from a broad range of industries.
One of our program’s key strengths is in the diverse professional and academic backgrounds of our class –
mirroring the structure of a professional work environment – our students collaborate, share ideas, and reap the rewards of a cohort diverse in backgrounds, skills and thoughts.
The BLPT MBA is a competitive-entry program, with a program capacity of approximately 60 students each September
The BLPT MBA is delivered over three years of continuous part-time study (nine terms total). Students complete the equivalent of two full-credit courses per term. Here is a sample of several courses.
DeGroote’s BLPT MBA has been carefully designed with the working professional in mind, ensuring that there is no
disruption during a standard work week.
Half of the program is offered online and the remaining half is offered through a total of 27 weekend residencies (three weekend residencies each term) at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington, ON. Online content is delivered either during the weekend residencies or during weekday evening webinars between 6 – 10 p.m.
As long as your employee is able to travel to Burlington for the mandatory weekend residencies, they are not limited with where they can live and work. If your employee requires overnight accommodation during the weekend residencies, DeGroote has arranged for discounted rates at several nearby hotels
All DeGroote MBA programs, including the BLPT MBA, are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. AACSB accreditation is considered the highest standard in management education, with only 5% of business schools worldwide achieving accreditation.
To maintain AACSB accreditation DeGroote undergoes a rigorous review every five years to demonstrate continued commitment to 15 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, and interactions of faculty and students, as well as continuous improvement and the achievement of learning goals in our degree programs.
The most meaningful demonstration of employer support is through partial or full tuition assistance. The BLPT MBA has a pre-determined program tuition for each cohort, making it easy to anticipate program costs and to appropriately structure assistance.
In addition to financial support, some other ways to ensure your employee gets the maximum benefit of the program are:
