Admission criteria

UBC seeks bright, talented, enthusiastic, and creative individuals committed to a high level of achievement in their academic, personal, and professional lives. The candidate selection process is rigorous and is guided by the following criteria:

Academic achievements

Candidates are recruited from all academic disciplines. A four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required (or equivalent, dependent upon country of institution attended). Candidates must attain a minimum overall standing of B+ or better in their undergraduate degree.

Experience

Individuals with diverse professional experiences are selected for the program to create a rich and stimulating classroom environment. Candidates with at least two years of work experience will be considered, though preference will be given to those with five or more years of full-time work experience. Current IMBA students have an average of seven years of work experience.

Initiative and motivation

Successful applicants must demonstrate managerial and leadership potential, maturity, ambition, drive, and a clear sense of purpose. These characteristics are assessed based on professional experience, extracurricular activities, written submissions, letters of reference, and interviews.

English language proficiency

All academic work is conducted completely in English. Therefore, all participants must be able to speak, comprehend, and write fluently in English. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based) or 80 (iBT) or IELTS-Academic (overall 6.5) is required for all applicants whose degrees are from an institution in which English was not the primary language of instruction. Alternatively a UBC English exam may be taken.

Application screening

All academic work is conducted completely in English. Therefore, all participants must be able to speak, comprehend, and write fluently in English. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based) or 80 (iBT) or IELTS-Academic (overall 6.5) is required for all applicants whose degrees are from an institution in which English was not the primary language of instruction. Alternatively a UBC English exam may be taken.

Admission procedure

The following supporting materials must accompany an application for the program:

• Official transcripts in sealed university envelopes (plus official English translations if transcripts are not issued in English by the home university). UBC graduates do not need to submit UBC transcripts as the UBC MBA & ECM Programs Office will access these through the Student Information System Centre (SISC)
• Original degree certificates in sealed university envelopes (plus English translations if certificates are not issued in English by the home university)
• Official TOEFL (program code: 0965) or IELTS (no code required - please send to UBC) scores. Official test scores should be received by UBC directly from the testing agency
• Official GMAT (program code: LQS-CP-94) scores. Official test scores should be received by UBC directly from the testing agency. GMAT may be waived for those applicants with considerable quantitative academic backgrounds
• Non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of $130 CAD or $130 USD or 950 RMB
• Two passport-size photographs
• Two copies of current resume
• Three written compositions
• Two references

Please note: All submitted application materials, including irreplaceable documents, become the property of the Sauder School of Business and will not be returned.

Application deadline

Applications for the next program will be due January 15, 2012. Offers of admission will be made no later than February for the March 2012 program start date.

UBC IMBA application form

Applications for the UBC IMBA Program are conveniently accepted online.