Richard Ivey School of Business is the business school of the Western University Ontario located in London, Ontario. The business school offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and executive education programs. It also has two teaching facilities in Hong Kong and Toronto for its MBA and Executive Education programs.

Almost 30% of the business school’s student population comprises international students. Around 2/3 of the HBA class were formerly Ivey AEO while the remaining were students of Western University or other universities who discovered interest in business during the first two years of university study.

Applicants seeking admission to Richard Ivey School of Businessmust take note of the following:

  • Applications for the MBA program are processed on a rolling basis.
  • International applicants who require a visa to study in Canada cannot apply for the MBA program beyond round 4.
  • The business school’s HBA program accepts students in their second year.
  • Admission interviews are an essential part of the process of admission to graduate degree programs.
  • Submission of IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency is recommended by Canadian Immigration.
  • Leadership skills demonstrated through work experience, extracurricular activities, community involvement can be a valuable addition to the application.
  • Students with a strong academic background usually an average of 90% or above in grade 12 including English and good knowledge of mathematics are likely to be admitted to the HBA program.
  • Applicants who have not taken the GMAT or GRE can still apply and receive a conditional offer on the basis of the remaining credentials.

Highlights

Application Portal Online
Application Fee 150 CAD (domestic applicants)
156 CAD (international applicants)
Mode of Payment Debit cards of Canadian banks
Academic Calendar Semester based
Intake Seasons Fall, Spring, Winter, Summer
Financial Aid Scholarships
Work Experience Required for graduate programs
English proficiency test scores required TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE/ MELAB/ CAEL/ CanTEST/ Duo Lingo

Richard Ivey School of Business Admission Deadlines

The application deadline for undergraduate applicants are as follows:

Program Application Deadline
AEO Application Deadline January 15, 2024
AEO2 and HBA Application Deadline January 29, 2024

Applications are processed on a rolling basis. There are multiple intake rounds of the MBA program. The application deadline for the MBA program is as follows:

Application Round Application Deadline
Round 1 January 18, 2023
Round 2 April 12, 2023
Round 3 July 12, 2023
Round 4 September 20, 2023
Round 5 November 8, 2023
Round 6 January 10, 2024

Richard Ivey School of Business International Student Admissions

The deadlines for international students vary depending on the programs, major and sessions. The minimum requirements for international applicants to submit admission into any of the graduate programs also depend on the countries in which their undergraduate degrees were obtained.

Application Portal: OUAC Application

Application Fee: 156 CAD

Admission Requirements: It is essential to check the admission requirements before submitting applications for either undergraduate or graduate programs. The general required for all international students applying for programs at the institution are:

  • Online application form
  • Official certificates transcripts from previous high school or college
  • Translation of official transcripts from other language to English language
  • English language proficiency tests (such as TOEFL and IELTS) sent directly to the admission office of the university
  • Applicants from India must submit the following results:
    • Results of class XII from CBSE/ ICSE/ State board
    • Results of class X
  • Motivation Letter, Essay or Statements of Purpose
  • Recommendation Letters from previous supervisors or teachers
  • Standardized test scores such as GRE and GMAT
  • Proof of financial support, scholarship or waiver
  • Copy of international passport

English Proficiency Test Score for International Students

Students applying for any of the undergraduate programs must submit the results of high school and post-secondary school English Language tests or exams to meet the minimum requirements for English proficiency tests. One of the requirements for international applicants is the submission of English proficiency tests or exams such as MELAB, PTE, Cambridge C1 or C2, CAEL, CanTEST, TOEFL and IELTS. The minimum requirements/scores for some of the English proficiency tests are outlined below.

Test Minimum Requirement
TOEFL (iBT) Computer-based test – 83: paper-based test – 550
PTE Overall score: 58 or above
IELTS 6.5 or above (min. 6.0 in each section)
CAEL Overall score: 60 or above
MELAB Overall score: 80 or above
CanTEST 4.0 or above (min. 4.0 in each section)
Duo Lingo Test 115

Visa Process for International Students

After an admission offer is given and accepted, it is vital for international applicants to apply for a student permit in order to study in Canada. The required form is mostly given to successful applicants through mail or postal service. Applicant should prepare the following documents for visa application:

  • Valid International Passport
  • Visa Application Form
  • Acceptance letter from designated university
  • Financial support for tuition fee, living expenses and transport to/from Canada.
  • Police Certificate and Medical Examination
  • Complete biometrics

Richard Ivey School of Business Undergraduate Admissions

The undergraduate program at Richard Ivey School of Business is popularly referred to as Ivey HBA program. The program gives students the platform to gain academic skills and experience before choosing their career interest. Applicants should check the admission requirements before they submit their applications for admission into any of the programs at the university.

Where to ApplyOntario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) and supplemental Ivey application

Application Fee: Ontario secondary school students - 150 CAD; All other applicants - 156 CAD

Admission Requirements: The requirements for admission to the undergraduate programs offered by the business school are as follows:

  • Completed OUAC application
  • Completed Ivey AEO application
  • Choice of program for the first two years at Western
  • Official high school transcripts
  • Average of 90% in grade 12 including English
  • Completion of mathematics course
  • Demonstrate leadership skills through extracurricular activities, community involvement or work experience.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (for international students)

Richard Ivey School of School Graduate Admissions

The graduate programs at the institution include MBA (executive or accelerated); M. Sc. in Management and PhD programs. The general requirements for admission into graduate programs at the university may vary slightly depending on the choice of program.

Application Portal: Online Application

Application Fee: Depends on program

Admission Requirements: The general requirements for the graduate programs are:

  • Personal Statement/Motivation Letter or Statement of Purpose
  • Recommendation Letters from previous supervisors or employers
  • Resume/CV
  • Academic Transcripts and Certificate
  • Standardized Tests such as GRE and GMAT
  • Certificate of Sponsorships or Financial Supports
  • English Proficiency Tests

Program specific requirements have been provided in the table below:

Requirements M. Sc. in Management MBA Accelerated MBA Executive MBA
Application Fee 150 CAD 150 CAD - -
Transcripts Required Required Required Required
GMAT/ GRE score Required Required Required Required, GMAT scores
English language proficiency TOEFL – minimum 100;
IELTS – 7.0
Required Required Required
Video essay Required Required Required Required
Letter of recommendation Required, 2 references Required, 2-3 references Required, 2 references Required, 2 references
Resume Required, 2 pages Required - -
Work experience - Required, Minimum 2 years full time work experience Required Required
Interview Required (by invitation only) Required - -

The applications will be reviewed once all supporting documents are received. The University will contact applicants to inform if any document is missing. If all documents are in place, the file is reviewed and processed for admission. The application review process takes 2-3 weeks if all documents and online video essays have been submitted appropriately. For some programs, the decision will be communicated within 4-6 weeks. Due to high volumes, the review process might continue for as long as 8 weeks. The school conducts interviews for students by invitation only. All students who have been admitted will have to appear for an interview once. Interview might be in-person or online through Skype. Selected applicants will be given preparation tips along with the interview invitation.

FAQs

Ques. Will I be interviewed for admission to the Richard Ivey Business School?

Ans. Yes. Admission interviews will be conducted within 2 weeks after submitting all the application documents. Interviews are conducted on invitation only and all MBA applicants are interviewed at least once before the admission is confirmed.

Ques. How long will it take to get a response from Richard Ivey Business School?

Ans. The application process for applying to the Richard Ivey Business School as an international applicant is not very lengthy. Applicants can expect an admission decision within 4-6 weeks from the day of application submission. Sometimes due to the volume of applications, admission decisions can take up to 8 weeks to arrive.

Ques. How can I have a competitive application for admission to the Ivey HBA program?

Ans. A competitive application for admission to the Ivey HBA program must include:
• Leadership skills demonstrated through extracurricular activities, community service or work experience.
• Average 80% in 10 full courses or equivalent.

Ques. Can I apply for the Ivey HBA program from another university?

Ans. While applicants can transfer to Ivey from another university, it is very competitive. There are very limited seats available for transfer applicants. It must also be noted that students in the third year or higher of a commerce program at another university cannot transfer to the HBA program.

Ques. What are the financial aid options available for international students for studying at the Richard Ivey School of Business?

Ans. International students will be considered for financial aid offered by the Richard Ivey School of Business as well as the Western University. There are various scholarships, awards and student loan options for international students. Well-performing international students will be eligible to receive the admission scholarships ranging from 1,000-10,000 CAD.