Top One-Year Master's Programs In Canada

A one-year master's program in Canada could change your career trajectory, speed up your rise to top roles, and raise your salary-earning potential.

Figures from Universities Canada show that master's graduates in Canada can earn upward of Can$84,400 (around US$60k). This compares with bachelor's graduates, who earn on average Can$68,300 (just under US$50k)—that's an uplift of more than 20%.

In the most in-demand business sectors, salary step-ups can be more significant. The top five highest-paying master's are information technology, project management, business and data analytics, finance, and supply chain management. 

Master of Information Technology graduates earn, on average, Can$82,000 (almost US$60k) a year in Canada, according to Payscale, but for those who step into roles such as senior software engineer, salaries can reach Can$100-130,000.

Traditionally seen as a quick win for career advancement, a business master's could set you up for promotion, prepare you for a leading role or give you a specialization in a growing sector.

There's also the option of giving your career a quick and efficient boost with a one-year MBA, with less time out of the workplace equating to lower costs for your gains.

Whether you have a business background, you're a new graduate or have a few years’ experience in the workplace, business schools in Canada offer one-year programs designed to help you ring the changes. Read on to discover some options.

Master in Management

You might choose a Master in Management (MiM) program if you're moving on from a non-business undergraduate or want to step forward for leadership. Expect to build critical evaluation and problem-solving skills while learning business fundamentals like finance and operations.

The 10-month MiM at Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, is for students who want to add business skills after a bachelor's degree. It's aimed at recent grads with fewer than three years’ work experience.

The Schulich School of Business, York University, also offers a Master of Management (MMgt) to equip non-business undergraduates for management.

While the MiM at UBC Sauder School of Business offers a nine-month program, which is also suitable for applicants with non-business undergraduate degrees.

Master of Accounting

A career in accounting can give you skills to apply at multinationals, non-profits or SMEs across the globe. Accounting programs typically cover management fundamentals, accounting functions and frameworks and develop critical thinking and risk assessment skills. Schulich's Master's of Accounting offers multiple pathways depending on your background and is suitable for graduates with or without business backgrounds.

Master of Finance

As a Master of Finance student, you can expect to learn the ins and outs of subjects like corporate finance, risk assessment, private equity and compliance. Schulich's program is designed to develop you as a specialized finance professional and is a partner of the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Institute.

Master of Business Analytics

Study a Master of Business Analytics or data analytics program, and you'll focus on the role of big data in business now and in the future. Expect to learn to use data and analytics for strategic decision-making and study areas such as data management, machine learning and customer analytics. UBC Sauder's MBAN program prepares grads to use the full advanced analytics spectrum.

Master of Marketing

If leading in marketing is your career goal, a Master of Marketing program could develop your analytical, creative and managerial skills and introduce you to new tools and approaches to help you advance. Schulich's Master of Marketing program is for graduates with non-business undergraduate or business grads who haven't previously done extensive marketing coursework. 

One-Year MBAs

Building a solid foundation of business administration fundamentals, growing your network, consulting projects, and real-world case studies could all be part of your day-to-day life if you opt for a one-year MBA to fast-track your business education. Universities in Canada offer business programs aimed at students from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, Ted Rogers School of Management's Accelerated MBA could be just the thing if you're an undergraduate business major who wants to upgrade to a higher-level degree.

Haskayne's Accelerated MBA is open to graduates of four-year business degree programs from accredited Canadian or American post-secondary institutions who want to level up to MBA.

If you've got at least two years of work experience, UNB Saint John's one-year MBA offers the option to select a study concentration, such as project management.

At Western University, Ivey Business School's 12-month MBA students follow the famous case study method of learning and typically have two to ten years post-graduation work experience.

If you've more experience and you're looking for a way to step up your hard business skills, University of Toronto Rotman School of Management's Exec MBA is technically just over a year at 13 months—and student cohorts average 16 years of work experience.

Specialized MBAs

With a specific career path in mind, a specialized MBA can give you a solid grounding in business combined with in-depth knowledge and skills development in your chosen area.

There are opportunities to specialize in one year—especially at Schulich, which offers master's degrees covering a number of areas like real estate and infrastructure, supply chain management, and health industry administration.

Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence

If you're among the growing number of candidates who consider AI an essential of business education, Schulich’s Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence could appeal. The program develops advanced applied knowledge of AI and your critical awareness of the ethical landscape.

A one-year master's in Canada could kickstart your career after a bachelor's degree or give you a career and salary uplift as a time-served professional. Which will you choose?