Queen’s University Smith School of Business MBA Review
Contents
- Overview of Smith School & MBA Programs
- What “Online / Virtual / Accelerated” options they currently offer
- Key metrics: duration, costs, outcomes
- Strengths & unique features
- Weaknesses or limitations
- Who this MBA is best suited for
- Comparison with pure online MBA options
- Tips if you plan to apply
- Conclusion
1. Overview of Smith School & MBA Programs
- Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business is one of Canada’s reputed business schools. It offers multiple MBA formats: Full-time MBA, Executive MBA (national program), etc. (Smith School of Business)
- The Full-time MBA is a 12-month program. It is intense and highly structured, starting in January and finishing the following December. (Queen’s University)
- The delivery emphasizes a mix of foundational core courses, electives, team-projects, real-world business cases, and leadership / interpersonal skills development. (Smith School of Business)
2. What “Online / Virtual / Accelerated” Options Are Available
While not branded strictly as “Online MBA,” Smith does offer variants and options that have virtual/distance components. Key points:
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!- Accelerated MBA for Business Graduates: A 12-month program for those who have an undergraduate business degree; there is a “virtual team” / distance learning component. Students outside major Canadian markets may do significant portions remotely / virtually. (Smith School of Business)
- This format allows working while studying, using virtual teams and remote/distance learning tools. (Smith School of Business)
- The Full-time MBA itself is delivered on-campus in Kingston, not online. (Queen’s University)
So, “online” in the sense of fully online or fully remote delivery seems limited; most of the online/virtual options are hybrid or virtual-team components or “distance” only for some parts. If your interest is a 100% online MBA, Smith may not (yet) offer that — at least not publicly in the major offerings.
3. Key Metrics: Duration, Costs, Outcomes
Here are important numbers and outcomes that are current / reported:
| Metric | Value / Info |
|---|---|
| Duration (Full-time MBA) | ~ 12 months. (Queen’s University) |
| Tuition (Full-time MBA) | Approximately CAD 98,000 – CAD 110,000 total tuition for Full-time MBA. International vs domestic fees may differ. (MiM-Essay) |
| Scholarships | ~70% of Full-time MBA students receive some scholarship. (Smith School of Business) |
| Career outcomes | For recent cohorts: • 75% accepted an offer before graduation. • Average base salary ~$99,644 + signing bonus + “other compensation” for the Full-time MBA class of 2024. (Smith School of Business) |
| ROI | There is data estimating ROI over 5 years in various fields. For example, one source gives that in consulting the 5-year ROI is ~105%, in financial services ~71%, technology ~35%, telecommunications ~79%. (mbaoutcomes.co) |
4. Strengths & Unique Features
Here are what stand out as strengths or special features of what Smith offers:
- Strong reputation in Canada: Smith is frequently among the top MBA / management schools in Canadian rankings. Alumni satisfaction, career outcomes, and student experience are typically high. (Smith School of Business)
- Flexibility for certain students: The accelerated / virtual team models allow those outside major centres or working to participate with remote components. (Smith School of Business)
- High scholarship rate: Many students receive merit-based support. More than half the Full-time MBA cohort receives scholarships. (Smith School of Business)
- Strong career outcomes: The stats for salary, pre-graduation placements, signing bonuses, etc., are quite favourable. Strong employability. (Smith School of Business)
- Double degree / specialization options: Smith offers ways to combine the MBA with other master’s degrees (e.g. management/AI) or related specialized credentials. For those wanting technical or niche skills, that’s useful. (Smith School of Business)
5. Weaknesses or Limitations
Here are some possible drawbacks or things to watch out for:
- Lack of a fully-online MBA option: If your priority is a 100% online program, or zero travel / in-person sessions, Smith’s offerings may not fully meet that. Most options are hybrid or with campus or “boardroom learning facilities” in certain locations. (Smith School of Business)
- High cost: Tuition is expensive. CAD ~98,000-110,000 is a large investment. With living costs, opportunity cost (especially for Full-time MBA), this is not cheap. (MiM-Essay)
- Geographic location: Kingston, Ontario is less of a large business hub compared to Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal. For students wanting maximum proximity to large firms, startups, networking in big metro areas, location may be a consideration. (Though hybrid/virtual components can mitigate this somewhat.)
- International brand recognition: While Smith is strong in Canada, outside Canada (e.g. in Asia, Europe), its brand may not carry the same weight as global “top 20” schools. If you want a global career, this could matter more.
- Work experience requirements: As with many good MBA programs, competitive applicants are expected to have strong work experience; for virtual/accelerated formats the expectations for balancing work + study may be high.
6. Who This MBA Is Best Suited For
Given the above, here are profiles of people who are likely to get the best value from Queen’s Smith MBA (especially its virtual/accelerated/hybrid components):
- Professionals in Canada (or those planning to work in Canada) who want strong Canadian credentials, strong alumni networks, and good career outcomes.
- Those who prefer a program with some structure and in-person interaction (or hybrid), but who may require flexibility for part of their studies (working, remote location).
- Individuals seeking a relatively fast MBA (12 months) and who can afford the investment (tuition + living + opportunity cost).
- Those who want specialization or double-degree options (e.g. with AI or other tech specializations) in addition to general management, leadership, etc.
7. Comparison with Pure Online MBA Options
If you compare Smith’s program to “pure online MBAs” (for example U.S. or globally top online schools), these are some trade-offs:
| Feature | Smith (Hybrid / Virtual / Accelerated) | Pure Online MBAs |
|---|---|---|
| Interaction / live sessions | Likely a mix; virtual team work; some in-person or boardroom sessions depending on location. | Usually fully remote; may have synchronous sessions globally. |
| Networking & in-person exposure | Lower than full in-person programs, but better than purely online programs with no offline components. | May be weaker for in-person networking; more reliance on virtual. |
| Brand recognition (global) | Strong in Canada; less so globally. | Depends heavily on reputation of the online school; some are excellent, others weaker. |
| Cost vs opportunity cost | High tuition + living (especially for Full-time MBA) + lost wages if quitting job. | Some online MBAs are cheaper, and allow continuing work more easily. |
| Flexibility for international / remote students | Some remote/hybrid options; may require travel or boardroom access in major markets. | More flexibility for those located far from the institution. |
8. Tips if You Plan to Apply
If you are considering applying to Smith (especially via virtual / distance components, or the accelerated formats), here are strategies to maximize your chances and derive good value:
- Clarify exactly which format you are applying to: Want to confirm how many sessions are in-person vs remote; if travel required; what schedule; are there boardroom facilities in your city?
- Evaluate total costs: Calculate not only tuition but living expenses (if in person part), travel, materials, opportunity cost (if you have to reduce work or quit). Include hidden fees, travel, etc.
- Leverage scholarships & entrance awards: Since ~70% of students get merit-scholarships, a strong application can help you significantly reduce net cost. Consider applying early. (Smith School of Business)
- Showcase leadership & soft skills: Smith emphasizes “power skills” (teamwork, leadership, personal capacity, reflection, etc.). Demonstrated experience in working with teams, cross-cultural or remote teams, or leadership in some roles will help. (Smith School of Business)
- Use your network: Talking to alumni can give you clarity on what the hybrid/virtual or “accelerated / virtual team” experience feels like in practice — how busy it is, what the workload is, how strong or weak the remote interaction is.
9. Conclusion
Overall, Queen’s University Smith School of Business offers a high-quality MBA experience, excellent for those wanting a rigorous and well-recognized program in Canada, with strong outcomes. For someone seeking flexibility and remote options, Smith does have credible hybrid / virtual / accelerated offerings, though perhaps not a fully online MBA in every respect. The cost is substantial, but scholarship possibilities and strong career outcomes tend to balance that out.
If your priority is zero travel, fully remote study, or global brand recognition beyond Canada, you might want to compare Smith with some of the leading fully online MBA programs (US-based or global) to see whether the trade-offs are worth it.