Project Management Programs vs. MBA in Canada?

Considering Canada as your next study abroad destination? Are you thinking about an MBA or a Masters of Engineering or other technologies? Then think about a graduate program that will give you the credentials for Project Management. Why Project Management?

Did you know that project managers are in high demand in Canada. In fact, they are the fastest growing occupation in Canada. According to PMI (Project Management Institute), it is expected that Canada will create 8,500 jobs per year until 2027, so roughly 90,000 new project management positions. Wouldn’t you like to be the one who gets that job.

The pathway to getting a good Project Management position in Canada is not to take an MBA but to take other management programs that give you the required hours necessary to become a Project Management Professional.

Project Managers in Canada

Before we head over to what programs would be suitable to get a project management job, let’s exam what is a project manager, what can you expect and what kind of salary will you get? As the name suggests, you will manage projects in any number of industries such as engineering, construction, information technology, supply chain management & logistics, healthcare, HR management, and many more.

A quick search of job postings show an expected salary for an entry level job is around $80,000 CAD per year and as you acquire additional years of experience, you can expect your salary to increase. An experienced project manager can make up to $142,000 CAD per year and upward with a seasoned employee with over 20 years of experience in the field making over $200,000 CAD per year. That folks is a well paying job!

At first you will need to work under a senior project manager before you can be hired on to be the person in charge of the whole project. After your education and so many hours of project management employment, you can move on to get your PMP (Project Management Professional) certificate. According to PMI, you will need to have up to 36 months of experience before you are eligible to get certification and you will also need 35 hours of Project Management education.

That’s just equal to the years you need to participate in the PGWP to be eligible for your PR. And talking of the PGWP, if there is a such high demand for project managers, you can be assured that any program that leads to project management will be well received into the PGWP.

Program Pathways to Project Management Positions

Now for programs that will help you get into Project Management:

University of Windsor:

1. Masters of Management – it is a 4 term (16 months) intensive program that prepares students for industry. The offer 4 streams, Business Data Analytics, HR Management, International Accounting & Finance and Supply Chain Management & Logistics. Please note that their Data Analysis & Project Management is part of the MoM Business Data Analytics stream. But also, you will want to consider the Supply Chain Management & Logistics stream as well to take you into project management careers. Tuition cost is around $40,000 CAD for the 4 terms, a small investment in your future when you consider the payoff of possibly getting a lucrative paying project management job in your near future. You will need to write IELTS with an overall band of 7. GMAT, GRE and work experience are not required but a good GPA of over 3 in your bachelor’s degree with improve your chances of admission to this highly competitive and desired program.

2. Masters of Industrial Engineering (MEng) – will provide you with project management courses. Again, the Engineering program is 16 months, (4 terms) and will cost around $40,000 CAD. IELTS with an overall score of 7 is required. This program will prepare you for engineering management positions. Please note that you might not get a project management position immediately, but it can certainly be one of your future positions.

3. Bachelors of Industrial Engineering will take you on the pathway to becoming a professional engineering project manager. With courses in Supply Chain Engineering and the paid Co-op Work Experience program, you are bound to make your way into the industry quickly. Cost for this BEng program is around $42,000 CAD per year and IELTS may or may not be required depending on your previous education. Scholarships are available to excellent students.

Trent University

1. Masters of Management gives you an edge in the management field with its strategic management courses and its practical placement. You can get hands on experience even before you graduate. Work experience is not required nor is GMAT or GRE but IELTS or another English Language Proficiency exam is required. Cost is around $40,000 CAD for tuition over the 16 months and cost of living will be in addition to that.

2. Masters of Management - Strategic Change Management prepares students to oversee change, new projects and endeavors that a company might want to implement. The requirements and costs for Strategic Change Management are the same as the MoM program listed above.

University of Manitoba

1. Masters of Supply Chain Management & Logistics is a must consider program that will take you places in the industry. Supply Chain Management is one of the fastest growing fields in Canada and can take you into Supply Chain Management and Project Management. Benefits to taking the Masters of Supply Chain Management & Logistics program are:

• Winnipeg is in the top 10 cities with a high demand for project managers.

• Winnipeg is the central hub in North America for transportation & logistics.

• The program includes at least one project management course (remember the needed 35 hours).

• The program includes an optional paid Co-op Work experience program.

• The cost is around $41,000 CAD for the 2 year, but the payoff far exceeds your investment.

• IELTS or another ELP exam is required as is GMAT.

Seneca College in Toronto offers several graduate certificates that can be bundled into 2-year packages that increases your employability and improves your changes for a study permit. It also makes you eligible for to participate in the PGWP for up to 3 years.

1. Project Management – Information Technology

2. Project Management – Environment

• These 2 project management programs can be bundled together or combined with their Supply Chain Management & Logistics certificate any of their other certificates that might interest you and can follow one after the other. Cost is around $17,000 CAD per year and an ELP exam is required along with a Bachelors degree.

NAIT located in Edmonton, Alberta offers these project management programs.

1. Bachelors of Technology in Construction Management is designed for students who want to go into project management in the construction industry. A senior Math course is an entrance requirement as is an ELP exam (IELTS should be 6.5 overall).  A previous degree or technical diploma from a recognised institution is required. This 2-year program will cost around $25,000 CAD per year.

2. Project Management Professional Certificates including one in Information Technology. If you are already in Canada or you want to top up your previous education with their certificate, NAIT is an ideal place to do it. Notice these PMP certificates are only 1 year duration programs so you would need to combine it with other education as well to participate in the PGWP for up to 3 years.

• Edmonton is listed in the top 10 cities where Project Managers are in the highest demand.

Work After Graduation

Students who take project Management or Supply Chain Management & Logistic programs will find they are a pathway to:

• Post Graduate Work Permit

• Express Entry

• Provincial Nominee Programs

For more information on these programs that will get you into the Canadian workforce, make sure to contact Go 2 Canada Education Services for additional information on admissions and application processing.