Executive Management

Deepen your strategic knowledge of business practices to broaden your influence in the workplace. Build leadership, analytical and management skills.

The MBA in Executive Management at Royal Roads University gives you the professional advantage to move your career forward.

You can continue working while you study and get the education — and credential — you need for professional advancement.

You'll be well positioned to move ahead in your organization. Or change your career path. Or start your own business. Or envision something entirely new.

Getting down to business

We've been delivering the MBA for more than two decades.

In our MBA, you'll study all the core business subjects you'd expect — accounting, leadership, finance, human resources, operations and change management.

And, you'll take these courses alongside professionals with years of experience who are your classmates and thought-partners.

You'll learn from instructors who are business professionals with decades of experience they bring into the classroom.

You'll engage with company executives who present their business situations to you, and you'll analyze their cases and make recommendations.

You'll be able to immediately apply the knowledge and insight you gain right away in your workplace.

Program options

Specializations

You'll choose one of two specialization options in your Royal Roads MBA:

1. Royal Roads graduate certificate
2. MITx MicroMasters® program

MBA + MGM dual degree

New in 2021: Expand the global focus of your MBA by combining it with the Master of Global Management.

Learn more about the dual degree option.

Who it's for

The Royal Roads MBA program is designed for experienced professionals from diverse sectors looking to move their careers forward.

If you choose the blended model, you can continue working while completing your MBA, which is delivered through online courses and short on-campus residencies.

If you're looking to refresh and develop your skills before you start the MBA, you can take preparatory courses. And, you'll have the support of our program staff throughout the program.

Flexible admission

If you have work experience but don't have post-secondary education or you haven't completed a degree, you can apply to this program through the flexible admission option.

Your peers

Our MBA students come from across Canada and around the world. They work in corporations, government, small businesses, the military and non-profits. They are consultants, mid-level managers and executive-level leaders.

In your cohort of 30 to 40 students, you'll meet professionals who are just like you — juggling work, family and life events. You're in this together. You'll have support along the way.

MBA students are required to have at least seven years of work experience; your cohort will have an average of 15 years' experience. We have a balance of female and male participants; their average age is 40.

Personal and professional diversity enhances the learning environment. It leads to deeper conversations and analysis of how course materials apply to on-the-job issues. Your peers will become a key part of your professional network for years to come.

GMAT/GRE is not required.

Standard admission

• Completion of a four-year (or comparable) undergraduate degree in a related field from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• Normally, at least seven years of full-time relevant work experience, with three years at a management* level and increasing levels of responsibility.

Flexible admission

• Under flexible admission, the combination of work experience, education, and professional development is assessed. Applicants must show evidence of having sufficient knowledge, skills and abilities to complete a demanding academic course of study at a master's level and have significant business-related experience.
• Applicants under flexible admission would normally require at least 10 years of full-time relevant work experience, with five years at a management* level and increasing levels of responsibility.

* Management experience could include one or more of the following:

• • Formal organizational management or leadership roles in which you directly supervise staff, budgets, or complete performance-oriented work with individuals, groups, or teams.
  • Roles involving consultation, negotiation with, or management of diverse interest groups, in a complex environment.
  • Roles in which you lead others toward shared goals and outcomes.
  • Roles in which you influence, organize, and coordinate groups of people.
  • Please ensure that you demonstrate your management experience in your detailed resume, and clearly indicate how your years of experience meet the requirements
  • For all applicants, any acquisition of a professional designation, such as a CA, PMP, or other nationally recognized distinctions, should be noted on your resume in your application package.

English language proficiency

• If English is not your primary language, please review our English language requirements.

Additional requirements

• Solid academic and business research, in writing and critical thinking skills are required for success in this program. Applicants need to include detailed information and evidence that highlights research, writing and critical thinking skills gained through academic writing and/or work experience. The applicant's statement of intent and writing sample will be used as evidence in assessing writing competence. Applicants who wish to refresh or sharpen their academic writing and/or critical thinking skills may be encouraged or required to complete RRU Continuing Studies' Academic Writing and Critical Thinking course with a "B" grade.

• Accounting and numeracy skills are required for success in this program. Applicants need to include detailed information and evidence that highlights accounting and numeracy gained through academic and/or work experience. Applicants who need to refresh and/or sharpen their accounting skills may be required to take an accounting course as a condition of admission. To meet this condition, applicants may be required to successfully complete both of the following Royal Roads Continuing Studies courses with a "B" grade in each: Financial Accounting Fundamentals and Managerial Accounting Fundamentals.

All applications to this program require submission of the following information and supporting documents before your file can be assessed for admission:

Application form

In order to apply online, you will be required to create a log-in account using your email address. You will be required to list all credit courses and/or programs you have completed or are currently enrolled in. An application fee will be required. If your application fees are being paid by a third party, review sponsored student information. Once submitted, you may check the status of your application at any time.

Official transcripts

Applicants are responsible for arranging for the submission of official transcripts from ALL post-secondary (higher education) institutions currently or previously attended, for all credit courses and/or programs. Transcripts are not required for non-credit programs or courses, though some programs may require proof of professional certifications or designations.

Transcripts are considered official only if submitted directly by the Registrar or other recognized authority of the providing institution in the institution's original, sealed envelope. If the envelope has been opened, the transcripts are no longer official and new (official) transcripts will be required to complete your application.

All international transcripts or credentials are subject to an international transcript and/or credential evaluation.

Statement of intent

The statement of intent should consist of (but is not limited to) a two to three page essay and must address the following questions:

• What influenced your decision to apply to RRU's MBA program? 
• What do you hope to contribute to this program and the university?
• In 5‐10 years, how do you anticipate this program will add value?
• How is this program relevant to your personal and career goals?
• What training and/or academic courses have you done that relate to management?
• What experience have you had with distance education and self‐directed study?
• What experience do you have working collaboratively in a team?

If there is any other information that you feel might be of interest or relevance to your application, please include it in the statement of intent. 

Writing sample

All applicants must submit evidence of competency in written communication.  There are three options for providing this evidence:

1. You may include a recent (within the last 2 years) writing sample from your academic work that has been assessed by an instructor. You are encouraged to include the instructor comments and final assessment, though this is not required.
2. If you do not have a recent writing sample on file, you may write an original, maximum 500 word statement addressing the question: “What is my management and/or leadership philosophy?” Your writing should be clearly organized, should take a position, and substantiate it with evidence from personal experience and other sources.
3. In lieu of a writing sample, applicants may register in the Academic Writing and Critical Thinking course offered through Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University. Your course may be in progress at the time of application. However, course completion with a minimum B (73%) is required as a condition for entry.

Please note: Applicants must submit a writing sample OR proof of enrolment in RRU Continuing Studies' Academic Writing and Critical Thinking course as a part of their application package. Applicants who have previously completed RRU Continuing Studies' Academic Writing and Critical Thinking course with a B (73%) or above should submit their final grade confirmation letter.

Detailed resume

A detailed or structured resume is one that provides a comprehensive professional profile of the applicant. We are interested in knowing where an applicant has worked, for how long, and what they were responsible for in the positions held. Provide as much information as possible, with special attention to the past ten years of your career. Your detailed resume should include the following:

• Education: List all post‐secondary education, degrees, diplomas, and certificates you have achieved.
• Work experience: Please include name of organization, position, length of service (month and year), and a brief description of responsibilities.
• Training and Professional development: List career related training and professional development programs completed with the past five years. Include the source of training, and the duration and year completed. List other training and personal development programs not already identified.
• Voluntary/unpaid work experience: List and describe any voluntary/unpaid post-secondary employment and/or community service experience. Please include name of organization, length of service and a brief description of duties. 
• Information technology training and experience: Briefly describe your level of training and experience in the use of information technology including computers, software and telecommunications networks as tools for business, education, teaching and personal use. 
• Professional memberships/affiliations: List memberships and positions you hold/have held in professional associations, service clubs, community/volunteer sector. 
• Other relevant information: Provide any other information which you believe is relevant to your application and will be of assistance to the review committee.

Letters of reference

One reference letter should be based on work experience and the other based on either academic performance or community service. However, two work-related references are acceptable in certain cases.

The reference letters should confirm that an applicant is a suitable candidate for an MBA program. The writer(s) should articulate why they feel the applicant will succeed in such a program, whether they feel it will benefit the applicant (and why), and any other information about the applicant which could identify them as a good fit for the program. The context in which the referee has come to know the applicant should also be mentioned. Length and level of detail in the letters may vary; there is no set standard.

If applicable:

• Applicants declaring permanent resident or Convention Refugee status in Canada, must submit a copy of their Permanent Resident Card (PR card) along with their application.
• Transcript evaluation fee or credential evaluation report, if submitting international transcripts.
• An official English language proficiency score report or other evidence of proficiency if English is not your primary language.
• Other information or documents as may be requested to determine your eligibility.

For information on how and where to send your supporting documents, please refer to the document submission guidelines.