🇨🇦 London, Ontario, Canada · #1 business school in Canada
HBA Honours Business
Learn to lead the way top executives do — through Canada's original case-method business degree. Two years in any faculty, then two transformative years at Ivey, graduating into consulting, finance and management with one of the strongest alumni networks in the country.
4 years
2 pre-business + 2 HBA
~CA$50,000
HBA-year tuition (intl.)
Sep 2026
Next intake
IELTS 6.5
English requirement
Overview
✓ Study at Canada's #1 business school — a global pioneer of case-method learning
✓89% employed within 3 months of graduating (Ivey, avg CA$84,575)
✓ Four-year Canadian degree — qualify for a 3-year PGWP and PR pathway
The Ivey HBA is a 2+2 program: you spend your first two years at Western building prerequisites in any faculty, then join the two-year HBA in third year. Those HBA years are fully case-based — you'll analyse hundreds of real business decisions, lead teams, and build the judgement employers pay a premium for.
Ivey's alumni network and recruiting pipeline are unmatched in Canada, feeding directly into management consulting, investment banking and corporate leadership. A four-year Canadian degree also opens the 3-year PGWP and a clear path to permanent residency.
Maintain AEO standing; formally join Ivey in year 3
💡
AEO is competitive and timing matters. Your counsellor helps you craft standout supplementary essays and choose the right first-two-years pathway into Ivey.
What you'll study
HBA core areas
01 Leading People & Organisations
02 Marketing
03 Finance
04 Operations & Analytics
05 Strategy
06 Leadership & Ethics
After you graduate
Career outcomes
89%
Employed within 3 months of graduating
CA$84,575
Average total compensation on graduation
Top employers
McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte, RBC, Scotiabank
3-year PGWP
Open work permit — pathway to PR
How to apply
Application timeline
September – December 2025
Prepare your AEO application
Build your high-school profile, gather transcripts, take IELTS/TOEFL, and draft your AEO supplementary essays. Your counsellor reviews everything free of charge.
January 2026
Submit via OUAC + Ivey AEO
Apply to Western through OUAC and complete the Ivey AEO application with your essays. AEO is highly competitive — apply early and put your leadership forward.
March – May 2026
Receive your offer
Western and Ivey release AEO decisions in spring. Your counsellor follows up and helps you compare offers if you applied to multiple business programs.
May – August 2026
Accept & study permit
Accept your offer, pay your deposit, receive your LOA, apply for your Canadian study permit, and provide biometrics.
September 2026
Orientation & start
Arrive in London, Ontario for orientation and begin your first two pre-business years — then join the Ivey HBA in third year.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees & costs
Years 1–2 (pre-business)
Western intl. undergrad tuition
~CA$40,000/yr
Years 3–4 (Ivey HBA)
International HBA tuition
~CA$50,000/yr
Ancillary fees
Bus pass, health plan, etc.
~CA$2,600/yr
Study permit fee
IRCC application
CA$150
Because Ivey runs on a 2+2 model, compare the full four-year cost against other business degrees. Your counsellor prepares an exact figure for your intake.
Scholarships
Funding you may be eligible for
Western International President's Entrance Scholarship
Eligibility: Varies by country — business often eligible
Duration: Full degree
Deadline: Varies — your counsellor checks eligibility
Loans & financing
Alternative funding options
MPOWER Financing
International student loan · No cosigner · Up to $100,000
Available for international students at Western. No cosigner, collateral, or Canadian credit history required.
Work during studies
Study permit holders · Up to 24 hrs/week
Work up to 24 hrs/week during term and full-time during breaks. Many HBA students also complete a paid summer internship after first year, building experience and income.
Living costs
Monthly budget in London, Ontario
London is a friendly, affordable mid-size Ontario city built around Western's campus — noticeably cheaper than Toronto, with strong student housing and an easy two-hour trip to the GTA.
Rent (shared / residence)CA$800–$1,300
Food & groceriesCA$300–$450
Transport (bus pass)Incl. in fees
Health insurance (UHIP)CA$53
Books & materialsCA$100–$150
Personal & leisureCA$200–$400
Estimated totalCA$1,450–$2,350/month
IRCC financial proof: CA$20,635/year (or CA$1,720/month) in living expenses in addition to tuition — via bank statements or GIC.
Study permit
Canadian study permit requirements
Permit type
Canadian Study Permit
LOA required
Letter of Acceptance from Western (DLI)
Application fee
CA$150
Biometrics fee
CA$85
Financial proof
Tuition + CA$20,635/year living (or GIC)
Post-graduation (PGWP)
3-year open work permit — business & management roles support Express Entry PR
Student stories
Hear from our students
"The case method changes how you think — by graduation I'd analysed hundreds of real business decisions. Ivey's recruiting pipeline landed me a consulting offer months before I finished. My counsellor guided my whole AEO application."
RA
Rana A.
HBA, Ivey — Class of 2026 · 🇦🇪 UAE
"I loved that only the final two years carry Ivey tuition, so the total cost was competitive. London is affordable, the alumni network is incredible, and the 3-year work permit means I can build my career in Canada."
OS
Omar S.
HBA, Ivey — Class of 2025 · 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does the 2+2 HBA structure work?
You apply to Western as an Advanced Entry Opportunity (AEO) student and spend your first two years in any faculty completing prerequisites. You then formally join the two-year Ivey HBA Program in third year. Only the two HBA years carry Ivey's higher tuition, so it's important to compare the full four-year cost against other business degrees.
What makes Ivey different from other business schools?
Ivey pioneered case-method learning in Canada — you learn by analysing hundreds of real business situations, not just lectures. It's consistently ranked Canada's #1 business school, with a powerful alumni network and deep recruiting pipelines into consulting, investment banking and corporate leadership.
How strong are graduate outcomes?
Very strong. Ivey reports that 89% of the graduating class receive employment offers within three months of graduation, with average total compensation around CA$84,575. Graduates are recruited by top consulting firms, banks and Fortune 500 companies.
Can I work in Canada after graduating?
Yes. As a graduate of a four-year Canadian degree you qualify for a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and can work up to 24 hours per week during term while studying. Canadian work experience opens a direct route to permanent residency through Express Entry.
How competitive is admission?
Ivey is highly selective — AEO admission typically requires a 90%+ high school average plus strong extracurricular leadership and supplementary essays. Your counsellor helps you build a compelling AEO application and time it correctly.
