Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking province in Canada that offers a blend of North American and European cultures. French is the only official language of Quebec, while English is also present, especially in Montreal and other urban and student settings. Students should expect French to be important for daily life, work, and many programs, even when English-language services or courses are available.
Quebec is also attractive for students worldwide who want to pursue business degrees for several reasons. Many of the province’s universities and business schools are internationally accredited and recognized for their teaching, research, and industry connections. Tuition fees and living costs vary by program, institution, and residency status, so students should compare current fees and any available exemptions before applying.
The province also has a diversified economy that can offer employment and career opportunities after graduation. Below are five business schools in Quebec, along with short descriptions of their programs, recognitions, services, and initiatives.
Top Business Schools in Quebec
1. McGill University
Founded in 1821, McGill University is one of Canada’s best-known higher education institutions. Its Desautels Faculty of Management was founded in 1906 and was named the Desautels Faculty of Management in 2005 after a major gift from Marcel Desautels and the Canadian Credit Management Foundation. McGill’s official Desautels rankings page lists current international placements for its MBA and specialized master’s programs.
The school holds EQUIS accreditation and is a member of international management education organizations such as PRME and GMAC. The faculty offers undergraduate, master’s, executive, certificate, and doctoral programs, including the Bachelor of Commerce, MBA, specialized master’s programs, and Ph.D. in Management.
The school continues to support business education through research, entrepreneurship initiatives, and experiential learning. Through resources such as the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship, students and startup founders can access mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and support for ventures at different stages of development.
2. HEC Montreal
HEC Montreal is a French-language, university-level business school and part of the global group of business schools that hold AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS accreditation. It was also the first business school in North America to obtain these three major international accreditations.
The institution delivers management programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Students can choose from bachelor’s programs, graduate diplomas, master’s degrees, MBA and EMBA options, and doctoral study, depending on their academic and professional goals.
HEC Montreal also supports businesses through executive education, customized corporate training, internships, student projects, recruitment, and job postings. Some programs are offered in English and French, but applicants should check the language requirements for their specific program because HEC Montreal remains primarily a French-language institution.
3. Concordia University
Concordia University is a public English-language university in Montreal. It was officially founded in 1974 through the merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University. Its John Molson School of Business was the first in Montreal to receive AACSB accreditation and, in 2025, earned EQUIS accreditation, giving it AACSB and EQUIS “double crown” status.
Concordia’s rankings page reports that the university placed #1 in North America among universities under 50 in the 2024 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings; since Concordia was founded in 1974, this should be treated as a 2024 ranking result rather than a current age-category claim. In 2019, John Molson became the first business school in Canada to receive Women in Governance Parity Certification. Current Career Management Services data report 88.7% undergraduate employment and 91.2% graduate employment three months after graduation.
The school provides Career Management Services to help students with job searches, internships, networking, resumes, cover letters, and interview preparation. It offers bachelor’s programs in business fields such as accountancy, finance, management, marketing, supply chain management, and international business, along with graduate programs such as the MSc, Master of Supply Chain Management, and Ph.D. in Business Administration. It also supports experiential learning through co-op options, internships, exchanges, community service, and case competitions.
4. Université du Québec à Montréal
The Université du Québec à Montréal is a French-language university in Montreal and offers more than 375 programs across eight main areas, including management. UQAM’s School of Management, ESG UQAM, is an innovative and practice-oriented business school with more than 160 international student mobility partnerships.
These partnerships allow students to participate in student mobility, double-degree opportunities, and international experiences. ESG UQAM offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs covering management practice, including a Doctorate in Business Administration offered jointly with HEC Montreal, Concordia University, and McGill University. The language of instruction is generally French, although some courses and selected programs are available in English. UQAM also offers French-as-a-second-language options through its language school.
5. Université Laval
Université Laval, or Laval University, is one of Quebec’s major research universities. Its Faculty of Business Administration, FSA ULaval, states that it ranks among the top 1% of business schools worldwide and displays AACSB and EQUIS accreditation. The faculty emphasizes research, continuing education, and professional development in business administration.
Its Faculty of Business Administration offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Courses and programs may use different delivery modes, including distance, hybrid, and comodal formats, depending on the course or program. Some courses may be taken in English, but students must meet French proficiency requirements for admission to academic programs. Eduniversal’s 2026 listing gives FSA ULaval 5 Palmes of Excellence and identifies it as a “Universal Business School with strong global influence.”
Furthermore, the school and the university provide services connected with employment and professional development, including paid internships and jobs, employer recruitment support through Université Laval’s Service du développement professionnel, continuing education, and business administration training for professionals.
Quebec is a great place to study business if you’re an international student because of its educational institutions and lively entrepreneurial scene. By engaging with the province’s multicultural and evolving business environment, students can gain more experience, build networks, and strengthen the skills they need for the global market.
We hope this article about the best business schools in Quebec was helpful. Make sure to check out our Study in Canada page and Available Courses for International Students!
