Master of Management in Retailing (MMR)

Be a pioneer in an evolving digital industry.

Admissions

Please note that the MBA, MMA, MMF and MMR programs are not affected by the recent announcements from the Quebec government regarding tuition increases.


Applying to the MMR Program

You are about to make the best decision for your career! The McGill Master of Management in Retailing degree is designed for high-achieving, ambitious retail professionals and students interested in a future career in retail.

The MMR is designed for recent graduates with a Bachelor of Arts, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, or Science degree and with proven quantitative skills.

There are three complementary types of students for the program:

Students with an undergraduate degree in any discipline who

  • have specific professional retail experience
  • are interested in learning new skills to level up their retail career
  • wish to transition into another aspect of the retail business (i.e. from store manager to retail strategy analyst)

Students with an undergraduate degree in a related discipline such as engineering, computer science, statistics) who

  • have the technical skills

  • are interested in learning the retail business combined with leadership skills

Students with an undergraduate degree in any discipline with

  • a strong interest in the emerging field of retail
  • a strong interest in some analytical and computer acumen.

Prospective students can apply during the final year of their bachelor’s degree studies. Admission would be conditional upon obtaining their bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the program. Students with a three-year bachelor's degree from an international university are also eligible to apply. International students can determine the equivalency of their degrees.

The MMR is a pre-experience program, therefore no prior work experience is required. Preference will be given to candidates with retail experience, although it is not required.


Application deadlines

Admissions for the 2024 cohort are now open. Please note the MMR program offers fall term admissions only.

Application deadlines:

  • October 31, 2023
    (First application deadline)
  • December 15, 2023
    (Second application deadline)
  • March 15, 2024
    (Final deadline for international students)
  • May 15, 2024
    (Final deadline for Canadian citizens and Permanent residents)
In order to be considered for a specific deadline, ensure that your file is complete.

Application Requirements

Undergraduate degree and any additional academic qualifications

  • Please upload your complete record of study from each university-level institution you have attended to-date and listed on your application.
  • Unofficial transcripts must include all courses and grades for each year attended.
  • For those universities or institutions from which a degree has been obtained, but the year is not stated on the transcripts, we require a copy of the actual diploma to be uploaded in addition to the transcripts.
  • McGill transcripts do not need to be uploaded.
  • Transcripts in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a certified English or French translation.
  • Applicants admitted to the program will be required to provide a signed and sealed official transcript from each school attended.
  • After the decision deadline, all admitted students will receive further mailing instructions on where to send these materials.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Please prepare a CV that includes:

  • Your employment history, if any, in reverse chronological order;
    • your title
    • dates of employment
    • whether you worked part-time or full-time, including internships.
  • Your educational record should also be in reverse chronological order and should indicate;
    • dates of attendance
    • degrees earned.
  • We welcome and encourage the submission of any other relevant information.
  • If your educational background doesn’t demonstrate any quantitative skills, we ask you that you highlight and include;
    • relevant course work
    • core competencies
    • short student or professional summary.
  • The CV should be no more than one page. It is uploaded as part of the Additional Documents.

Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

All applicants—except those with a graduate or undergraduate degree from any Canadian or US University—must complete the GMAT or GRE. When registering for a test, please request that the results be sent directly to McGill University:

  • GMAT Institution Code: 58H-LH-04
  • GRE Institution Code: 0935

* Please note that some GMAT and GRE application centers remain closed due to public health concerns regarding COVID-19. Therefore, we are accepting the results of the online version of these exams.


English Language Proficiency

For candidates whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed a degree in an English-speaking country, the TOEFL or IELTS is required. Only tests taken at Test Centers are accepted for admission, at-home tests are not accepted.

For those who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a recognized institution where English is the language of instruction, but not in an English-speaking country, you are exempt from taking a proficiency test. To determine other cases in which you may be exempt, please review the McGill English Language Proficiency requirements.

When registering for a test, request that the results be sent electronically to McGill University by the testing service:

  • TOEFL Institution Code: 0935
  • For IELTS, via the IELTS Results Service.
    Name: McGill University
    Address: 688 Sherbrooke St. W, Suite 760. Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada

Students cannot upload their results themselves, nor can administration upload paper copies of their results.


Letters of reference

  • Candidates must provide two letters of reference from individuals who have been directly responsible for evaluating their performance and potential.
  • On the application form, you must provide the names and email addresses of two referees who can evaluate your abilities. Provide a valid institutional email address for each referee.
  • You may send this recommendation form to referees for completion. The form has to be manually/e-signed by the referee. Alternatively, the referees may choose to write their own recommendation letters. In such case letters must be written on company/university letterhead, signed, dated and uploaded as a PDF/Word attachment. 
  • An automatic message is sent by McGill directly to these referees asking them to upload their references.

Note: It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that referees submit their recommendations in a timely manner.


Application fee

A non-refundable fee of CAD $132.90 CAD must accompany each application. Applications cannot be submitted without this fee. This sum must be paid by credit card.


Application Process

We strongly recommend you read through the application requirements before starting your application.

Step 1: Submitting your application in the Graduate Admission System (Fall Admission)

  • Application fee: CAD $132.90 (non-refundable), payable by credit card when you submit the application. (Make sure you select the Fall 2024 term).
  • After your application has been received, an email will be sent to you with your McGill ID number.

Step 2: Uploading supporting documents

All supporting documents must be uploaded in PDF format directly to the Graduate Admission System (Fall Admission). Read the following information and instructions on how to upload supporting documents:

  • Transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
    • GMAT Institution Code: 58H-LH-04
    • GRE Institution Code: 0935
  • English Proficiency Tests: TOEFL and IELTS
    • TOEFL Institution Code: 0935
    • IELTS Results Service Account
      Name: McGill University
      Address: 688 Sherbrooke St. W, Suite 760. Montreal QC, H3A 0B8 Canada
  • Letters of reference
  • MMR Recommendation Form

After applying

Admission to the program is competitive and based on a number of requirements; be assured your application will receive serious consideration. Because we process applications as they are received, we strongly suggest that prospective students submit their applications as early as possible.

Interview

After a preliminary review of their file, a candidate may be invited for an interview. All interviews are conducted by Skype. The interview process is highly important: It not only helps the admissions committee to better understand your background and objectives, but it is also an important opportunity for you to ask key questions to ensure that the MMR program offered in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management is the right program for you.

Admitted candidates

Candidates who are offered acceptance will have a specific amount of time to accept the offer and secure a place in the MMR program. In order to accept the offer, the candidate must log onto the Graduate Admission System and pay a non-refundable deposit of CAD $5,000. For any questions, please contact us at mmr.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca.

Deferred admission

Deferring admission for one year may be considered in exceptional cases upon evidence of extenuating circumstances. A written request should be submitted to us at mmr.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca. If approved, students wishing to defer their admission will be required to submit a non-refundable confirmation deposit in order to secure their place for the following year.

Non-Canadian applicants are advised to contact their home country's Canadian Embassy prior to the start date of their desired program. Students from some countries may have additional requirements for visas and medical examinations.

International students

All international students are responsible for maintaining valid immigration documents and legal status throughout the duration of their program of studies. Find more information on the International Student Services page.

In January 2024, the government (IRCC) issued immigration updates with new measures for incoming Masters and PhD students:

Proof of financial capacity

  • Effective January 1, IRCC has increased the minimum amount of financial capacity students must demonstrate when applying for a study permit. This new minimum does not apply to Quebec. To study in Quebec, applicants must prove they meet the financial requirements outlined by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).
  • As per MIFI, the minimum amount required for a student without dependents includes tuition, transportation (round trip from country of origin), settlement fees, health insurance and living expenses of $15,078 per year. This amount is normally adjusted every year.
  • ISS has updated this information on their website (please see the yellow box on top of the page).

International student caps

  • On January 22, the federal government announced new caps to the number of study permits to be issued in 2024. These caps do not apply to master’s and PhD programs.

Post-Graduate Work Permit

  • The January 22 announcement also included the following:
  • Graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit. Under current criteria, the length of a post­graduation work permit is based solely on the length of an individual’s study program, hindering master’s graduates by limiting the amount of time they have to gain work experience and potentially transition to permanent residence.

Letter of acceptance verification process

  • Since December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions have been required to confirm every letter of acceptance submitted by an applicant outside Canada directly with IRCC. This enhanced verification process protects prospective students from fraud and ensures that study permits are issued based only on genuine letters of acceptance.
  • Institutions have 10 calendar days to validate the letter of acceptance.
  • At McGill, the verification process is coordinated through Enrolment Services.

Admissions How-To's

The Future of Retail

The Future of Retail

The MMR program has been made possible thanks to generous donations from Aldo Bensadoun, and is offered in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

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