Is HEC Montreal considered as a top Business School?

I'm a student at HEC Montreal doing a Trilingual BBA's degree (1/3 of my classes in French, English and Spanish).

I was wondering what were you thinking about that school if you were to recruit someone in a bulge bracket IB firms:

  • Is it considered as one of the top Business School in Canada? In the US? and in Europe (London & Paris)?

  • I know that since several years its MBA is ranked amoung the Forbes 10 Best Business School of the World (except USA). Does it affect also the reputation and quality of the undergraduate programs? Is Forbes' ranking relevant to IB firms?

  • In brief, I would like to know if you can consider HEC Montreal and the Trilingual BBA's degree in the top tier B-schools?

Thx

15 Comments
 

Don't think I've ever met anyone who went there, in either New York or London (to my knowledge). So although I can't say anything about the quality of the program because I've never attended, the alumni network doesn't seem very strong in those two markets.

 
Best Response

good undergrad program, however low recognition outside the Quebec province

it's not HEC Paris (yeah, they like to confuse people and make them think they're affiliated with the other school) not a top US, Europe B-School, not even in the top Canadian B-School you should come to Ontario for that top Canadian MBA programs are: Rotman, Ivey, Schulich McGill has a good undergrad program as well, but MBA is not there yet

in addition, since the goal of B-School is getting a job once you graduate, you rather be close to the financial hub if you're considering staying in Canada afterwards HEC doesn't have much ties outside Quebec province and no matter how much I love Montreal, I had to eventually leave because opportunities in finance are limited and the money left the city 30 years ago if you know what I mean

if your long term goal is to become an expat in a BB (from what I can imagine since you are taking that trilingual program), Bay Street is a better platform to launch an international career later on

disclaimer: I'm born and raised in Montreal and now live and work in Toronto

 

HEC Montreal has no recognition outside of Montreal And my experience is that even in Montreal, they are not renowned for their finance programme. It's a great school for advertising though.

In London, the only people you meet in banking who are from Quebec come from McGill.

 

Why do people keep trying to mix HEC MTL and HEC Paris. No link. One is legit, the other not so much (at least on a global scale... I'm sure it will get you a great gig in MTL). I do know one student at HEC MTL who made the jump to GS NY in IBD, but he had heavy family connections.

 

Two guys from HEC Montreal just entered MIT Sloan's Masters of Finance (the size of the entire class is about 60-70) so it can't be a bad undergraduate preparation... Also, this ranking published in the NY asked execs from 10 countries which universities they'd recruit from, and it came 46th: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/10/20/education/20iht-SReducEmpl… Also: http://www.eduniversal-ranking.com/business-school-university-ranking-5…

HEC Paris is more prestigious (Top 20 worldwide). HEC Montreal is prestigious as well, not quite HEC Paris but a top tier business school. Btw the school has been called "HEC" for over 100 years, no intention to confuse with HEC Paris :-)

 

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