Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question? Please check our Frequently Asked Questions below. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, Contact Us.

Why
Ivey
HBA?

Secondary
Students & AEO
Pre-Admission

HBA
Admission
for Years 3 & 4

Transfer &
International
Students

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What does HBA stand for?

It stands for Honors Business Administration.

What is the difference between the Ivey HBA Program and Traditional Business Programs?

All leading business schools now use cases. In fact, many other Canadian business schools currently use Ivey cases. All business schools also teach technical business skills. The true distinction of an Ivey HBA is in the Ivey Leadership Essentials that are strongly developed in every HBA grad – they are at the core of everything we do at Ivey. These Leadership Essentials are developed through a powerful combination of five interlinked elements, ranging from how we select our students all the way through to how we train and support our HBA graduates for their careers.

What is the difference between the Ivey HBA Program and the BMOS program at Western?

The Ivey HBA and the Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies Programs at Western are structured differently and prepare students with different knowledge and skills. The BMOS Program is made up of a wide variety of courses from the Faculties of Arts, Social Science and Science. The true distinction of an Ivey HBA is in the Ivey Leadership Essentials that are strongly developed in every HBA grad – they are at the core of everything we do at Ivey. These Leadership Essentials are developed through a powerful combination of five interlinked elements, ranging from how we select our students all the way through to how we train and support our HBA graduates for their careers.

Does Ivey have co-op? Where do Ivey grads get jobs?

Ivey does not have a co-op program, but has outstanding career management support for summer and permanent placement. It is part of our HBA 1 curriculum to teach career strategies to our students. There is great career flexibility and opportunity with the HBA degree. Please see the HBA placement reports at http://www.ivey.uwo.ca/hba/careerplanning. Please note that statistics vary with the economy and that students must also work hard to secure positions.

Can I complete the degree I spend my first two years in?

Some students choose to complete a three year degree in their initial program before coming to Ivey. As well, Ivey does offer combined degrees with several programs. Please see http://www.ivey.uwo.ca/hba/dualdegrees for more information.

Can students take the required courses for their accounting designation at Ivey?

The accounting stream of the Ivey HBA Program is now accredited by both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO) and The Society of Management Accountants of Canada. Accreditation ensures that Ivey students have access to all of the required courses for these two designations in an approved and high-quality format.

Can I get my CA Designation?

Over the two years of the program, the HBA program will provide you with 39 of the 51 credit hours that are required for the CA designation. In addition, you can take 4 additional courses (the 12 remaining credit hours) through Ivey’s completion program which is offered in conjunction with Western’s Continuing Studies department. More information is available at ICAO - Schedule of Courses. The additional courses will take place after the HBA 1 year (approximately 2 weeks), and after your HBA 2 year (approximately 4 weeks). Students would also take one overload course in HBA 2. Please also keep in mind that work experience in a CA training office is required before writing the Uniform Final Examination (UFE). Students need to complete 30 months training in a CA training office.

Can I get my CMA Designation?

Over the two years of the program, the HBA program will provide you with all of the courses (typically 17 courses) that are required for the CMA designation. Ivey HBA graduates are eligible to bypass the CMA Entrance Examination and proceed to the CMA’s Strategic Leadership program. Practical experience is also required to receive the CMA designation. Learn more.

Why is the tuition higher than other schools?

The financial commitment of the HBA Program is an investment that holds great potential for significant personal and professional returns. Program value is important to consider. We deliver an integrated program with sections, dedicated faculty teams, case method teaching and events. For comparison purposes, it is important to look at the four year cost of a degree. For the first two years students pay regular Western tuition (approx. $6000/year) and then Ivey tuition for years three and four (just over $20,000). We do not expect tuition increases beyond about 3% a year. We are about a 20% premium over our nearest competitor which is approximately the three-year salary difference. Our HBA graduates’ published starting salaries (2009 average Ivey starting compensation was $62,000), as compared to our nearest competitor, are typically about $4,000 higher and our placement rates are higher. Most schools do not publish their placement stats. Quality summer internships can also help offset HBA 2 tuition.

Is there financial aid available?

HBA students are eligible to apply for financial aid and scholarships through both Ivey and Western. Bursaries and Scholarships available through Ivey are only available upon entering the HBA Program. Ivey Scholarship decisions will generally be released with your offer of admission. Flexible banking opportunities are also available to HBA students. Learn more.

Also see: www.registrar.uwo.ca/FinancialServices/index.cfm for more information.

Is the HBA Program growing and what are the implications?

The HBA Program is growing but we have not dropped our quality standards in order to grow. Ivey has continued to broaden its recruitment activities geographically in order to continue to attract a large pool of students with high academic achievement and diverse extra-curricular activities (10 years ago almost all of Ivey’s HBA students came from within a 2 hour drive of London, now 1/3 of the class is from out of province). Our competitive averages for AEO and HBA have not changed during our period of growth. The quality of Ivey HBA students is recognized in the marketplace as the placement rate for Ivey HBA graduates was 92% last year with an average starting salary of over $62,000. HBA Program Services developed a podcast interview to address some of the most frequently asked questions and benefits about the HBA Growth Strategy. Please take five minutes to listen to the interview with HBA Program Director, Professor Darren Meister and find out more about the success of the strategy to date and benefits to HBA students. Download or listen to this article. Please download flash-player to listen to this podcast if you do not already have it.

Can I book a tour of the Ivey facility?

Tours of the Ivey Business School are included in Western campus tours if you indicate that you are interested in seeing Ivey at the time of booking. If you would like a more in-depth tour of Ivey, please send us an email at hba@ivey.uwo.ca including your contact information and the date and time you would like to visit. Ivey specific tours are offered on Fridays at 12:50pm.

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What does AEO stand for?

AEO stands for Advanced Entry Opportunity.

What do I need to get an AEO offer?

Go to Application Process – Secondary School Students for information on what we look for in AEO applicants.

Which grade 12 math course is required?

For Ontario students, any one of the three "U" level grade 12 math courses (MHF4U Advanced Functions, MCV4U Calculus and Vectors, or MDM4U Math of Data Management) will fulfill the math requirement for the Ivey HBA program. One is not preferred over another. The admission requirement for students outside of Ontario is similar: any grade 12 equivalent math course for university bound students. Please also ensure that you meet any math requirements for the program you choose to study for your first two years at Western or its affiliated colleges.

Is the grade 12 math course included in the admission average for AEO status?

Western calculates the admission average using the prerequisite courses for the program you are applying to in addition to your highest grades. Western will not use your math grade in your average for AEO unless it is one of your top grades.

What are the Ivey AEO progression requirements?

Go to Application Process – Secondary School Students for Ivey AEO Progression Requirements.

What are the advantages of applying for AEO status?

The Ivey AEO extends conditional, pre-admission to the HBA Program to students who choose to study at Western or one of its affiliated university colleges (in a faculty of their choice) for their first two years of university. Approximately 2/3 of our Ivey HBA class has AEO status. The remaining 1/3 are students from Western and other universities who discover an interest in business during their first two years of study. There are additional benefits to having AEO status other than the conditional pre-admission to the HBA Program. AEO students are able to connect with other AEO students on campus through the AEO Student Association (AEOSA). As well, the Ivey HBA Program Office hosts several events during your first two years so that you have the benefit of being familiar with the school before entering in third year.

How do I apply for AEO status?

Please note that applying for AEO status is a two-step process: 1. Apply for admission to Western or one of its affiliated university colleges through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) at www.ouac.on.ca. Choose any academic program or module at Western for your first two years of university study. Please indicate your interest in Ivey AEO status on your Western application. 2. Apply for the Advanced Entry Opportunity (AEO) on Ivey's Inside Track. Ivey AEO status is a separate decision and notification process from your admission to Western. The Ivey AEO application is due on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by 4 pm EST.

I checked off the Ivey AEO box on the OUAC website - does that mean I have applied for Ivey AEO status?

No, checking the Ivey AEO box on the OUAC website indicates to Western that you also intend to apply for Ivey AEO status. You must still complete the Ivey AEO supplementary application, which can be found on Ivey's Inside Track. This application allows you to provide details of your achievements in extra-curricular activities.

I just received an admission offer from Western, does that mean I also have an Ivey AEO status offer?

No, your Ivey AEO status offer will be communicated separately and is an independent admission decision from your Western offer. However, Ivey only extends offers of Ivey AEO status to students who have received an offer of admission from Western.

How important is leadership contribution in the decision process?

Your achievement outside of the classroom is very important to our decision. In fact, only at Ivey is your achievement outside of the classroom as important to us as your academic achievement – it is truly a 50/50 balance between academic achievement and leadership contribution.

What kind of activities and leadership involvement are best?

We want you to pursue your personal interests and we value each area of leadership equally, from student government, to athletics, to music, to community events, just to name a few. For example, if you are passionate about athletics – lead within your chosen sport(s), if you are passionate about student government – lead within your student councils. What is most important to us is that you show a well-rounded dedication to your community and that you can achieve in positions of leadership and increasing responsibility. It is not the number of leadership involvements you have that are important to us, but rather the degree of achievement, commitment and balance.

Can I put my school phone number or my teacher's e-mail address as the contact person for my activities on my application?

Yes, you can have the school's phone number or the teacher's e-mail address at the school as a contact number.

If I don't have any experience with entrepreneurship is my application penalized?

It is not necessary to have entrepreneurial experience to apply to AEO, nor will a lack of entrepreneurial experience affect your chances of being selected. The admissions committee will look at the whole individual when making their decision.

What are U and M level courses?

Both are Ontario high school level courses. U level courses are in the "university bound" stream and M level courses are in both the university and college stream. You can take any combination of U and M level courses in high school. For AEO, you will need to meet the U level math requirement only; however, you should ensure that you are taking the correct courses for the faculty you are applying to at Western.

How are the averages calculated for the Ivey AEO status?

Ivey doesn’t calculate the admission average, Western central admissions does. In addition, they will calculate several different averages throughout the admission process. For Ontario students, they will calculate your admission average using your 6 highest courses including English. They will also include the required prerequisites for your program as specified by Western. Western will also provide Ivey with the average of your 6 highest courses including English and we will typically use the highest average. For more details about the admission average calculation, please contact Western Central Admissions at reg-admissions@uwo.ca or 519-661-2100.

After I finish my application online, will I receive confirmation that you have received my application?

You should receive a confirmation as soon as you submit your Ivey AEO application online.

What happens to my application after it is submitted?

Ivey AEO decisions are made as we receive, from Western's Registrar’s Office, admission averages and notification that you have been admitted to Western. AEO applications are carefully reviewed on mid-term grades in Grade 12 courses, demonstrated leadership, involvement in extracurricular activities, essays, etc. As a result, most of the AEO decisions are made in April and May.

Is it true that some applicants will be offered admission on their mid-term marks while others will gain acceptance based on first semester marks only?

Grades for AEO applications are reviewed at a few different points, grade 11, first term and mid-year. We do not make offers on Grade 11 grades, but will make offers to some students with strong applications with competitive first term Grade 12 grades.

What courses should I take in first year at Western as a student who has Ivey AEO status?

You are able to take the courses that you and your academic counsellor feel are acceptable for your program. Your course selection will also need to stay within the AEO progression requirements.

What is the percentage of AEO students who successfully meet the required conditions for acceptance into the HBA program at the Richard Ivey School of Business?

A high percentage of AEO students (82% in 2009) meet our academic and non-academic progression requirements to the HBA Program.

What is the minimum accepted grade required for entrance from high school through the IB program?

Generally IB ranges at 36-37 points and higher (including bonus points) will meet the 90% AEO average. For more information on Western and the IB, please click here or you can contact Western Admissions directly at 519-661-2100 or e-mail reg-admissions@uwo.ca.

I have been given 5.0 Advanced Standing credits. Can I come to the HBA program after one year if I meet all of the progression requirements?

As part of the Ivey AEO status, you will be required to complete 10.0 full university credits during your first two years at Western. While credits may be obtained through Advanced Standing, these credits cannot be counted towards the 10.0 full courses required for Ivey AEO progression, as each year you will be required to enroll in 5.0 full courses. You may decide to apply after one full year of university if you have 10.0 full courses, (for example, 5.0 Advanced Standing credits and 5.0 Western credits) but you would no longer have AEO status and would be considered with the regular HBA applicant pool. We find students who pursue this option are rarely competitive for the HBA program as they do not have the breadth of extracurricular involvement we are looking for. In addition, some students will overextend themselves with their courses and hence do not perform academically as well as they could have if they had enrolled in a more balanced course load.

Is AEO status only available at Western?

Students can have AEO status at Western or one of its affiliated university colleges. There are also 6 spots available at University of King’s College in Halifax (Foundation Year Program only).

How do I request an AEO deferral?

Please request a deferral from your program at Western first. Please tell them the reason you want the deferral, what you plan to do in the year off and that you do not plan to attend another university in that time. If it is granted by Western please send the same information plus the fact that Western granted the deferral to Ivey to review your request.

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I didn't take a U-level math in Grade 12, so I plan to take a math course in university. Is any math course acceptable as a prerequisite university course?

You should take a first year university math that is one of the "pure" math subjects - Calculus, Algebra/Geometry or Finite.

If I take 2 spring/summer courses (one is Business 2257), can I take 2 fewer courses in year 2? Or is it an option for me to do spring/summer courses and a full course load for my year 2 to fulfill the requirements of the HBA, and therefore not include the courses I did not do that well on in my first year?

If you take a course during the Summer Intersession, the grade is not included in your overall average providing you have a total of 5.0 credits in both year one and year two. However, if Business 2257 is one of the courses that you take during Intersession, this grade will be included in your overall average since Business 2257 is a pre-requisite to apply to the HBA program. Your average would then be based on 11.0 credits (5.0 credits year 1, 5.0 credits year 2 and 1.0 credit Intersession). For a competitive application you should be enrolled in a full course load (5.0 credits each year). If you have taken a course during Intersession, it is still recommended that you are enrolled in a full course load the following school year. The Admission Committee carefully reviews the average that was maintained while in a full course load. This grade gives them a good indication if you will be able to handle the rigour of the Ivey HBA Program. If you apply to the HBA program after two years of university, all first year courses will be included in your average. You do not have the option to remove some grades from the overall average calculation. However, if you apply to the HBA program after your third year, your average is based on the 10.0 most recently completed courses. This would be the courses from your second and third year and none of your first year course grades would be included in your overall average (provided you have completed 10.0 credits during years 2 and 3). Your first year average would still be noted on your file but not calculated in the overall average.

Can I apply to the HBA Program after 3 years of university?

Students are admitted to the HBA program after their second, third or fourth year of university. Your admission average would be based on the most recently completed 10.0 credits. It is important to be enrolled in a full course load each year and to be following the requirements of your current program. The Admission Committee not only looks at your grades but at the level and difficulty of your course selection. They are also interested in the grade you achieve in the prerequisite course Business 2257. We recommend that applicants to the HBA program should repeat Business 2257 if their final grade is less than 70%. A competitive overall average is 80% or higher based on your most recently completed 10.0 credits. It is important to remember that your extracurricular activities are equally as important as your academic achievements when admission decisions are being made.

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I am currently attending another university. How can I find out if my courses are acceptable to apply as a transfer student to the Ivey HBA program?

Transferable credits will be determined by Ivey Admissions after the HBA application deadline for students currently studying at Canadian and US universities. Please note, courses with a final grade of less than 60% or a course weight less than .5 credit are not considered for transfer.

Applicants to the HBA Program who are studying at international universities are required to apply to Western through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (www.ouac.on.ca) in addition to submitting the online HBA application (www.ivey.uwo.ca/hba). The Central Admissions Department at The University of Western Ontario will assess international transcripts to determine transferable credits after the application deadline. Applicants from an international university must meet Western’s admission requirements before they can be considered for admission to Ivey’s HBA Program.

How do I find housing in London, ON?

There is a lot of student housing available within walking distance from the campus or downtown which is about a 10 minute bus ride (Western students get bus passes automatically). Ivey HBA Transfer Applicant facebook groups can help you find roommates. The following links are also helpful:

Off-Campus Housing: http://www.has.uwo.ca/housing/offcampus/index.htm

London FreePress: http://lfpress.com/classifieds/

Western News: http://communications.uwo.ca/com/classifieds_menu/

Western Housing: http://www.uwo.ca/hfs/housing/

Will I make friends at Ivey?

Ivey has a great orientation week including New Westerners Day where transfer students get to network, learn how to use cases, get a campus tour and find out where to get their student card. HBAs are in a section of 75-80 students for their entire first year at Ivey. This allows students to get to know each other quickly and form lifelong friendships. There is a family feel to the section and students are readily willing to help each other.

I am currently a second year student at a university in a co-op program. I am interested in applying to Ivey, however during the winter term I have a mandatory co-op term which means I won't be able to get my marks to you until the end of the summer term. How do I apply in this case? Are exceptions made for those students or does that mean they have to wait a year?

The Ivey HBA application must be submitted by the end of January. Normally all final grades from the required 10.0 credits must be received in our office the end of June but it is possible for co-op students to receive an offer conditional on 10.0 credits being received by the end of August within a competitive range.

I am a second year student at another university. I am very interested in transferring to Ivey's HBA dual degree program. I wonder if it is possible for a transfer student from another university to apply for dual degrees?

All dual degrees must have all the credits from Western.

I am a first year student at an international university. My university has an exchange program with the University of Western Ontario and I want to spend the second year of my degree at UWO-Richard Ivey School of Business.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept exchange students into the 3rd year--which is the first year of the Ivey HBA program. Ivey has a bilateral exchange program where exchanges take place between Ivey and other business schools where we have an established exchange agreement. Ivey does not participate in university-wide exchange agreements.

Will Ivey calculate my average using my spring-term classes in calculating my average for 10 courses in my 2 years at the university I am presently at?

We like to see the average that was maintained while enrolled in a full course load. If you have completed a total of 10.0 credits at the end of year two, we do not include grades from any courses taken during the Summer or Intersession. If, however, the applicant only has 9.5 credits due to a fail or a withdrawal, we would then use the course that was taken during Intersession in order to have enough credits to meet the pre-requisites of the HBA program. If Business 2257 is taken during Intersession, this grade will be included in your overall average since it is a prerequisite of the HBA program. If you had a full course load in years one and two and took Business 2257 during Intersession then your average would be based on 11.0 credits.

Should I send all of the final marks of the courses I have taken and got the credit for AND the mid-term grades for the courses I am currently taking in the winter semester? Or is it just the final grades?

When you submit your HBA application you should also ask your University to send interim transcripts to our office. This will provide us with your grades from first year and will be used in calculating your average.

I only have financial accounting and not managerial accounting.

You must complete both parts of financial and managerial accounting courses in order to use them in place of our Business 2257. You may apply to our HBA program during your third year of studies if you need to complete the Business 2257 equivalent requirement. You could check with other universities in Canada to see if there is a managerial accounting course that you could take during May and June so that the mark will be available in time for our admissions decisions. We do not use work experience in place of academic prerequisites.

Can I take Western electives during HBA 1?

Because of the integrated and dynamic design of the HBA 1 timetable, it is not possible to take a course at Western during HBA 1.