Finance Schools and Programs in Canada

Finance Studies in Canada

Finance in Canada is rarely a stand-alone bachelor's degree. In most cases it is a major or concentration inside a business degree, usually a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) or a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Colleges add shorter diplomas, and business schools offer one-year specialised master's degrees. Many graduates then work towards a professional designation such as the CFA charter.

SpainExchange lists 10 schools in Canada for finance, in ten different cities, among them Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Kingston, Victoria and Lethbridge.

Degrees and how they are organised

According to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC), a bachelor's degree normally takes three or four years of full-time study, depending on the province, and a master's degree one to three years. Many programmes include co-operative education, which alternates study with work terms.

• Bachelor's degree with a finance major. At McGill University in Montreal, finance is one of the areas of study of the Bachelor of Commerce. Students start with corporate finance and investment management and move on to subjects such as mergers and acquisitions, pensions, sustainable finance and behavioural finance. McGill also has an Honours in Investment Management. The University of Lethbridge teaches finance as a major of its Bachelor of Business Administration, at its Lethbridge and Calgary campuses, and states that the major is recognised by the CFA Institute.
• Business degree with a related major. Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo offers a BBA with a major in Financial Services; after the second year, students can leave with a Business Administration Diploma. At Mount Allison University the Bachelor of Commerce combines 42 credits of core requirements with 27 credits of commerce electives and a minor in another discipline.
• College diploma. Conestoga College in Kitchener offers a two-year Business - Finance diploma aimed at the financial services sector. The University of Lethbridge also lists a Finance Diploma.
• Master's degree. Saint Mary's University in Halifax offers a one-year Master of Finance (MFin) and states that the programme is a CFA Affiliate that prepares for the CFA exams. Queen's University runs a 12-month Master of Finance in Toronto that starts each June; it is designed for people who keep working, with classes one evening per week and on alternate weekends. McGill offers a Master of Management in Finance in Montreal.

Admission and language

Each university and college sets its own admission requirements. For a bachelor's degree, the basis is a completed secondary education, and business faculties usually ask for mathematics. Toronto Metropolitan University, for example, requires Ontario applicants to its four-year business management programme to have six Grade 12 U or M courses with a minimum overall average of 70%, including English and mathematics; requirements for other school systems are published separately. A master's in finance requires a bachelor's degree. The programmes named here are taught in English, and applicants whose first language is not English normally have to prove their level with a recognised test. The required score is set by each institution.

Costs

Tuition fees are set by each institution, and international students pay more than Canadian students. One published example: for the 2026-27 academic year, Conestoga College lists tuition of $15,476.78 for two terms of its Business - Finance diploma for international students, or $19,968.50 with ancillary fees. For Canadian students the tuition is $2,749.92. University fees should be checked in the fee calendar of each university for the year of entry.

Study permit and work

Most foreign nationals need a study permit, which costs CAN$150 according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The application needs a letter of acceptance, in most cases a provincial or territorial attestation letter obtained through the school, and proof of funds. For applications from 1 September 2026, a single student outside Quebec must show CAN$23,448 for one year of living expenses, on top of tuition and travel.

Eligible students can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during term. After graduation, a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) may allow a graduate to stay and work in Canada. Eligibility depends on the institution and the programme, and should be checked before applying for the study permit.

Professional designations and careers

A finance degree is not a licence. Graduates who work in investment analysis or portfolio management often add the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. According to the CFA Institute, the programme consists of three exams, and charterholders also need at least 4,000 hours of relevant work experience completed in no fewer than 36 months. The University of Lethbridge also mentions the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation and the Canadian Securities Course as routes its graduates follow.

Typical first jobs are in banks, investment firms, insurance companies, corporate finance departments and government. No official employment or salary figures were used for this page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a bachelor's degree in finance in Canada?

Usually finance is a major within a business degree. Examples are the finance area of the Bachelor of Commerce at McGill University and the finance major of the Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Lethbridge.

How long does a master's in finance take?

The examples consulted take about one year: the Master of Finance at Saint Mary's University, and the 12-month Master of Finance of Queen's University in Toronto.

Is there a shorter option than a degree?

Yes. Colleges offer diplomas, such as the two-year Business - Finance diploma at Conestoga College in Kitchener.

Does a Canadian finance degree include the CFA?

No. The CFA charter is awarded by the CFA Institute after three exams and 4,000 hours of relevant work experience. Some programmes, such as the MFin at Saint Mary's University, state that they prepare students for the exams.