Frequently asked questions

Applications are now open for the MAIDM and MMAIA programs.

Ready to take the next step and start your AI journey?

Applications are available via the School of Graduate Studies McMaster University application site.

To apply to the Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making program, please select “January” to filter by admit term.

We consider the last two years of undergraduate study.

If you have completed a Master’s program, we will calculate your GPA using a combination of the grades from your graduate degree and the grades from your final year of undergraduate study.

We consider your GPA in your final two years to be competitive if you’ve attained a B average, or approximately 75%. This equates to a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale and an 8.0 on a 12.0 GPA scale.

We consider our students holistically, meaning we take all aspects of your application into consideration. This includes your work experience, interview(s), reference forms and application responses. You may also offset your GPA with a competitive GMAT score.

We consider a competitive GMAT score to be 555 + or GRE to be 308 (Q:157, V:151). However, these are not minimum requirements.

We do not need your official transcripts at the time of application. We complete assessments of your grades based off of your unofficial (scanned) transcripts.

Choose the reference that is most applicable to your current situation. If you are currently working full-time, we would prefer professional references. If you are currently enrolled as a student, academic references are acceptable. Choose your references strategically. These two people should have a good understanding of your skills and can best speak to your suitability as an MMAI candidate.

English language proficiency requirements are waived if you have studied for a minimum of three years in a university where the medium of instruction was English. We will need official documentation from your university to confirm.

We do not have individual band score requirements for IELTS or TOEFL. We currently only consider the overall score.

A work term integrates your academic studies with real-world work experience. These career-oriented paid work experiences will help you explore potential career paths, enhance your skills, and deepen your understanding of academic concepts. Combined with personal growth and discovery, a work term helps prepare you to confidently drive to your future career goals.

We do not guarantee positions, or a work term within a specific organization or role. Working with our Career and Professional Development (CPD) team, a Master of Management in AI and Analytics student will compete and apply for positions. The CPD team works closely with employer partners to ensure the largest amount of positions are available from which you can apply to.

The schedule for the Master of Management in AI and Analytics program looks like the following:

• Fall (September – December) – In Class
• Winter (January – April) – In Class
• Summer (May – August) – Work Term
• Fall (September – December – In Class

No, you do not need to have WES evaluate your transcripts.

We do not offer any transfer credits to students. Students are expected to complete our Master of Management in AI and Analytics program in its entirety.

Please visit our finance page for the most up to date information on scholarships.

If your placement was part of your school curriculum and reflected on your undergraduate transcript, we may be able to consider your work experience as full-time.

It depends on the courses you’re taking, and will vary from week to week.

Our best estimate is that you’ll spend an average of eight to fifteen hours a week on course work.

Due to the structure of the program, it’s mandatory that all students attend every residency for the duration of the program.

We recommend scheduling vacations in December, April, or August. There are no weekend residencies or deliverables due during those months.

Please visit our finance page for the most up to date information on scholarships.

Unfortunately, students in the Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making program are not eligible to receive OSAP funding.

Yes. You’ll have opportunities to network with other students and faculty members during class, virtually and at scheduled events.

The Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making program is delivered over 20 months of continuous part-time study (five terms in total). Students complete the equivalent of two full-credit courses per term. Here is a sample of several courses.

• Year 1: Predictive Analytics for Managers, Applied and Generative AI in Business Decision-Making and Managing AI and Analytics Projects
• Year 2: Strategic Leadership in AI and Analytics, Decision-making under Uncertainty and Value Creation through AI and Data Analytics.

DeGroote’s Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making program has been carefully designed with the working professional in mind, ensuring that there is no disruption during a standard work week.

Half of the program is offered online and the remaining half is offered through a total of 15 weekend residencies (three weekend residencies each term) at the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington, ON. Online content is delivered either during the weekend residencies or during weekday evening webinars between 6 – 10 p.m.

As long as your employee is able to travel to Burlington for the mandatory weekend residencies, they are not limited with where they can live and work. If your employee requires overnight accommodation during the weekend residencies, DeGroote has arranged for discounted rates at several nearby hotels.

All DeGroote MBA programs, including the Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making, are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). AACSB International is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. AACSB accreditation is considered the highest standard in management education, with only 5% of business schools worldwide achieving accreditation.

To maintain AACSB accreditation DeGroote undergoes a rigorous review every five years to demonstrate continued commitment to 15 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources and interactions of faculty and students, as well as continuous improvement and the achievement of learning goals in our degree programs.

The most meaningful demonstration of employer support is through partial or full tuition assistance. The Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making has a pre-determined program tuition for each cohort, making it easy to anticipate program costs and to appropriately structure assistance.

In addition to financial support, some other ways to ensure your employee gets the maximum benefit of the program are:

• Create opportunities for your employee to practice and apply the skills they are learning in the program
• Encourage your employee to share their academic and residency schedule with you, and work with your employee to help achieve work / academic balance
• If your employee’s role includes evening or weekend work, offer flexibility to help ensure your employee is able to attend mandatory webinars and residencies