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About UVic's Gustavson School of Business

Discover new territory with the Gustavson School of Business.

The world looks different from here

We take a unique approach to business education. We're different, and we want our students to think differently too. We want to develop global business leaders that can help create a better world.

Founded in 1990 and renamed to the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business in 2010, we are known for our unique educational approach, inspired teaching and excellence in research.

Bachelor of Commerce

Launched in 1990, students compete each year to enter our highly competitive BCom program. In the 2010-2011 academic year, 710 first to fourth year students were enrolled, with approximately 240 students entering the third-year commerce 'core' annually.

MBA

Launched in 1992, our international MBA program admits both full-time 'day' students and part-time 'evening' students. In 2010, 53 students were admitted to the program.

Master of Global Business (MGB)

Launched in 2010, 36 MGB students have joined the 2010 program which is co-located on three campuses.

36 students enrolled in 2010: 18 from UVic, 8 from Johannes Kepler University, Austria; 8 from National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan.

PhD in International management and Organization

Launched in 2010, this PhD program is aimed at training the next generation of researchers and educators in the field of international management and organization.

Key features of the four-year program include a focus on international business, opportunities to study and research abroad and the potential for internships to improve connections between theory and practice.

Four students are enrolled in 2011.

Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Entrepreneurship

Launched in 2011, the Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Entrepreneurship is a master-level program modeled on our award winning Entrepreneurship specialization. The program welcomes students of all backgrounds who hold an undergraduate degree and are seeking to launch an entrepreneurial venture or contribute to an existing one.

Executive Programs

Growing all the time, our Executive Programs offers specialized management development opportunities to mid-level professionals that are designed and delivered by recognized leaders in business research and practice. The programs combine academic rigor and practical relevance with the latest in cutting edge thinking, strategy, and tactics.

Dean's message

The Gustavson business education and approach is founded on our vision and the four value pillars that underpin everthing we do: international, integrative, innovative and sustainability/social responsibility. These values are incorporated throughout the program in course content, in teaching style, in developing our students' global mindset and in our areas of specialization. The quality of our program is reflected in the thought leadership our professors bring to the classroom and in the accreditations we have earned from AACSB, EQUIS, and as an early signatory to the UN Principles of Responsible Management. We're a relatively small business school, with about 1,100 students, faculty and staff, located on the west coast of Canada. We get to know our students personally to help them excel and explore the exciting world of business management. We are a growing, dynamic business school with a bright future ahead. Please feel free to connect with us; we welcome your interest.

Vision

The Gustavson School of Business vision drives all our actions and decisions. We:

produce outstanding research and develop global business leaders to create a better world;
provide an experiential education that is international, integrative, innovative and socially responsible and is anchored in excellence in scholarship; and
are open, fair, engaged and passionate in all we do.

Promise

To prepare leaders who think differently, act responsibly and have a global mind-set.
To foster a culture that thrives on research excellence.
To provide opportunities to learn by doing - to ensure our graduates are world ready.
To provide a friendly and collegial environment that attracts and retains the best people.

Find out more about how we enact this promise by reading our Promise document.

Pillars

Our educational foundation is built on four pillars that reflect the values of the school.

Pillar 1: International

International

Appreciative, well-informed and perceptive of the divrse, complex world we live in and having the skill-set to succeed in it.

Pillar 2: Integrative

Integrative

Having a deep undersanding of the fundamental areas of buisness combined with an awareness of how these areas continuously ineract with one another and the abilities to use this knowledge.

Pillar 3: Innovative

Innovative

Flexible and creative to view the world, issues and opportunities from different perspectives and secure enought to take risks and try new things.

Pillar 4: Socially Responsible/Sustainable

Socially Responsible/Sustainable

Having the awareness and skills to consider the economic, environmental and social consequences of decisions in business and personal contexts.

Why Gustavson?

Define success in your own terms. Do you envision a career where the rewards are every day? Where you innovate, manage, problem-solve and lead to make a meaningful difference? If so, Gustavson provides the kind of business education that can get you there.

Internationally accredited and ranked among the top business school in Canada, we have built our reputation on high standards — for you and ourselves:

Accredited

We have earned both EQUIS and AACSB accreditation, two standards of excellence that place us among the top tier of business schools worldwide.

An international perspective

A global mindset and skill-set are critical for business. Throughout our programs, you are immersed in international situations and settings. You interact with students and faculty from a diversity of backgrounds; examine cross-cultural business issues; and have the chance to travel overseas on exchanges and field exercises.

An integrated approach

Rather than teach traditional subjects separately, our faculty take an integrated approach. Cases, field exercises and projects challenge you to draw on your learning from multiple areas and synthesize solutions. Integration further intensifies in our specializations as you acquire the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills those careers demand.

Innovative specializations

In our BCom and MBA Programs, you can choose to specialize in entrepreneurship, international business or service management. Each is team taught, highly integrative and experiential. Or, you can always opt to remain non-specialized and tailor the program to your particular career interests.

Doing the right thing

In core courses and electives, you learn to consider the economic, social and environmental consequences of decisions. This capability is known as triple bottom line thinking; others call it "people, planet, profits." Regardless of its name, through our programs' emphasis on social responsibility and sustainability, you can become a positive agent of change.

Earn and learn

In our BCom and MBA programs, you gain hands on experience through our Co-op Education (paid internship) Program. You have the opportuniy go on paid work terms with businesses, non-profits or government – either within Canada or internationally. As a result, you can apply and test your academic learning in the workplace, acquire professional skills and refine their career goals through direct industry experience.

As a co-op grad, you’re more likely to land a job sooner, be promoted faster and earn a higher salary than non-co-op grads.
The pay is great—the average monthly undergraduate co-op salary is $2,700 and the average graduate co-op salary is more than $3,225.

Connected to the community

To keep your learning relevant, we maintain close connections between the community and the classroom. You interact with local, regional and international organizations and individuals through research and consulting projects, co-ops and internships, guest speakers, networking events, and an executive mentor program. The wisdom and guidance of these leaders is an invaluable resource that enhances your classroom learning.

A name not a number

Our smaller size is your advantage. For example, as a third year BCom student, you become part of a cohort of less than 60 students. As an MBA or MGB student you join a class of less than 50 students. Our cohort based model means extensive interaction between students and instructors, as well as among students — especially as you work in tight-knit teams. The result: great friendships and an even better learning environment.

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