QS rankings 2025-2026: recognition for MSc and MBA programs
September 18, 2025
HEC Montréal has performed very well once again in the Business Masters & MBA categories of the QS World University Rankings 2025-2026, which evaluate the best Master of Science (MSc) programs around the world. Despite growing competition and an increasing number of programs that were evaluated, the School has maintained a strong position in several categories.
The highest-ranked program this year is the Master of Science (MSc) – Operations and Supply Chain Management, which ranks 45th worldwide. This result reflects the program’s employability and reputation among employers, the relevance and influence of research conducted at HEC Montréal and the diversity of its faculty.
The School’s MBA maintains its position among the 151-200th best MBAs in the world, while moving up to 6th place in Canada, which is a marked improvement from 9th place last year. Our MBA received high marks for its value (return on investment), the impact of its research and the success and business start-up rates of its graduates.
Other MSc programs offered by the School have also performed consistently:
- MSc – Marketing [in French only]: 81-90th in the world
- MSc – Finance: 101-110th in the world
- MSc – International Business: 121-130th in the world
- MSc – Business Analytics: 101-150th in the world
Methodology
Each ranking is based on the following weighting and criteria:
- Employability (30% to 40%, depending on the program) – survey of tens of thousands of employers worldwide from all sectors and industries over the past 5 years; employment rate of recent graduates.
- Return on Investment (20%) – data on post-MBA salaries; salary increase assumptions, cost of studies.
- Entrepreneurship (MBA only) and Alumni Outcomes (15% or 20%, depending on the program) – QS database of thousands of highly influential employers, industry leaders and professionals; rate of graduates setting up their own companies 3 months after graduation (MBA only).
- Thought Leadership (15% or 20%, depending on the program) – survey of 200,000 professors from 60 countries; impact of research in Scopus; percentage of faculty members with a PhD.
- Diversity (10%) – origin and gender of faculty members and the student community.