Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology

MBET Admission Requirements

To be admitted for graduate studies in the Centre, a student must:

• have completed an Honours degree with a minimum of a B (75%) or its equivalent. There are no specific course prerequisites to entering the MBET. However, where possible, students are strongly urged to use some of their undergraduate electives to develop an exposure to business issues. Specific recommendations would be "Introduction to Entrepreneurship", "Introduction to Project Management" and "E-Commerce" that are often available as undergraduate electives.
• normally have at least one year of prior work experience obtained either through cooperative work terms as part of an undergraduate academic program or through post-graduate work experience.
• submit three letters of reference, at least one of which must be academic and at least one professional.
• provide certification of English language proficiency through one of the accepted examinations if the candidate for admission has not completed three or more years of post-secondary work at a Canadian institution, or at an institution at which English was the language of instruction, or has not been employed for similar period of time in a position in which English was the language of business. For those taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a score of at least 250, with a score of 5 in the Test of Written English (TWE) are required. A comparable score is required for those taking an alternate test as prescribed in the Graduate Studies Calendar.

As part of the admissions process, an interview is required. Applicants who are unable to come to campus for a personal interview will be interviewed by telephone.

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Degree Requirements

MBET draws on the technological, innovative and entrepreneurial energies that are the foundation of the University of Waterloo's reputation to distinguish itself from other graduate business programs. Degree Requirements for the MBET program are:

• eleven graduate-level (.50 unit weight) courses;
• completion of a commercialization practicum

Each course draws from the theory of a specific discipline, while emphasizing applications of business concepts to issues facing new, innovative and rapidly changing organizations. Material from pairs of courses are offered across three terms rather than the traditional offering of individual courses that conclude each term. This pedagogical design simulates the actual entrepreneurial process. The commercialization practicum and BET 611 provide opportunities for hands-on learning to complement what is going on in the classroom and develop ciritical skills relevant to students interested in an entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial career.

Applied Business Leadership Skills for Entrepreneurs (BET611)

BET 611 is an integral part of the MBET curriculum. Designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop the soft skills and business acumen necessary to maximize the likelihood of success in an entrepreneurial environment, this course runs across all three terms. Topics covered include presentation skills, business planning, negotiation skills, fund-raising, product development, leadership and sales. A wide range of approaches are used, including integrated cases, simulations and hands-on work with local companies. A team-based approach is used frequently.