Friday, September 11, 2009

End of the Royal Roads

As I get ready to start my PhD classes at UofT's iSchool next week, I wanted to wrap up my master’s studies with a post summarizing my experience of Royal Roads masters of Professional Communication program. Also, I thought it might provide useful information for people considering this or similar programs.

Blogging has been a useful way for me to record my academic experience from my search to find a master’s program to study the Internet, how I chose Royal Roads, my experience as an old student, winning my scholarship, and my thesis research.

Overall impression
The main strengths of the program in my experience were the flexibility to manage learning with work and family, solid foundation in communication theory, interaction with classmates, helpful and friendly faculty and staff, and the beautiful campus. The main weaknesses were the lackluster use of e-Learning techniques and over use of team work.

Program structure
The online master’s programs at Royals Roads combine distance and on-campus learning. The program lasts about two years, with the last few months spent working on a thesis or major project. One can extend the deadline, but there are hefty fees to do so. 

There are two three-week residency periods (one a year) at Royal Roads’ incredible Victoria, BC campus. In between these residencies, one takes an online course one at a time. There were no electives for online courses and only a small choice of electives for the final residency component. 

The program follows a cohort model with one annual intake. This means one studies for the next two years with the same classmates, which in my case was approximately 40 students. 

Classmates
With distance learning it can be difficult to get to know one’s classmates, but the cohort model allows one to have the time to get to know one’s classmates and build relationships. The program is available to students around the world, but the bulk of students came from Victoria and Vancouver followed by southern Ontario. There were students from most provinces and a couple from abroad. 

As this program is targeted to working professionals and as it is a graduate degree, I found that the background of classmates was impressive and diverse. There were a few students in my cohort who were young and beginning their career, but the average student was 30-50, mid-level career, and female. The ratio was about one male for ten females – but this seems typical of the communication field.

Residency
The program requires residency of three weeks per year. The residency follows traditional university format, ie. lectures with profs, essays, student presentations, team meetings, occasional guest speakers, and symposia. This period is intensive, covering most of 3-4 courses in that period. One has a few hours of class a day and essays and readings to work on at night. The first residency is lighter, so this is definitely the time to get to know one’s classmates.

Campus
Spending time on campus is an absolute treat as it is the most beautiful campus in Canada (if not anywhere). Take a look at my pictures. Vancouver Islands itself is beautiful and the campus is sandwiched between the ocean and primeval forest. Studying post-modernism in a Japanese Zen garden or spending a coffee break amongst giant trees are highlights of my experience. Google Maps has a good satellite image of campus.

Be sure to try the trails that run through or next to the campus. Students get a free guided tour of the national historic site, Hatley Castle and access to the gardens that one would otherwise have to pay for entry.  X-Men movies were filmed here – Hatley Castle was used for Xavier’s school for mutants. I loved telling my daughter I went to Xavier’s school. The campus library even has copies of all the X-Men movies which was a lot of fun to watch in the student lounge (the library has a bunch of free movies).

Other than the incredible beauty of the location, the campus is much like any other, except smaller.  There is only one place to eat, and while most of the dishes were fairly good, the menu is limited and a bit pricey. I made some meals in the kitchen RRU provides to save some money. There are nearby restaurants (short drive or 20 minute walk) but they are rather mediocre. There is a grocery store and wine and bear store nearby, as well as other amenities like a post office, pharmacy, etc. 

Some classmates elected to stay off-campus – and while that does allow one a calming separation, these classmates didn’t get the same degree of interaction with classmates. I’d recommend staying on campus if only for the chance to get to know one’s classmates better. 

The only downside is that the campus is rather far from downtown Victoria. Bus service is less than ideal and cabs downtown are expensive. Some nights when we wanted to go downtown we would wait half an hour or more to even get a cab to pick us up. Also, cabs from the airport are expensive, so arrange cab sharing with classmates. 

Online courses
All courses make use of Moodle for their online interaction (forums, chat) and resources (links, readings). I previously criticized Royal Roads non-innovative use of e-Learning techniques. Having finished my degree now, I stand by that post. While some professors used effective e-Learning techniques, most classes were based on extensive discussions with classmates, often in the form of discussions and projects amongst a team of 5-6 students.  I also posted on the benefits and challenges of relying on online interaction for learning.

Most classmates felt there was way too much teamwork. This is probably my biggest complaint. Although teamwork does enable one to get to know classmates better, it becomes overwhelming doing the actual work and managing the team (which is just as much, if not more, work). Teams for online courses are randomly assigned, but even out of 45 classmates I ended up with a bunch of the same people repeating on my teams. I lucked out and had teams (except one) where everyone participated and was pleasant. However, I talked to classmates who had bad experiences with teams, mostly in the form of people not participating. Considering that most students at Royal Roads are working professionals and thus encounter/cannot avoid extensive team experience, positioning team work as building skills is dubious (easier for professors to mark – is probably the real reason).

Program flexibility
The main reason I chose the program was that I could cater my learning around my schedule. Even living in a city with three universities, I would not have been able to have sufficient flexibility to continue to work and spend time with my family. This program is therefore ideal for those that need flexibility.

But it is not as flexible as some of my classmates thought it would be. Most classes required one to post to discussions frequently and at least every few days. Some classes had tight, rigid deadlines for team work that was quite difficult to orchestrate when combined with busy work schedules and various time zones. I could not participate in some class chats as a result and would also have a one day turnaround on some team work.



Kids - I was the only one in my cohort with a young family and I don't recommend doing this and working too if one has young kids.

Subject matter
I feel this program gave me a solid foundation in communication theory and cultural studies and honed academic skills, such as research, writing, and formatting (APA).  I had not studied communication before but had encountered some concepts from my bachelor’s film studies and journalism classes. I think the program did well in not assuming a prior knowledge set, teaching the essentials, and moving quickly enough through concepts to be appropriate for master’s level courses.

There were professional development courses geared to communication professionals, but reviews from classmates were rather mixed on these. The courses on research methodology were extremely useful both for preparing one for future study or performing research in a workplace. Other courses cover the gamut of communication theory from interpersonal to organizational and from computer to culturally meditated. 

Studying the Internet
I took communication, but I really wanted to take Internet Studies. As Internet Studies is such a new discipline, there were not a lot of options to study this remotely. I felt, however, that studying communication would give me a good foundation to study this aspect of the Internet. Plus, I hoped to examine specific instances when I could. A lot of the professors and classmates were unwired luddites, so Internet topics did not often come up – or with much depth. I have a multimedia background so I enjoyed discussing and learning about other media.

I told my professors of my career path and research interests and they were all open and encouraging to me applying course concepts to Internet cases.  Since I started Royal Roads has added “thematic paths” which is essentially what I did, but Internet Studies is still not an official path or focus.  Considering how much of the concepts do apply to the Internet, I’m surprised they don’t offer this.

Final thoughts
Over the years, I have studied at six post-secondary institutions. Never have I encountered such helpful, pleasant staff and faculty as my time with Royal Roads. Even the support staff and tenured professors were nice! Whether I was on campus, emailing, or telephone everyone was incredibly friendly and cared about helping me. There was one difficult nutty professor, but that's to be expected. Time and time again, Royal Roads staff and faculty spent extra time and effort to really help and talk to me, whether it was applying for scholarships, getting research approval, ordering food, finding library resources, discussing semiotics, etc. I'm not sure if it is a West Coast vs. Toronto thing, but it sure makes a difference to study at such a welcoming place.

I definitely recommend the program and university. If there is anything else you'd like to know, please feel free to ask below.

27 comments:

Claire Piech said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Claire:

I had the exact same concerns you had before applying to Royal Roads. It is true that online education is not valued as highly by curmudgeons (despite evidence that it is a good way to learn - see my prior post). I liked how Royal Roads had a lot of in-class work - but the perception is that it is an online university.

I think the heavy advertising campaigns for online universities are really hurting their credibility further. It doesn't help that a lot of these universities have very flexible admissions policies.

But ultimately it depends on what your careers and academic goals are.

If you want a university with a strong reputation to open employment doors and stand out from the crowd - then I'm not so sure. I checked with a lot of friends and colleagues over the years and almost no one in Ontario has heard of Royal Roads (or if they have they think it still is a military academy). But some bosses at my prior job, were impressed that I was getting a master's degree and it didn't matter where. So I do think reputation is over-rated (unless it is Oxford or Harvard).

Royal Roads' program in communication is really geared to those who have or wish to have a career in the communication field. As such, I think they offer a more appropriate program than other communication programs. As I'm more academically inclined, there were courses at RRU that I wished were more academically vigourous. But the research methods classes were strong and taught by such a great, friendly professor that what many would consider the worst subject was actually one of the best.

I have just begun my PhD and I do feel that I was adequately prepared. Fortunately, I'm studying the Internet so I think studying online actually made my background stronger. Although, the dean of my current program said he dislikes online programs. So clearly the stigma still remains.

I think there are pros, cons, and trade-offs no matter where you go.

In my undergraduate years I went to York University in the worst part of town and with mostly commuter students. If I could do it again I would rather have studied at a smaller, less-well known university to have had a richer overall experience. Reputation isn't everything. A good overall fit, I believe is the most important consideration.

Unknown said...

In support of my point that reputation of a university isn't everything, Evelyn Hornbeck wrote a good article today for Macleans.ca called "In support of smaller-scale learning".

She argues that factory schools are rather pointless for students and smaller schools may be more appropriate.

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2009/09/25/in-support-of-smaller/?om_rid=Ay9XrV&utm_source=_BKvR8NB7vAl4cP&utm_content=ml24&utm_medium=email

Claire Piech said...

Thanks for your answer Glen, it helped a lot! It definitely is a juggling act between reputation and getting the education you want. All the reviews I have read about the MA Professional Communication program, though, seem positive, and RRU has rated highly on MacLeans and the B.C. government's last assessment of universities, which was done in 2006. Your blog also definitely seems to speak volumes to the education you got out of the program.

Thanks again - you've helped give the confidence to go for it! And good luck on your PhD!

Tim Osborne said...

Thanks for taking the time to make this post. I've been looking at the program as well and it's nice to read a thorough review from someone who has been through the program!

Anonymous said...

Hi, I am in the same boat as these other hopeful students: an academically-inclined, newly-minted BA with a variety of life experiences (I'm slightly older than the average BA grad), I'm concerned about RRU's reputation and academic rigor, but am looking for a way to gain work experience and still come out with the MA distinction. How did RRU compare to York, and why did you select RRU's program over York's Communication and Culture MA?

Glen Farrelly said...

In reply to the last comment, you can read my posts tagged "Royal Roads" (http://glenfarrelly.blogspot.com/search/label/Royal%20Roads) to get a full picture of my experience.

Regarding your specific questions about Royal Roads compared to York university. The biggest difference is one is virtual (or rather hybrid) and the other is local (well, barely) and all the associated issues that comes with this distinction (ie. flexibility of online programs vs. the benefits of more face-time interaction). My York experience (undergrad) was many years ago, so the experience will be different now. Still, I can't imagine York has shaken its commuter university status, which results in students who have another life and do not have (nor appear to want) any meaningful connection to the university - they just want the degree. This is compounded by York being one of the largest universities in Canada. So my entire time at York I felt like a factory product by both the faculty and administration. I applied there recently and got the same treatment. This was not the case with Royal Roads - the staff, faculty, and classmates (for the most part) were friendly and engaged. I don't have much experience at Ryerson, but when I talked to a professor there when I considered applying she started making fun of the other applicants. I took this as a bad sign, although it is not indicative of the entire university. The Comm Cult program has some great classes and professors. I have heard good things about the program. The teaming up of the two universities is really beneficial for students, as I can't imagine any similar depth or scope from any other program in Canada.

Ultimately, my advice is to choose what is best for your circumstances and learning goals & style. If there are faculty at York doing research you greatly admire and you can make the insanely long trek out there (if you live downtown Toronto as I do and take the TTC), then go for it. For me, I liked the program flexibility and the supportive staff of Royal Roads.

Anonymous said...

Hi Glen,
Thanks very much for your posting. Would you be able to provide describe your experiences during the second residency, which they say usually takes place in Southeast Asia?
Thanks,
Tali

Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Tali:

My program didn't have the option for a residency in Asia. This only applied to the Communication students who were specializing in "International and Intercultural Communication". I'm not sure the situation now, however.

Such a residency would be a hard choice however. Even though it would broaden one's horizon's it would add a substantial additional expense to an already expensive program. And it also is a shame to pass up any opportunity to stay at Royal Roads' campus, which is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.

Anonymous said...

Thanks very much Glen! Good luck with your PhD.

Tali

Dustin Manley said...

Thanks Glen. I'll be graduating from my undergrad in Communications and Psych at McMaster this year and am heavily considering applying to Royal Roads. Your blog has given me some great insight, and I feel more comfortable with planning on enrolling there.

Glen Farrelly said...

Thanks for the comment Mary.

I would say that there are four main points to consider related to RRU and getting a job after graduating (in priority order):
1) academic credentials
2) skills learned
3) reputation of university
4) networking.

All of these are affected by your career goals, past experience, and where you live.

1) Academic credentials
The master's degree from RRU is an official master's degree. In my experience, employers weren't too particular on the details of the degree so much as simply having one. I do have to say that I really dislike that the degree is called a "Masters of Professional Communication". Although the program does have some applied courses (as many other programs do) the degree seems to me to be equal to a masters of communication elsewhere. I found some people question the "Professional" part, as they may be unfamiliar with it or feel it is not entirely legitimate. It seems like RRU is trying to position this degree as the parallel to an MBA for those choosing corporate or organizational communications careers. But professional communicators know spin when they see it, so I think sticking to simply "communications" is better. However, this may be an asset for some people - particularly since there's been in an explosion in people doing masters degrees lately so the "MAPC" might help one stand out. I'd recommend when you graduate emphasizing the aspects that apply to your desired employer.

2) Skills learned
The education at RRU appears just as good as elsewhere (although it does rely on team-based assignments WAY too much), so emphasizing specific relevant skills learned is what I think employers want to see.

3) Reputation
This seems to be the biggest question about RRU. It seems like in B.C. that Royal Roads has a mixed reputation. I don't think that is the case elsewhere in Canada (or the world) as frankly the university is not that well known. When I talked to my employer about doing this program, they were just pleased that I was doing a relevant masters degree and it didn't matter where. I think people too much about reputation (unless you are attending a world level top tier university - which definitely impresses people). Some people don't like the "online" part of the program, but in my field, Internet, I position it as an assets and everyone seems to agree with this. But I also emphasize the intensive, in-class parts of the program when trying to sell it.

4) Networking
As RRU is a hybrid online program, students do lose out on networking activities which are very beneficial to one's career. I'd recommend doing the most you can to get to know your fellow students and faculty as much as you can. I set up a Facebook group for my cohort to help maintain these ties, I posted frequently on the off-topic class forums, and went to as many social events when on campus as possible. All this definitely helped my career. The Vancouver and Victoria area students (who formed the bulk of my cohort) seemed to form a very tightly-knit grouped - but this never happened with students elsewhere. I think RRU needs to do way more to improve this, e.g. offering students the opportunity to participate in research projects, edit a student journal, organize and speak at a conference (even if virtual), and host more in-person events across the country (which I notice they have been doing lately).

I believe all my classmates had jobs before starting the program, so I don't think that was their goal. If you don't already have any job-related experience in your area, I'd recommend contacting RRU now about doing some sort of internship or business-related project for your coursework so that you can develop this experience and network.

I would say that for many of my classmates they did go on to get promotions or start new careers thanks to the MAPC program.

Good luck!

Valerie said...

Hi Glen thanks for writing this blog post. When I look up Royal Roads and try to find information about their programs (from a first-hand experience), yours is one of the only few that pop up! Anyway, I am a Vancouver student and I am considering doing their BA in Professional Communications. I understand that you did your Master's, but my question is just about the school as a whole? Do you find that employers see Royal Roads as a credible school? I have the option of going to other universities but I like that in RRU you can finish a degree in an accelerated pace (1 year on campus/2-year online). What are the class sizes, approximately? Did you find the professors helpful? I'm concerned about doing the degree online because I don't know how if I can understand all the content on my own. Lastly, I just need your personal opinion about this -- if I go to Royal Roads and do the on-campus 1 year program, I'd have to take A LOT of student loans? I will definitely be in student loan debt after graduating since I'd be moving there so tuition, books, living costs etc. In your opinion do you think student debt in the end would be *worth* it for Royal Roads? OR should I just go to say, SFU or somewhere else that is more recognized? Because of the tough economy, it's hard to find Communications jobs that aren't just entry-level, so I fear that I'll be drowning in student debt and taking forever to pay it off. Any advice you give would be gratefully appreciated! Thank you so much!

-Valerie in North Van

Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Val:

I'm glad you found my post helpful. I had good experiences with Royal Royals, but it was a hard decision as they are such a different and novel approach.

Everyone has different experiences and goals, so take advice with a grain of salt. Talk to others about their experiences with RRU, SFU, university in general and do what's right for your life.

Having worked in the Communications industry for many years, I can definitely say that you absolutely need to have at least a bachelor's degree (I'm assuming you don't already have one). So taking on student dept is definitely worth the investment in the long run. (There are lots of scholarships out there in some weird places - talk to the university finance office or just google scholarships and Canada.)

People are so obsessed with reputation of university when it is often not the leading consideration. Unless you are hoping to be a C-level executive or a tenure-track professor, I wouldn't really worry about it. Reputation does matter, however, in terms of student experiences. Before I did my bachelor's at York University, I heard from many people that it was a "commuter university", isolated from everything, and a "degree factory" - they were right and my student experience was generally awful. I have friends that went to smaller, less-well known universities and they had a much richer and rewarding experience. They also got to know their professors (which at a large university won't happen at all until one's final year, if at all) which is essential for reference letters (that you'll need for your first jobs) and possible job opportunities.

Consider the non-academic qualities of a university, e.g. the lifestyle, campus life, the city, interestingness of the programs. Doing a bachelor's degree is one of the biggest life decisions you'll ever make. And (for most people) you only get to do it once. Without a doubt, my undergrad experience that made the biggest impact on my life was not any classes, clubs, or professors - it was living in residence. It was there that I met interesting people - who became my lifelong best friends and people who have helped my career the most.

Royal Roads has the friendliest and most accessible faculty and staff of any university that I've encountered. Other universities may also have impressive faculty, but as an undergrad you'll rarely - if every - get to interact with them.

From what I know, Simon Fraser is a huge university - certainly much larger than Royal Roads. Without a doubt, you'll get to know your classmates and professors much better at RRU. I also think it is important for young people to leave their hometown (and parents' house) to experience the world on their own. But I've also seen some students unable to cope with being away from home.
As for choosing RRU just so that you can finish your on-campus time faster - if that's your only reason to go to RRU then I'd check out other options at other universities. For some people like mature students, foreign students, and people who already have an established or hot career then minimizing on-campus time is important. Online study also requires a lot of self-motivation and effort to relate to fellow students and profs. Some people also thrive better in online learning, but others find it really difficult to not have face-to-face interaction.

BTW, no matter what you, do you'll almost certainly end up having to do an entry-level job. You'll probably end up doing such low-level work that you can't believe you got a university degree to do this. Universities that offer internships or co-op placements are great as they let you get work experience (and the even more important paper credentials and work references) for course credit. I'm not sure if RRU offers this - but it's worth checking as internships/co-ops are the best way to fast-track one's career (worked for me) and possibly make money while studying.

Best of luck!

Milena said...

Thanks for the post Glen. As a previous blogger posted, it is one of the few I could find written from a graduate's perspective.

I am set to begin my PROFCOM-MA this fall (September) and have a question. Assuming the framework was same during your term, can yo provide any insight as to what topics some of your cohorts may have chosen for the major project route? I know they will provide context and information once the course begins, but I like to plan ahead.

Thanks again,
Milena

Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Milena:

I'm happy if my blog post can be of use.

As for major projects topics... First, I think the problem has evolved since I took it and I did the thesis option, so I am not as familiar with the topics of the major projects.

I do recall that there was a good variety of applied and theoretical (particularly cultural studies) projects. Sorry it's been so long, I can't remember the specific topics.

From my experience of RRU and communication departments in general is that they were quite open to a diversity of topics and approaches (including some approaches that wouldn't necessarily go over well at other universities).

Sorry I can't be of more assistance. Best of luck with your degree!


Unknown said...

Hi Glen & I echo others in extending my gratitude for this rare insight into the PROFCOM-MA course at RRU.

I was wondering if you could give me an idea of what profs taught what courses so that I could get an idea of who to approach for my thesis ideas - unless you can recommend a couple?

I am interested in researching development communication - particularly mobile phones and the great possibility they have of closing the gap on the digital divide and providing tools to circumvent corruption and provide community-driven communication solutions.

I would be interested in your work too - do you have a profile on academia.edu?

I also did my undergrad at YorkU - so totally feel for you there :)

Cheers!
Elle

Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Elle:

I'm glad if my post was helpful. There are a lot of new profs so I'm not sure who teaches what now.

Your research interests are up my alley as your topic was one of the topics I considered doing for my doctorate.

Contact me via Academia.edu and I'll share more details.

Cheers,
Glen

Unknown said...

Great! will do! Thanks Glen!

tmelesko said...

Hi Glen,
I came across your blog annd found it very helpful. I have worked in the media and communications industry for several years (+10). I have two years of undergraduate Faculty of Arts courses followed by a two year communications college diploma. As I haven't been a student for many yearsI am concerned that I need to have some refresher courses to get me back in the academic mode.

The course outlines says RRU accepts students without a degree providing they have a diploma and practical work experience. Were there students in your class with such a background. What would you honestly recommend?

Tammy

Anonymous said...

I think RRU have way too much team work, and posting, for a person who have a family, work and want to complete education it is hard. So if you have a another life it will really tough specially if you work shift work

Glen Farrelly said...

In response to a couple recent comments:

1) Yes, the program I was in had WAY too much team work. Many students complained about this. Team work was used/abused so frequently it impeded learning outcomes and took exponentially more time than if one did the assignment by themself. This, I believe is the greatest flaw of the program (at least when I took it). However, RRU isn't unique in this as it has been a general trend for years. It's to save instructor grading time (though academics will frame as pedagogical, it's not it's economicial).

2) RRU does take people without a bachelor's degree or a degree in a related field. It is definitely hard for these students, particularly the first few months. The students I knew this background made it through but it added difficulty to an already demanding program (as any master's degree is). I'd anticipate this and plan for it either by making sure they have plenty of free time when they start the program or by taking a couple courses elsewhere (or doing extensive reading) beforehand.

Ashley Green said...

Hey there, Not sure if you're still monitoring this blog, but I'm wondering if you can speak to the hard skills learned in this program. I felt like my undergrad taught me about research, writing, and fundamentals. I'm not looking for more specific hard skills. You said you were disappointed with their lack of internet saavy. Did they cover social media, public relations and web analytics in depth? If one were to pursue corporate social relations, would this be a good program? Thanks!

Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Ashley:

My experience with Royal Roads is getting rather dated to be able to offer feedback that is still timely. The program has no doubt evolved since I took it. I would imagine they have improved the inclusion of digital media topics and staff. (The former professor who was tasked with teaching these topics was dreadfully and is thankfully no longer listed.)

I should point out that normally grad school is not a great place to go to get hard skills. For that, college programs are much better. I completed a post-graduate certificate program at a Toronto college and it was ideal for acquiring hard skills. From my experience, however, Royal Roads is different than most other master's programs in that they balance educating in soft skills (e.g. advanced critical thinking, methodology training, and theory building) with hard skills (e.g. copy editting, writing executive summaries, consulting practices, etc.). They also embrace applied research and avoid academic navel-gazing much more than many other programs do.

They may not offer as much hard skills training that you want (for example, you wouldn't be learning about how to use X new program or web analytics software) but they will provide a grounding in this as well as the advanced topics expected of graduate level programs. At the end of Royal Roads MAPC program, however, you get a master's degree and a much higher-level of critical ability and theoretical insight than one would have with just a bachelor's degree or with a bachelor's degree combined with a college certificate.

Unknown said...

Hi Glen,

I have applied at the MGM program at Royal Roads. I'm an international student from Pakistan and I have no idea if that's worth it. The masters in global management program started two years ago i believe and I'm doubtful about the market strength it holds.

Your post has been relatively hopeful. Please let me know if you know about the MGM program.

Thanks

Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Fizza:

I'm sorry but I haven't attended Royal Roads since 2009, so I have no idea what their program in global management is like.

Royal Roads is a fairly new university (aside from their military school origins) so they don't have the domestic or international profile of other universities. Hopefully, that will get better but in the meantime I can see that being a big concern - particularly since they are more expensive than other Canadian universities.

Glen Farrelly said...

Hi Fizza:

I'm sorry but I haven't attended Royal Roads since 2009, so I have no idea what their program in global management is like.

Royal Roads is a fairly new university (aside from their military school origins) so they don't have the domestic or international profile of other universities. Hopefully, that will get better but in the meantime I can see that being a big concern - particularly since they are more expensive than other Canadian universities.