An applicant with an MBA (2010), roughly 8-10 years of banking and insurance experience, and a small business they founded in 2017 asked whether pursuing a Master's in Global Management at a Canadian university made sense, given they already held a graduate degree and had an established career and business.
What the thread flagged:- A prior refusal example was shared: one member had applied under SDS for a 2-year PG diploma in marketing management and been refused, illustrating that already having advanced education and work experience raises the bar for visa officers reviewing a "why do you need this program" question.
- The key to making a second/higher program work is tying it explicitly to your existing field. If your SOP clearly explains how the Canadian program will help expand your specific existing business or move you into a senior role in your current industry — and shows genuine, relevant ties pulling you back to your home country — members felt it could still work.
- Choosing a genuinely specialized program (rather than a broad management program) can strengthen the case, since it's easier to justify a specific skills gap than a generic credential you may already effectively have.
Practical takeaway: if you already have a Master's and years of relevant experience, expect visa officers to scrutinize why you need another Canadian credential. The strongest path is an SOP that concretely ties the specific program to expanding your existing business or advancing in your current field, paired with clear evidence of ties (family, business, property) pulling you back home.