MBA, MSA, MSF, MSIT, and MSIM Programs

Admission to the graduate programs in the College of Management, University of Massachusetts Boston is selective and produces one of the best-qualified groups of graduate student cohorts in the Greater Boston area.  Please visit our frequently asked questions (FAQ) section for additional information.

When applying, please submit all materials to :
The Office of Graduate Admissions
The University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125
****Submitting materials elsewhere will delay processing of your application****

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• A completed Online application
• Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended, undergraduate and graduate.  Only students who possess a four-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university can be considered for admission.
• A current professional résumé.  This should highlight the applicant’s professional and academic contributions and qualifications.
• Official GMAT scores are required for all College of Management graduate programs (MBA, MSA, MSIT,MSIM & MSF). While the minimum score for consideration is 400, most successful applicants have significantly higher scores, averaging around 580 over the past three years. All applicants are required to submit a score regardless of previous academic background or work experience. Applications will not be reviewed without a GMAT score. The University of Massachusetts Boston’s school code is 3924 . For more information about the GMAT please refer to www.mba.com.
• Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic references.  These letters must be sent in a signed, sealed envelope (either directly by the recommender or by the student).

• Two essays:

  1. The first (approximately one page in length) should describe why you have chosen to apply to UMass Boston.   Why is our Program a good fit for your goals?
  2. The second (approximately 2-3 pages in length) should describe your reasons and preparation for graduate study and discuss how obtaining your graduate degree will contribute to your personal and professional development.
     
     
• Some local applicants will be invited to campus for an interview, while out-of-state and international applicants may be invited for a telephone interview.
• TOEFL or IELTS: Applicants that received a degree from a country where English is not the national language are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS exams. Test results will also be required of permanent residents who have not attended an English-speaking educational institution for at least two years on a full time basis. Residency status, work experience or the medium or language taught are not criteria for a waiver. Only applicants who have attended an English-speaking college or university in the United States for a period of at least two academic years on a full time basis are eligible for a waiver. Approval is determined by the Director of Graduate Admissions.
  
  Applicants must satisfy the Graduate College of Management’s score requirements. Note that these requirements differ from university-wide requirements as follows:
  
  

  TOEFL			IELTS
  Paper-based	Computer-based	Internet-based
  600	250	88	6.5	College of Management
  550	213	79	5.5	University

  
  Scores must be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office prior to the application deadline. The TOEFL/IELTS code for UMass Boston is 3924.
  
  
• Application fee: $40 for Massachusetts’ residents, $60 for all others.

The importance of each of the factors is discussed below under admissions criteria.

International students must also submit additional documentation.

Each of these items is important in the consideration of your application, which cannot be fully processed until all documents have been submitted.  We encourage applicants to ensure that their applications are complete and that all supporting materials have been submitted by the deadline in order to ensure consideration for that semester.  Applicants can check their application status on-line at https://www.umassadmin.net/isis/checkstatus/login.asp?inst=umbos&career=grad after they have completed the on-line application.  Please remember that the Office of Graduate Admissions requires 2-3 weeks to process application materials.

Deadlines:
For Fall Semesters:

• International application deadline: May 1st
• US citizen/permanent resident application deadline: June 1st

For Spring Semesters:

• International application deadline: November 1st
• US citizen/permanent resident application deadline: December 1st

If you need additional information, please see Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Graduate Programs Office directly at mba@umb.edu or by calling 617-287-7720.  You should direct all inquiries to the Program rather than to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Admissions Criteria:
Applications are evaluated on the basis of the materials listed above.   The primary criteria include:

• Prior academic record.  We like to see that candidates have performed very well at the undergraduate level and in any prior graduate work.  We take into account the difficulty of the school, the program of study, and any external factors which may have affected the results.  The more recent the academic record, the greater a role it plays in the evaluation.  Successful applicants with subpar recent academic performance are expected to demonstrate exceptional promise through their résumés, test scores, essays, and recommendations.
• Professional experience.   While work experience is not required to apply for the program, we greatly value an applicant’s experience in reviewing applications.  We look for candidates who have made significant contributions to the success of the organizations for which they have worked.  We welcome applications from those in various professional fields and industries, including those coming from non-profit, healthcare, education, and government backgrounds.  While most successful applicants bring several years of post-undergraduate work experience to the graduate program, our evaluation focuses on the quality, rather than quantity, of an applicant’s experience.   Successful applicants with fewer than two years of professional experience are expected to demonstrate exceptional promise through their transcripts, test scores, essays, and recommendations.
• GMAT scores.  All applicants must submit a valid, official score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) to be considered for admission.   We consider both the primary (200-800) score and the score on the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA).   While many applicants are denied admission based in part on low GMAT scores, applicants who meet the minimum score level (400) will be fully considered.    Successful applicants whose GMAT scores are significantly below our averages are expected to demonstrate exceptional promise through their transcripts, résumés, essays, and recommendations.

The secondary criteria include essays, recommendations, and interviews.  Applicants whose essays are written by someone other than the applicant will not be considered.  Recommendations should come from those who know the applicant’s work in an academic and/or professional setting, including professors, advisors, supervisors, mentors, and colleagues.  Students may be invited for an interview, but only after all materials have been received and processed.  Students whose files are complete and who meet the minimum admissions criteria may request an interview as well.

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