Admissions Criteria

Each year, from an application pool of approximately 500, the Michael G. Foster School of Business PhD Program admits a class of approximately 15 highly qualified PhD students. In ranking applicants, we give primary consideration to academic potential and aspiration. Each applicant is evaluated in terms of the following:

Academic accomplishments to date, as evidenced by graduate and undergraduate grades and courses taken
Institutions attended
Scholarships, awards, and honors earned
Graduate Management Admission test (GMAT) scores, or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
TOEFL iBT scores (if applicable)
Academic and other references
Relevant nonacademic experience
Statement of academic objectives

Admission decisions are also influenced by the availability of faculty, the number of students already in the program, and the availability of financial support in each major area of specialization.

Terence Mitchell, Director of PhD Program

Why pursue a PhD in Business Administration at the Foster School? PhD Program Director Terry Mitchell offers three compelling reasons. Watch the video.

Autonomy, Passion and Creativity
When workers have autonomy in their job, passion grows—and passion fuels creativity. Read new research by co-author Xiao-Ping Chen, management professor, and Foster PhD student Dong Liu.