Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Admission & Application Process

The Office of Executive Education reviews candidate applications on an individual basis looking at both quantitative and qualitative aspects of an applicant's professional and academic background.

Program Start Dates

Boca Raton Campus:

Spring 2025 MSF degree program starts: Monday, January 6, 2025

Admissions Criteria

The College of Business seeks a diverse, highly-qualified group of graduate students. Applications are evaluated on several factors emphasizing prior academic performance, GMAT or GRE scores, work experience, and the potential for scholarly and professional success.*

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline; no business prerequisites are required.
GPA approximately 3.0 or higher over the last 60 undergraduate credits.
The GMAT or GRE will be waived if the applicant meets one of the following conditions:
- Undergraduate degree in business with an upper division GPA of at least 3.0 AND at least four years in a finance affiliated industry such as banking, investment, accounting, insurance, etc.
- Undergraduate degree in Finance, Economics or Accounting from FAU AND upper division GPA is at least 3.0.
- Undergraduate degree in Finance, Economics or Accounting from an AACSB-accredited School of Business with an upper division GPA of 3.2 or higher.
- Undergraduate degree in mathematics, statistics, data Science, or engineering from a SACS-accredited university with an upper division GPA of 3.2 or higher.

*Admission into Term 2 for the Spring and Fall semesters will be considered based on qualified applicants with finance academic and/or professional backgrounds.

Complete the Departmental Supplemental Application

Boca Raton Campus and Online Spring 2025: Click HERE to access/return to the Supplemental Application

While there is not a specific end date to apply, the Executive Education department recommends submission of applications by early July for the Fall semester, mid-November for the Spring semester, and late April for the Summer semester. The Executive Education programs are on a rolling admission cycle, and qualified candidates may be considered for admission until the program start date or deferred to the subsequent term/semester. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible to secure admission into the program.

Item 1: Submit Current Resume
Current resume with three academic or professional references on last page including: reference name, title, company, contact information.

Item 2: Submit Unofficial Transcript(s) or Unofficial Transcript Evaluation
Upload your unofficial transcript(s) from your bachelor’s program or transcript evaluation (this step is NOT required for FAU graduates). If you only have an official copy of your transcripts or evaluation, please mail them to our office (listed below). Graduates of a foreign college who have completed an academic program equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree are required to submit a course-by-course and GPA evaluation from a foreign credentials evaluation service that is a member of NACES.

Item 3: Submit Letters of Recommendation
The supplemental application includes a "Recommendations" tab with space to enter email addresses corresponding to your recommenders (two letters recommended). If email addresses are entered, please notify your recommenders that they can expect a request from you - via email - containing a link to our database. Alternatively, upload scanned letters of recommendation. Recommenders should be academic (professor, instructor) or professional (colleague, manager, associate) and can be a subset of your references. The letter should address your work ethic, preparedness for graduate studies, how the degree would help you advance your profession, etc. A one-page document composed of 2-3 paragraphs will suffice for this requirement for each letter.

Decision and Next Steps

Upon successful review of the Supplemental Application documents, you will be informed of your admission status. If accepted, your admissions coordinator will send you information for the next steps to complete the application process.

Additional Information

GMAT/GRE Waiver

GMAT/GRE exam scores are not required for qualified applicants. GMAT/GRE waiver eligibility is based on the evaluation of academic and professional credentials listed under “Admissions Criteria.” A waiver may also be granted with the completion of an advanced degree (Master’s, Doctoral, Professional) from a regionally accredited university or institution. An exam waiver will be considered only after the admissions committee is able to review a completed departmental application. If it is advised to re-apply to the program with a GMAT/GRE exam score, the committee recommends a GMAT total score of 500, GMAT Focus Edition score of 495, or a GRE score of Verbal: 143, Quantitative: 144, Writing: 4.

Interview Process

Upon application review, an interview by the Executive Education Admissions Committee may be requested on a case-by-case basis.

English Proficiency Exam

Non-native speakers of English must provide evidence of proficiency in English from: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo. Please note, applicants are responsible for making arrangements to schedule the test(s).

The minimum College of Business requirements

TOEFL is 600 for the Paper-Based Test and 100 for the Internet Based Test (FAU's school code is 5229)
IELTS is a band score of 7.0
Duolingo exam is 110

Here is the official FAU regulation on English Language Proficiency

Regulation 4.009. Non-Native speakers of English are not required to submit proof of English language proficiency if they meet one of the following:

Completion of at least three years of secondary education from a high school based in a country where English is the majority native-speaking language, or where English is the primary language of instruction starting in the primary grades.
Completion of at least three years of secondary education from a high school based in the United States or abroad with full curriculum of instruction in English.
Completion of at least sixty (60) post-secondary credits or an associate degree or higher from a U.S. regionally accredited postsecondary institution or from a recognized post-secondary institution abroad with full curriculum of instruction in English