Traditional PhD Admissions

Program Start Dates

• Fall 2026 classes begin August 22, 2026

Given the sequential structure of the first-year curriculum and the benefits of students progressing through the program together, new students are admitted only for the Fall semester. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early- typically between October and November for the following Fall- as stipends may be reserved for highly qualified applicants who apply early. 

The standard application deadline is January 15. However, if positions remain available, the deadline for Fall admission may be extended beyond this date. 

Early Admission Decisions - Earlier admission decisions may help applicants better prepare for the transition to a PhD program and allow more time to obtain a U.S. visa for international students. Therefore, we review applications and make admission decisions on a rolling basis beginning in September. Applicants are encouraged to submit all required materials as early as possible. 

Admission to the PhD program is highly selective and limited to applicants who demonstrate exceptional potential to master conceptual and analytical tools in business. While minimum requirements are outlined, higher standards may be applied when the applicant pool is particularly strong. Enrollment is limited each year, and financial support is constrained by the number of available stipends. The following criteria are used when evaluating applicants to the PhD program: 

New applications for consideration for the Fall 2027 cohort will open in October 2026.

Admission Criteria

• Official transcripts of previous coursework
• Three letters of recommendation
• Statement of career goals
• Graduate College application
• GMAT/GRE score
• Interview

Official Transcript of Previous Coursework

Previous coursework is assessed to determine whether applicants have the appropriate background to enter the PhD Program. This can include an assessment of the rigor of the previous courses taken. It can also include the performance as measured by grades. Normally, the minimum acceptable grade point average is 3.0 in the undergraduate program and 3.5 in the masters program.

The perceived quality of the previous programs in which an applicant completed coursework may also be considered. An MBA or related master's degree from an AACSB-accredited institution is most desirable. Applicants whose master's degree is in a non-business discipline or is not accredited may be required to take additional courses to ensure sufficient background in fundamental business subjects. Entering students are also expected to be proficient in computer skills, calculus, and statistics.

3 Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. At least two of the letters should be from professors who can offer insightful comments on the applicant's performance in one or more previous courses.

Applicant's Statement of Career Goals

The applicant should provide a statement (maximum length: 2 pages) explaining why they wish to pursue the PhD degree.

GMAT or GRE Score

Either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is accepted, with the GMAT preferred. The minimum required scores are 600 on the GMAT, 555 on the GMAT Focus Edition, or a comparable GRE score. 

Section scores may be evaluated individually, and departments may weigh components differently. For example, quantitative scores on the GMAT or GRE may carry greater weight for applicants pursuing a concentration in Finance, although verbal and analytical writing skills are also considered important.

International Students/Students with Foreign Credentials

A graduate of a foreign college or university who has completed an academic program equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree is required to submit a course-by-course evaluation from a foreign credentials evaluation service that is a member of NACES. Please contact the evaluation companies directly to determine the documents required to obtain this evaluation.

For applicants whose native language is not English, a minimum score as set by the Graduate College on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Test of Spoken English (TSE), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo is required (applicants who have completed a minimum of two years of post-secondary education in the United States are exempt from this requirement). No application will be considered by the faculty for admission until these minimum requirements have been met. Additional measures of English writing and speaking skills may be required, such as (1) a face-to-face interview or an extended telephone interview, or (2) a videotape of an extended conversation between the applicant and a fluent speaker of English.

Adequate English comprehension, writing, and speaking are necessary to perform well in coursework and to perform tasks such as research assistance and teaching. For example, papers required in courses must be grammatically correct, and it is the student's responsibility to ensure correct grammar. Students must be able to speak English clearly in order to retain an assistantship for teaching. Therefore, applicants who are accepted into the program are encouraged to meet with their respective departmental PhD advisor before starting the program to determine whether they should undertake any special preparation to ensure they have sufficient English skills.

Applicants who have completed a minimum of two years of postsecondary education in the United States are exempt from this requirement. The minimum College of Business requirement for the TOEFL is 600 (Paper-Based Test) and 100 (Internet-Based Test). The minimum College of Business IELTS requirement is a band score of 7.0. The minimum College of Business Duolingo requirement is 90. FAU's TOEFL school code is 5229.