The primary purpose of the MSF program is to prepare students for careers in finance, not to pass the CFA exam. However, our students have achieved a high success rate on the exam in the past several years.

While filling out your application, you should just apply to the MSF program as a whole. 

Admitted applicants will be able to confirm their intention to pursue the Quantitative Finance (STEM-designated) Track when they submit their enrollment forms. Important Note: If the STEM track is not selected upon enrollment, students will not be able to switch to it at a later time.

Unfortunately, in order to take classes in any graduate management program, you must formally apply and be accepted into the program.

Work experience is not required for the MSA program. Students can gain admission directly from their undergraduate studies.

The MSF program is open to both those with work experience and those without. For international students, however, we highly recommend that students have some work experience, particularly if they are seeking post-MSF employment in the United States due to the increasingly competitive US employment market. The MSF Program is designed to meet the diverse needs of finance professionals, career changers, and recent undergraduates. To learn more about our current students’ academic backgrounds and work experience, view the class profile.

There are no minimum GMAT/GRE or GPA requirements. However, we recommend that you review our class profiles to see how your scores and grades compare to those of our current students:

• Full-Time MBA
• Part-Time MBA
• MSA
• MSF

No, international students do not need to submit visa-related materials at the time of application. However, once you confirm your enrollment, Boston College’s Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) will work with you to ensure that your materials are prepared in a timely fashion to complete your visa application and I-20 appointment.

No, international students do not need to submit financial documents during the initial application process. Financial documents are only required for enrolled students. You will need to submit your original financial documents when you apply for your I-20 form through BC's Office of International Students & Scholars.

Our practice is to evaluate every admitted part-time MBA student for a merit based scholarship. In addition to scholarships, our team evaluates every admitted part-time MBA candidate for advanced standing credit—a potential savings of time and tuition expense. Eligible candidates may qualify for a waiver of up to five MBA courses (for a maximum of 15 credits), based upon prior coursework and/or professional certifications (e.g. CPA, CFA). This translates to potential tuition savings of up to $31,830 (based on 2023-2024 tuition rates).

Part-time MBA students may also apply for federally-funded financial aid. Learn more by visiting the Office of Student Services website.

Course Waiver Policy

Incoming students must declare their intent to pursue the STEM-designated track when they fill out their enrollment form and pay their enrollment deposit.

Important Note: If the STEM track is not selected upon enrollment, students will not be able to switch to it at a later time. Again, although students may opt out later, they will not be able to opt into the track after submitting their enrollment form and deposit.

Some students may be eligible to waive courses based upon prior coursework and/or professional certifications. Waiver policies vary according to program. Learn more about our course waiver policy.

Students are not able to take courses at the Carroll School of Management without gaining admission to one of our degree-granting programs. However, the Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College opens a few courses each semester to non-degree seeking students.

WCAS Graduate Programs

View sample list of STEM-designated electives

Unfortunately, we do not offer Ph.D. class visits through the Graduate Admissions Office. If you would like to gain a better understanding of our Ph.D. programs and meet with current students or faculty members, please contact the Accounting, Finance, or Organization Studies Ph.D. director.

Qualified applicants to our MBA and M.S. programs can request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver.

Ph.D. applicants are required to submit GMAT/GRE scores and are not eligible for test waivers.

GMAT/GRE Waiver Policy for MBA and Part-Time MSF Applicants

GMAT/GRE Waiver Policy for Full-Time MSF Applicants

GMAT/GRE Waiver Policy for MSA Applicants

In order to be eligible for the waiver, the entirety of your degree must be conducted with English as the medium language of instruction. If the international university from which you transferred was a university where the medium language of instruction was English, then you are able to waive the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE exam. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your official transcript or verified in a letter on official letterhead from the institution.

If the international university from which you transferred was not an English medium institution, then you cannot waive the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE exam.

Boston College does not sponsor the F-1 student visa for part-time students. International students who wish to pursue their graduate degree on a part-time basis must be sponsored otherwise. If you require a student visa, then you are only eligible to apply to full-time programs.

No. The STEM-designated track is only available for Full-Time MBA students. 

Interviews for the Ph.D. program are available by invitation of the Admissions Committee only.

If you are an international applicant and English is not your first language, you must submit scores from one of the following English proficiency tests:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)

In addition, applicants are required to meet the following minimum language test scores:

• TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 100 
• IELTS: 7.5
• PTE: 68
  

Note: We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.

You can waive the English language test requirement if you have completed the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree or a two-year master’s degree at an English-medium university. You must have completed your entire degree at an English-medium university in order to be eligible for the waiver. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your transcript or verified in a letter on official letterhead from the institution.

Additionally, you can waive the English test requirement if you have worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language.

NOTE: Working for a company that conducts its business in English in a country where English is not an official language will not qualify you for a language test waiver.

At the time you submit your application, only a self-reported test score is required. For instance, you may upload an image or PDF of your test score to your application.

Once you are admitted, you must submit official test scores to the Office of Graduate Admissions; you will receive instructions on how to do so upon admission.

Please note that Boston College reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission already made if there is any discrepancy between the self-reported and official score report.

At the time you submit your application, only a self-reported transcript is required. For instance, you may upload an image or PDF of your unofficial transcript to your application.

Once you are admitted, you must submit official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions; you will receive instructions on how to do so upon admission.

Please note that Boston College reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission already made if there is any discrepancy between the self-reported transcript and the official transcript.

Applicants are evaluated on a number of criteria, including transcripts, test scores, essays, recommendations, and employment history. While work experience is not required, we recommend that you have at least two years of professional work experience before entering the full-time MBA program; the average work experience in recent classes has been four and a half years. Only a small number of applicants are accepted directly out of college. To learn more about our current students’ qualifications, view the class profile.

No, they do not. However, in order to allow for adequate time for the visa application process, international applicants to all Carroll School master’s programs are encouraged to submit their applications by early March at the latest.

At this time, we do not accept the MyBest score.

We do not offer conditional acceptances to Carroll School of Management graduate programs. All applicants must apply by appropriate deadlines and meet all application requirements to be considered for admission.

For information about the MBA program for military students, view the Information for U.S. Military Veterans page.

No. Since total required credit hours remain the same, tuition is not affected.

No. The 57-credit hour requirement to graduate remains for all full-time MBA students, including those completing the STEM-designated track.

Yes, our full-time MBA students bring a wealth of diverse experiences from a variety of ethnic, national, personal, and professional backgrounds. This diversity contributes to a rich cultural and global perspective that influences teamwork and classroom discussions. To learn more, view the class profile.

Upon admission to your program, you will receive a series of emails directing you to your personal admitted student site. You will access this site using your application login credentials. If you need assistance accessing your admitted student site, please contact Graduate Admissions at bcmba@muurausahvenlampi.com.

You can apply for U.S. federal financial aid through Boston College’s Office of Student Services. Learn more by visiting the Office of Student Services website.

Please note that federal student aid is only available for United States citizens and permanent residents. International students can explore alternative funding options on the Office of Student Services website.

Graduate & Law Financial Aid

All applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships; you do not need to separately apply for scholarships with the exception of the ROMBA LBGT+ Fellowship and the Prospanica Fellowship. Candidates seeking to apply to either of these fellowships are asked to express interest in the essay section of their application.

Full-time MBA applicants go through the regular application process. In the application, applicants will have the opportunity to indicate their interest in the STEM-Designated track within the application. It is non-binding, and will not positively or negatively impact the Committee’s review of the application. Additionally, applicants may also address their interest in pursuing the STEM-designated track in their application essays.

Admitted applicants will be able to confirm their intention to pursue the STEM-designated track when they submit their enrollment forms. Important Note: If the STEM track is not selected upon enrollment, students will not be able to switch to it at a later time.

Be prepared with the contact information of one person who can provide a recommendation. Once their information is entered into the application, your recommender will receive an email to begin the process of providing a recommendation. You will be notified by email once they have submitted their recommendation.

All students accepted into the part-time MBA program will be evaluated for advanced standing credit, which could potentially reduce your overall credit requirements, shorten the total length of your program, and provide substantial tuition savings. Learn more about our course waiver policy.

Under current federal policy, international students (e.g., those on F-1 student visas) are eligible for a total of 12 months of OPT per degree level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.). Students in STEM-designated majors, programs, or tracks may be eligible for an additional 24-month extension if certain conditions are met. Additional details are available through the Office of International Students & Scholars.  

The average time is three to four years, and most students take two courses each semester. Our program, however, provides the opportunity to complete their degrees in as little as two years.

View a sample degree road map and get a better understanding of which classes you would take to complete your degree over the course of two, three, and four years.

Effective for incoming students in Fall 2024, the financial support for doctoral students is $43,000 per year in addition to full tuition remission. A student in good standing may receive this support for a maximum of five years. In return for this support, students serve as research and/or teaching assistants throughout the duration of their Ph.D. programs.

This support is based on the fact that students are expected to devote their full energies to the Ph.D. program during the entire calendar year, not just the academic year.

We aim to enroll two to four doctoral candidates each year. We receive around 75 applications to the Ph.D. in Accounting program each year. Please review our class profile to see how your scores and grades compare to those of our current students.

We aim to enroll four doctoral candidates each year. We receive around 150 applications to the Ph.D. in Finance program each year. Please review our class profile to see how your scores and grades compare to those of our current students.

We aim to enroll four doctoral candidates each year. We receive around 75 applications to the Ph.D. in Organization Studies program each year. Please review our class profile to see how your scores and grades compare to those of our current students.

We require that applicants to our graduate programs possess the equivalent of a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. We highly recommend that you confirm your educational equivalency with a credential evaluation organization such as SpanTran or World Education Services to ensure your transcript’s equivalency.

You may upload the report to your online application to demonstrate your educational equivalency to the Admissions Committee.

If admitted, international students are required to submit an official English translation of all academic credentials, along with a third-party degree verification.

Yes, as long as you successfully complete the requirements for the MBA, you will still be able to earn an MBA without the STEM track designation.

The Boston College full-time MBA program is a cross-functional degree with a strong emphasis on teamwork and a global perspective. Because our MBA students enter the program with an average of four years of work experience in a range of career fields, they are able to make immediate contributions to the organizations where they are employed in a wide range of industries. For more information about where our graduates work, view our placement data.

International students are not eligible for federal student financial aid. However, you can explore alternative funding options by visiting the University Office of Student Services website.

All applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships; you do not need to separately apply for scholarships. In addition, international students can also pursue graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.

The STEM designation was approved by Boston College in Fall 2022. At this time, the STEM-designated track is only available to full-time MBA students, beginning with the class that entered in Fall 2022.

No. All MBA diplomas will read “Master of Business Administration.” The STEM designation will be noted on your transcript.

No, the STEM-designated track is one degree. Students pursuing the track are, however, eligible to complete the MBA/MSF dual degree. Students interested in the dual degree should consult with Graduate Admissions for details on the combined program curriculums.

In your acceptance letter, you will receive a link to an enrollment form with a reply deadline date. Please submit the form to confirm your decision to enroll in the Carroll School of Management. You will also need to submit a non-refundable tuition deposit. The tuition deposit amount will be noted in your acceptance letter.

You can learn more about costs for the current academic year on our Tuition & Aid page.

Tuition and Aid

You can learn more about costs for the current academic year on our Tuition & Aid page.

Tuition and Aid

Students can drop the STEM-designated track at any time; however, once you opt out, you will not be able to opt back in.

If you haven’t seen a letter of recommendation come through from your recommender, don’t worry. You may choose to resend another email notification to your recommender within the application section. Otherwise, go ahead and submit your application without a letter of recommendation. We will keep an eye out for the letter to complete your application.

A graduate assistantship is a graduate work-study position. It provides an annual stipend and requires that you work part-time in an academic or administrative department within the Carroll School of Management.To apply for an assistantship, simply indicate your interest in your application for admission.

A STEM-designated MBA curriculum reflects the increasing quantitative focus of  skills needed by today’s businesses. Increasingly, companies have come to rely on technology and analytics, across all functional areas. The curriculum of our STEM-designated track has a strong emphasis on Statistics, Data-driven Decision Theory, Information Technology, Data Security, Data Visualization, Artificial Intelligence, Programming, and Optimization, present throughout the core curriculum as well as electives.

Candidates who wish to reapply for admission in a subsequent year must submit a new application. We will waive the application fee, so please contact the Graduate Admissions Office before submitting your application.

Re-application Process

Once you have been admitted, you will receive a series of emails directing you to your personal admitted student site with information about the registration process, as well as other important onboarding information. If you need assistance accessing your admitted student site, please contact Graduate Admissions at bcmba@muurausahvenlampi.com.

Spring and Fall Courses:

• Classes meet once a week
• Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (a limited number of courses meet from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

Summer Courses:

• Classes meet twice a week
• 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Note: online and hybrid options can add even more flexibility.

Orientation for the full-time MBA program is typically held in mid-August with classes beginning the following week.

Part-time MBA, MSF, and MSA orientations are held in late August. Classes typically begin in late August.

You can view the Boston College academic calendar on the registrar's website for more information on term start dates.

Spring classes typically begin in mid-January. You can view the Boston College academic calendar on the registrar's website for more information on term start dates.

Scholarship and assistantship offers are made at the time of admission. If you are admitted, you will receive a letter regarding the Admission Committee’s scholarship decision with your admission materials.

Although this designation is valuable, it may not align with your career goals. The STEM curriculum places a heavy emphasis on the use of math, science, and technology in business. Some career paths require other skill sets which might not qualify you for a STEM-designated degree. If you are unsure we encourage you to consult with your academic and career advisors.

As with all of our graduate management programs, the Graduate Student Services Office will ensure a student is registered in courses that meet graduation requirements, but we cannot guarantee a student’s choice of electives.