Admissions
General Requirements
Applicants for admission to the MBA and M.S. programs must have a U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or its foreign equivalent before registering in the Leavey School of Business.
Commitment to Excellence through Diversity
The Leavey School of Business actively shares the University's commitment to excellence through diversity. SCU is dedicated to increasing the ethnic and cultural diversity of the student and faculty community, and to activities and actions that will lead to a more just and humane society. SCU strongly encourages applications from individuals with non-traditional backgrounds who have high potential and aptitude.
Application Procedure
Applicants for the Evening MBA and the Online MS in Marketing may apply to begin study in the fall or spring quarters. Online MBA accepts applications to begin study in the fall, winter, spring and summer quarters. MSIS applicants may apply to begin study in the fall, winter, and spring quarters. Executive MBA, MSBA, and MSFA applicants may apply to begin in the fall quarter only. MBA and M.S. program information and additional details are available in the Graduate Business Programs Admissions Office, by phone at 408-554-4539.
Applicants must complete and submit the following items before the Admissions Committee will render an admissions decision:
Application form, resume, and essay responses (completed online)
Two completed Letter of Recommendations
Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended, or presently attending (including all junior/community colleges and extension programs). All applicants who hold a bachelor's degree from outside the United States are required to have their official transcripts evaluated by WES using their ICAP evaluation.). We require course-by- course, cumulative GPA, and U.S. degree equivalency evaluation CAPS (electronic delivery). Exceptions are made for applicants who hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. university.
Admissions interviews are scheduled at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, but are required for the Evening MBA, Online MBA and Executive MBA Programs.
Official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score. Scores are valid for five years. We accept the Executive Assessment exam for Executive MBA only. Waivers are available for qualified applicants.
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if required. Scores are valid for two years. Applicants who attended universities outside the US, UK, Canada and Australia are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam. Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL (internet-based test), or a 7 on the IELTS. This requirement also may be met by scoring at or above the 50th percentile on the verbal portion of the GMAT or GRE, or if the applicant has a degree from an accredited U.S. university. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to fulfill the language requirement, even if their language of instruction was English.
Non-refundable application fee. The online application fee must be paid by credit card and submitted electronically at the time of application submission
Foreign-born admitted students requesting student visas must submit, after being accepted for admission and placing their deposit, a current financial statement (no more than 90 days old) showing adequate funds for tuition, fees, and living expenses for the first year of study, and they must be enrolled in at least eight units each quarter. Santa Clara University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.
Beginning Winter 2020, official transcripts are submitted to BusinessCAS.
For Summer and Fall 2019, upon admission, official transcripts can be emailed to gradbusiness@scu.edu or submitted via mail in hard copy to the admissions office: Graduate Business Programs Admissions Committee, Leavey School of Business, Lucas Hall Suite 116, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053-0410
GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores sent directly from the test center to the Graduate Business Admissions Office.
The Admissions Committee will not review applications until all materials have been received.
International Students
The Global Engagement Office issues official immigration Form I-20 for students who need "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status" to international students who do no hold U.S. passports or Lawful Permanent Residence, and who wish to reside in the U.S. in F-1 student immigration status.
Submission Deadlines for I-20 Request Packets
In order to make sure we can process your I-20 in enough time for you to get your visa stamp, enter the U.S., arrive at SCU and complete your check-in and ISW before classes start, your I-20 Request packet must be submitted by the following deadlines:
Students requesting Initial or Change of Status I-20:
Fall Quarter - July 1
Winter Quarter - November 1
Spring Quarter - February 1
Students transferring their F-1 SEVIS immigration record from another U.S. school or university:
Summer Start - Select Programs Only June 1
Fall Quarter August 1
Spring Quarter March 1
Admissions Contingencies
Applicants may be admitted with one or more contingencies. All contingencies are documented on the student's Program Plan Card or acceptance letter, which is provided to the student at the time of admission. All contingencies must be fulfilled by the timeline indicated on the student's Program Plan Card or acceptance letter (some contingencies are required to be satisfied prior to enrollment or by end of the student's first term in residence, refer to your admission letter for required completion dates.) Students who do not fulfill his or her contingency requirements by the requested date(s) will not be permitted to register for classes until the contingency is fulfilled or will have their acceptance rescinded.
Application Deadlines
The completed application package should be sent as early as possible. The deadlines are:
On-Campus Programs
Fall Quarter (All programs) Round 1: April 1; Round 2: MBA Programs June 1; MS Programs May 1
Winter Quarter (MSIS) October 15
Spring Quarter (Evening MBA, MSIS) January 20
Online Programs
Fall Quarter (Online MBA): August 12 and (Online MS Marketing):
August 30
Winter Quarter (Online MBA): December 9
Spring Quarter (Online MBA): March 2 and (Online MS Marketing):
March 16
Summer Quarter (Online MBA): May 11
Admissions Decisions
Admissions decisions are made throughout the year. Applicants are admitted on the basis of academic ability indicated by college records and GMAT/GRE scores, demonstrated management potential (including work experience and recommendations), and motivation to complete a demanding academic program. Once accepted, a non refundable tuition deposit is required prior to registration. The deposit is applied toward the student's first-term tuition.
Deferment
Candidates admitted to the MBA and MS programs may petition for an admission deferment to the next subsequent term. Acceptance of the deferment request is at the discretion of the Admissions Committee and requires submission of the non-refundable deposit.
If a deferment request is granted, candidates may be given a deferment of up to one year beyond that for which they were originally accepted (MBA only). Otherwise, they must formally re-apply. Official transcripts of course work taken in the interim must be submitted for review prior to the first quarter of enrollment.
The candidate must meet the requirements of the curriculum in effect at the time of first enrollment, not that of the admitted quarter.
Reapplication
Students admitted to the program who cease registering for classes and do not apply for a leave of absence, who never register or take a leave of absence for longer than 4 consecutive quarters, must formally re-apply for admission. If the original application is on file, re-application requires only a completed application form, updated resume, and paid application fee. If the original application is no longer on file, essay responses, recommendation letters, official GMAT/GRE score, and updated transcripts must be resubmitted.
Re-admission is not guaranteed. Applicants re-admitted must meet the requirements of the curriculum in effect at time of readmission, and must enroll for the respective quarter. Credit is not guaranteed for previously completed course work. Deferrals are not permitted.
Request for Courtesy Student Status
Students currently enrolled in an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)-accredited MBA program at another institution and who want to enroll at SCU may apply for courtesy student status. Courtesy Students may take a maximum of 6 units to be transferred to their MBA program in progress. The application must include a completed application form, resume, application fee, MBA transcript, and a letter from the current MBA program director clearly stating the specific courses the student will be permitted to complete at SCU. Registration is on a space-available basis and occurs after the registration period for matriculated students. Refer to Chapter 18 for course descriptions.