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Leavey School of Business Santa Clara University

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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to your MS and MBA questions

FAQs

If you need additional information, we welcome a call (1-408-554-4539) or email our MBA Admissions Team at gradbusiness@scu.edu or our MS Admissions Team at msadmissions@scu.edu.

Maybe. All international degrees/transcripts MUST be evaluated and determined to be equivalent a US Bachelor's Degree. 

We require a course-by-course, cumulative GPA, and U.S. degree equivalency evaluation. We have several service providers.

Yes. All of our MS Programs and our STEM MBA are STEM-designated degrees and graduating students MAY receive the STEM OPT extension depending on their situation. Length depends on whether or not students have used any OPT time prior to joining our program.

To qualify for internships, international students MUST complete three consecutive quarters as a full-time student.

Applications are normally open 9 months in advance of the application deadline.

You must satisfy any pre-program competencies based on program you intend to apply. Applicants are eligible to apply without the prerequisite(s), but must fulfill the prerequisite(s) prior to enrolling.

  • MS Business Analytics: 1 course of college-level calculus and 1 course of college-level statistics
  • MS Financial Analytics: 1 course of college-level calculus and 1 course of college-level statistics
  • MS Information Systems: 1 course of college-level programming language
  • MS Marketing: No prerequisites
  • MBA Programs: No prerequisites

Courses from Coursera, Straighterline, Udacity, edX, or the like, are not accepted. Prerequisites must be taken at an accredited university. Applicants may take the prerequisites through a University of California Extension, though a comparable university or community college is accepted, if accredited.

Prerequisites must have at minimum the following course content:

  • Statistics -Topics in statistics should include descriptive statistics, regression, probability, random variables and distributions, the central limit theorem, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing for 1 & 2 populations, goodness of fit, and contingency tables.
  • Programming Language -C, C++, Java, Python, or R.
  • Calculus 1 - Topics should include differential and integral calculus, key concepts of limit, derivative and continuity, derivatives in graphing and optimizing functions, and fundamental theorem of calculus.

No. Prerequisite competencies must be taken from accredited universities who can provide us with an official transcript showing successful completion (grade).

Yes, but only to strong candidates who demonstrate a combination of good full-time work experience and a strong, verifiable (usually with transcripts) quantitative/technical background. Students who receive waivers ARE NOT eligible for scholarships.

While the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) has been the standard exam used for business schools, the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is also accepted. We do not prefer one exam over the other.

We do not have minimum test scores for the GMAT or GRE and your application evaluation is based on a comprehensive review. The average GMAT score for MS program is 650 and for the MBA programs is 620. The average GRE score is 309 for MS programs and 306 for MBA programs. Scores from either test are valid for five (5) years. Applicants are welcome to take either exam more than once; we will only consider the highest score.

Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL (internet-based test), or 7 on the IELTS, or 125 on Duolingo. Scores are valid for two years. 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.

GMAT School Code: BV3-WB-51
GRE School Code: 4851
TOEFL School Code: 4851; or BusinessCAS B888
Duolingo English Test - Send to Leavey School of Business

Yes. All students who submit their completed application by the designated deadline are reviewed for scholarship when we evaluate their application. No additional paperwork is required. Students who submit after that date may be considered if there is scholarship money still available. Scholarships are merit-based.

In addition, the university offers federal and private loans. Domestic students (US citizens and permanent residents) are eligible both federal and private loans, while international students are eligible only eligible for private loans with or without a creditworthy US cosigner.

On-Campus Programs

Evening MBA, STEM MBA, and JD/MBA:

Spring Deadline (approximate start date March/April)

  • January 20th final deadline

Fall Deadline (approximate start date September)

  • April 1st for scholarship priority
  • June 1st final deadline

Executive MBA:

Fall Deadline (approximate start date August)

  • April 1st for scholarship priority
  • June 1st final deadline

MSIS:

Winter Deadline (approximate start date January)

  • October 1st final deadline

Fall Deadline (approximate start date September)

  • April 1st for scholarship priority
  • May 1st final deadline

MSBA, MSFA: 

Fall Deadline (approximate start date September)

  • April 1st for scholarship priority
  • May 1st final deadline

Online Programs

For application deadlines for Leavey School of Business’ online programs (Online MBA, MSBA, MSFA, and MSM), please visit the Online Programs Website.

 

Our MS programs do not require full-time work experience. However, work experience is preferred and most MS students have had between 1-3 years of work experience prior to enrolling. College seniors and recent college graduates are eligible to apply.

The Evening MBA prefers that applicants have at least three years of work experience, however, applications are evaluated holistically. Applicants with less than three years of work experience would be advised to present strong academics and test scores. All interested students with a Bachelor's Degree are eligible to apply.

The Executive MBA requires at least 10 years of work experience.

Yes, you may submit, however it is preferable that self-reported GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, Duolingo scores are submitted with the application. We recommend that applicants take the test at least 4 weeks before the posted deadline. Delays in taking and/or reporting the test scores will postpone the completion of your application, and ultimately a decision. All scores are verified.

For the application process, NO. However, you are required to submit to BusinessCAS an official transcript for each school you attended – and the additional WES evaluation (if you’ve attended an international school).

Applicants with a degree from outside of the United States are required to have their official transcripts evaluated, regardless if the transcript is printed in English. We require a course-by-course, cumulative GPA, and U.S. degree equivalency evaluation. We have several service providers.

COVID-19 note:  We recognize that due to the pandemic there are some schools who are unable to provide official transcripts. If you have an unofficial copy of your foreign transcript, you may use SPANTRAN for your course-by-course evaluation. SPANTRAN will accept the unofficial transcript, evaluate it, and will submit a "preliminary" course-by-course evaluation and deliver it to SCU electronically. Once your school fully reopens, SPANTRAN will authenticate and verify your transcript with your institution and submit a final report.

Qualified applicants for the MS and MBA programs will be invited to interview. Interviews can be scheduled before all letters of recommendation are submitted.

Once an application is submitted and completed, qualified applicants may receive an invitation to schedule an on-campus or video admission interview. 

Admissions Decisions

Applicants are admitted on the basis of academic ability as indicated by college records and GMAT/GRE, demonstrated career vision, personal and professional recommendations, and motivations to complete a demanding academic program.

Admissions decisions are made within one to three (1-3) weeks after the final admissions interview.

Once admitted students must place a nonrefundable deposit with 2 weeks to hold a seat in the program to which they were admitted:

MBA, MSIS: $750

MSBA, MSFA: $1000

EMBA: $1500

Students interested in online MS programs can find that information through our online portal.

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We offer a total of four online programs, including three MS programs - MS Business Analytics, MS Finance and Analytics, and MS Marketing - as well as our Online MBA. To learn more about our online offerings, visit here