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Frequently Asked QuestionsThe FAQ's below provide answers to most of the common questions that we receive from prospective applicants.
Admissions
What's the timeline for Applications?
Can I apply for Spring admission?
How can I get more information about the program?
How can I apply?
Are GMAT or GRE scores required?
How do I register for the GMAT test?
How important is the GMAT score in the admission decision and is there a minimum GMAT score requirement?
Are TOEFL and TSE scores required if I am an international applicant?
Do I have to have a Masters degree in order to be admitted to the Ph.D. program?
I am a senior in college. Can I apply?
What are the doctoral faculty looking for in applicants?
Do you interview applicants?
May I send you copies of some papers I have written?
What's your policy on official transcripts?
Who should write my letters of recommendation and in what format? What should I include in my statement of purpose?
Is it possible to get a waiver of the application fee?
What are your application statistics?
How and when will I know if you've received all of my application materials?
When will I hear about my admission and financial aid decision?
Ph.D. Program
What's the timeline for Applications?
Applications are submitted in late fall, which allows time for the complete application (official transcripts, official test score reports, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and resume) to arrive at the Graduate School. The admissions committee begins the review process February 1. Applications may be submitted after that date will be considered on a space-available basis. Admission decisions are typically made in March to early April for fall semester admission.
Can I apply for Spring Admission?
We normally accept students only for Fall admission.
How can I get more information about the program?
Please refer to this web site, which provides comprehensive information
about the program, or e-mail one of the area coordinators: Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, & Operations & Information Management
How can I apply?
Apply to the PhD Program by using our online application (we no longer use a paper application) found at Apply Online
Official Transcripts and TOEFL (International) must be sent to the Graduate School
University of Connecticut
Graduate School
438 Whitney Road, Ext., Unit 1006
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-1006
Supplemental application materials must be sent electronically
** Resume and Statement of Purpose
Sent FROM APPLICANT e-mail address to PHDapplication@business.uconn.edu
** 3 Letters of Recommendation
Sent FROM RECOMMENDER'S official e-mail address to PHDapplication@business.uconn.edu
All of these required application materials should be submitted by February 1, when the admissions process begins. (Applications can be submitted after that date will be considered on a space-available
basis)
Are GMAT or GRE scores required?
Applicants to the Operations and Information Management concentration may submit a GRE or a GMAT score. All other applicants must submit an official GMAT score, regardless of their background.
How do I register for the GMAT test?
If you have not yet taken the exam, or if your score is more than five years old, you should schedule to take the GMAT exam. (GRE scores are acceptable to the OPIM Department only)
GMAT test registration: GMAT.
GMAT test scores are sent to Institution code CV2-CO-20.
GMAT Information Bulletin for testing in 2006: GMAT Information
GRE test registration: Educational Testing Service (ETS)
GRE test scores are submitted to UConn (Storrs), test code 3915.
How important is the GMAT score in the admission decision
and is there a minimum GMAT score requirement?
Standardized test scores are an important input in admissions decisions, but
they are considered along with other factors such as prior academic record and
qualifications, letters of recommendation, professional experience, and your
statement of purpose. The average GMAT score for students enrolled is 701. We do not have a minimum GMAT score requirement, but if your score is below
550 the chances that you would be admitted are very slim, and you should contact
us before applying.
Are TOEFL, IELTS scores required if I am an international
applicant?
International students who are not native speakers of English must submit evidence
of their proficiency in the English language. You may use the results from either
one of two standardized tests for this purpose. If you submit results from the
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), you must have a minimum overall
score of 550 for the paper-based test or 213 for the computer-based test. If
you submit results from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS),
you must have an average overall score of at least 6.5.
The TOEFL or IELTS requirement is waived for those international applicants
who have received a university degree in the United States, or a degree in a
four-year program with English as the language of instruction. Note on Teaching
Assistant positions: To qualify for an unrestricted appointment as a graduate
teaching assistant with classroom instructional contact, you must present evidence
of proficiency in spoken English . On the IELTS, with a score of 7 on the Speaking
band, you may be permitted to have classroom instructional contact after further
testing by the International Teaching Assistant Program to assess the need for
English support. A score of 8 or higher on the Speaking band makes you eligible
for classroom contact with no further English proficiency testing. You may also
submit a score of at least 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) if you take
it prior to January 1, 2005. After that time the revised TOEFL will contain
a Speaking component. (Minimum score requirements will be set at that time)
In all cases your submitted test results must be no more than two years old.
TOEFL test scores submitted to UCONN (Storrs), test code 3915.
Do I have to have a Masters degree in order to be admitted
to the Ph.D. program?
Superior performance in completing an MBA degree or other graduate degrees is
an indicator that an applicant has the ability to undertake a doctoral program.
However, a Master's degree is not essential for admission to our doctoral program.
If you do not have an MBA, you will be required to take MBA-level courses in
order to acquire basic knowledge of areas such as accounting, finance, management,
marketing, information systems, etc. This is likely to prolong the time required
to complete the doctoral program. Please note School of Business prerequisites.
See Department for specifics on Departmental requirements.
School of Business Prerequisites:
• One year of calculus
• Matrix algebra
• Introductory graduate-level statistics
• Graduate-level managerial economics
I am a senior in college. Can I apply?
If you have shown outstanding academic performance in a Bachelor's degree program,
we would encourage you to apply.
What are doctoral faculty looking for in applicants?
Admission decisions are based on a comprehensive evaluation of an applicant's
file. We take into account the quality and rigor of your prior education, your
grades, standardized test scores, work experience, recommendation letters, and
motivation to undertake a doctoral program in business administration. We look
for evidence that you are intellectually curious and creative, and that you
can think and reason independently. We judge whether you have the ability to
use abstract concepts and whether you have excellent verbal and quantitative
skills. We also assess your fit with the research interests of the faculty in
your preferred area of concentration.
Do you interview applicants?
We often arrange to interview applicants after preliminary screening of the
application materials. We usually interview applicants on our campus; we occasionally
also conduct interviews over the phone. The department coordinator in your area
of interest will contact you if we wish to set up an interview.
May I send you copies of some papers I have written?
Please include on your resume brief details of any papers you have written
or published. We will contact you if we need copies of any of your papers.
What's your policy on official transcripts?
The Graduate School requires all applicants to submit official transcripts
for all university studies, whether or not a degree was granted. Photocopies
are not accepted. International applicants must submit their official transcripts
in the native language as well as an official English translation, which must
be accompanied by an official degree statement.
Who should write my letters of recommendation and in what
format?
We require applicants to submit three letters of recommendation, preferably
from academic sources. We ask recommenders to supply us with information regarding
the applicant's academic and research capabilities and potential for success
in a doctoral program. Although we don't have a specific form for letters of
recommendation, they should be on letterhead and include the recommender's complete
contact information (mailing address, telephone, and e-mail). Letters
MUST BE SENT FROM EACH RECOMMENDER's OFFICIAL E-MAIL ADDRESS to PHDapplication@business.uconn.edu
.The letter of recommendation should be attached (word or pdf file).
What should I include in my statement of purpose?
Write an essay about your main strengths and why you wish to undertake a doctoral program in your intended area of concentration. As part of the essay, describe how the doctoral program fits into your long-term interests and objectives. Statement of Purpose
MUST BE SENT FROM APPLICANT E-MAIL ADDRESS to PHDapplication@business.uconn.edu.
Is it possible to get a waiver of the application fee?
No, the Graduate School will not waive the application fee for any applicant,
under any circumstances. This fee must be paid before an application can be
considered for admission.
How many students are admitted?
The Ph.D. Program receives an average of 200 applications per year. Normally, 2-4 students per concentration are admitted each fall.
How and when will I know if you've received all of my application
materials?
Upon our receipt of application materials, the program staff reviews your
application for completeness. If there are items missing, you will be notified
via e-mail. You will also be notified once your application is complete. Please
allow two weeks for receipt of notification. If you have not heard from us within
two weeks of mailing your application materials, send us an e-mail at phdmail@business.uconn.edu.
When will I hear about my admission and financial aid decision?
Admission decisions are typically made in March to early April. Please contact
us if you have not heard from us by April 15.
Financial Aid
We provide here answers to a few general questions about financial aid. Please
view our Financial Aid page for full details.
Do you offer financial aid?
Most students admitted to our program are awarded graduate assistantships,
including international students. The initial assistantship award typically
provides funding for three years, subject to satisfactory performance in the
doctoral program. Our Graduate Assistantships offer a very competitive package
of benefits including salary, full tuition waiver, and the opportunity to purchase
highly subsidized health insurance.Our doctoral students are also eligible for
several other sources of financial aid and research support. Stipend rates for graduate assistants are graduated in terms of progress toward the advanced degree and experience. The rate for nine months for the 2007-08 academic year is $19,800 for experienced graduate assistants in a doctoral program with at least the master's degree or its equivalent in the field of graduate study.
Are international students eligible for financial aid?
Yes. International students are eligible for Graduate Assistantships and
fellowships. Teaching is typically an important component of a Graduate Assistant's
duties. All UCONN Graduate Assistants who do not have English as their native language are required to take a test to show English proficiency, after they arrive at UCONN. No students are appointed to a position with direct instructional contact until they pass the UCONN phone/teach test.
Please contact
the staff in the ITAP office ( Maria.Hramiak@uconn.edu ) for more information
on these alternative assessment tools.
What are the responsibilities of a Graduate Assistant?
Graduate Assistant duties include assisting a faculty member in research,
course preparation, and grading; providing administrative and research support
in one of our research centers; tutoring students and leading discussion sections;
and full-responsibility teaching. Your exact responsibilities will depend upon
your qualifications and your department's needs.
What concentrations do you offer?
We offer concentrations in Accounting, Finance,
Management, Marketing,
and Operations and Information Management. Review
their links for specific information about the concentrations.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The average time to completion is 5.1 years. 36% of graduates complete the program in four years or less, and 59% of graduates completed the program in five years or less.
Can I study part-time?
No, our Ph.D. Program is strictly a full-time program.
Can I take all of my classes in the evening?
No. While some courses may occasionally meet in the evenings, the majority
of the courses meet during the day.
Can I keep my job while in the program?
We believe that in order to be successful in a doctoral program, students
must dedicate themselves full-time to their studies and interactions with faculty
and students. We therefore strongly recommend that students do not work at the
same time as they are completing the program. Students who are awarded full-time
assistantships are prohibited from seeking outside employment.
Are courses offered at campuses other than in Storrs?
No, doctoral courses in the School of Business are offered only in Storrs.
How large is the program?
There are 60-70 students in all phases of the program. We strive
to maintain a one-to-one ratio between doctoral faculty and students.
How is student progress in the program evaluated?
Students are expected to complete their required coursework in a timely
manner, and must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Doctoral students in the School
of Business must also complete a qualifying research paper, pass a general examination
in the area of concentration, and successfully complete a dissertation. Your
advisor will provide you with feedback in the form of a written evaluation each
year until you pass the General Examination. Criteria used in the evaluation
include, but are not limited to, your grades, active participation in department
seminars, progress in research, and teaching performance.
Do I need to have a research topic before entering the program?
No. Most of our students identify a preferred area of research or expertise
only after entering the doctoral program.
How can I find out about faculty research interests and
areas of expertise?
Many of our faculty have national and international reputations for their
research. In each case you can access a list of faculty in the area, and by
clicking on individual names, learn more about research interests and recent
publications.
How much formal coursework is required in the program?
Depending upon your concentration, you will be required to take between
37 and 49 credits of coursework.
How many classes will I be taking each semester?
You will be taking most of your classes in your first two years. Students
typically take 2-4 classes each semester.
What other requirements are there to the Ph.D. Program?
In addition to the requirements set forth by the School of Business and
the individual academic departments, the Graduate School has a set of requirements
doctoral students must complete in order to receive a degree from the University.
Please review the Graduate Catalog for more information about these requirements.
Can I get teaching experience while I'm in the program?
Yes. Virtually all of our students teach undergraduate-level courses, either
as part of their assistantship duties or for a salary stipend in the summer.
What is the role of a faculty advisor?
The role of your faculty advisor is to mentor and assist you in the planning
and completion of your doctoral studies. Upon your admission to the program,
you will be assigned a faculty advisor to guide you in your first few semesters;
this advisor will help you plan your coursework. With time, as you meet other
faculty members and define your research interests, you will select your major
advisor who will guide you through the dissertation phase.
Will I have an office and access to computers?
All of our Ph.D. students are assigned office spaces. Offices are shared
by students in the same area of concentration, and new students are given the
opportunity to interact with returning students. Computers with access to the
School network and the Internet are available in the student offices and in
the Ph.D. Computer Lab.
What is the typical career path for your Ph.D.s?
We prepare students to conduct high quality, state-of-the-art research and to take faculty positions at leading universities. The program is oriented toward those who have a serious interest in both scholarly research and teaching, and the majority of our graduates accept Assistant Professor positions upon graduation.
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