Admissions

The online application requires scanned official transcript(s) for each college or university attended.

If the official transcript where you received your degree does not state the degree was conferred, please also upload an official diploma or official copy of your degree received.

If your transcript is not in English, please also submit an official transcript translated into English.

If you are formally admitted to the University of Maryland, you will be required to submit official transcript(s) to the Graduate School. 

Do not send third-party service transcript evaluations at any stage of the application process. The Graduate School evaluates international transcripts and degrees internally and will not accept third-party service evaluations.

The online application portal requires you to upload a professional resume. We want to learn about your professional history from the time you graduated with your undergraduate degree up until you apply. Although we do not have a required format, we suggest using a resume akin to one you would use to apply for a job. Typical resumes we see are one page, although a second page may be used if your professional history is robust.

Applicants must demonstrate an ability to successfully complete quantitative coursework. 

This may be fulfilled by grade B or higher in quantitative coursework in submitted transcripts, quantitative skills demonstrated in one’s professional experience or the GMAT/GRE. 

Candidates without these indicators of quantitative skills may be asked to demonstrate their abilities by taking a class (such as calculus) at an accredited institution prior to beginning MBA coursework.

Candidates for the full-time MBA program are not required to submit their GMAT or GRE scores. 

Please note that if you are applying for a dual degree, the GMAT/GRE may be required by the program you are combining with your MBA. Smith requires a GMAT if you are pursuing a dual MBA with an MS degree in Business Analytics, Information Systems, Finance, or Marketing Analytics.

For those who do not submit a GMAT or GRE score, the admissions committee will still thoroughly review the candidate's academic record, work experience, industry certifications, essays, and recommendation letters.

Should you want to submit the GMAT or GRE, please submit the official score. For more information on the GMAT, please visit www.mba.com. For more information on the GRE, please visit www.ets.org/gre.

When requesting a score report be sent to the University of Maryland, please use the following institutional codes:

GMAT

• Full-time MBA code: SQT-N8-23
• Part-time MBA code: SQT-N8-26

GRE

• Institution code: 5814

The full-time MBA program requires an applicant to share one recommender's name and email address. We prefer professional recommendations from someone who has managed you in the past, typically a current or previous supervisor. If these options are not available, we are open to recommenders who can attest to your professional skills, such as a person who managed you through a volunteer or civic organization or a client.

When you identify a recommender, we will send them an email with a list of questions. They can simply answer these questions through the provided online form. They will also have the option to upload a document should they choose to answer these questions in a separate document, or should they prefer to upload a traditional recommendation letter.

A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required. Please pay by credit card as you submit your application online. 

We offer application fee waivers to active members or veterans of the United States military as special thanks for their service. Applicants must contact the MBA Admissions Office anytime after beginning an application and at least 3 business days before submitting an application. To request a fee waiver, please email a copy of your DD Form 214 or proof of active duty to the MBA Admissions Office at ftmba@umd.edu before submitting your application.

Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE official test scores) is required for non-native English speakers. Those who have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from one of the countries listed here are waived from this requirement.

For TOEFL scores, contact www.toefl.org to request an official copy of your TOEFL test score to be sent to the University of Maryland at College Park. The TOEFL institutional code is 5814.

For IELTS, the University of Maryland downloads scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account. IELTS test takers should contact their IELTS test center directly to request electronic test scores be sent to the University of Maryland — The Graduate School IELTS e-download account.

For PTE, test takers can send their score reports to the University of Maryland through their Pearson account.

Minimum Required Scores

International students must submit complete applications by March 15.

Academic Credentials

By the application deadline date, the admissions office must receive:

• A transcript/mark sheet in the original language must be uploaded into the online application. If your transcript is not in English, please also upload a transcript/mark sheet translated into English.
• Copy of diploma/degree received if this information is not listed on your transcript. If your diploma is not in English, please also submit a diploma translated into English. This documentation should be uploaded into the online application.

Applicants who have completed the full sequence of preparatory studies and examinations equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an approved institution and who have demonstrated high academic achievement will be considered for admission.

Translations should not be interpretive, and actual names of all degrees, diplomas, and certificates must appear in the translation. If you are in need of a translation service, a list of English translation companies can be found on this website.

For those with 3-year bachelor's degrees, you are eligible if you meet the following criteria:

• If you will be awarded a master’s degree by the time you begin graduate study at the University of Maryland, or your 3-year bachelor’s degree was earned in a country with 13 years of pre-university formal education, then you are eligible for graduate study.
• We will also consider those with a 3-year bachelor’s degree and a post-graduate diploma from a nationally recognized institution to be eligible.
• If your 3-year bachelor’s degree would qualify you for admission to academic graduate programs in the country in which it was earned, then you are welcome to submit an application which will be reviewed by the department to determine whether you are a strong enough candidate for an exception to be made.
• The 3-year bachelor’s degree must already have been earned at the time of application.
• The 3-year bachelor’s degree needs to be in a field closely related to the field of study that you are applying to with strong grades in order to be considered for an exception.

You are not eligible if your sole qualification is a 3-year bachelor’s degree from a country with 12 years of pre-university education, and your degree would not qualify you for admission to an academic graduate program in this country, then you are not eligible to apply to the Graduate School.

Financial Resources

Admitted international students who need an I-20 must show evidence of funding for the first year of their studies. The funding amount includes tuition, fees, housing, and miscellaneous expenses for one year. This financial documentation is not required until after a student is formally admitted.  Additional information will be provided to international students after they are admitted to the University of Maryland.

Immigration Documents

International applicants admitted to graduate study will be issued student visas where appropriate. Foreign students should not leave their home country before obtaining an official offer of admission from the dean of graduate studies.

To enter the United States most foreign students will need a passport from their government and a visa from the U.S. Consulate. To apply for a visa, the student must provide evidence of a minimum of 48 graduate unit hours, or the equivalent of a full course of study. The accompanying spouse or child of an F-1 student enters the U.S. on an F-2 visa, which does not permit employment of any kind. Another commonly granted visa is the exchange visitor visa (J-1), generally for students sponsored by agencies, foundations, or their home governments. It is granted only with the presentation of a Certificate of Eligibility Form (IAP-66). The accompanying spouse or child enters the U.S. on a J-2 visa, which may in some circumstances permit employment with approval from the U.S.

For further information, please refer to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or the U.S. Department of State.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

It is important to note that, in many cases, an exchange visitor must leave the U.S. at the conclusion of the program, may not change visa status, and may not be eligible for any other visa until a two-year home country residency has been completed.

For further information concerning visas, please consult with the U.S. Consulate in your country.

Note: The visitor visa (B-2) is not appropriate for students intending to study in the U.S. Once an individual is in the U.S. on a B-2 visa, it is difficult to change to a student or exchange visitor visa unless that individual has previously discussed study plans with the U.S. Consulate and has been issued a B-2 visa designated “prospective student.”

Merit awards signify the most competitive, stand-out candidates. Applications are reviewed and awarded based on undergraduate scholastic achievement, GMAT/GRE scores and professional experience. All applicants are considered. Applications should be submitted by the scholarship priority deadline for best consideration.

Scholarships

• Dean's Scholarship: Two-year award for tuition and fees
• Smith Scholarship: $5,000-$60,000 scholarship award for tuition and fees

Fellowships

• Dean's Fellowship: Two-year award for tuition and fees plus a one-year graduate assistantship
• Smith Fellowship: $5,000-$60,000 scholarship award for tuition and fees and a one-year graduate assistantship opportunity

Graduate Assistantships

Financial assistance through Smith departmental work/study programs is widely available to qualified students. Students awarded graduate assistantships pay in-state tuition rates, receive a partial tuition waiver and earn a stipend for 180 hours of work per semester, plus the opportunity to enroll in subsidized health insurance. The graduate assistantship is valued at approximately $27,300 for out-of-state and $16,700 for in-state students.

Double Terp Award

Alumni hold a special place in our community, and we reward them for their loyalty with the Double Terp Award. This allows alumni of the University of Maryland, College Park, to receive a $10,000 award upon admission to the full-time MBA Program.

The Forté Foundation Fellowship

In partnership with the nonprofit Forté Foundation, the Smith School offers fellowships and numerous lifelong benefits to applicants who demonstrate exemplary leadership and a commitment to Forté's mission of launching women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, professional development and a community of successful women. Scholarship award ranges from $20,000 up to full two-year tuition.

Management Leadership for Tomorrow Fellowship

As an MLT Partner School, Smith makes a definitive commitment to grow leaders from the African American, Latino/a and Native American communities. Scholarship award ranges from $20,000 up to full two-year tuition.

Reaching Out MBA Fellowship

Smith's partnership with ROMBA was created to demonstrate we are a top destination to develop the out LGBTQ and active ally business leaders of tomorrow. Scholarship award ranges from $20,000 up to full two-year tuition.

JumpStart Advisory Group Fellowship

JumpStart’s mission to help connect a talented and diverse workforce to career progression opportunities perfectly aligns with Smith's continued pursuit for strategic summer internships and great jobs at graduation. Scholarship award ranges from $20,000 up to full two-year tuition.

Veteran Leadership Fellow

• Financial awards and benefits for Full-time MBA veterans with limited veterans education benefits
• Guaranteed graduate assistantship with a stipend for health care and living expenses

Military Leadership Scholar

• Admissions scholarships for Full-time MBA active duty military and veterans without veterans education benefits
• Tuition awards up to 100% for exceptionally competitive candidates