Application Instructions

We look forward to receiving your application for admission. The following information should help you in properly completing your application to our program. It is important that you carefully follow these instructions in order to ensure proper processing.

Application Form

All applicants are required to submit an application form, even if you are reapplying to the program. We strongly encourage all applicants to complete the online application form, but in extenuating circumstances, we will accept a hard copy of the application form.

Personal Information

When filling out the application, please use your legal name. Do not use nicknames. If your credentials will be submitted under more than one name (e.g. maiden name), please note this on the application. As much of our communication with you is completed via e-mail, please be sure to provide a valid e-mail address at which you can be reached.

Application Information

The PhD Program at the Robert H. Smith School of Business offers admission in the Fall semester only. Therefore, you must select Fall on the application. Do not select Spring or Summer.

The Program Name is PhD in Business and Management and the Program Code is BPHD. Under area of specialization you must select one of the following nine:

• Accounting and Information Assurance
• Finance
• Information Systems
• Operations Management / Management Science
• Marketing
• Organizational Behavior
• Strategic Management
• Human Resource Management
• Logistics and Transportation

The PhD program is a full-time program. We do not offer a part-time program.

Previous Education

Please use the official names of all colleges, universities, or institutes attended. Please list the schools in chronological order starting with your Bachelor's or first degree received.

Test Scores

All applicants must take and submit official score reports to the Graduate School for either the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants' scores must be less than five years old as of the application deadline. If you have taken the exam more than once, please indicate on your application the score you wish us to consider while reviewing your application.

If you have not taken either of these tests within the last five years, we strongly encourage you to sign up early to ensure your score report is received from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) prior to the application deadline.

In addition, international applicants must also take and submit an official TOEFL score report that is less than two years old.

References

Each applicant must submit three letters of recommendation, either online or mail to the Enrollment Services Office. The selection committees prefer that recommendation letters be written by academics, but you may ask non-academic individuals to write letters as long as they can speak to your academic abilities.

On the application form please provide the name and contact information for three individuals who will complete the official recommendation form. If these individuals wish to write a separate letter, please make sure they also complete and submit the official recommendation form along with the letter.

Please be sure to submit recommendation requests early to ensure these letters arrive at the Enrollment Services Office before the stated deadline.

Personal Statements

All applicants must submit one brief essay to address the following topics in the Statement of Goals, Research Interests, and Experiences:

• the professional goals and research interests, and
• the life experiences

Transcripts

All applicants must submit to the Enrollment Services Office official academic transcripts from all institutions attended. We encourage you to request official transcripts early to ensure they can be returned to you in time to be included in your application packages.

An official academic transcript is an original document issued by an institution that bears an original stamp or raised, embossed seal and the signature of the appropriate authorizing official. All official transcripts must be enclosed in a sealed envelope.

International applicants or applicants who earned degrees outside the U.S. must submit one official record from each academic institution attended after secondary school. This includes official transcripts and documentation of all degrees, diplomas, or professional titles conferred. All official academic records must be presented in the original language and accompanied by English translations if the original language is other than English.

Application Fee

All applicants must pay a $60.00 application fee. We will be unable to begin processing your application until the mandatory application fee has been paid to the Enrollment Services Office. There are no waivers or exceptions to this policy. Please do not send the fee to the PhD Program Office. It can only be processed by the Enrollment Services Office and should be sent directly to them (see address below).

Mailing Application Materials

Please send all application materials to:

Enrollment Services Operations
Application for Graduate Admission
0130 Mitchell Building
University of Maryland College Park
College Park, MD 20742-5235

• Complete Application Form
• Application Fee ($60)
• Official Academic Transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)
• Official GMAT or GRE Test Scores (less than 5 years old)
• TOEFL Score Report (international students; must be sent electronically by ETS)
• Certification of Finances Form (international students)
• Copies of I-20, I-94 and Passport Visa Stamp (international applicants in U.S.)
• Residency Information Form (if applicable)
• Statement of Goals, Research Interests, and Experiences
• 3 Recommendation Letters with Recommendation Forms

Next Steps

Once you have submitted your application, you can expect to receive confirmation via e-mail from the Graduate School. Once the PhD Program Office has received your application materials through the Graduate School, we will send you an email confirming receipt. E-mail confirmation from the PhD Program Office may take up to several weeks.

Selection committees begin reviewing applications after the December 15 deadline and continuing through March until all spots are filled. Offers of admission generally are made beginning in early March. All applicants receive admissions decisions via U.S. mail. Admissions decisions will not be released via telephone or in person. The selection committees make admissions decisions after careful deliberations. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, we cannot offer individual feedback to individuals denied admission. All decisions made by the selection committees are final.

Questions

If you have questions about any of the above information, please contact our office before proceeding with the application. We can be reached by phone at 301-405-2214, or by e-mail. Again, thank you for your interest in our program. We wish you the best of luck in your future academic endeavors.