Admissions

To be considered for admission, applicants are expected to have following:

• Four Year Bachelor’s Degree
You must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized educational institution to apply for admission.

• GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Exam) Scores
We only require the unofficial score on your application. The application portal will state that your scores are not received. However, your application will still be reviewed.
M.S. in Business Data Science and Analytics GMAT code: QHO-5P-59. GRE university code: 1465.

• GRE / GMAT Waivers
  Candidates who graduated from a domestic 4-year institution within the United States with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher may request a waiver. Graduates from Michigan State University will be granted an automatic waiver with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
  Candidates requesting a GRE/GMAT waiver should email their resume and unofficial transcript to analytics@broad.msu.edu.
  International candidates must have a minimum of 4+ years of work experience to be considered for a GRE/GMAT waiver.
  Waiver requests must be submitted and approved before SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.

• Two Letters of Recommendations
Please arrange to have recommendations from individuals who can support your candidacy for the program. The recommendations should provide evidence of your academic potential and demonstrated abilities as a potential graduate student. You may use academic OR professional references–there is no requirement to have one or the other.
You will input their email addresses into the portal, and they will be sent a link to access the recommendation section.

• Personal Statement
The statement should be limited to two typed, double-spaced pages. Please address the following:

• Why are you interested in the M.S. in Business Data Science and Analytics program?
• How will your background contribute to your success in the program?
• Briefly describe your career goals and how the program will assist in attaining your objectives.

• Video Essay
The application will have a series of rotating video essays. Students will answer one video essay question within the application system.

• Resume
Submit a current resume listing your work, education, and other relevant experiences. A sample format is available for your reference.

• Transcripts
You may upload unofficial transcripts, certificates, and diplomas to the application portal.
Upon admission to the program, please provide one set of officially stamped hard copies or attested copies of transcripts, certificates, and diplomas of all academic work completed in colleges or universities other than MSU. Once received, all official documents become Michigan State University’s property and will not be returned.
Instructions on submitting official documents to the Michigan State University Office of Admissions will be provided upon recommendation for admission to the program.

• Optional Statement
Please ONLY write an optional statement if you have items that need further explanation on your application–significant gaps in employment, negative grade impacts, etc. Do NOT write this to expand on skills already mentioned in your resume or personal statement or mentioned in the certificates section.

Additional Requirements for International Candidates

There are a few additional requirements for international applicants to the M.S. in Business Data Science & Analytics program:

• English Competency Test ScoresEnglish competency test scores are required, with minimum scores of 250 on the computer version of the TOEFL and 100 on the internet-based test or a minimum of 7 on the IELTS. Waivers will be considered as detailed below for students who completed either an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution where the primary method of instruction was in English.
• Student Visa
  
  Upon acceptance to the program, students must file for a student visa (I-20 or DS-2019).As part of the application, students must show adequate proof of financial support. In addition, all international students must provide a signed affidavit of support and a bank statement with the account holder’s name in English.The financial amount can be found on our Tuition page. This must be in a checking or savings account or via official loan paperwork. This is not required until admission.Questions about the visa process should be directed to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).