Online MBA

What type of applicant does BU look for? The admissions committee looks at many factors when reviewing an application, some of which include: – A record of academic excellence — so we can be assured that you will thrive in our dynamic learning environment – Evidence of managerial and leadership potential — to indicate the value you will bring to future employers – Diversity of thought — to ensure that you will be challenged by people who have different fields of reference within your teams and in the classroom We are committed to enrolling qualitatively excellent incoming classes that represent global, ethnic, and demographic diversity. It is our policy to encourage prospective students to consider our management programs regardless of race, color, religious creed, gender, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, eligible veteran status, or any other category protected by law.

What is the Admissions Committee looking for? The Admissions Committee conducts a rigorous and holistic review of each application. All aspects of an applicant’s application will be considered including work experience, undergraduate and graduate coursework and grades, written essay(s), letter(s) of recommendation, resume, the Kira Talent Assessment and any submitted GMAT/GRE scores (optional). Typically, admitted candidates will have several years of post-undergraduate professional experience.

How do I begin an application? We ask all interested applicants to fill out our online application and follow our admission procedures as outlined here.

When is the deadline to apply? We have several deadlines throughout the year. You can view the upcoming deadlines here: Online MBA Application Deadlines

Can I apply to the Online MBA and another Questrom program? You can only apply to one Questrom MBA program per entry term. For example, you may not apply to both the Part-time MBA and the Online MBA for the same entry term.

What restrictions and licensing requirements are there? To comply with OFAC restrictions and licensing requirement, Boston University does not offer online programs to individuals physically located in certain areas of the world. A full list of areas and more information can be found here.

Who should write my recommendation? While it is your choice to decide who to ask to write your letters of recommendation, we suggest recommendations come from an employer or someone you have worked within a professional setting.

Are official documents, such as transcripts required? To expedite the admissions process, we ask that you upload unofficial documents at the time of your application submission. Admitted candidates who plan to matriculate are required to submit official transcripts for all coursework. Documents should be submitted by the start of MOD 1. When possible, we ask that documents are submitted directly from your University to Questrom via email to OMBAappdocs@bu.edu. If your University prefers to mail the documents they can send via snail mail to: Official documents can be mailed to: Boston University Questrom School of Business Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid Office, Suite 115 Rafik B. Hariri Building 595 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA 02215

How long will I have to wait for my admission decision? If your application is submitted in its entirety by the required deadline, we aim to release the decision to you in six to eight weeks. Please see our deadlines for the timeline of application deadline and decision release.

Even though GMAT/GRE scores are not required, should I submit them anyway? The Online MBA is a rigorous program that requires quantitative aptitude. The admissions committee will look for evidence of this in your application via previous coursework. If you feel that you do not have sufficient evidence in your previous coursework to demonstrate this aptitude, you may want to consider submitting a GMAT or GRE score to enhance your application.

Can you waive my TOEFL/IELTS scores? Candidates who have earned or will have completed at least two years of a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an institution in which the language of instruction was solely based in English are eligible for an automatic TOEFL/IELTS/PTE waiver. Candidates must present evidence of language of instruction with the application for admission. Appropriate documentation includes a transcript cover sheet, an official statement from the university, or a link to the institution’s website that specifies that the mode of instruction is English. Additionally, candidates who have or will have worked for at least two years in a full-time, post-bachelor’s degree position in the US are eligible for an automatic waiver. If you do not meet these criteria but would like to be considered for a waiver, you can submit a written request highlighting your experience with and proficiency in the English language to mba@bu.edu prior to the submission of your application. The admissions committee will consider these requests on a case by case basis. If you are submitting test results with your application, please be advised that tests are valid for two years.

What is the minimum TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/DUOLINGO score you accept? TOEFL: Minimum scores of 600 on the PBT or 90 on the IBT are recommended. BU’s TOEFL code is 3087, and the department code is 02. IELTS: Competitive applicants typically score a minimum of 6.5 on each band. PTE: As more candidates submit the PTE, we are developing updated standards for our requirements. As new information becomes available, it will be posted here. Duolingo: We recommend a score of 110 or higher.

Is work experience required? We do not have a minimum work experience requirement for applicants to the Online MBA. With few exceptions, accepted students typically have significant full-time, post-undergraduate professional experience. The Admissions Committee takes internships and cooperative education assignments into account, but those experiences are usually considered supplementary. The average work experience for those currently enrolled in the program is 12 years. You can see more about the Online MBA class profile here.

Are there any prerequisite courses? Do I need an undergraduate degree in business or a professional business background? There are no prerequisites for our Online MBA program. The admissions committee looks for good quantitative skills, leadership and analytical ability, and excellent verbal expression. You can demonstrate these competencies through a variety of undergraduate majors and professional experiences.

Do I need a four-year degree? We require that applicants hold a four-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited US institution or its international equivalent. If you have earned a three-year degree that is the equivalent of a four-year degree in the US, it will be accepted in the admissions process. For example, if you earned a three-year degree in India, your degree will qualify you to be considered for admission. Regardless of program length, if you are uncertain whether your undergraduate degree meets our qualifications, please contact mba@bu.edu before starting the application process.

When does the program start? For students starting in the Fall semester, MOD 0 will begin in early August. For students starting in the Spring semester, MOD 0 will begin in early January.

What degree is earned at the end of the program? Students earn a Master of Business Administration from Boston University Questrom School of Business.

Can I take the modules in any order? Upon starting the Online MBA program as a matriculated student, you will begin with Module 1. After completing Module 1, Modules 2 and 3 may be taken in any order. Modules 4, 5, and 6 may also be taken in any order after completing Modules 1, 2, and 3.

Am I able to take a semester off? Yes. Students in the Online MBA may take up to six years to complete the program. Students will work with their Student Success Specialist to plan their enrollment each semester, as well as any planned semesters off, to ensure timely completion of the MBA.

Can I begin the program in January? Yes. We enroll Online MBA students in both August and January.

Am I able to transfer in MBA or other graduate courses from another program? The BU Questrom Online MBA provides learners with the globally-recognized MBA content but through an integrated curriculum design. While by the end of the program you will have received this core MBA knowledge, there are not one to one equivalents with other graduate courses. Therefore, other courses may not be counted toward the degree requirements.

What is a live session and how many live sessions do I need to attend? Live sessions are synchronous Zoom facilitated learning environments with faculty, learning facilitators and students all engaging in “real time” using relevant course content. These sessions are highly interactive and last approximately 2 hours. Live sessions are held mid-week during each week of the semester and are offered at two different times of the day (7am ET and 8pm ET). While the hope is that students attend all weekly sessions, a certain number of Live Sessions in each MOD will be required.

Can I switch back and forth between the am and pm live sessions? For most MODs, students must attend the live session they have been assigned to with their team. For any of the non-required live sessions, students can switch back and forth between am and pm sessions and choose which one fits their schedule that week.

Can I take more than one module at a time? No, you can only take one module at a time.

How will the modules be graded? The modules will be graded according to BU’s graduate academic policy: https://www.bu.edu/academics/questrom/policies/grades-and-course-credits/. This is on a 4.0 GPA scale. You will receive a final grade for each module. In accordance with University policy, grades are due within 72 hours of the last day of exams.

What does the capstone entail? The capstone is a comprehensive learning assignment that may take the form of a team or individual project. The capstone bridges together concepts learned throughout the course and applied either to a prescribed prompt (such is the case in MOD 1 with the automotive capstone) or organically created capstones that emerge from student interest/industry focus.

What is the role of the Learning Facilitator? For each MOD, you and your team will have an assigned Learning Facilitator. The LF will serve as your subject matter expert for each module and they are available to help you with all course related material. They will communicate with you on a regular basis about your coursework, hold office hours, and be available for one-on-one meetings. When it comes to questions about your course, they are your first stop.

What is the role of the Student Success Specialist? Your Student Success Specialist will support you from the start of your program to graduation. When it comes to your student experience, advising, and university resources, they are your first stop. Your Success Specialist will help you navigate the program and your life as an online student. They will help plan your schedule, share best practices for learning online, suggest ways to engage in the program community, and guide you to the various university resources you may need to enable your success in the Online MBA program. Your personal Student Success Specialist will communicate with you regularly as you continue on this learning journey.

Will I have the same team for each module? Teams change from MOD to MOD to give students the opportunity to work with a variety of individuals throughout their time in the program.

Are there any in-person requirements for the program? The Online MBA is 100% online and there are no in-person requirements. However, we will be considering optional opportunities for enrolled students to meet up around the world. Students are also welcome to plan their own meet ups in their respective locations. Online students may attend any on-campus events that are not restricted to a certain population.

If I live in the Boston area, can I meet with faculty members, TAs, or career services in person? The Online MBA is 100% online and any appointments or advising sessions will be conducted online. Students will have access to BU and Questrom online platforms and recruitment site (Handshake) as well as online career resources available to BU online students. One-on-one appointments with Questrom career staff are not a service offering of this program.

Will I have access to university networking or career services? The Online MBA is best suited for mid-career working professionals with several years of work experience. The program may not be the best fit for those students looking to make a major career change. While at this time one-on-one appointments with Questrom career staff are not a service offering, Online MBA students may attend any on-campus events that are not restricted to a certain population – similar to all BU and Questrom students. Population restrictions are visible on event calendars and on our recruitment site (Handshake). Online MBA Students will have access to the BU and Questrom online networking platforms and recruitment site. In addition, students will have access to a number of online career resources available to all BU online students.

Am I able to join clubs and student organizations? Membership in the residential program student clubs is at the discretion of the clubs themselves. However, Online MBA students will have the opportunity to join a number of affinity groups once they have started the program. Students will be able to join as many as they’d like and ask for new communities to be created. The community members, with the help of the student success staff, will determine the extent of the engagement within the respective community.

How much does the program cost? Tuition for the Online MBA is $4,167 per module or $25,000 total tuition.

Are books included in the tuition? What other expenses should I budget for? Books are not included in the tuition costs. You are only billed for direct expenses (tuition and fees) charged by the university. However, we encourage you to think about your budget for things like books, course materials, and incidentals and plan accordingly. We recommend budgeting between $350-$450 a semester for books and course materials. Please note, summer budget items are subject to change, but tuition will remain at $4,167 per module.

Is Financial Aid available? Federal Unsubsidized Loans are available to US citizens and US permanent residents. Learn more about our financial aid offerings.

Does the University offer scholarships? Unfortunately, institutional scholarships are not available to online students; however, scholarships are available from a variety of external sources. Visit our financial aid pages for more details.