You must at least have the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree before we can consider you for admission to the MSF program. To learn more about the minimum requirements for admission, please visit the University of Illinois' Graduate College website.

All three-year bachelor’s degrees from an accredited institution in India are now accepted as a comparable bachelor’s degree in the US. You will not need a post-graduate diploma or significant work experience to be considered for admission.

No. In fact, some of our best students come from backgrounds such as engineering, math, statistics, physics, and computer science.

Professional work experience is recommended, not required. However, all students admitted to the MSF program have some type of work experience. High-quality summer internships and part-time work experience might be enough to compensate for less than two years of full-time work experience if other credentials are sufficiently strong. While the MSF Admissions Committee places a strong emphasis on admitting students with at least 2 years of professional work experience following their undergraduate degree, applicants with less work experience and strong academic credentials are also encouraged to apply.

You must scan your transcripts and degree certificates into the on-line application in order to be considered for admission. If admitted, you will then be required to submit original or certified transcripts and degree certificates when you arrive on campus. Please visit the Graduate College website for more information on methods of submitting your final credentials.

The MSF program seeks students with strong quantitative skills, which can more easily be assessed with a GMAT or GRE score. The average scores for our admitted students are 680 for the GMAT and 320 for the GRE. We do not have a minimum requirement, and both tests are acceptable.

No. The GMAT/GRE test scores are a strong indication of the quantitative and verbal skills of an applicant. While the committee considers the composite application of each applicant, an official GMAT or GRE score must be included.

MSF students come from a variety of backgrounds, some with stronger math skills than others. The MSF Admissions Committee evaluates quantitative skills as a factor for admission. Coursework in college algebra and calculus are strongly recommended for success in the program.

A sample of the math skills expected by faculty in the program can be found at Math Skills Assessment. Note that these skills would be sufficient for most master’s level courses taught in the Finance Department, but are not needed in every finance class. The courses in the quantitative finance track require more advanced math skills. A strong grasp of multivariate calculus and an understanding of matrix algebra are strongly recommended.

Tuition and fees are billed each semester with payment due the 28th of the month after the start of each semester. Refer to MSF tuition and fees for details.

Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid for more information on ways to pay for your educational expenses.

The MSF program is a self-supported program, therefore assistantships and fellowship funding are not available. A small scholarship pool is available. All students are considered for these scholarships which are granted based on merit.

You may be admitted on limited status for a variety of reasons. The admission letter will clearly indicate the admission terms and the steps that need to be completed before full-admission status can be obtained. Some possible reasons for limited-status admission are:

• Limited status due to a lack of demonstrated English language proficiency
• Limited status due to low GPA or no comparable bachelor's degree
• Limited status due to departmental deficiencies

Admission to the MSF program is competitive. Each year the Admissions Committee admits the best applicants from the current application pool. If you are given admission to the program, you may defer your enrollment up to one year with payment of the enrollment deposit. You can also defer your application to the next year for admission consideration as part of the next class if you choose not to pay the enrollment deposit. You will not be penalized for deferring your admission nor will you be given any special consideration beyond the strength of your application for admission during the next year.

Yes. Seats in the MSF program are limited and it is not uncommon to wait-list an applicant. Since not all applicants that are offered admission enroll in the MSF program, the program wait-lists applicants that have strong credentials but for one reason or another were not offered admission. As the admission cycle continues and we find that some of the admitted applicants defer or decline our offer of admission we are able to extend admission offers to some of the wait-listed applicants.

Admitted students with considerable experience in Finance may elect to complete their studies in two semesters (fall/spring) with the approval of the Program Director. Criteria for approval includes, but is not limited to, academic qualifications, work experience, GMAT/GRE scores, and communications skills. As the MSF program is designed to be completed in three semesters, the two semester option will be offered only after careful consideration by all parties. Admitted applicants who may qualify for this option will be contacted directly by the program upon notification of admission.

The MSF degree is aimed at well qualified, ambitious undergraduates as well as accomplished professionals choosing to return to business school at the master’s level, but who wish to follow a more focused program devoted to learning and excelling in finance.

MBA in Finance degree on the other hand tends to focus more on offering a comprehensive understanding of business and finance.

MBA in Finance’s curriculum is more general and less technical. Typical MBA programs in the US usually require fulltime work experience. MBA graduates with a strong interest in a finance career who feel they lack solid training in finance will find the MSF program very beneficial to their careers. MSF graduates who are interested in advancing their careers to management level positions are also encouraged to pursue an MBA degree.

Yes, you may apply to multiple programs at the University of Illinois. You must provide separate applications and supporting documents to each program. However, you may only be formally admitted to one University of Illinois program at a time. Therefore, if you currently hold an admission from one program on campus, you must decline that offer before you may receive admission from another.