Master of Science in Business Analytics Admissions

Start with creating your Graduate College application online. Choose your program: Business Analytics, then Business Analytics – MS as degree.

a. Unofficial transcripts: The most recent unofficial transcripts must include applicant's name, institution name, and a transcript legend, grade scale, or grade criteria. GPA calculation is administered by UIUC Graduate College (WES report is not needed). If an offer of admission is made, the official transcript(s) are required to be submitted upon arrival to campus.

b. Diploma/Certificate of Degree (for applicant who earned a bachelor’s degree already): If you have earned your bachelor’s degree, you need to also upload a copy of your certificate of degree/provisional certificate of degree/diploma.

c. Course Form: All MSBA applicants should upload a course form that records all quantitative/coding skills acquired through academic and professional experience. This form allows the MSBA program to understand any prior quantitative/analytics coursework you have completed or in progress, in order to support your individualized study plan once you are enrolled in the program. Please note this is not a “pre-requisite” form.

** U.S. Bachelor’s Equivalence: All international candidates should check the Illinois Graduate College Admissions Requirements for a Country to ensure your education meets eligibility requirements for admission. E.g. A three-year degree from India alone is not accepted as a comparable bachelor’s degree. These candidates will also need a post-graduate diploma or significant work experience to be considered for admission.

Your professional résumé should include educational background and work/internship experience (include start & end date). You may also include professional certificates/associations and community services.

Your official GRE/GMAT scores must be sent directly to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Institution Code – 1836.  

GRE/GMAT Waivers: Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.3 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher at the time of application from a discipline on the list below, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign current students or alumni with any undergraduate major, or applicants with more than two years full-time experience in business analytics/data analytics, will have GRE/GMAT waived. However, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to request GRE/GMAT scores if they need additional evidence to assess your qualifications. If you would like to submit your GRE/GMAT score report even if you meet GPA waiver criteria, you can absolutely do so. Students who do not meet GRE/GMAT waiver criteria are still welcome to submit an application, but a lack of test scores will have a negative impact on their admissibility. 

List of STEM Disciplines 
Biological sciences (except medicine and other clinical fields)
Business 
Economics 
Physical sciences (including physics, chemistry, astronomy, and materials science)
Mathematical/Statistical sciences 
Computer and information sciences
Geosciences
Engineering
Technology fields associated with the disciplines above (e.g. biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology

The Graduate College and the academic program require 4 essays below to be submitted within your application:

Academic Statement of Purpose (300-500 words TOTAL): Please write a statement that answers the following questions :

• How has your academic and professional background, including any professional training, prepared you for graduate study?
• How will our program help you achieve your intellectual and professional goals?
• What are your academic interests, and why do you wish to pursue graduate studies in this specific program?

Short Personal Statements 1 & 2 (250 words max EACH):

1. Please describe any experiences and/or challenges that may have shaped your intellectual and personal development. 

2. Provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect in which scholars with diverse perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and collaborate productively and positively.

Program essay (250 words max):

MSBA: Please share an example of how you have used analytics tools at work or in class projects. 

There is extra space for you to touch upon additional topics you would like to address in your application. Please note that submitting an optional essay itself does not give you advantages in the evaluation process.

1. Strongly recommended for applicants with a lower than 3.0 GPA (250 words max): Please address any concerns you may have in your application. If, for example, you do not believe that your academic credentials demonstrate your true capabilities, please explain why. Also, describe any gaps in your academic career and work experience or any extenuating circumstances in your profile of which the admissions committee should be made aware. 

2. If there is something that you would like to highlight that you have yet to discuss in other areas of the application, please do so here (250 words max).

There is a video component in the application which will present 3 randomly assigned questions for you to briefly answer in 2 minutes, and allow you to speak directly to the admissions committee via a recorded response. If you run into technical issues, please contact grad@business.illinois.edu

Choose two references from academic and/or professional sources.  Once you enter their information and institution/company email address into the online application, they will be notified to submit a letter of reference on your behalf.  All letters of reference should be signed and dated by the recommender. 

At Gies College of Business, we are committed to breaking down barriers and making high-quality business education affordable and accessible to as many learners as possible. To support this, there are a limited number of merit and need-based scholarships available to cover partial tuition. To apply, choose “Yes” at the “Financial Aid” section. You can then fill out the scholarship form. The scholarship form must be received with the application for full consideration for the scholarship.

The nonrefundable application fee for domestic candidates is $70 and $90 for international students. Applications received without payment of this fee cannot be processed. The application fee cannot be refunded.

All scores must be dated after August 26, 2022

*Limited Status admissions are considered to have fully met our admission requirements. However, they will be required to take an English Placement Test (EPT) upon arrival to campus. The results of this test will determine if the student needs to take any English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework. Students must take the EPT and any subsequent ESL coursework during their first year of enrollment. This is considered a degree requirement and not a condition of admission.

Official score reports are needed for admission. Request your official TOEFL scores be sent electronically to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Institution Code – 1836).

English proficiency test exemption is available for applicants who meet the criteria required by the Graduate College

Passport and proof of funding are not required for application review, but will be needed if you are offered admission. International students are required to show proof of funding for living expenses in addition to all tuition and fees. Detailed amount needed for the program can be found on the 2nd page of the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form