Admissions
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International Applicants

Some aspects of the MBA application are slightly different for international applicants. This page provides guidance in these areas.

Admission Conditions

Admission Conditions

Application Components

Financing Your MBA

Work Experience

International students are strongly encouraged have a minimum of 2 years of full-time post-baccalaureate work experience. Successful candidates typically have 3 to 5 years experience.

There are several reasons experience is needed. Without work experience, it will be difficult to contribute to team and classroom discussions. Second, most MBA employers aren't interested in hiring someone without this experience prior to B-school. International students must be sponsored by a company to work in the U.S., which makes the job search more challenging. Work experience puts you on equal footing with other MBAs and makes you more competitive for jobs.

Undergraduate Education

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in order to apply. The preferred profile includes 16 years of education, but an exception for 3-year Bachelor's degree holders can be made on a case-by-case basis. A full application is needed in order to be considered for the exception, so the first step is to apply to Tippie.

GMAT/GRE Score

All applicants need to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in order to be considered. Details can be found on the Testing and Scores page.

English Proficiency

All international students whose native language is not English must take either the TOEFL or IELTS exam, provided they do not qualify for a waiver. An official test score report is required before we can review your application. Those with U.S. permanent residency or U.S. citizenship are not required to take an English proficiency exam. Visit the English Language Exam Requirements page for details.

Application Components

Resume

Your resume should include important information about your employment, education, extracurricular, and community activities. Be sure your resume is complete and accurate without unexplained gaps in the chronological history.

Resume should not exceed two single-sided pages.

Application

Submit the Tippie Full-time MBA application online. Your essay responses, recommender contact information, and personal data are collected in the online application.

Transcripts

You will be asked to submit official academic records (transcripts) as part of your application. Academic records from non-U.S. or Canadian schools must bear the original stamp or seal and signature of a school officer (e.g., registrar or dean) and be sent directly from each institution attended. (See the Transcripts page for the address to which to mail your transcripts.)

See the transcripts page or the application instructions (Section C) for details.

Submitting Unofficial/Digital Transcripts

See Submitting Digital Transcripts for more information.

GPA Conversion

We don't translate results from institutions without a 4.0 scale into a 4.0 "equivalent." Rather, we consider the results within the context of the institution and the country's educational system. This review is conducted by the Office of International Admissions.

Translations

See the Transcripts page, Translations section for more information.

Recommendations

Instead of requiring you to secure recommendation letters, we'll collect contact information for your three recommenders, and reach out to them only if the admissions team deems it necessary. Section G of the online application collects your recommender names, job titles, employers, and email addresses. See the Recommendations page for details.

Essays

Your essays are collected in Section I of the online application. See the Essays page for guidance on what we're looking for and how to respond to the Tweet-style essay prompt.

Test Scores (GMAT/GRE, English Proficiency)

Official GMAT/GRE and English Proficiency Exam scores are required to be considered for admission.

Read more details about GMAT/GRE score reporting or English Proficiency Exam scores.

Admissions Interview

International applicants will be interviewed on an invitation-only basis after a preliminary review of your application by the admissions team. If you are selected for an interview, we will contact you via email to schedule a time. Interviews are conducted via Skype, without exception, so you will need access to a webcam. Skype software is free to download.

Student Visa Application

Should an offer of admission be extended and accepted, international students are eligible to apply for a student visa. To meet the eligibility requirements for a student visa, international students must show proof of financial resources to pursue their course of study. Detailed information regarding the requirements and application process to obtain a student visa is sent to admitted students by the Office of International Admissions after they have been admitted to the program. You can find more details in our Admitted Student FAQ.

Verifying Financial Status

We do not require your financial statement and documents until after you have been admitted. Some applicants choose to submit this information when they apply to save time, which is permitted. See the FAQ for information on the documents needed and where to send them.

Once admitted, you must submit evidence of adequate support to cover the costs of one full year of study at the University of Iowa before a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) will be issued.

More details about the evidence required can be found in the FAQ.

Financing Your MBA

Financial Aid

Tippie considers all students for financial aid awards regardless of citizenship. You will be considered for financial aid at the time you submit your application, using the same criteria we use for admission.

For information on submitting your financial statements, visit the International Student FAQ.

Other Funding Sources

International students may apply for the MBA Loans Tuition Loan Program if a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident is available. The Global Student Loan Corporation also provides funding for international students.