Doctoral

Admission

The Ph.D. program is a full-time program; no part-time enrollment is possible. Only through exclusive commitment and interaction with faculty members and other graduate students can the individual benefit from the Ph.D. program experience. Carefully read and follow the instructions for completing all the steps of the application process. After reading these instructions, you must begin the process by applying online at: https://www.applytexas.org.

Admission Criteria

Although there are many contexts for which a doctoral degree in business may be relevant, we select those applicants deemed most likely to have successful faculty careers at research-oriented universities. We consider academic history – degrees earned, place each was earned, and academic record, particularly in previous graduate work. We also consider references, particularly as they discuss research potential, and we assess through the candidate’s statement of purpose the extent to which his/her goals are consistent with the Bauer College’s mission. We consider GMAT or GRE scores and for those applicants who are required to present a TOEFL score, consider that score. (Please note that the Bauer College minimally acceptable TOEFL score is higher than the University’s espoused minimums) We are looking in general for a combination of outstanding scholarship at nationally/internationally known universities, plus favorable recommendations and a statement of purpose that reflects commitment to research; GMAT scores for those we accept have averaged 680-700. Excellent proficiency in English is expected. These criteria for admission are likewise our criteria for nominating each applicant we accept for a University-sponsored Presidential Fellowship.

Before You Apply

Applicants must comply with all college and university application requirements, including application deadlines. For the doctoral programs, the deadline is February 1 for full consideration. A late application will be considered only if space remains, and carries a $25 late application fee in addition to other application fees. In order to avoid confusion and perhaps wasting the application fees, DO NOT submit a late application until you have discussed the situation with the appropriate doctoral program coordinator. Usually, each department admits 4 students per academic year and offers of admission are always for the fall semester only.

Completing Your Application

The application for admission to the doctoral program consists of three important steps. You must complete all three steps in order for your application to be finalized and we only evaluate complete applications; partial applications will not be reviewed. Please read and follow these instructions carefully. The deadline for receipt of all necessary documents including letters of recommendation is February 1, 2014 in order to be considered for fall, 2014 admission.

Step 1:

Complete the ApplyTexas Application Form and pay the appropriate application fees to the University of Houston. Do not send payments to the Bauer College. All application fees should be sent to the University of Houston.

Step 2:

DO NOT attempt to complete the Bauer College’s online application form until step 1 has been completed. Only after you have completed the ApplyTexas application and paid the appropriate application fees, should you enter the Bauer College’s Doctoral Application System. In order to apply to any of the Bauer College’s doctoral programs, all applicants MUST USE this new online application system. DO NOT submit any paper materials to the Bauer College. We will no longer accept copies of any materials that are sent to us using hard copy. The Bauer College now uses a 100% electronic application and review process.

All materials that applicants are required to submit directly to the Bauer College should be uploaded via the new system, including letters of recommendation. Only applications using this 100% electronic application system will be evaluated. The following materials should be forwarded to Bauer using this new electronic system (documents should be submitted in pdf format unless otherwise noted):

1. A copy of your ApplyTexas Application form. When the Bauer system prompts you for your ApplyTexas ID number, it is looking for the eight digit (begins with a zero) number located at the beginning of this form. Please upload the entire form at your earliest possible convenience since it allows us to verify payment of fees. Uploading this document also instructs the Bauer system to contact your references so they can provide their recommendations on your behalf. References will not be contacted, however, until you have entered contact information in the Bauer online system for THREE persons.
2. A Statement of Purpose
3. A resume/CV
4. Unofficial copies of transcripts of all prior colleges and universities attended. These can be unofficial copies that are released to students. Do not send the Bauer College official copies of transcripts. Official copies of transcripts are required in step 3. Official copies should be sent to the University of Houston Admissions Offices (see Step 3 below)
5. GMAT or GRE Scores. Either test is accepted by all Bauer doctoral programs. Although official score reports need to be sent to the University of Houston Admissions Offices (see Step 3 below), you should send student copies (unofficial reports) to Bauer via its electronic application system. Scores cannot be older than 5 years.
6. For international applicants, an unofficial TOEFL score report should be submitted via the new system to Bauer. Official reports should be sent to the University of Houston International Admissions Office. TOEFL scores must be no older than 2 years.
7. Letters of Recommendation. We require three letters of recommendation in support of a doctoral program application. Applicants will have the opportunity to provide email contact information for three persons who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation through the Bauer Doctoral Application System. Once a recommender has been verified, he/she will be able to log into the Bauer system in order to upload the recommendation form and also a narrative letter if he/she desires. DO NOT ask recommenders to send letters via snail mail or email. The online system provides the mechanism for submitting letters of recommendation.

Step 3:

The Bauer Application System is only used for submitting those materials that formerly were mailed directly to the Bauer College. The Bauer Application System DOES NOT replace any of the requirements for submitting official copies of relevant materials to the University of Houston’s Admissions Offices. The following materials must be sent to the appropriate University of Houston admissions office and must arrive no later than February 1 which is the application deadline. (Note: Late applications after February 1st incur a $25 late fee and will be evaluated only on a ‘space available’ basis)

1. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work completed. The transcripts sent to the University of Houston need to be official copies and sent directly from the institutions providing them. All transcripts must be translated into English prior to being sent to the University. The applicant is not responsible for having the transcripts evaluated for U.S. equivalencies, but the applicant is responsible for any translations into English that are required.
2. Bauer doctoral programs will accept either the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). Official test scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the University of Houston. (UH code for GMAT is XT1-26-69, and GRE is 6870.) Scores must not be older than 5 years.
3. Application Fees: All applicants should submit the base fee of $45. In addition, the Office of International Admissions requires an additional $75, for a total of $120 for international students. Only applicants whose fees have been paid will have their applications reviewed. Application fees are not refundable.
4. International applicants: In addition to the above, international applicants must also submit three additional documents in order for their applications to be complete. These include:
   
   1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. Currently, the Bauer College’s doctoral programs only accept the TOEFL. TOEFL scores must not be older than 2 years.; The minimum scores for any of our doctoral programs are: 105 out of the Internet-based total; 260 out of the computer-based total; and 617-620 out of the paper-based total. An applicant to the Bauer College may be exempt from this requirement but only if he/she:
      • Speaks English as his/her native language. This exemption applies to students from Australia, the Bahamas, and Belize, the British Isles, English-speaking Canadian provinces, the Fiji Islands. Guyana, Jamaica, Liberia, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Trinidad, The United States, the Virgin Islands, the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
      • Has earned a high school diploma, Associates of Art, Associates of Science or higher from an accredited U.S. high school, college or university.
      • Has received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an AACSB-accredited university located in an English-speaking country including those same countries as listed above.
   2. International applicants must also submit a Letter of Financial Backing and
   3. A signed Statement of Understanding.