The Finance Doctoral Program is highly competitive; fewer than 5% of applicants are admitted in the typical year. To begin the application process, we'll ask you to create an account with us. This will keep your application secure and allow you to edit and revise your information before final submission.
To be considered for the program applicants must submit their materials via the online portal no later than December 15th. Applications received after this date will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
Application Materials
Essay
Essay Instructions: The Admissions Committee is interested in your reasons for pursuing doctoral study. In an essay no longer than 1000 words, please describe (1) your educational goals, research interests, and professional objectives. If you have already formulated plans for dissertation-level research, please describe them as specifically as possible. (2) those academic and/or professional achievements which have contributed most to your development and the formation of your goals and interests. Please also include the major field area to which you are applying - Accounting, Finance and Economics, Decision, Risk and Operations, Management, or Marketing
Recommendation Letters
Two letters of recommendation are required, however a total of four may be submitted.
Transcripts
A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (i.e., a four-year course of study in an accredited college or university) is required for admission. A master’s degree is not required, although many applicants have a master’s degree in such fields as management, economics, psychology, sociology, and statistics. Superior academic performance is expected.
GMAT or GRE
Applicants may take either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), but scores from one are required. Test scores should be input into the appropriate section of the application. Admitted students will be asked to submit an official copy if there is not one on record. Decisions are not binding until these materials have been received.
- The GRE is administered by Educational Testing Service at numerous centers throughout the United States and abroad.
- Further information about the GMAT is available from the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC).
- Test scores are only one of many factors that are considered when the School makes admissions decisions and there is no minimum score that must be met in order to apply.
TOEFL
Applicants from abroad must also take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS unless they received a degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction.
Application Fee
An application fee of $100 must be submitted with your application. An application is not considered complete until the fee has been paid.
Fee waivers are available to active duty US military personnel, and members of the Peace Corps, Teach for America, Teach for China, or Teach for India who are currently in service. Applicants who qualify for a fee waiver should email a fee waiver request, as well as proof of service, to apply.gsb.columbia.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get CBS my letters of recommendation?
We only accept letters of recommendation through our online system.
How do I pay the application fee?
An application fee of $100 in the form of a credit or debit card must be submitted in tandem with your application. An application is not considered complete until the fee has been paid. You may use Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover when using our online application.
By when do I need to submit my scores and undergraduate transcript?
Ideally, you would submit these in advance of the application deadline. All test scores (GMAT, GRE and TOEFL) should be self reported in the application form. When admittance decisions are made we will ask admitted students for official copies of both their transcripts and test scores. Decisions are not binding until these materials have been received.
Can I enroll in the program part-time?
Our PhD Program is full-time only. We do not offer a part-time course of study.