Decrease font Decrease font
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

Admission Standards

Your admission to Thunderbird’s Master of Science in Global Finance program is a comprehensive process. Acceptance requires academic excellence, satisfactory test scores and good recommendations. However, there is no single factor that hinders or ensures your acceptance. Your admissions portfolio is reviewed as a whole. All documents submitted are considered in a complete review of your credentials.

Admission Documents

To be considered for the MS in Global Finance program you must complete and submit:

  • Thunderbird's online application form
  • Two personal essays responding to application questions
  • GMAT or GRE scores, along with TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores (if applicable)
  • Two letters of reference sent to Thunderbird through the "Personal Potential Index," preferably from an academic advisor or professor or supervisor
  • All official transcripts, validating completion of a four-year degree or equivalent in one of the following disciplines*
    • Business (major or minor)
    • Economics
    • Mathematics
    • Engineering
    • Science
  • A current, sequential resume of educational and other accomplishments  
  • Qualified applicants will be invited to interview after an initial review of their completed application. All interviews are conducted by invitation only and will be part of the final admissions decision.

*If undergraduate degree is not in one of the above disciplines, resume reflecting two years of relevant work experience is required.

Educational Requirements

Prior to the beginning of the Master of Science in Global Finance, you must have completed coursework in:

  1. Microeconomics
  2. Macroeconomics

If you have not completed coursework in these areas, you have several options:

  • Enroll in Thunderbird's online economics bootcamp which takes place prior to the beginning of Foundations Week 
  • Obtain a waiver for micro- and macro-economics. Waivers are evaluated and granted during the admission review. You are notified of any waivers granted in your admission offer documents.

While there are no prerequisite requirements for statistics, accounting and finance in this program, if you lack coursework, expertise or knowledge in these subjects, Thunderbird recommends the online GMAT Business Ready courses, which are offered through the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC).

English Language Proficiency

Thunderbird courses require that students whose native language is not English have excellent proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English. Waivers are not granted.

Applicants whose native language is not English, and who did not receive a qualifying degree in a country where English is the native language, are required to take one of the following:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic exam

Test scores are valid for two years, and must be sent directly to Thunderbird.

Exam requirements:

 
TOEFL
  
 
IBT
CPT
PBT
IELTS
PTE
Direct entry 100+ 250+
 600+ 7.5+ 68+
English Boot Camp 98-99 247 597 7.0 67
Pre-MBA/Masters Intensive English Program 79-97 213-243 550-593 6.5 53-66
GMAT verbal score is also considered and certain scores may require enrollment in English programs.