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UMass Boston

• Business Administration PhD

Collaborate, exchange ideas, and grow with an engagement-based PhD.

Are you the right fit for the Business Administration PhD at UMass Boston? The program’s distinguishing feature is the collegial spirit and noncompetitive nature of the community, where students collaborate on projects and assist each other and participate in joint research with faculty. Our informal atmosphere and open-door policy encourage students to engage in conversation with faculty or continue seminar discussions with distinguished visitors beyond the allotted class time and space.

To prepare for the academic path, students participate in a teaching seminar and practicum in their second year and then are offered opportunities to teach a variety of undergraduate courses. Career development workshops are also offered, and focus on topics such as writing research grants, the interviewing process, and delivering a successful research talk. Three distinct tracks of this program are available to suit the differing needs of PhD candidates: Organizations and Social Change (OSC) , Finance , and Information Systems for Data Science and Management .

Career Possibilities

Work for a prestigious business school as a professor or researcher. Become a consultant for a government agency whose work speaks to you. Or, use your entrepreneurial spirit and know-how to launch your own successful business. These are just a few of the possibilities a Business Administration PhD offers.

Become a(n):

• Data Analyst
• Business Consultant

Start Your Application

Finance Track

UMass Boston's Business Administration PhD - Finance track is a full-time, in-residence program lasting 4 to 5 years. The program prepares students to be academic researchers, tenure-track professors, or for careers in government organizations and the private sector.

The finance track provides a unique curriculum. It’s taught by both accounting and finance faculty and demands competency tests in both subject areas. Additionally, the curriculum has been updated to include state-of-the-art classes in data science (natural language processing, machine learning, and textual analysis). This new emphasis on data science provides students the tools needed to differentiate their research in a very competitive area. Learn more about students' job placements .

Students accepted into the program generally qualify for a stipend ($31,000 per year for four years, subject to satisfactory academic progress) and full tuition credits. Students may also apply for grants for conference participation. Travel grants annually fund academic conference presentations. Additionally, teaching opportunities and summer internships at financial institutions are encouraged to complement the stipend.

Small class sizes (4-6 students) allow closer interaction with faculty publishing in top-ranked journals to develop research niches. We organized international conferences to signal that competence ( Corporate Social Responsibility in 2019, 2021, and 2023 ). Mindful of the teaching career – a course on teaching skills is also part of the required curriculum. Recognizing the diverse insights other disciplines may bring, students can attend classes from two additional tracks of our PhD Business Administration program – the Organizations & Social Change and Information Systems for Data Science track. Competency tests in Accounting are also part of the required curriculum.

Who Should Apply

The finance program track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a full-time doctoral program specializing in areas such as:

• corporate finance (e.g., corporate governance and control, executive compensation, capital structure, payout policy, raising capital, and corporate social responsibility)
• investments and asset pricing (e.g., asset management and portfolio analysis, market microstructure, stock-price modeling, fixed-income market, derivative markets, financial systems in emerging markets)
• accounting (e.g., financial reporting, accounting anomalies, managerial accounting)

The program is designed to give students a solid foundation in finance, economics, accounting, and econometrics in the first year through coursework. The intensity of the coursework takes into consideration that applicants come from multiple disciplines. To proceed, students take a qualifying exam in the summer of their first year. The second year is dedicated solely to seminar courses, with some covering investments, asset pricing, corporate finance, and accounting. Courses are designed to prepare students for taking on instructor duties in their third year.

View the Finance Track curriculum.

Our faculty has published in the most prestigious journals in finance and accounting. Recent publications include articles listed in the FT-50 list of the highest-ranked journals in business, including in Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Management Science, Journal of Accounting Research, Accounting Review, Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of International Business Studies.

Learn more about the Accounting & Finance faculty.

Information Systems for Data Science & Management Track

Data analytics has become a critical need in industries ranging from health care and financial services to marketing and government. Leveraging the strengths of the College of Management's faculty, the University of Massachusetts Boston is offering a cutting-edge and flexible doctoral program in this field.

Positioned at the intersection of technology, business, and strategy, UMass Boston's Business Administration PhD - Information Systems for Data Science and Management track allows students to have a holistic view of data science and its role in the competition. Students will get exposed to various state-of-art research streams in information systems and data science, with a relative focus on data analytical techniques from a design science perspective and the application and management of data analytics in business settings from an organizational perspective. The program offers students the flexibility to investigate other topics they find interesting in data science and technology fields.

All students with master's degrees who are interested in information technology and data analytics are welcome to apply. Students with degrees in quantitative fields such as statistics, economics, math, computer science, management sciences, information systems, and other related disciplines are particularly encouraged to apply. A master's degree in these related fields is a plus, although not required. Previous full-time working experiences in related positions are also a plus.

Rapid increases in the amount of published data results in a data deluge that imposes significant challenges in data analytics. By offering a carefully tailored combination of courses in information technology, applied statistics, and business analytics, our PhD program provides rigorous and in-depth courses of study with emphasis on various research methodologies, tools for data analytics, and relevant academic skill sets involving research design, literature review, theoretical development, empirical validation, and academic writing. Our program also provides students with extensive knowledge in the various emerging research areas in information systems (IS) field through IS research seminars and research collaboration opportunities with faculty members.

Academic advisors will help students configure a program of study which includes a rigorous sequence of courses in a variety of research methodologies, theories, and topics. Students will develop theoretical and methodological competencies in a variety of topics in the field of information systems and data science. Students will develop teaching competences through the teaching seminar, GA assignments to support a professor, and independently deliver courses. In addition to course work, students will actively engage in research with faculty members.

View the Information Systems for Data Science and Management curriculum.

Faculty Research

More than a dozen dedicated faculty members are devoted to student learning, with additional faculty serving in supporting roles. They are leaders in their fields who regularly publish scholarly articles in top academic journals. The program involves close, apprentice-like working relationships with faculty members, and students are introduced early to the world of conferences and publishing. Doctoral students are paired with faculty advisors based on their area of interest. This intense mentorship program allows students to learn the crafts of research and teaching in a highly collaborative environment. A sampling of faculty projects includes:

• cybersecurity analytics for massive communication graphs
• home health care management for dually diagnosed Individuals with mental and physical health problems
• characterizing managers' decision making patterns under uncertain and competitive environment
• business intelligence as an IT-enabled agile and competitive business platform
• social media, big data, and Innovation: an investigation of the software industry in India
• strategic use of cloud computing and data assets for sustainable competitive advantage
• decision modeling applications to areas such as technology development, policy, resource management
• abysmal behavior in online social networks
• the role of health IT in hospital acquisitions
• social influence on Bayesian learning process in post-adoption stage

Learn more about faculty and their research.

There are two main career opportunities for the individuals graduated from this program. They can pursue a career in academia as a faculty member or join an organization as a data scientist. In the first case, they can educate other data scientists and conduct state of the art research to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

For the second, students can become data scientists who use the acquired knowledge to excel the effectiveness of data collection and analytics in their organization and improve its competitiveness in today’s economy.

Organizations and Social Change Track

UMass Boston's Business Administration PhD - Organizations and Social Change (OSC) program has gained a strong international reputation for its distinctive focus on issues at the intersection of business and society and its explicit commitment to diverse perspectives, theories, and methodologies. The program examines how business and organizations structure societies, economies, and our identities, sometimes in harmful ways, but also how business and organizations can be engines for positive change.

This full-time, on-campus program is led by a high-quality faculty who are committed to supportive supervision and mentoring of students. Students are eligible for four years of financial support and enjoy opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects. Graduates of the program, which is primarily designed to train students for academic careers, have secured positions in well-known universities, while others have pursued successful careers in consulting and nonprofits.

The program is part of the AACSB-accredited College of Management at UMass Boston. The university is guided by a mission of social justice and community involvement. It is an extraordinary place to learn about the relevance of business and organizations in addressing societal issues.

The Organizations and Social Change program track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a full-time doctoral program specializing in areas such as:

• social responsibility and sustainability
• social entrepreneurship
• sustainable economic development
• stakeholder engagement in corporate governance
• contemporary human resource management, such as diversity and contingent labor
• cultural and economic impacts of globalization
• transnational identities of consumers and employees
• gender equality and organizations
• multi-sector partnerships for poverty alleviation and development

Prospective students with prior degrees in management, sociology, economics, political science, or other relevant areas are encouraged to apply. Most successful applicants have a master’s degree. Prior research experience (e.g., data analysis, literature reviews, academic writing) is highly recommended. Students accepted into the program are offered full tuition credits and a $31,000 stipend to help defray living costs for up to four years. Travel grants annually fund academic conference presentations.

View the Organizations and Social Change Track curriculum.

Doctoral students are paired with faculty advisors based on their area of interest. This intense mentorship program allows students to learn the crafts of research and teaching in a highly collaborative environment. Students are introduced early to academic research and publishing. Current and former PhD students of the OSC track regularly publish in highly regarded journals, typically together with faculty, and have been involved in impactful community projects and action-oriented research.

Faculty of the OSC track possess international reputations in their fields and are actively engaged in academic and practice-oriented research, and publishing in highly regarded outlets on inequality, sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and diversity. Their expertise in organizations and social change brings them into close contact with business, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and nonprofits.

This year, Professor Maureen Scully was awarded the highly prestigious Joanne Martin Trailblazer Award from the Organization and Management Theory Division of the Academy of Management (2020). She also won the Donald Shephard Endowed Award for Research, College of Management, UMass Boston (2020).

Students in the OSC track will be positioned to pursue academic careers at universities and research institutions. Program graduates have successfully published in highly regarded academic journals and found excellent academic positions at institutions in North America and Europe.

The OSC PhD degree has qualified students for faculty positions in various departments, including entrepreneurship, strategy, management, and public affairs. They teach courses in organization theory, strategy, business and society, sustainability, business ethics, and international business. Several graduates have taken leadership positions in nonprofit organizations, research centers, and consulting.

Plan Your Education

How to apply.

Applicants need to submit a current résumé or CV, a statement of purpose, a writing sample, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts of all prior academic work, official GMAT or GRE scores, and, if appropriate, an official TOEFL or IELTS score. Provide these materials directly to the Graduate Admissions Office.

Writing Sample:

Please submit with your application one or two selected samples of prior academic writings. Such writings could include course papers from your master’s program, research papers, conference papers, or other types of manuscripts. Length is not important, but these typically range between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Please select papers written by you (solo-authored) that best showcase your ability to tackle a relevant research topic by using or developing analytical frameworks or theories, referencing other people’s work, and using empirical evidence (if applicable).

Information Systems for Data Science and Management Track (ISDS)

• Statement of purpose
• At least one writing sample
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• A minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or international equivalent) in all undergraduate work

Organizations and Social Change (OSC) Track

Applicants need to submit a current résumé or CV, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts of all prior academic work, a writing sample, official GMAT or GRE scores, and, if appropriate an official TOEFL or IELTS score.

Statement of Purpose: With your application, please submit a statement of purpose, including a mini-research proposal on an OSC topic that reflects the goals of the program. Your mini- proposal should be about 5 pages long, and it should include the following elements:

• Why do you want to study for a PhD in Organizations and Social Change
• A specific research topic/problem and its significance
• A compelling research question
• A review of previous work relevant to the research question, i.e. what we know so far
• The methods you propose (data collection, analytical techniques) to answer your research question
• A summary of expected results/outcomes, and their potential significance

Note that you are not committing to a PhD topic at this point; your goal is to demonstrate your current thinking and capabilities in research. The mini-proposal will help us determine some of your potential interests and your aptitude for doing research.

Writing Sample: Please submit with your application one or two selected samples of prior academic writings. Such writings could include course papers from your master’s program, research papers, conference papers, or other types of manuscripts. Length is not important, but these typically range between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Please select papers that are written by you (solo-authored), and which best showcase your ability to tackle a relevant research topic by using or developing analytical frameworks or theories, referencing other people’s work, and using empirical evidence (if applicable).

Deadlines & Cost

Finance: We are currently not accepting applications for this track. The next admittance for this track will be for Fall 2026.

Information Systems for Data Science and Management: February 1 (priority deadline) and February 15 (final deadline) for Fall 2025

Organizations and Social Change (OSC): February 1 (priority deadline) and February 15 (final deadline) for Fall 2025

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: Please refer to Cost & Aid - Graduate Students for more information. For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or email [email protected] .

Curriculum - Finance Track

Core courses (6 credits).

• BUSADM 700 - Business in Context: Markets, Technologies, Societies  3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 775 - Professional Development Workshop - Doctoral Teaching  3 Credit(s)

Track Courses (30 Credits)

• BUSADM 710 - Accounting for Finance I 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 711 - Accounting for Finance II 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 721 - Quantitative Financial Analysis II 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 722 - Cross-Section Analysis of Financial Data 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 723 - Time Series Analysis of Financial Data 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 730 - Seminar in Investment & Asset Valuation 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 731 - Seminar in Financial Economics 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 732 - Seminar in Corporate Finance 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 780 - Advanced Data Mining and Predictive Modeling 3 Credit(s)

Electives (9 Credits)

Complete three additional BUSADM courses.

At least one course must be from below.

• BUSADM 733 - Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 734 - Topics in Investment Asset Pricing 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 736 - Accounting for Finance III 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 782 - Optimization for Data Science 3 Credit(s)

Dissertation Research (12 Credits)

• BUSADM 777 - Dissertation Seminar - Finance track 3 Credit(s) or
• BUSADM 899 - Dissertation Research 1-12 Credit(s)

Curriculum - Information Systems for Data Science and Management

• BUSADM 700 - Business in Context: Markets, Technologies, Societies 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 775 - Professional Development Workshop - Doctoral Teaching 3 Credit(s)

Track Courses (27 Credits)

• BUSADM 740 - Information Systems Theory I: Behavioral and Group Perspectives 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 741 - Information Systems Theory II: Organizational and Economic Perspectives 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 742 - Regression Analysis 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 743 - Decision and Risk Analysis 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 744 - Quantitative Research Methods in Information Systems 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 745 - Multivariate Statistics 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 785 - Big Data: Management, Analytics, and Applications 3 Credit(s)

Core Electives (9 Credits)

Complete three additional courses chosen with faculty advisor approval.

Curriculum - Organizations and Social Change Track

Track courses (18 credits).

• BUSADM 750 - Foundations of Organization Theory 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 751 - Contemporary Organization Theory 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 754 - Introduction to Organizations & Social Change 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 770 - Introduction to Research Methods for the Social Sciences 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 771 - Contemporary Research Practice on Management, Organizations, and Social Change 3 Credit(s)
• BUSADM 891 - Dissertation Proposal Course 3-6 Credit(s)

Electives (18 Credits)

Complete six additional courses chosen with approval of the faculty advisor.

Graduation Criteria

Program requirements - finance track.

Complete a minimum of 57 credits from at least sixteen courses including two core courses, ten track courses, three electives, and twelve credits of dissertation research.

Doctoral candidacy:  Pass qualifying exams at the end of the first and second years. Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research. Project: Complete a summer project.

Statute of limitations: Eight years.

Program Requirements - Information Systems for Data Science and Management Track

Complete a minimum of 54 credits from at least 15 courses including two core courses, nine track courses, three electives, and twelve credits of dissertation research.

Doctoral candidacy: Pass a qualifying exam taken at the end of the second year. Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research. Project: Complete a summer project.

Program Requirements - Organizations and Social Change Track

Complete a minimum of 54 credits from at least 15 courses including two core courses, six track courses, six electives, and twelve credits of dissertation research.

Doctoral candidacy: Pass a qualifying exam by the end of the second year. Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research. Project: Complete a summer project after the first year.

Learning Outcomes

As a candidate in the Business Administration PhD, you will:

• Develop a strong foundation in the theories and concepts of business administration
• Acquire advanced research skills to design and conduct original research in the field of business administration
• Build the ability to analyze complex business problems and develop innovative solutions
• Develop the capacity to effectively communicate research findings through scholarly writing and presentations

Learning Outcomes: OSC Track

The OSC PhD track will prepare students to pursue academic and research careers and have a broader impact on the world by engaging with the media and organizational practice. Students will learn how to:

• Apply theoretical frameworks to understand business and organizational practices, as well as their economic, social, cultural, environmental, and political impacts
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research and identify problems and solutions
• Critique policy and articulate recommendations on issues at the interface of business, government, and critical social issues
• Translate research into more practice-oriented articles, media coverage, and organizational interventions

Graduate Program Director Chi Wan (Finance) Chi.Wan [at] umb.edu

Graduate Program Director Ehsan Elahi (Information Systems for Data Science and Management) Ehsan.Elahi [at] umb.edu (617) 287-7881

Graduate Program Director Silvia Dorado-Banacloche (Organizations and Social Change) Silvia.Dorado [at] umb.edu (617) 287-7860

Finance Faculty

• Mehran Azimi, Assistant Professor of Finance
• Arindam Bandopadhyaya, Professor of Finance, Chair of Accounting and Finance Department
• Atreya Chakraborty, Professor of Finance, Director of Partnerships and PhD Program
• Mine Ertugrul, Associate Professor of Finance
• James L. Grant, Associate Professor of Finance
• Tyler J. Hull, Assistant Professor of Finance
• Aditya Kashikar, Assistant Professor of Finance
• Rui Li, Associate Professor of Financial Economics
• Lucia Silva-Gao, Associate Professor of Finance
• Chi Wan, Associate Professor of Finance
• Yijia (Eddie) Zhao, Associate Professor of Finance

Accounting Faculty

• Ting Chen, Assistant Professor of Accounting
• Thomas J. Hogan, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Robert Kim, Assistant Professor of Accounting
• Sangwan Kim, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Jay Junghun Lee, Associate Professor of Accounting
• KoEun Park, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Yong-Chul Shin, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Surjit Tinaikar, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Kiran Verma, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Wan-Ting (Alexandra) Wu, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Xiaolu Xu, Associate Professor of Accounting
• Kun Yu, Associate Professor of Accounting

OSC Faculty

• Alessia Contu, Chair, Department of Management; Professor of Management
• Edward J. Carberry, Associate Professor of Management
• Silvia Dorado-Banacloche, Associate Professor of Management
• Samantha E. Erskine, Assistant Professor of Management
• Pacey C. Foster, Associate Professor of Management
• Janice Goldman, Senior Lecturer II in Management
• Mohsin Habib, Associate Professor of Management
• Marc Lavine, Associate Professor of Management
• David Levy, Professor of Management
• Benyamin B. Lichtenstein, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management
• J. Keith Motley, Professor of Management
• Jared M. Poole, Assistant Professor of Management
• Maureen A. Scully, Professor of Management
• Vesela Veleva, Senior Lecturer in Management

ISDS Faculty

• Ramakrishna Ayyagari, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
• Pratyush Bharati, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
• Roger Blake, Associate Chair, Management Science & Information Systems; Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
• Kui Du, Assistant Professor of Management Science and Information Systems
• Ehsan Elahi, Associate Professor of Management Science
• Davood Golmohammadi, Associate Professor of Management Science
• Shan Jiang, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
• Jeffrey Keisler, Professor of Management Information Systems
• Jonathan Kim, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
• Jean-Pierre Kuilboer, Associate Professor of Management Science and Information Systems
• Daniel Lee, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
• Josephine Namayanja, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
• Romilla Syed, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems
• Peng Xu, Chair of Management Science and Information Systems; Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
• Wei Zhang, Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems

Accounting & Finance Department

Learn more about UMass Boston's Department of Accounting & Finance, our research and our faculty.

College of Management

Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Management.

• Youth Program
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PhD Program

• Program of Study

Wharton’s PhD program in Finance provides students with a solid foundation in the theoretical and empirical tools of modern finance, drawing heavily on the discipline of economics.

The department prepares students for careers in research and teaching at the world’s leading academic institutions, focusing on Asset Pricing and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Financial Institutions and Macroeconomics.

Wharton’s Finance faculty, widely recognized as the finest in the world, has been at the forefront of several areas of research. For example, members of the faculty have led modern innovations in theories of portfolio choice and savings behavior, which have significantly impacted the asset pricing techniques used by researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Another example is the contribution by faculty members to the analysis of financial institutions and markets, which is fundamental to our understanding of the trade-offs between economic systems and their implications for financial fragility and crises.

Faculty research, both empirical and theoretical, includes such areas as:

• Structure of financial markets
• Formation and behavior of financial asset prices
• Banking and monetary systems
• Corporate control and capital structure
• Saving and capital formation
• International financial markets

Candidates with undergraduate training in economics, mathematics, engineering, statistics, and other quantitative disciplines have an ideal background for doctoral studies in this field.

Effective 2023, The Wharton Finance PhD Program is now STEM certified.

• Course Descriptions
• Course Schedule
• Dissertation Committee and Proposal Defense
• Meet our PhD Students
• Visiting Scholars

More Information

• Apply to Wharton
• Doctoral Inside: Resources for Current PhD Students
• Wharton Doctoral Program Policies
• Transfer of Credit
• Research Fellowship

• Doctoral Programs

Financial economics encompasses a broad area of topics and issues, including corporate investments and financing policy, security valuation, portfolio management, the behavior of prices in speculative markets, financial institutions, and intermediation.

The PhD specialization in finance is designed to give the student a strong background for study and research in both theoretical and empirical work in finance and related areas. Emphasis is placed on understanding the important concepts and models. Students normally take several graduate courses in the Department of Economics, particularly in microeconomics and macroeconomic theory, the economics of uncertainty, and econometrics.

The program offers two courses specifically in financial theory and its applications. In addition, the faculty and doctoral students attend a seminar that features speakers from around the country. However, the specialization is built primarily around individual study and research under the guidance of the faculty.

Examples of potential areas of research for the financial economics dissertation:

• Principal-agent relationships
• Financial intermediation
• Efficiency of markets
• Portfolio selection

Finance Department

Finance students don't just study money, they study how money interacts with risk and time. Understanding this relationship is critical to helping individuals, companies and governments make wise decisions about managing capital, investing or borrowing funds, optimizing returns, and staying financially sound.

Degree Options in Finance

At Isenberg, finance students learn how to raise debt and equity capital, evaluate profitability and riskiness of projects, value small businesses and large corporations, and make traditional and alternative investments in global financial markets. In all our programs, we are preparing students to practice finance in the 21st century. 

Center for International Securities and Derivative Markets

Our high-profile Center for International Securities and Derivative Markets (CISDM) underscores our longstanding leadership in alternative investments education and research. Through CISDM, students gain access to the Morningstar CISDM Database, the oldest hedge fund and commodity trading advisor data base on the market. And they gain an “inside industry” edge into how those markets perform and evolve.

Finance Faculty

Professional Organizations

We encourage our students to get involved with industry now! There are many finance-related organizations that students can turn to for learning and networking.

Finance Department News

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PhD in Business Administration

The PhD in Business Administration in the WPI Business School is designed in accordance with the university’s mission to create, discover, and convey knowledge, and to prepare students for research work that improves society through the collaborative work of people and organizations.

Value Proposition Description

Limited funding may be available for select PhD students.

Prior to applying, please contact the appropriate PhD faculty advisor with resume, proposed area of research, transcript and relevant test scores.

Admission to the PhD program is highly competitive. The following criteria must be met prior to consideration:

• Graduate of an accredited U.S. college or university or an approved foreign equivalent institution.
• Earned grade point averages of 3.5 or better in all prior undergraduate and graduate studies.
• Satisfactory GMAT or GRE taken within the last five years. The Business School PhD program requires a minimum GMAT score of 600 or its equivalent on the GRE . The WPI alum GMAT/GRE waiver policy does not apply to the PhD program, and a WPI alum must submit their GMAT/GRE scores.
• International applicants from non-English speaking countries must submit a TOEFL score report with a minimum score of 100 (internet based) or an IELTS band score of 7.5.
• Additional application requirements can be found here

In addition, a student with a master’s degree will be expected to have successfully demonstrated graduate-level knowledge in a traditional business discipline such as Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, or Operations Management; or in a discipline that is relevant to the student’s proposed concentration.  Furthermore, the applicant will demonstrate undergraduate competency in Calculus, Statistics and/or Micro/Macro Economics. Admissions decisions will be based on a review of the applicant’s combined portfolios. 

The PhD degree requirements consist of coursework and research, which together must total at least 60 credit hours beyond the master’s degree requirement. We consider abilities for independent thinking, research, and creativity through past work and research experiences. It is important to show fit with our faculty research interests in one of the three concentrations: Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, and Operations Management. In the application, indicate a concentration and a faculty sponsor who is willing to be the potential dissertation advisor. 

A GMAT/GRE waiver may be granted if the applicant has significant amount of research experience AND has an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher AND has at least two quantitative courses (undergraduate or graduate) with a grade of 3.5 or higher.   To request this test waiver, please reach out to your admission counselor detailing your credentials for the waiver as well as your application ID number so that your waiver request along with your applications materials including resume and transcript(s) can be reviewed by the PhD Program Director.

Any international applicant seeking to attend WPI on an F-1 student Visa must submit official TOEFL scores or IELTS scores. However, if applicants have two years of continuous full-time college study completed within the last five years, in a country whose official language is English, he or she can apply for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver.   To request this test waiver, please reach out to your  admission counselor  detailing your credentials for the waiver as well as your application ID number so that your waiver request along with your applications materials including resume and transcript(s) can be reviewed by the PhD Program Director. 

Available Concentrations

Entrepreneurship encompasses opportunity seeking and identification, financing new enterprises, corporate venturing and other related topics. Research subjects address the conceptualization of new venture business models through to formulating exit strategies. Special areas of emphasis include technology entrepreneurship, intellectual property commercialization, international and cross-cultural studies, social entrepreneurship, and issues associated with trans-generational entrepreneurship in family business. For more information, please contact Beswick Endowed Chair of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Professor Rosanna Garcia .

Students will learn to use qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and apply theories regarding design, implementation, and use of advanced information systems and technologies with the goal of developing and publishing new information technology knowledge.  Students will study information technology and how it affects individuals, organizations, and society. By working closely with WPI’s Information Technology scholars, students will learn to conduct theoretically sound information technology research that addresses real business problems, apply for research grants, and teach information technology courses. WPI’s Information Technology scholars will involve PhD candidates in their research activities in various organizations in the region, including those in the technology, healthcare, financial, and public sectors. For more information, please contact  Associate Professor Soussan Djamasbi .

Students will pursue research in the areas of management sciences, operations research, business analytics, health care management, supply chain management, and decision analysis. The operations area undertakes research on decision-making through quantitative modeling of operations functions in businesses. Research topics cover all levels of business decision-making, from operation systems design and technology choices to day-to-day scheduling and performance measurement. The program emphasizes research that focuses on real business problems and maintains a balance between theory and practice. This concentration is designed to train PhD students in fundamental and applied business modeling and analytical thinking. For more information, please contact  Professor Joe Zhu .

Improving Technology by Studying the User Experience

Faculty Profiles

I love teaching entrepreneurship because of the amazing innovations that students ideate and then create businesses around. I like the quote attributed to both Homer (the philosopher, not the father of Bart) and Steve Jobs, "The journey is the reward." I'm honored to be able to guide the WPI students through their journeys of not only learning about business ownership, but also actually building something - whether it’s a prototype, a minimally viable product (MVP) or a company. Being in a university setting provides students with a safety net to fail fast and pivot thei

Joe Zhu is Professor of Operations Analytics in the Business School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He is an internationally recognized expert in methods of performance evaluation and benchmarking using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), and his research interests are in the areas of operations and business analytics, productivity modeling, and performance evaluation and benchmarking. He has published and co-edited several books focusing on performance evaluation and benchmarking using DEA and developed the DEAFrontier software.

I specialize in user experience and decision-making research, focusing on uncovering the intricacies of human cognition to understand the factors that enhance or impede the effective use of information technologies.

Refer a Friend

Do you have a friend, colleague, or family member who might be interested in Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s (WPI) graduate programs? Click below to tell them about our programs.

The BioPoint Program for Graduate Students has been designed to complement traditional training in bioscience, digital and engineering fields. Students accepted into one of the home BioPoint programs will have the flexibility to select research advisors and take electives in other departments to broaden their skills. BioPoint curriculum is designed to be individual, interactive, project-focused and diverse, and includes innovative courses, seminars, journal clubs and industrial-based projects. Learn more .

• Harvard Business School →
• Doctoral Programs →

PhD Programs

• Accounting & Management
• Business Economics
• Health Policy (Management)
• Organizational Behavior
• Technology & Operations Management

Students in our PhD programs are encouraged from day one to think of this experience as their first job in business academia—a training ground for a challenging and rewarding career generating rigorous, relevant research that influences practice.

Our doctoral students work with faculty and access resources throughout HBS and Harvard University. The PhD program curriculum requires coursework at HBS and other Harvard discipline departments, and with HBS and Harvard faculty on advisory committees. Faculty throughout Harvard guide the programs through their participation on advisory committees.

How do I know which program is right for me?

There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics. Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research , and placement information.

The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program has four areas of study: Accounting and Management , Marketing , Strategy , and Technology and Operations Management . All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research, working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business degree before joining the program

The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.

The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) is rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomic theory, management, research methods, and statistics. The backgrounds of students in this program are quite varied, with some coming from public health or the healthcare industry, while others arrive at the program with a background in disciplinary research

The PhD program in Organizational Behavior offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach. In the micro track, students focus on the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and the effects that groups have on individuals. Students in the macro track use sociological methods to examine organizations, groups, and markets as a whole, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program includes core disciplinary training in sociology or psychology, as well as additional coursework in organizational behavior.

Accounting & Management  

Business economics  , health policy (management)  , marketing  , organizational behavior  , strategy  , technology & operations management  .

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M.S. in Finance

• M.S. Programs

• M.S. in Accounting

By mastering the enduring principles that underlie financial markets, MSF students broaden their career opportunities and make names for themselves in their fields. Our program emphasizes financial analytical skills that students can bring to workplaces in corporate finance, asset management, and investment banking.

Application & Requirements

Take the first step, we can help you reach your goals., at a glance.

The program requires 10 courses.

Full-time students have 12 months to complete the program while part-time students will take approximately 20 months.

All M.S. in Finance students are required to complete 10 hours of community service in order to graduate.

209,000+

Boston College Alumni

44,000+

Carroll School Alumni

Financial Times Faculty Research Ranking

(Average ranking over the past five years)

• Full-Time: Quantitative Finance Track

Program Length

Students have 12 months to complete the 10-course program. Full-time students typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters, and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer.

Students will complete Managerial Statistics, which is a self-paced online course, during the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will receive instructions and information about the course from the Graduate Student Services Office in June. All assignments for this course will be due by mid-August.

Core Courses

• Investments (MFIN8801)
• Corporate Finance (MFIN8807)
• Management of Financial Institutions (MFIN8820)
• Financial Econometrics (MFIN8852)

Spring/Summer

• Quantitative Portfolio Management (MFIN8803)
• Derivatives & Risk Analytics (MFIN8860)
• Advanced Corporate Finance (MFIN8881)

Elective Courses

These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please  check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.

The quantitative finance track is a STEM-designated track, and allows you to complete the 10 total courses required for the MSF in one full year of study (12 months). Full-time students can typically take four classes in each of the fall and spring semesters, and finish their degrees by taking two classes during the summer.

• Financial Econometrics (MFIN8852)  

Select four of the following Spring/Summer courses

• FinTech and Cryptocurrencies (MFIN6650)
• Global Macro and the Financial System (MFIN8850)
• Derivatives and Risk Analytics (MFIN8860)
• Behavioral Finance (MFIN8865)
• Data Analytics in Finance (MFIN8870)
• Fixed Income Analysis (MFIN8880)

These electives must be 6000- and/or 8000-level electives in the Finance department (MFIN). Finance department 7000-level courses are for MBA students only. Electives may have more than one pre-requisite. Please  check Agora under "Course Information and Schedules" for specifics.

STEM Designation

Boston College’s Master of Science in Finance (MSF) Quantitative Finance Track is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) designated program. This classification allows international MSF graduates on an F-1 visa to potentially qualify for an additional 24 months of training in their field of study (called Optional Practical Training or OPT) beyond the standard 12 months. Eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students with a STEM degree from a Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified U.S. school who participate in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT (typically 12 months) may be eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension.

To qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student must:

• Have completed a degree in an  eligible STEM field  from an SEVP certified U.S. school.
• Maintained lawful F-1 status during the standard 12 month period of OPT.
• Have employment through an employer enrolled in USCIS’s  E-Verify  employment eligibility verification program.
• Work with the employer to complete a formal training (I-983) and learning objectives.
• Be employed at least 20 hours per week in a position directly related to the STEM degree.

STEM OPT Help Hub

Program Schedule

The part-time option offers a flexible schedule, enabling you to earn your degree while continuing to advance your career. Part-time students take two classes per semester on average. At this pace, the total duration of the 10-course program will be approximately 20 months.

Required Courses

• Investments (MFIN8801)*
• Corporate Finance (MFIN8807)*
• Managerial Statistics (BZAN7703)**

* As Investments and Corporate Finance are prerequisite courses for most other finance classes, students should plan to take these courses first.

** This is a zero-credit, self-paced online course. All part-Time MSF students are required to take this course in their first semester.

Choose One of the Following Courses

• Corporate Valuation and Restructuring (MFIN8821)

Course Information and Schedules

Course Waivers

Incoming students who took an MSF core course as an undergraduate may be eligible to waive the course, and to replace it with an elective, by passing a waiver exam. Waiver exams must be completed no later than the deadline of August 1. Incoming students requesting a course waiver must submit requests to Professor Michael Barry. Students will be notified of the results of their waiver exam prior to the start of the Fall semester.

MSF students who received an undergraduate degree from Boston College and who achieved a minimum grade of B+ in an MSF core course taken at Boston College will be allowed to replace that course with an elective, provided they have taken the course within the past five years. Students who received a grade of B or lower or who took the course more than five years prior to starting the MSF program may take a waiver exam or they may retake the course with a professor other than the one who taught their undergraduate course. For more information, please contact the Graduate Programs Office at 617-552-3773 or gsomstsv@bc.edu .

Community Service

The Carroll School has a proud tradition of service to our community. In keeping with that tradition and with our Jesuit heritage, all M.S. in Finance students are required to complete 10 hours of community service in order to graduate.

Community Service Guidelines

Class Profile

Class entering Fall 2023

Full-Time Students

Academic & professional profile.

*African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American.

Note: All class profile information is accurate as of September 12, 2023

International Enrollments

Hong Kong SAR

South Korea

United Kingdom

Undergraduate Majors

Part-time students.

Tuition & Aid

An MSF from the Carroll School is an excellent investment in your future. We offer merit-based scholarships and financial assistance to qualified applicants. Loan and work study programs are also available.

More About Tuition & Aid

Alumni Experiences

Rosie Xue Rui ’20, Quantitative Financial Analyst, Zenith Stone Asset Management

“The BC MSF offers a perfect blend of quantitative and qualitative classes, industry exposure, and programming—all of which aligned perfectly with my goals.”

Madison Borrelli ’21, Ph.D. in Finance Candidate, University of Central Florida

“Not only was I being academically challenged inside of the classroom, but I was also strengthening my networking and communication skills, while making lifelong connections.”

Cole Conderman ’22, Advisory Associate, KPMG

“I chose to pursue my MSF at Boston College due to the reputation of the Carroll School name, BC’s proximity to America’s major financial hubs, and the program’s world-class educational experience.”

Udaypaul Chilana ’22, Investment Analyst, Cambridge Associates

“The professors are what make Boston College unique. They are some of the top minds in their fields, with extensive academic and professional achievements.”

Virtual Coffee Chats

Chat with a current student and learn more about the BC MSF program.

Register for a Coffee Chat

In-Person Campus Tours

Enjoy a 30-minute walking tour of Fulton Hall and upper campus.

Visit Campus

Application Link & Deadlines

Important Notice About the 2025 Application: The application for 2025 will be available in late August. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact us at bcmba@bc.edu .

Application Fee: All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 USD.

Admission Decisions: Applications are generally reviewed on a rolling basis. This means that, provided their applications are complete, applicants may receive admission decisions before the notification deadlines. However, it is important for applicants to understand that decisions are only guaranteed by the official notification date.

Rounds & Final Deadlines: For priority consideration, applicants must submit their applications by the earliest date possible. Applications received after the last deadline are reviewed on a space-available basis.

Full-time MSF 2025 Deadlines

Part-time MSF 2025 Deadlines

* International applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by these deadlines.

+ Rolling notification date: Candidates with complete applications, which include the receipt of letters of recommendation, will receive decisions within ten business days.

Boston College Fifth-Year BC Applicants

Boston College undergraduates currently in the second semester of their junior year or at any point in their senior year are eligible to apply to the Master of Science in Finance program as fifth-year applicants. Once enrolled, students can complete their MSA or MSF degree in as little as nine months from the program start date.

Fifth-year applicant requirements

Resume or CV

Use this component of the application to outline your educational background and professional experience, including part-time and internship roles with months and years in each position.

✓ Application Tip: We recommend limiting your resume to one to two pages. Please also make sure that your resume corresponds to the information submitted in the “Employment” section of your online application.

Transcripts

All applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You must submit transcripts from every institution where you were enrolled in a degree-granting program. At the time of application, only a self-reported transcript is required but if you are admitted, we will require an official transcript sent directly from your degree-granting institution. Transcripts should include:

Course names

All grades received (including transfer credits and study abroad programs)

Cumulative GPA

Degree conferral information

Graduates of non-U.S. institutions must possess a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. If admitted, international students are required to submit an official English translation of all academic credentials, along with a third-party degree verification from an agency such as  SpanTran/TEC  or  World Education Services (WES) .

✓ Application Tip: Verify that your degree is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree before starting your application. Agencies such as WES provide a variety of degree equivalency tools and services .

Standardized Tests

Applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores from within the past five years. We accept both the GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. Our test codes are:

GMAT school code: 44x-J5-96

GRE school code: 3033

GMAT/GRE Waivers

Full-time MSF applicants for Fall 2025 may request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Learn more and submit a full-time MSF GMAT/GRE waiver request before completing your application.

Part-time MSF candidates may also request consideration for a GMAT/GRE waiver. Learn more and submit a part-time MSF GMAT/GRE waiver request before completing your application.

✓ Application Tip: While Graduate Admissions does not have a preference between the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to consult class profile data  for average test scores in order to gauge where you stand. 

English Proficiency

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are required to submit an English language proficiency exam score with your application. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test. 

Scores must be from within the past two years, and applicants must meet the following minimum scores:

TOEFL, iBT, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 100

You are eligible to waive the language test requirement if you meet either of the following criteria:

You have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year master’s degree (or higher) at an institution where the medium language of instruction is English. You must have completed your degree in its entirety at the English-medium institution. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your transcript or verified in an official letter from the institution.

You have worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language. NOTE: Working for a company that conducts its business in English in a country where English is not an official language will not qualify you for a language test waiver.

✓ Application Tip: If you are eligible to waive the language test requirement, you do not need to submit a waiver request beforehand and can simply move forward with your application.

Letter of Recommendation

Only one letter of recommendation is required to complete your application, though we will accept up to three letters.

We are interested in learning about you from an individual who can provide an objective appraisal of your capacity for intensive graduate study and your potential for professional success.

Recommenders are required to submit the recommendation forms online and will receive instructions through email once you complete the “Recommendation” section of your application.

✓ Application Tip: MSF applicants are advised to submit recommendations from either academic references such as professors, or professional references such as supervisors or managers.

Required & Optional Essays

All applicants must submit a required essay of no more than 500 words telling us about your past experiences, short- and long-term goals, and why you want to pursue an MSF at Boston College. You may also submit an optional essay that addresses aspects of your candidacy that have not already been covered in other parts of the application.

✓ Application Tip: We want to hear about you and appreciate when applicants craft a unique response to the questions. Learn more about our essay questions and how to answer them .

If you have any further application-related questions, we encourage you to register for an App-y Hour application support session . These small-group sessions are held through Zoom and led by a member of the Graduate Admissions team.

Thinking about your fit for Carroll School of Management graduate programs?  Review some tips and tactics to assess your candidacy .

You can also email us at bcmba@bc.edu , or schedule a phone call or Zoom appointment with a member of the Graduate Admission team.

Quick Links

Graduate admission faq, why the carroll school, diversity & inclusion, facts & figures.

Global. Rigorous. Adaptive. Register your interest!

Smart. Open. Grounded. Inventive. Read our Ideas Made to Matter.

Which program is right for you?

Through intellectual rigor and experiential learning, this full-time, two-year MBA program develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

A rigorous, hands-on program that prepares adaptive problem solvers for premier finance careers.

A 12-month program focused on applying the tools of modern data science, optimization and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

A doctoral program that produces outstanding scholars who are leading in their fields of research.

Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

Apply now and work for two to five years. We'll save you a seat in our MBA class when you're ready to come back to campus for your degree.

Executive Programs

The 20-month program teaches the science of management to mid-career leaders who want to move from success to significance.

A full-time MBA program for mid-career leaders eager to dedicate one year of discovery for a lifetime of impact.

A joint program for mid-career professionals that integrates engineering and systems thinking. Earn your master’s degree in engineering and management.

Non-degree programs for senior executives and high-potential managers.

A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

Master of Finance

Customized for high achievers.

This top-tier, early-career STEM-designated Master of Finance program is individualized and prepares students with a deep understanding of how markets work. This rigorous curriculum is engineered around the most advanced financial and quantitative theories and practices.

Explore the MFin Curriculum

Optional Concentrations

The MFin program offers a solid foundation with the flexibility to customize your experience. Specialize in financial engineering, capital markets, corporate finance, or impact finance to tailor your degree.

Learn more about optional concentrations

"During my time in the MFin program, I have learned to leverage the techniques of mathematics and engineering to thrive in a challenging environment."

Action Learning: Think. Act. Reflect. (Repeat.)

MIT Sloan's Action Learning blends academic rigor with actual business challenges. In small teams of 3-6 students, work directly with corporate partners with the careful guidance of your professor. Gain hands-on experience and build valuable relationships. This dynamic learning environment builds your portfolio of outcome-oriented case studies and develops critical, high-demand professional skills. This exceptional educational experience gives you a competitive advantage in the job market.

Read more about the Proseminar in Capital Markets/Investment management Read more about the proseminar in corporate finance/investment banking

What does it mean to be STEM designated?

For starters, it means international students can legally work in the u.s. after graduation..

What aspects of the MFin curriculum make STEM classification possible?  Our STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program classification means that MFin complies with the definitions set forth by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  MFin’s curriculum focuses on the rigorous application of mathematics and statistics to the discipline of finance, including the development, critique, and application of financial models and instruction on a comprehensive range of methodologies, processes, and applications, which amounts to an extra two years of working in the United States.

What is the significance of STEM Classification for international students?  Classification as a STEM program as defined by the DHS allows international students to extend their training in the United States by working in their field of study. 

What are the terms of the extended training?  International Master of Finance graduates on F-1 visas will have the option to remain in the United States for an additional 24 months via the optional practical training STEM extension. Instead of 12 months of optional practical training, they have a total of 36 months under STEM, which amounts to an extra two years of working in the United States.

World-renowned faculty, refreshingly accessible

Learn from faculty who drive finance innovation in a collaborative way. This caliber of professor comes to MIT to challenge you and champion your next big idea. Because your success is their success.

Faculty Spotlight

Deborah J. Lucas

Economics, Finance and Accounting

Sloan Distinguished Professor of Finance

Robert C. Merton

School of Management Distinguished Professor of Finance

Gita R. Rao

Senior Lecturer, Finance; Assoc. Faculty Director, MFin Program

David Thesmar

Franco Modigliani Professor of Financial Economics

Rodrigo Verdi

Deputy Dean for Degree Programs, Teaching and Learning

Nomura Professor of Finance

[email protected]   |   +1.617.258.5434 📍  50 Memorial Drive, E52-359, Cambridge, MA 02142

Master of Finance

The master of finance degree delivers the specialized skills and expertise needed to succeed in the fast-growing, complex asset management industry. Cutting-edge knowledge of best practices and ethics as well as a full range of strategies is essential to thrive in the industry. Students will move through a one-year, on-campus, 10-course curriculum (30 credits).

Application information & deadlines

Early action, february 1, 2024, april 1, 2024, may 1, 2023.

For domestic applicants only.

Accelerate your career in the fast-growing, complex asset management industry, gaining the cutting-edge knowledge and credentials you need.

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PhD Funding

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PhD Funding and Benefit Packages

Charles river campus.

Boston University’s PhD programs on the Charles River Campus subscribe to a full funding model. This system guarantees all PhD students in good standing five years of stipend support, 100% tuition scholarship, and a health insurance credit. This approach reflects BU’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers across the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and engineering. Stipend level minimums vary by PhD program, but for the 2024-25 academic year, minimums will range from $27,318 for 8 months to $40,977 for 12 months. Students receive health insurance (the SHIP basic plan) through Aetna Student Health. Full tuition and student services fees are also covered for PhD students on the Charles River campus.

Medical Campus

PhD students in Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) at Boston University’s School of Medicine and the School of Public Health (SPH) also enjoy a full-funding model. GMS and SPH PhD students receive a full tuition scholarship, are exempt from paying student fees, receive health insurance coverage as part of their support, and are entitled to an annual stipend. For more specific information, please visit the PhD funding sections of GMS and SPH .

PhD Stipend Extensions for Students Impacted by the COVID Pandemic

Boston University believes it is crucial to ensure that current PhD students who have had their progress impeded by the pandemic are able to complete their degrees. While individual PhD programs and the schools/colleges in which they are housed are the primary source of academic and financial support for PhD students, in rare circumstances, programs and schools/colleges may not have adequate resources to support all students whose progress has been hindered by the pandemic. For this reason, the Office of the Provost has established a fund to support PhD stipend extensions necessitated by this circumstance. Learn more about this funding opportunity and how to apply .

Please note that this program will end after the 2023-2024 academic year, concluding in early spring 2024 for logistical and operational purposes.

PhD Funding by School/College

You can learn more about specific funding packages through the school or college to which you are applying or in which you are enrolled:

• Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
• Wheelock School of Education and Human Development
• College of Engineering
• College of Communication
• College of Fine Arts
• PhD Human Physiology
• PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences
• PhD in Speech, Language and Hearing Science
• Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences
• School of Medicine (Graduate Medical Sciences)
• PhD in Biostatistics
• PhD in Environmental Health
• PhD in Epidemiology
• PhD in Health Services Research
• School of Social Work
• School of Theology
• Questrom School of Business

D'Amore-McKim School of Business

Fintech management.

The STEM-designated Master’s in Management—or MS x—at our Miami campus offers a laser focus on fintech. Your courses will be enriched by experience-powered learning to prepare you for a dynamic career in this rapidly growing field. 

Technology advances have changed how we shop, bank, lend, and raise money, transforming the business and financial landscape. Employers increasingly seek experienced, qualified professionals with broad business skill sets who understand technological advancements driving innovation in financial services. 

With this goal in mind, D’Amore-McKim created the pioneering STEM-designated MS x program in Miami. With a specialized fintech curriculum, you’ll dive into the exciting intersection of finance and technology.

The curriculum covers data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) in finance, preparing you for roles in startups, tech firms, and forward-thinking financial institutions. Experience practical learning through Northeastern’s experiential approach, collaborating with industry leaders and peers to enhance your leadership capabilities.

International students benefit from STEM designation with up to 36 months of U.S. work eligibility through Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension. Join a diverse community and contribute to the future of fintech in a global, data-driven environment.

Dive deeper into the  MS x Miami  program on the D’Amore-McKim School of Business website.

More Details

Unique features.

• Delve into data analytics, machine learning, AI in finance, and more.
• Learn from faculty at the forefront of fintech research, constantly exploring new ways to enhance financial technologies.
• Benefit from applied learning and problem-solving opportunities.
• Complete your degree in as few as 12 months with full-time study or in less than two years with part-time study.
• The program is STEM-designated and F-1 visa compliant.
• International students may become eligible to apply for  OPT  with the additional  OPT STEM Extension .

Accreditation

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International—the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.

Testimonials

— felipe cortes, associate teaching professor, looking for something different.

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-ranked university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

• Application form
• Application fee
• A personal statement (<=500 words) and a short essay (<=300 words)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Academic transcript(s) from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended
• Kira online interview (by invitation, access is provided after submitting your application)
• Optional GMAT/GRE test scores (for more information, review our admissions policies )
• TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or PTE Academic (for international students only, view more information and waiver eligibility in our admissions policies )
• Passport or permanent residency card (if applicable)

Are You an International Student? Find everything you need, from tuition and financial aid to deadlines and procedures.

Admissions Details Learn more about the D’Amore-McKim School of Business admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Spring term is available for part-time only. Fall term is available for part-time or full-time.

* Final deadline for international applicants who require a new F-1 or J-1 visa

Industry-aligned courses for in-demand careers.

For 100+ years, we’ve designed our programs with one thing in mind—your success. Explore the current program requirements and course descriptions, all designed to meet today’s industry needs and must-have skills.

View curriculum

D'Amore-McKim excels at integrating classroom instruction and academic thinking with authentic, experience-powered learning. This approach expands your knowledge base, develops your creative mindset, and prepares you to meet the shifting demands of today’s financial services world.

• Micro-internships
• Virtual work experiences

Our Faculty

Northeastern University faculty represents a broad cross-section of professional practices and fields, including finance, education, biomedical science, management, and the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside you to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

By enrolling in Northeastern, you’ll be connected to students at our 13 campuses, as well as 300,000-plus alumni and more than 3,500 employer partners around the world. Our global university system provides you with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally and serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

Potential Places to Work

• Haitou Global

Roles You Might Consider

• Fintech product manager
• Financial analyst
• Compliance specialist
• Quantitative analyst
• Digital banking manager

Skills You May Develop

• Valuation and research
• Investments
• Data analysis
• AI and machine learning
• Compliance and regulatory knowledge

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Double Husky innovates with Wishing Well, a community-centric finance app for social empowerment

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One night about seven years ago, double Husky Kadesh Simms Conroy had a dream.

With her Wishing Well community finance app, Simms Conroy has made that dream into a reality.

“In the dream it showed me this visual of a time that would come when we would need to really pool our resources and communities, and it showed this app,” Simms Conroy says. “So, it was a dream of a blueprint for something to come in the future. When I woke up, I started drawing what it looked like.”

Wishing Well is a peer-to-peer payment digital wallet that allows users to hold and save their money together as a group in individual “wells” and to use that money to support community goals, individual expenses and purchases.

“Essentially, they become their own bank,” Simms Conroy explains. “It’s a tool for those that won’t have access to large sums of capital to utilize the community to access that capital together.”

Simms Conroy says that the app has multiple benefits. 

It is economically empowering because it allows individuals to raise capital without the processes and sometimes onerous credit or collateral requirements of a traditional bank. 

It is also socially empowering because it can be used by individuals in communities underserved by financial institutions.

“Women’s ventures tend to get the least amount of financing, the least amount of capital and people of color tend to get the least amount of financing and the least amount of capital,” Simms Conroy says. “So it is helping to create a more financially inclusive world by using the communities that we live in to bank with. We decide, the banks don’t decide.”

Already, users with a beta version of the app have been able to pay for homes, emergency bills and college costs, Simms Conroy says. The app fully launches in November.

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It is the latest step on what Simms Conroy calls her “unique journey.” 

Simms Conroy emigrated with her parents and five brothers from Jamaica to Roxbury when she was 11 years old.

“I hate to speak anything negative about my past or my future, but we were pretty poor,” Simms Conroy says. “There was a little poverty going on there, but my parents did the best that they could.”

But education was important to the family.

The family lived across the street from Northeastern, and as a seventh grader at Boston Latin Academy, Simms Conroy applied for Balfour Academy , a summer academic program affiliated with the university. 

She called the academy “a very robust program,” after which Simms Conroy was accepted with a full tuition scholarship to Northeastern as an undergraduate. She graduated with a degree in business with a focus on information technology and human resources in 2001. 

After working for several years in the local nonprofit sector, Simms Conroy returned to the university for an MBA, graduating in 2008 with a focus on social entrepreneurship. 

She says that the university’s transformation — and with it the surrounding community transformation — inspired her. 

“I got to see both worlds and live in both worlds,” Simms Conroy says. “Being able to witness that in my Northeastern journey also shows the ability and the power that you can transform a community through individuals and through systems and through people who have the right heart for justice and the right heart for ensuring that communities that are marginalized are not marginalized any longer.”

That journey culminates with Simms Conroy being named the recipient of the Powering Social Impact award at the 2024 Women Who Empower Innovator Awards. 

“I was walking by the Northeastern campus as a 15-year-old, as a 16-year-old, and somehow or other faith, and destiny, and God ensured that I was in the right place at the right time with the right people,” Simms Conroy says. “It was an internal driver and something that said that there was more and there is greater, not just for me but for my community.”

As for future steps on the journey, Simms Conroy says she envisions “wells” where people can save their money popping up in communities around the world. 

“I would love to see as a result of the wells that communities and people are thriving and living a vision of their life that aligns with all of the pillars of well-being — so emotional well-being, financial well-being, physical well-being,” Simms Conroy says. 

“We all know that money and the access to finances and resources are directly linked to how people live their lives and their ability to experience financial freedom,” Simms Conroy continues. “So, I want it to scale, and I want it to empower people to do what they need with their finances and to experience freedom in all areas of their lives.”

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