Why Marshall
Leadership
Dean Geoffrey Garrett
Dean's Cabinet
Boards
Real-World Learning
Human Leadership
Tech Fluency
Global Opportunities
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Teaching + Innovation
Experiential Learning Center
Open Expression Statement
Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Admissions
Degrees
BS Business Administration (BUAD)
Business Emphases
BS Accounting (ACCT)
World Bachelor in Business (WBB)
BS Business of Cinematic Arts (BCA)
BS Artificial Intelligence for Business (BUAI)
Undergraduate Minors
Graduate Programs
MBA Programs
Full-Time MBA (FTMBA)
Executive MBA (EMBA)
Part-Time MBA (MBA.PM)
International MBA (IBEAR)
Online MBA (OMBA)
Specialized Masters
MS Business Administration (MSBUSAD)
MS Business Analytics (MSBA)
MS Entrepreneurship + Innovation (MSEI)
MS Finance (MSF)
MS Global Supply Chain Management (MSGSCM)
MS Marketing (MSMKT)
MS Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE)
Master of Business for Veterans (MBV)
Master of Management Studies (MMS)
Accounting Masters
Master of Accounting (MAcc)
Master of Business Taxation (MBT)
Master of Business Taxation for Working Professionals (MBT.WP)
PhD Program
Accounting
Data Sciences + Operations
Finance
Management + Organization
Marketing
Graduate Certificates
GC in Business Analytics
GC in Financial Analysis + Valuation
GC in Management Studies
GC in Marketing
GC in Optimization + Supply Chain Management
GC in Strategy + Management Consulting
GC in Sustainability + Business
GC in Technology Commercialization
GC in Library and Information Management – Online
Executive Education
Departments
Business Communication (BUCO)
Faculty
Data Sciences and Operations (DSO)
Finance + Business Economics (FBE)
Leventhal School of Accounting (ACCT)
Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (BAEP)
Management and Organization (MOR)
Marketing (MKT)
Institutes + Centers
Randall R. Kendrick Global Supply Chain Institute
Peter Arkley Institute for Risk Management
VanEck Digital Assets Initiative
Institute for Outlier Research in Business
Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Incubate USC
USC Marshall Venture Fund
Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab
Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making
Center for Effective Organizations
Center for Global Innovation
Center for Investment Studies
Initiative on Digital Competition
Trojan Network
Recruiting
Undergraduate
Graduate
Career Services
Giving + Support
Alumni Engagement + Resources
Student Organizations
PhD Admissions
The USC Marshall School of Business fosters an entrepreneurial and global mindset across all disciplines, and this thought-leadership starts in our faculty and student research. Our PhD Program is dedicated to developing researchers who will become innovators as faculty at business schools throughout the world.
A desire to lead through research, academic potential, and personal discipline are the qualities it takes to succeed as a Marshall PhD student. The new students we enroll each year embody this spirit.
This section of our website is dedicated to finding the next generation of Marshall PhD students. Review the admissions information carefully and prepare an application that best expresses your academic abilities, research interests, and future goals.
Thank you for your interest in the USC Marshall PhD Program. We look forward to receiving your application.
Pictured:
Gizem Ceylan PhD '22, Marketing Postdoctoral Researcher, Yale School of Management
Application Timeline
December 15, 2022: Application Deadline - Accounting and Management & Organization*
January 15, 2023: Application Deadline - Data Sciences & Operations, Finance & Business Economics and Marketing
* Although the Marshall PhD Program application is open until January 15th, the Accounting and Management & Organization programs application deadline is December 15th.
You can submit your application up until 11:59 PM PST on the deadline date. Ensure you allow for time to complete the required payment section. You must click Submit and complete the final payment information before the deadline in order to guarantee your submission is accepted.
Special Notes:
Application Requirements
- Completion of Bachelor’s Degree - Transcripts - GRE or GMAT scores - IELTS or TOEFL scores (international applicants) - Statement of Purpose - Resume/CV - Three Letters of Recommendation - Passport - Application Fee ($90)
Special Notes
All required application materials (below) must be submitted. In the online application system, you will be required to fill out four sections. Please refer to the following four sections (Personal Information, Academic History, Supporting Information, and Program Materials) in which to submit your documents.Please refer to program materials section of the Marshall PhD Program Application to specify the program (accounting, finance, management, marketing, operations, or statistics) you would like to pursue. Under the questions on the program materials section, you will identify your program track of interest.
The Marshall PhD program requires a complete application including valid GRE/GMAT and English proficiency scores and your scores may be self-reported when you apply. Due to Covid, we are accepting the online/home-based exams.
Inputting unofficial (student) score reports via the online application system is a requirement to complete the Marshall PhD application. We know that you may have requested official score reports be sent to USC when you took your exams, but, unfortunately, these records are not immediately available to the Marshall PhD program. Even if you have requested official score reports to be sent to USC, you still need to input the unofficial (student) score report to the online system to ensure timely review of your application. Official test score reports will be requested of applicants who proceed to Round 2 of applications review. Round 2 decisions are sent in mid- to late-February.
If any requirements change due to Covid, further information will be posted on this page.
Academic History
This applies to native English speakers from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec), where English is both the only official language of the country and the language of instruction.
USC does not waive the English-proficiency requirement based on any other consideration such as work experience, ESL enrollment, etc. It also cannot be waived for undergraduate programs taught in English in non-Anglophone countries, or for graduate degrees earned in the U.S. or other qualifying countries.
To determine if USC requires TOEFL/IELTS scores for the country, please check here.
4. you have a bachelor's degree completed in its entirety in the United States or another Anglophone country. The bachelor’s degree should be earned at a regionally accredited university located in the United States, or at an officially recognized university in another country where English is both the language of instruction and the only officially recognized language of the country. Please note that the entire program needs to have been completed in the qualifying country. All other applicants must submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. TOEFL and IELTS should be taken within 2 years from the start of the academic semester applied for. For example, when applying for Fall 2023, the TOEFL must be taken after August 1, 2021. For additional information for the Fall 2023 admission, please refer check here.
Minimum Score
Total Score=100 and component scores >=20
As a reminder, please input unofficial (student) score reports via the online application system is a requirement to complete the Marshall Ph.D. application.
Personal Information
In this section of the online application, you will be required to provide your personal information such as First and Last (Family) Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Phone Number, Email Address, Mailing Address, etc.
Supporting Information
Program Materials
A) Statement of Purpose: Please describe why you wish to pursue a PhD degree in Business Administration in your chosen field of specialization. Please also explain why you believe that the Marshall School of Business would be a good fit for you.B) Research Experience/Interest: Please describe any significant academic research experience you have had, if any. Indicate who you worked with, the topic you studied, the skills you developed, activities you engaged in and the output from the project (e.g., conference paper, publication, etc.). You can also describe your research interest as well.
Diversity
At USC Marshall, we believe that successful solutions to business problems depend on having access to the widest range of ideas, opinions, and experiences. By cultivating a diverse pool of Ph.D. students, we are helping redefine the academic business community of the 21st century.
The PhD Project
The PhD Project. Since 1994, the PhD Project has more than tripled the number of minority business school professors, who inspire a new generation of business professionals. Participation is available to anyone of African American, Hispanic American, and Native American descent interested in business doctoral studies. USC Marshall currently has four PhD Project scholars, Courtney (Alexis) Keys, Merrick Osborne , Jacob Roberson, and Calvin Wright. We actively recruits at the annual PhD Project conference. Learn more and apply to the conference: http://www.phdproject.org/
Financial Support
The USC Marshall School of Business provides full financial support to PhD students for five years in the form of a fellowship or assistantship. After a student has advanced to candidacy (typically in the third year), the student becomes eligible for additional research awards.
Fellowships & Graduate Assistantships
All applicants who apply by the deadline(s) are automatically considered for competitive fellowships each year. Accepted students receive a package that includes a full tuition waiver, generous stipend, individual health and dental insurance, and coverage of mandatory student health center fees. The total financial support provided is approximately $100,000-110,000K per year, depending on a student's course-load.
Fellowship recipients are guaranteed funding through either the continuation of the fellowship or through an assistantship for five years provided they maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Outside Funding
Occasionally a student brings outside funding to replace or supplement the funding from the USC Marshall School of Business. Examples of outside funding sources include the foreign governments and the National Science Foundation program. Such funding is acceptable, but applicants should understand that funding source is not considered in the evaluation process. We accept only the top applicants regardless of the source of funding.
Research Support & Awards
Marshall Ph.D. students are provided with a discretionary account for teaching and research activities. The annual funding increases as the student progresses in the program into more research activities in the later years.
After advancing to candidacy, students become eligible for competitive research awards open exclusively to USC Marshall Ph.D. students. Past awards have been sponsored by the Ford Foundation, USC Marshall Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurship and other awards sponsored by Marshall or the USC Graduate School.
2021 Class Profile
Total Number of Applications: 663
Number of Students Enrolled: 15
Mean GMAT: 98.50 Percentile
Mean GRE: Q79.89 Percentile
Mean GRE V: 85.44 Percentile
Mean Age: 25
Age Range: 21-38
Percent Women: 40%
Percent International: 53%
Percent with Prior Graduate Degree: 47%
Prospective students often wonder how they measure up to our past admitted students. Please refer to the snapshot for the incoming, Fall 2021, cohort for reference.
We caution applicants who review these profiles that they are raw means and actual values vary widely between individuals and among applicant pools. The admissions committee reviews all aspects of a students' application, such as academic preparation, letters of recommendation, and statements of purpose. A low ranking in individual criteria will not necessarily preclude a candidate who is otherwise qualified.
STAY CONNECTED
Ph.D. ProgramMarshall School of BusinessUniversity of Southern California3670 Trousdale Parkway, BRI 306Los Angeles, California 90089-0809
EMAIL