Master of Management Studies (MMS) Admissions
Master of Management Studies (MMS) Admissions
Anyone who has completed a one-year MBA or will have completed the first year/fundamentals component of a traditional two-year MBA prior to taking their first class at USC is welcome to apply to the MMS program at USC Marshall. Applicants from programs not accredited by the AACSB, EQUIS, ACBSP, AOCTE, IACBE or AMBA are generally considered less well prepared than those from accredited institutions, but are welcome to apply.
Dates and Deadlines
For early registration:
February 1 for fall semester
September 1 for spring semester
Final Deadline for non-USC students:
May 15 for fall semester (April 1 for international students)
November 1 for spring semester (October 1 for international students)
To be in the program the applicant must have earned the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree with a competitive GPA. Applicants in the process of finishing an undergraduate degree may apply, with acceptance contingent on finishing the undergraduate degree and ability to be physically present at the start of the program. Please see here for degree requirements by country.
Complete the online application and upload all required documents here. International applicants should also consult the instructions for international students published in the USC Graduate Admissions website. When applying, we recommend using a personal email address that you will maintain access to for the foreseeable future rather than university or temporary accounts that you may lose access to. The program office is only able to communicate admissions decisions to the email address used at time of application.
Nonrefundable application fee: $155
USC students/staff/alumni, US military veterans, and select other groups qualify for an application fee waiver. For Fee Waiver Categories and instructions on how to apply for a waiver, click here.
Transcript requirements are set forth by the Office of Graduate Admission. Please view their website for details.
Transcript submission is a two-step process:
1.You must upload scanned copies of official transcripts from all institutions attended to the online application. These must be official transcripts printed on university letterhead. Print-outs from online student portals are not acceptable.
2. After you submit your application and receive your 10-digit USC ID number, you must submit the official transcripts by mail, courier, or electronic services from all colleges, universities, and other post-secondary institutions you have previously attended.
Official transcript:
A transcript is considered official when it is received in the sealed envelope provided by the school, or when it is electronically transmitted (not emailed) from the institution. Even if it is mailed by the applicant, it can be considered official as long as the envelope has not been opened.
Cover sheet:
We recommend that you fill out the “College/University Transcript Cover Page” and send it to the registrar’s office of each post-secondary institution you have attended. Although it is not mandatory, including it along with your USC ID number will help match your transcripts to your file as quickly as possible.
E-transcripts:
USC accepts official electronic transcripts from all countries, provided that the transcript originates from a secure site formally linked to the sending institution. Please instruct the vendor to email the transcript to etrans@usc.edu. Do not send any other materials or correspondence to this email. Electronic transcripts e-mailed to any other address will not be downloaded, delaying review of your file and adding an extra expense because the transcript will need to be re-sent.
Transcripts in original language of issuance:
International students who have earned their degree outside the United States must check the country-specific requirements to determine if original-language copies of their academic records are needed. In such cases, a separate, word-for-word, English-language translation of all academic records must also be submitted. The translation should either be issued directly from the school itself or by a professional, certified translator. It must contain all information shown on the original-language documents and “mirror” them as precisely as possible. Dual-language transcripts are also acceptable.
USC alumni or current students:
USC degree holders do not need to submit USC transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admission. Please be sure to include your USC enrollment in the “Academic Background” section so that we may match your application to the academic records already on file.
Credential evaluation:
Please note that USC does not accept or recognize credential evaluation reports from outside agencies (e.g. WES, ECE, etc.) for the purposes of admission review.
Mailing Instructions
If sending your transcripts via regular mail, please use the following address:
University of Southern California
USC Office of Graduate Admission
3601 South Flower Street, Room 112
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915
If sending your transcripts via courier service, such as DHL or FedEx, please use the following address:
University of Southern California
USC Office of Graduate Admission and Financial Aid
3601 South Flower Street, Tyler 112
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915
Phone: (213) 740-1111
Admission to USC is based on merit rather than ability to pay. The U.S. government, however, requires that all international applicants provide proof of adequate financial support for the first year of study and passport copies for you and any applicable dependents before a formal letter of admission and an I-20 (or DS-2019) can be issued.
It is not necessary to submit financial documents or a copy of a valid passport for your application to be reviewed or for an admission decision to be rendered.
However, during application ‘busy season’ from February to May, students should be aware that processing time for these documents can take up to 8 weeks. For this reason, we strongly suggest you submit financial receipt of the I-20 document for admitted and certified students.
Please read carefully through USC Graduate Admission Guidelines for Financial Documentation, particularly the Financial Statement Expense Figures as well as the detailed guidelines for submitting proof of financial support.
Spotlight: USC
The USC Office of Graduate Admission organizes Spotlight: USC programs, where you can learn how to successfully complete USC’s online Graduate Application, avoid common mistakes, ask general application-related questions, and take a tour of campus. Click here to see the schedule and register.
To support you in the admission process and help you learn more about the program, we host a series of events allowing you to connect with advisors, professors, and current USC students.
The Master of Management Studies program boasts a large enrollment of international students. We’ve developed the below to help answer some frequently asked questions.
Admissions & Eligibility
Who is considered an international applicant?
All applicants that are not United States nationals, and will be entering, or have already entered, the United States with an F-1 or J-1 student visa, should apply as an international student. Applicants who already reside in the United States and hold other non-immigrant visas (for example, E2, H2 or L2) are also considered international applicants. Permanent residents of the United States, naturalized U.S. citizens, and U.S. citizens residing abroad and attending a university outside the United States are not considered international students.
*For more information see here
When is the application deadline for international students?
The final deadline for international students may be a bit earlier than for U.S. citizens. This is to ensure time for visa processing. Review the Dates and Deadlines above for all updated deadlines.
What is the language requirement?
Review the Test Scores section for complete information.
How do I know if I am exempt from language testing?
International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement only under the circumstances outlined under “English-Language Test Waiver” here.
What are the minimum scores for the TOEFL and IELTS?
Review the Test Scores section for complete information.
I have a 3-year Bachelor's degree, can I apply?
Country specific requirements are listed here
What are the transcript requirements for International Institutions?
Students who have earned their degree outside the United States must check the country-specific requirements to determine if original-language copies of their academic records are needed. Please review the Transcript section and be sure to submit all required documents as part of your initial application via the online portal. Transcripts regularly take up to 8 weeks to process. Requests for transcripts missing from the original application submitted can add significant processing time.
Does USC accept WES evaluated transcripts?
USC does NOT accept WES evaluated transcripts. If admitted, you will be required to submit your bachelor’s degree information to IERF for degree verification. Detailed information is available at www.ierf.org/usc
What is the required International Degree Verification process?
Students who choose to attend USC should be aware that the USC Office of Degree Progress requires verification of international bachelor’s degrees from the International Education Research Foundation (IERF).
Students complete this process after admission to the program.
Detailed information about IERF services, including application forms, fees, and required documents are available at www.ierf.org/usc.
Please contact Degree Progress dprogss@usc.edu, 213.740.7070 if you have any questions, or need more information regarding prior degree verification.
Does USC provide answers to other Frequent Asked Questions about admissions for an International Student?
The Graduate Admissions Office website is an amazing resource for international applicants and students to help address frequently asked questions and concerns. Visit their FAQ page for international students!
What is USC’s Office of International Service (OIS)?
USC's Office of International Services (OIS) is the primary resource for USC's international students. This office has the most updated information regarding visas, events specifically for international students, and employment. They also have great information on pre-arrival, arrival, and life in Los Angeles! All new students should sign up for their newsletter.
Financing Your Degree
For financial documentation, how much money do I need to have?
The cost of attendance at USC changes from year to year. The amount required for financial documentation is the estimated cost of living and studying in Los Angeles for one year, not the cost of tuition for the entire program.
Please carefully review the International Students only: Financial documentation and Passport section for details.
What if I need help paying for school? Are there scholarships?
The USC Marshall School of Business offers a limited number of partial tuition scholarships for students. These awards are highly competitive and are determined at the time of admission.
U.S. citizens and international students are eligible. Applicants are encouraged to apply early for priority scholarship consideration. Please review our Program Cost and Scholarship section for more details.
Many of our students pay for their degrees using savings or loans. For more information on financial aid that is specific to international students, please see USC's Financial Aid Website.
GMAT/GRE
All applicants, regardless of academic history and work experience, must submit a valid GMAT or GRE score.
Official scores must be received before the deadline and sent directly to USC by the testing service in order to be reviewed.
Submitting Scores: Upload electronic copies of your GMAT or GRE scores with your application in addition to sending official scores to USC Marshall through the testing service (GMAC or ETS).
Code:
Your scores are considered valid only if earned within five years to the month of your intended first term at USC.
English-Language proficiency –TOEFL/IELTS (International Students)
International graduate applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency by submitting TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores.
Minimum Requirement:
TOEFL: Total 100; each band 20
IELTS: Overall 7; each band 6
Exceptions: International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement only under the circumstances outlined here.
Submitting Scores:
To avoid delays in the processing of your application, please have your TOEFL or IELTS scores sent to USC Marshall when you pre-register for the examination. Upload electronic copies of your TOEFL or IELTS scores with your application in addition to sending official scores to USC Marshall through the testing service. Official scores must be received directly from the testing service and dated no earlier than 2 years (24 months) prior to the month in which you submit your application to USC. Do not enter the name and contact information of your specific intended graduate department.
Code:
TOEFL: 4852 (no department code is required)
IELTS: choose “University of Southern California, Graduate Programs” from the list of available institutions on the day you sit for the exam
Tuition
Tuition is calculated per unit based on the unit price of the given academic year. Tuition is subject to increase each academic year. For detailed information on tuition and mandatory fees please visit: https://classes.usc.edu/term-20223/tuition-and-fees/. Please keep in mind this information relates only to the listed academic year.
Tuition
Tuition is calculated per unit based on the unit price of the given academic year. Tuition
is subject to increase each academic year. For detailed information on tuition and mandatory fees please visit here.
Please keep in mind this information relates only to the listed academic year. The Master of Management Studies program is a 26-unit program of Business Graduate (500 level and above) Coursework. In addition, we ask students to budget for approximately $3000 in additional university and program fees. Students are also responsible for housing, food, transportation and student health insurance costs.
Student Financial Services
All tuition and fee payment are processed through Student Financial Services. For more information on billing cycles, methods of payment, and more, please visit their website or contact their department directly.International Students
Financial Statement
International students should visit here for further information.
Financial Aid
Please visitUSC Financial Aid and click on “Graduates & Professionals” You will find information about U.S. citizens and international students.
When evaluating the applicant's qualifications we check to see that the following subject matter (coursework) was/is included in the individual's prior MBA coursework. (undergraduate/bachelor's-level coursework never qualify to satisfy this requirement.)
-Financial and Management Accounting
-Business Communication
-Corporate Finance
-Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
-Marketing
-Operations
-Organizational Behavior/Personnel Management/Leadership
-Statistics/Quantitative analysis
-Strategy
If specific content areas are missing the student may be required to complete them at Marshall prior to taking advanced courses. Required preparatory coursework will be added to the 26 units required to earn the M.M.S. degree.
