MS Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MSEI) Admissions

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 USC Office of Graduate Admission. Please view their website for DETAILED GUIDELINES.

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 Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation 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 also 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
GMAT/GRE scores are neither required nor accepted. All applications will be reviewed holistically.

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

The MSEI program is a 27-unit program of Business Graduate (500 level and above) Coursework.

Living expenses vary based on the type of housing and lifestyle of the student. If you want to calculate your estimated cost of attendance, please visit USC Financial Aid website.

(Note: Please read the instructions carefully and calculate the cost based on the credits you are required to take for the program.)

Admitted Students Deposit
A nonrefundable $1,500 deposit secures the student's space in the class.

Once enrolled, the $1,500 deposit will be credited as payment to your tuition and fees.Please note, once you have paid your deposit, you will not be granted a refund. Payment of your deposit secures your seat in the program and is non-refundable.

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.

Financial Aid Scholarships:
The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program offers a limited number of partial tuition scholarships to qualified students, both domestic and international. Scholarships are need-based and merit-based. Scholarship application instructions will be emailed to all the admitted students.

Upload a 60-90 second password protected video on Vimeo or Youtube. The video should describe why you are interested in the MSEI program and how you plan on using the degree to further your professional goals.

Letters of recommendation are used as a gauge of your professional achievements and managerial potential. We prefer your letter of recommendation be provided by a professor or direct supervisor. This person should provide specific observations and examples of your leadership, teamwork, analytical skills and personal qualities.

Two letters of recommendation are required, but three are accepted (one academic, and one professional).

Letters of recommendation can only be accepted through the application system.

For your application to be complete, your recommender must submit their letter by the application deadline.

Tips for Success:
When you enter your recommender’s information in the system, you must select the date by which you request the recommendation be completed. Be sure to select a date which is prior to the application deadline.

Request your recommendation letters as soon as you start the online application to allow sufficient time for your recommenders to submit them on your behalf.

For more information on Recommendations and troubleshooting please visit theApplication Portal Help Center.

One to three years of work experience is preferred, but not required.

Applicants to the MSEI progressive degree program must meet the following qualifications:

• Have completed at least 64 total units of undergraduate courses excluding AP/IB units earned prior to high school graduation
  
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA
  
• Have at least one full semester remaining before completion of their undergraduate degree (Students graduating in May must apply by the January 15th deadline.)
  
• Be able to enroll in a minimum of 6 units of core in the 1st Fall semester and 3 units of core in the subsequent Spring semester.
  
• Have a passion for entrepreneurship and the desire to create the next great company of the future
  

If you meet the qualifications mentioned above, you may apply to the MSEI progressive degree program for the coming Fall semester. A completed application includes:

• USC Progressive Degree Application and Proposed Course Plan Form (no signatures required)
• STARS report
  
• Professional resume
  
• Two letters of recommendation
  
• 60-90 second video
  
• Most recent undergraduate course plan from your undergraduate advisor

Decisions are released approximately eight weeks after each round deadline.