Admissions

Admission Criteria

In order to pursue a program leading to an advanced degree, you should meet the criteria for both the University of Nevada, Reno Graduate School and the Finance Area of the MGRS Department MSF program. All applications are reviewed by the MSF admission committee. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the committee. Applications approved by the committee are forwarded to the Graduate School for final disposition. Admission requirements, procedures, and deadlines are described below.

Graduate School Requirements:

  1. Grade Point Average of 3.00 on a scale of 4.0, or an average of 3.25 or higher for the courses taken during the last half of the undergraduate program.
  2. A baccalaureate (or an advanced) degree from an accredited four-year institution; any major is acceptable.
  3. GRE/GMAT scores must be from within the last five years. (Not required for those applying for admission for Fall 2021)

Finance Area of MGRS Department MSF Requirements:

  1. Completion of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with a minimum score of 550 or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) with a minimum score of 1100. Students must also place in the 20th percentile or higher in each portion (verbal, written, and quantitative) of the exam. [These minimum scores are subject to change.]
  2. All students are expected to be proficient in word processing and are also expected to be able to use computers to analyze and solve business problems using software such as spreadsheets, statistical packages, and databases.
  3. If the applicant does not meet all of the preceding requirements, admission to graduate standing on a carefully prescribed basis may sometimes be considered.
  4. International student applicants must submit satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL) indicating an ability to speak, write and understand the English Language sufficiently. The minimum TOEFL score accepted is 550. International students may be required to complete additional Intensive English courses during their first semester in the program. The TOEFL will be waived for students who have completed degree programs conducted in English in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, or New Zealand.

  5. Students must complete the following courses within five years of admittance to the program:

    • Basic Calculus (equivalent to MATH 176)
    • Statistics of Decision Making (equivalent to BADM 700)
    • Financial Reporting and Accounting (equivalent to BADM 710)
    • Intermediate Microeconomics (equivalent to ECON 302), if Advanced Microeconomics ECON 702 is to be taken as an elective
    • Intermediate Macroeconomics (equivalent to ECON 303), if Advanced Macroeconomics ECON 703 is to be taken as an elective

Specific Prerequisites

A bachelor degree in business or finance is not required for admission. Students without an undergraduate degree in finance or business normally earn the MSF degree by completing the aforementioned set pre-core courses.

Application Deadlines

To be considered for Fall semester, all materials must be received by March 15.
To be considered for Spring semester, application materials must be received by October 15.

Application Procedure

The Ph.D. in Economics program is governed by University of Nevada, Reno Graduate School requirements. All material should be submitted online through the Graduate School.
Applicants should submit the following:

  • All required application materials as required by the Graduate School admissions requirements, including official transcripts from all previous educational institutions and GRE/GMAT scores.
  • A $60.00 non-refundable application fee. ($40 non-refundable fee for University of Nevada, Reno Grads.)

The following documents must be submitted to the MSF Program Director:

  • Three letters of recommendations.
  • Statement of Purpose for pursuing the Master Degree in Finance, addressing the student’s particular interest in Finance and his or her future professional and/or academic goals.

International Students

The MSF program requires a four-year degree program to be considered for admission. International students applying with a three-year degree will not be considered. 

For international student information, please consult the Office of International Students and Scholars.

Questions?

Contact the Finance MS Director

Dr. Hongchao Zeng
hzeng@unr.edu
(775) 682-9195