iMBA Frequently Asked Questions

The requirements are detailed on the admission requirements page.

If you have three or more years of full-time work experience, a GMAT or GRE score is not required. You may choose to submit a score as part of your application, but it is entirely at your discretion and you are not penalized if you choose not to do so. In some cases, however, the admissions team may request test scores as part of the review process.

Yes, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent degree from an accredited institution in another country.

If you earned your degree(s) from outside the United States, please refer to the Graduate College for academic requirements by country.

All students are expected to have three or more years of rich, valuable operational or managerial experience. This is an especially critical component of the admissions decision because the knowledge and skills developed from professional experience enhance the academic experience for all students and faculty.

If you have less than three years of work experience and are ready to begin your graduate degree, we suggest starting with the iMSM program and stacking into the iMBA program once you've reached the three-year minimum work requirement. 

Always feel free to reach out to our team to discuss your goals further.

Some applicants with very strong professional backgrounds and who have a high probability of success in the program do not meet the minimum GPA requirements. In those cases, we evaluate candidates’ professional experience and accomplishments to determine whether they are an adequate substitute.

This applies to GPA only. Work experience is not accepted as a substitute for an undergraduate degree.

Yes, you will need two letters of recommendation. We strongly recommend that your references come from individuals who know you in a professional setting and can speak to your leadership abilities and to your commitment to succeed in a rigorous program.

If you run into any delays in getting recommendations, we encourage you to submit your application anyway. We can begin initial review of your application once it is received.

Course credits can be considered for transfer if they meet all of the following criteria:

• School from which you are requesting a credit transfer must be AACSB accredited
• Course(s) must have been completed within the past 4 years
• Course(s) must not have been used towards any other degree
• Course(s) must have been taken at the graduate level. A grade for the course of A- or above is required

If your coursework meets all of these requirements, please email giesonline@illinois.edu with a copy of your transcripts and a syllabus for each course.

Requests for transfer of credits are reviewed carefully but the transfer is not guaranteed even if the criteria are met. Up to a maximum of 12 credit hours can be transferred.

Yes, we welcome applicants from all over the world. In fact, more than 90 countries are represented in the iMBA program. Please note that we cannot sponsor your visa for a stay in the United States.

Interviews are required under some circumstances. You will be notified if the admissions team would like to interview you. 

In some cases, a fee waiver is available. The criteria for a waiver are specified in the fee waiver section of the application. Please note that international applicants are generally not eligible for a fee waiver.

Applicants from countries other than the United States must submit an official TOEFL or IELTS, except in the following situations:

If you have completed two years of post-secondary, full-time study:

• In a country where English is the primary language;
• At an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction; and
• Within five years of the intended term of enrollment

If you have been awarded an advanced degree:

• In a country where English is the primary language;
• At an institution where English is the primary language of instruction; and
• Within five years of the intended term of enrollment

If you have current professional work experience in a country in which English is the primary language, and you are offered a waiver based on an interview with us as part of the application process.

To see if you may qualify for an academic-based exemption, check to see if the country where you attended university appears on the exempt countries list.

The iMBA program accepts applications at multiple times throughout the year. Please check the admissions page for upcoming application deadlines.

Applicants from countries other than the United States must submit an official TOEFL or IELTS, except in the following situations:

If you have completed two years of post-secondary, full-time study:

• In a country where English is the primary language;
• At an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction; and
• Within five years of the intended term of enrollment

If you have been awarded an advanced degree:

• In a country where English is the primary language;
• At an institution where English is the primary language of instruction; and
• Within five years of the intended term of enrollment

If you have current professional work experience in a country in which English is the primary language, and you are offered a waiver based on an interview with us as part of the application process.

To see if you may qualify for an academic-based exemption, check to see if the country where you attended university appears on the exempt countries list.

The iMBA program accepts applications at multiple times throughout the year. Please check the admissions page for upcoming application deadlines.