Admissions

The MBA/MS admissions committee's decision to admit a full-time MBA, Flex MBA or dual degree MBA applicant is based on an evaluation of the candidate's potential to be successful in the graduate business program, his or her ability to contribute to the perspective of the class, and Smith's ability to accommodate a limited number of students.

The Smith School admits applicants for the spring and fall semesters.

Application Deadlines

Spring

  • September 15
  • November 1 (Priority deadline for scholarship consideration)
  • December 5 (final deadline) 

Fall

  • November 1 (Priority deadline for scholarship consideration)
  • February 1 (Priority deadline for scholarship consideration)
  • April 15
  • June 1

GMAT/GRE Exam

The Flex MBA program takes a holistic approach when reviewing candidate applications. The GMAT/GRE is one optional data point you may choose to include in your application.

If you do wish to submit a GMAT/GRE official score report, it should be sent to the University of Maryland using the following institutional codes:

GMAT: Flex MBA code is SQT-N8-26
GRE: Institution code is 5814 

Please contact Graduate Admissions with further questions.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $75 is required. Please pay by credit card as you submit your application online. The application fee is not refundable under any circumstances.

Academic History

The online application allows you to upload a scanned official transcript(s) for each college or university attended. If the official transcript where you received your degree does not state the degree was conferred, please also upload an official diploma or official copy of your degree received (most schools already list the conferred degree on the transcript). If you are formally admitted to the University of Maryland, you will be required to submit an official transcript to the graduate school. If your transcript is not in English, please also submit an official transcript translated into English.

The University of Maryland Graduate School requires all admitted students to have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.80/4.00. Applicants who have a grade point average below 2.80 are encouraged to use the optional essay to address this.

TOEFL or IELTS

Proof of English language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS official scores) is required for non-native English speakers. Those who have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from one of the countries listed here are waived of this requirement.

Contact www.toefl.org to request an official copy of your TOEFL test score to be sent to the University of Maryland at College Park, Institutional Code 5814. IELTS information can be found at www.ielts.org.

The University of Maryland downloads IELTS scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account. IELTS test takers should contact their IELTS test center directly to request electronic test scores be sent to the following IELTS e-download account:

University of Maryland - The Graduate School
2123 Lee Building
College Park, MD 20742

Please note: We cannot accept paper IELTS test report forms.

Requesting a Deferral

Admitted students begin their MBA program in the semester for which they have applied. If a student needs to request a deferral, the admissions committee will consider requests on a case-by-case basis. If the deferral request is approved, a student can only defer for one year before they will be required to reapply to the program.

Professional Work Experience

Our Flex MBA program is built for working professionals. A solid background of several years of work experience can strengthen an applicant's profile and allow them to better engage in classroom discussions and collaborative work. An application is not complete unless it contains the applicant's résumé.

One Letter of Recommendation

The recommendation should be solicited from an individual who can objectively comment on an applicant's performance in an academic or professional environment.

Well-Written Essays

The admissions committee looks for essays that clearly and concisely answer the assigned question. It is preferred that applicants keep their submission to approximately 300 words, or two pages double-spaced. Be clear about your career goals and why you want to earn your MBA. Before submitting, be sure to check for spelling and grammatical errors.

Academic Credentials

By the application deadline date, the admissions office must receive:

  • A transcript/mark sheets (in the original language) uploaded to the online application. If your transcript is not in English, please also upload a transcript/mark sheets translated* into English.
  • A copy of the diploma/degree received (only if this information is not listed on your transcript). If your diploma is not in English, please also submit a diploma translated into English. This documentation should be uploaded to the online application.

Only applicants who have completed the full sequence of preparatory studies and examinations equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an approved institution and who have demonstrated high academic achievement will be considered.

*Translations should not be interpretive, and actual names of all degrees, diplomas, and certificates must appear in the translation. If you are in need of a translation service, a list of English translation companies can be found here.

English Test Scores (TOEFL, IELTS)

All students at Maryland are expected to read, write, and speak English fluently. International students must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS. View the list of countries exempt from taking the TOEFL exam. Applicants must achieve the following scores to qualify for full admission. Provisional admission is not an option for MBA students.

For the TOEFL, applicants must score at least 100. In addition, on the individual sections applicants must score at least:

  • Reading: 26
  • Listening: 24
  • Writing: 24
  • Speaking: 22

Applicants who take the IELTS must score a minimum of 7.0. In addition on the individual sections, the applicant must score at least:

  • Reading: 7.0
  • Listening: 7.0
  • Writing: 7.0
  • Speaking: 6.5

When requesting official TOEFL scores, please select the score recipient as 'UMD Smith School of Business, institutional code 5814'.

Test scores that cannot be sent electronically should be mailed directly to the University of Maryland. Please have the testing center mail your score sheet to:

University of Maryland
Enrollment Service Operations
Application for Graduate Admission
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, Maryland 20742
USA

Financial Resources

International applicants applying for an F-1 visa should complete the Certification of Finance form. Proof of funding is not required at the time of application, however, financial documents must be submitted before a student can be formally admitted to the University of Maryland. Approximately $67,320 annually is required for educational and living expenses. If admitted, evidence of funding for the first year must be submitted with an indication of sources of financial support for subsequent years. Admitted students unable to demonstrate that they possess sufficient resources will not be issued an I-20.

Each prospective student should become familiar with current government regulations for exchanging and forwarding currency to the U.S. Arrangements must be made to have necessary funds on hand at the beginning of, and at regular intervals throughout, each semester. Some governments require certificates of eligibility to enroll or certificates of attendance accompany applications for currency exchange. Students to whom this requirement applies should contact the Office of International Education Services, Mitchell Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-5215, USA, for assistance.

International Applicants Who Reside in the U.S.

International applicants who have U.S. addresses need to submit information about their visa status with their application packet.

  • Immigrants need to copy both sides of their alien registration cards while non-immigrants need to provide copies of both sides of their I-94 form and a copy of the most recent visa stamp in their passports.
  • F-1 visa holders are also required to copy both sides of their I-20 form.
  • J-1 visa holders are also required to copy both sides of the original and most recent IAP-66 form.

Immigration Documents

International applicants admitted to graduate study will be issued student visas where appropriate. Foreign students should not leave their home country before obtaining an official offer of admission from the dean of graduate studies.

To enter the United States most foreign students will need a passport from their government and a visa from the U.S. Consulate. To apply for a visa, the student must provide evidence of a minimum of 48 graduate unit hours, or the equivalent of a full course of study. The accompanying spouse or child of an F-1 student enters the U.S. on an F-2 visa, which does not permit employment of any kind. Another commonly granted visa is the exchange visitor visa (J-1), generally for students sponsored by agencies, foundations, or their home governments. It is granted only with the presentation of a Certificate of Eligibility form (IAP-66). The accompanying spouse or child enters the U.S. on a J-2 visa, which may in some circumstances permit employment with approval from the U.S.

For further information, please refer to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or the U.S. Department of State.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

It is important to note that, in many cases, an exchange visitor must leave the U.S. at the conclusion of the program, may not change visa status, and may not be eligible for any other visa until a two-year home country residency has been completed.

For further information concerning visas, please consult with the U.S. Consulate in your country.

Note: The visitor’s visa (B-2) is not appropriate for students intending to study in the U.S. Once an individual is in the U.S. on a B-2 visa, it is difficult to change to a student or exchange visitor visa unless that individual has previously discussed study plans with the U.S. Consulate and has been issued a B-2 visa designated “prospective student.”

Financial Aid

Did you know 88 percent of Maryland Smith’s Flex MBA students receive financial awards? While cost can be a barrier to considering a high-quality business education, there are plenty of options to mitigate the expense.

Applicants who gain admission to the Smith Flex MBA program demonstrate personal drive, passion and a desire to make a positive impact in their workplace and community. In addition, the Smith School awards scholarships based on scholastic merit, GMAT/GRE scores and work experience. Merit-based awards range from $2,500 to $20,000 for the first year.

There is no separate application for merit-based awards, though applicants should submit their complete application by the priority deadline to be considered.

Forté Fellowships offer opportunities and other support to MBA applicants of any gender identity who demonstrate exemplary leadership and a commitment to Forté's mission of launching women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, professional development, and a community of successful women.

A one-time $10,000 Double Terp Scholarship is available exclusively to current seniors and undergraduate alumni of the University of Maryland, College Park, who are newly admitted into the Flex MBA program at Maryland Smith.

Qualified federal employees and their spouses, admitted to the program after Jan. 30, 2017, may be eligible for Smith’s FedGrant, which reduces graduate program tuition by 30 percent, as part of Smith’s alliance with the Federal Government. Learn more about FedGrant requirements.

Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply for Federal Student Loans through the Office of Student Financial Aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application is available online; UMD-College Park's FAFSA code is 002103.

After the FAFSA is received by the Office of Student Financial Aid, additional information specific to the individual student may be requested. (For example, a student who has worked full-time and is terminating employment will receive a form requesting additional information about the current year's expected income). When all application materials are received Federal loans are certified, and the student is notified. This notification process typically begins mid to late June. An application for aid has no bearing on the application for admittance to the program.

International student loans not requiring a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident can be difficult to find. In order to assist international students, here are a sampling of possible loan options with more flexible co-signer requirements.

For your convenience, you may make payments by mail, in-person, online or over the phone. Payments can be made with Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. Personal checks are also accepted. All checks and money orders must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank.

University of Maryland Payment Plans

The best way to avoid lump-sum payments and cover the gap between financial aid and the cost of education without resorting to additional borrowing from alternative sources is to enroll in a University of Maryland Payment Plan.

By enrolling in this plan, you can spread your payments over either eight or ten months. The annual enrollment fee is $50 for the ten-month plan or $80 for the eight-month plan. You can include most university charges: tuition, fees, and parking permits. You can also arrange to have your monthly payments debited directly from your checking or savings account.

Tuition

Students in the Flex MBA program in Baltimore, Md., Rockville, Md., and Washington, D.C., will take eight credit hours during the first semester. To help with financial planning, below are the estimated tuition and fees for the 2023-24 school year.

  • 54 credit program
  • $1732.64 per credit in the 2022-2023 academic year
  • Average 8 credits per semester
  • $176.50 average fees per semester 

Tuition and fees are subject to approval by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents.

Flex MBA students are charged on a per-credit basis. Students enrolled in study trips, study abroad and external agreements (consortium, inter-institutional, etc.) will pay applicable fees. Three semesters per year. Credits may vary per semester.

Tuition: Based on $1732.64 per credit

Fees: Includes $100 Flex MBA Association fee, and $76.50 tech fee for 8 or fewer credits per semester or $153 for 9 or more credits per semester.

In-State Classification

Students enrolled in the Flex MBA program pay the equivalent of the in-state tuition rate for all classes taken at the Baltimore, Md., Rockville, Md. or Washington, D.C. campuses. Study trips, study abroad and external agreements (consortium, inter-institutional, etc.) classes are charged tuition based on the student’s residency classification. Applicants are granted in-state status if they have been domiciled in Maryland for at least 12 months prior to the last day of registration for the forthcoming semester, and have been financially independent for the previous 12 months. For a complete list of residency requirements, please contact the Residency Reclassification Services.

Flex MBA Team

Our Flex MBA team is here to answer any questions you have about our program and our admissions process. Please always feel free to contact us with any questions you have about the Smith Flex MBA program.

Anais Escobar
Assistant Director
aescobar@umd.edu

Aida Kamizi
Assistant Director
akamizi@umd.edu

Nathaniel Ropski

Nathaniel Ropski
Recruiting Manager
nropski@umd.edu

 

 

Maura Ourand
Recruiting Coordinator
mourand@umd.edu

Visiting Smith

Map of RockvilleThe Universities of Shady Grove, Rockville, MD
9630 Gudelsky Dr. Rockville, MD 20850

Take I-270 to Exit 8, Shady Grove West. Go 1.5 miles, take a right on Route 28/Darnestown Road. At the next light, take a left onto Traville Gateway Drive. Parking is available in the Traville Gateway parking garage on your immediate left.

Map of BaltimoreUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore
UMD BioPark 801 West Baltimore St. Suite 100 Baltimore, MD 21201

Classes in the Flex MBA program are held in the UM BioPark, Building Two, 801 W. Baltimore Street. From I-95, take Rt. 395, Exit 53 (downtown Baltimore). Exit onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Stay on MLK, Jr. Blvd. (to the right when the road splits). At the fourth traffic light, turn left onto W. Baltimore Street. From I-83, at the end of the expressway turn west (right) onto Fayette St. Proceed one mile and turn left onto MLK Jr. Blvd. At the first traffic light turn right onto W. Baltimore Street. To enter the BioPark garage from W. Baltimore Street, turn right onto N. Poppleton Street and the garage entrance is on your right.

Map of DCWashington, D.C.
Ronald Reagan Building 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20004

Flex MBA classes are held in the Ronald Reagan Federal Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. The Ronald Reagan Building is conveniently located above the Federal Triangle Metro stop. The main entrance to the campus is on your left as you enter the building from the Metro. The entrance to the parking garage is on 14th Street, N.W., between Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., and Constitution Avenue, N.W.

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