MBA Application Process

Transcripts

Upload an unofficial transcript from each collegiate institution you have attended into the online application form. This includes community colleges, study abroad, summer sessions, and extension programs regardless of the length of attendance, whether or not courses were completed and whether or not you believe the record will affect your admission. These unofficial transcripts must include all courses and grades, must be issued in the original language and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable. If you are offered admission, one official transcript for each university attended will be required prior to your enrollment in the first semester.

Official US/domestic transcripts must be sent electronically, directly from the institution, to us to be considered official. When you order your transcripts, send them directly to Gradprocessing@colorado.edu and we will match them to your application. Transcripts uploaded by you (the applicant) will not be considered official.

Recommendations

One letter of recommendation is required but two can be submitted One should be from a person who has supervised or managed your work, a supervisor, or a person with whom you have a professional relationship (i.e. co-worker, colleague, client, vendor, etc.). Recommenders should be able to evaluate your potential to lead and manage others, personal qualities, interpersonal skills, and professional accomplishments. Recommendations are submitted online as part of the application.

Essay

Depending on the program, applicants must submit one of the following essays (up to 750 words):

• MBA applicants: Discuss your career goals, leadership skills, values, and background. Explain how you will contribute to the Leeds community and why you have chosen Leeds.
• MS applicants: Share your reasons for pursuing an MS at Leeds, highlighting relevant interests, experiences, and goals not shown on your transcript or test scores.

Applicant Interview (MBA Programs Only)

The interview is the final and most insightful piece of the MBA application process. Because a holistic review is quintessential for our program in molding the strongest and most diverse cohorts of leaders, the interview allows the committee to dive deeper into the applicant’s business acumen, goals, and aspirations in this program. The interview is conducted with either the Director, Associate Director, Assistant Director or a current MBA student. You must interview via Zoom unless you are on active duty on a US Military Base and/ or work in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF). There is no interview requirement for MS applicants.

Resume

Applicants are required to submit a copy of their current resume or Vita. Word, RTF or PDF files only. Your resume is used for your MBA interview.

Test Scores

The Leeds School of Business requires all Full-Time MBA to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT - GMAT code: 11S-Z2-95, Download Free GMATPrep Software) or the GRE General Test (GRE - GRE code: 4841 ). We do accept the GMAT Focus Edition. Test scores are valid for up to five (5) years. If you have taken the GMAT or GRE test more than one time, your highest test score will be used in the admissions evaluation.

We are test score optional for all MS programs and the PT-MBA programs: Evening MBA, Hybrid MBA, and Executive MBA programs. 

Limited test waivers are available for FT-MBA with the submission of a test waiver essay (Details Below).

The Test Waiver Essay should be no more than 750 words and should address the following two areas:

• Describe the academic you: Describe how you will succeed in your graduate studies by including examples such as previous test scores, academic records, or quantitative and analytical strengths you possess.
• Describe the personal you: While academic/quantitative skills are important for success, providing the admissions committee with information on your study skills, ambitions and determination is also important.  Share any skills and successes relating to your professional background.

English Language Proficiency Tests

The Leeds graduate programs are rigorous both quantitatively and qualitatively and an excellent command of written and spoken English is essential. All international applicants must meet a minimum standard of English proficiency.

1. TOEFL (iBT): A required minimum score of 80+ with a preferred score of 100. 
2. IELTS: A required minimum score of 6.5+ (7.0+ for the MS Accounting and MS Taxation programs)
3. Duolingo:  A required minimum score of 120+ (on the 160 point scale)

• TOEFL Score Report: Applicant Name, Appointment Number, Date of Birth, and MyBest® Scores as of date.
• IELTS Score Report: Applicant Name, Test Report Form Number (TRF), Date of Birth, and Test Date.
• Duolingo Score Report: Applicant Name, Secure link to the Duolingo Certificate, and Test Date.

• The institution is in the U.S. or a qualifying country from the table below.
• You have completed at least one year of full-time ACADEMIC study at that institution.
• The date you completed your studies (or left the institution) is within two (2) years of your desired admission term,
  • Example 1: Your desired admission term is Fall 2025. Studies that ended in the Spring (April – June) of 2023 would meet the criterion.
  • Example 2: Your desired admission term is Fall 2025. Studies that ended in the Fall (October – December) of 2022 would not meet the criterion.
• You provide transcripts for the institution that verify ALL the criteria have been met.

• International applicants who are citizens of a qualifying country from the list below are not required to provide proof of English proficiency and do NOT need to submit a Verifiable English Proficiency Score Report.
• Qualifying Countries: Australia, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, Ghana, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe.

• Official TOEFL test scores are only valid for two years from the test date. Login to your ETS Account and request your TOEFL score to be sent to the University of Colorado Boulder. Our school code 4841. If prompted for a Department Code, please use 99.
• Official IELTS test scores are only valid for two years from the test date. Please request your IELTS test center report your score to our school using the information below (IELTS does not use school codes).
  1. University of Colorado Boulder - Masters & PhD, 3100 Marine Street, Suite A122, UCB 65, Boulder, CO 80303
• Official Duolingo test scores are only valid for two years from the test date. Log in to your account and ‘Send Results’ from inside the Duolingo application. Choose, “University of Colorado Boulder – graduate” when prompted.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $70.00 USD is required. Application fees may be paid by credit card, and applications will not be reviewed without payment of the fee. Do not send cash. Application fees are not refundable. We only waive the application fee for active-duty US military personnel, US military veterans, and CU Boulder campus alumni. We do not provide application fee waivers for any other candidates. 

Contact the Graduate Programs Office