Admissions
We take a personal approach to student selection.
Students who succeed in the Simon PhD program do not have to fit a conventional PhD or business student profile. History has shown us that the most successful students need only be analytical, creative, committed, and eager to study complex business problems.
Our PhD Application for Fall 2025 Admission is now open.
Application deadline: January 5, 2025, at 11:59PM EST.
Application Checklist
It is important to submit the required information and materials in order for your application to be considered “complete” and sent to the faculty admissions committee for review.
- Résumé
We require a business formatted résumé (not a CV) and recommend it be no longer than two pages. Focus on quantifying your accomplishments and be sure to keep the formatting clean and easy to read.
- Essays (250–500 words)
When you are preparing your responses, make sure you fully answer the question and stay within the word count.
- Transcripts
School-issued official transcripts, scanned and uploaded for each college attended. Please provide all transcripts—both from undergraduate and graduate school (if applicable).
- GMAT or GRE
Official test taker copy/score report for GMAT or GRE (including analytical writing assessment, if applicable) scanned and uploaded.
- Three recommendations
As part of the online application, you will be asked to supply three recommendations. We strongly suggest listing references who are familiar with you in a professional capacity.
- $50 application fee
You can pay this by credit card at the final screen of the application.
- TOEFL or IELTS (international applicants only; waivers available)
Test results for TOEFL or IELTS, scanned and uploaded. Waivers available. Contact us at phdoffice@simon.rochester.edu with any questions.
- Online application form
View online application here.
Succeeding at Simon.
The PhD Program at Simon Business School equips students with the analytical skills to carry out high-quality teaching and research in various fields of management. Our approach is to develop each student's unique potential, therefore all of an applicant’s abilities are considered in admittance decisions. It’s important to note that our doctoral program accepts full-time students only. Admissions decisions are made in the spring.
A program that fully supports you.
The PhD Program is designed to be a rigorous full-time program. Simon provides generous financial support to all of our PhD students and encourages them not to work outside of the University. There are no financial aid forms required to qualify for financial support. Admitted PhD students qualify for full-tuition scholarship and an annual fellowship of $35,500, plus student health insurance for five years. Students also get a research budget and dedicated PhD spaces including recently renovated offices and a computer lab.
Five rigorous fields of study.
Students build a firm foundation in economics, statistics, and their specific fields of study. Deeper specialization in coursework occurs in the second year when the students concentrate on their major field of study. There are five fields of study:
