GRADUATE PROGRAMS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are full time students welcome in an evening MBA or M.Acc program?
While evening MBA and M.Acc programs focus on the needs of working professionals, at the Brock School we welcome full time students with work experience and/or a good academic record. Full time students must take into account that the evening classes and student group meetings are arranged around the work schedules of the working professional..  A full time student can complete the core MBA and M.Acc programs in one year.

Are application deadlines fixed?
Application deadlines are set to allow the admission decision and registration process to run smoothly.  Applications meeting all requirements can be expedited.  Please contact the Graduate and Executive Education Office if you think you may miss the deadline.

Are there exceptions to the GMAT requirement?
The GMAT requirement may be waived for students with graduate degrees (masters and doctorates) from regionally accredited institutions.  A GMAT score below 480 may be accepted provided the applicant has significant management and leadership experience.

Due to a low GPA I do not meet the index score requirement of 1050.  What are my options?
An index score below 1050 may be accepted provided the applicant has significant management and leadership experience.  We examine transcripts to see if the GPA component in the formula can be improved by taking into account only the last 60 credit hours or the grades earned in the major curriculum.  When this does not yield a satisfactory GPA applicants are advised to take additional higher education courses to raise their average.

How are academic transcripts in an application submitted?
Please make arrangements with the Student Records Offices of the institutions where you have studied for them to submit your transcripts directly to the Director, Graduate and Executive Education Programs, Brock School of Business, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham AL 35229

Can credits earned in other graduate work transfer to the degree at Samford?
Students with previously existing graduate work may be eligible to transfer those credits toward their Samford degree.  Students may transfer up to nine (9) graduate credits from a regionally accredited college or university into the CoreCurriculum.  Students must have earned a B or better in order for credits to be eligible for transfer.  Credits earned more than 10 years from date of application to the graduate program are ineligible for transfer consideration.  Students may use credits from a regionally accredited college or university to gain exemptions from Foundation courses in accordance with exemption policies.
A transcript analysis for the determination of the credit award and student notification of the transfer credit award is performed at the time of admission.

When is tuition due?
Full tuition and outstanding charges on a student’s account at Samford must be paid before the start of the semester or term.

Do we accept international students?
We accept graduates from accredited universities throughout the world. We request that international academic transcripts be sent to World Education Services Inc - www.wes.org  for evaluation. We need this evaluation for assessing GPA scores and Foundation Course exemption possibilities.  Your GMAT score should be submitted to us by the testing organization using their reporting process.  A TOEFL score is required from all foreign students who have no other means to demonstrate proficiency in English.

We accept applications year-round and admit new students three times a year (January, June and August.)  At this time  we do not offer scholarships, assistantship or financial aid for international students.  International students have to demonstrate financial self sufficiency before the university will fulfill its obligations under student visa regulations.  We currently estimate the total cost of graduate studies at Samford University (tuition, books and living expenses at $30,000 per year.)

It is recommended that the GMAT and TOEFL (if required) be completed no later than six months before planned start date.  With the full application package complete we will make the academic admission decision within two weeks.  It is up to the applicant to complete  the international student documentation and visa application processes.  The timing for this portion of the application process is not determined by  Samford University. MBA WEB SITE