PhD Admissions

The goal of the PhD program at the Leeds School of Business is to prepare students for careers in research and teaching at major universities so applicants are evaluated on their prospects of becoming leading scholars. Admission decisions are made based on a variety of factors including previous academic performance, work experience, test scores, letters of recommendation, research interests, and any other activities that present evidence of tenacity and scholarly potential.

Our faculty look for applicants who have a strong command of research skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong applicants are intellectually curious and highly motivated by academic inquiry. We are committed to increasing ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity among our faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal opportunity to all students.

Our application closed on December 1, 2024. Thank you for understanding that we do not accept requests for late submissions. We invite you to apply when our application reopens in July 2025 for Fall 2026 admissions.

How to Apply

Plan ahead when submitting your online application and application materials to allow time for all materials to arrive by the deadline. There is no guarantee that incomplete applications will be considered for admissions. For questions about our admission and application process, please check our Frequently Asked Questions.

The average GMAT and GRE scores for admitted students for fall 2024 are 713 and 321, respectively. We do not have GMAT/GRE score minimums.
The average GMAT and GRE scores for applications received for consideration for fall 2024 admissions are 690 and 320, respectively.

A complete application consists of the following items. All of these materials must be submitted by the application deadline.

  • Completed and submitted online application
  • Application fee
  • ALL applicants must submit official GMAT or GRE scores that are less than 5 years old. Official scores must be sent directly to us by the testing agencies. GRE scores should be sent to school code 4841. GMAT scores should be sent to code 11S-Z2-41. Please schedule your test early enough to allow time for your official scores to reach us by our application deadline. We only waive the GMAT/GRE test score requirement if an applicant already possess a PhD in a related field.
  • Personal statement of 1–3 pages that explicitly addresses your research interests as well as your career objectives. If you are aware of specific faculty members with whom you would like to conduct research, please list them and explain why you would like to work with them.
  • One set of unofficial transcripts from each institution for all higher education you have completed regardless of whether you received a degree. While credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of a second institution, unofficial transcripts must be submitted from each institution, regardless of the length of attendance, and whether or not courses were completed.  This includes community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. Failure to list and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended is considered to be a violation of academic ethics and may result in the cancellation of your admission or dismissal from the university. ONLY after you are recommended for admission will you need to provide official transcripts. Instructions for Uploading Unofficial Transcripts to Your Application.
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Resume or CV
  • International applicants are required to provide a Verifiable English Proficiency Score Report for the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam with their application. The test date must be within two years of the intended admission term for consideration. Verifiable Score Reports should contain the following information:
    • 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.

Other Ways to Demonstrate English Proficiency
The English proficiency requirement can also be satisfied under either of the following conditions:

  1. Your studies at a previous university-level institution met ALL the following criteria:
    1. The institution is in the U.S. or a Qualifying Country.
    2. You have completed at least one year of full-time ACADEMIC study at that institution.
    3. The date you completed your studies (or left the institution) is within two (2) years of your desired admission term,
      1. Example 1: Your desired admission term is Fall 2025. Studies that ended in the Spring (April - June) of 2023 would meet the criterion.
      2. Example 2: Your desired admission term is Fall 2025. Studies that ended in the Fall (October - December) of 2022 would not meet the criterion.
    4. You provide transcripts for the institution that verify ALL the criteria have been met.
    5. For more information about English proficiency requirements, please click here.
  • Minimum TOEFL score required is 80
  • Minimum IELTS score required is 6.5
  • Minimum Duolingo score required is 120

Email us at LeedsPhD@colorado.edu