FAQ

Qualifications

Application Requirements

Admissions Process

Online Application

Financial Aid

Qualifications

Q1: What type of people study for the PhD?
A1: Doctoral students come from a variety of backgrounds. Their most important distinguishing features are an eagerness to discover new things and an aptitude for research methods in business. The doctoral program is small relative to the size of Wharton as a whole. Doctoral students form a cohesive, self-helping group with their own student lounge and computer lab.

More than half of the students are international. The number of first year students in each department's program is small and select. New students interact with doctoral students in all years and also with students in other Wharton departments. Typically, the number of peers with whom a doctoral student interacts and finds common interests ranges from 15 to 30.

Q2: Do most graduates enter the academic field?
A2: The majority of students who enter a Wharton doctoral program assume a faculty position at an academic/research institution upon completing the PhD degree program.

Q3: How long does a PhD take?
A3: The required coursework for a PhD takes two years, and defense of a thesis proposal, performance of thesis research, and defense of the final thesis usually take 12 to 18 months at a minimum. It is usually reasonable to expect to take four to five years to complete the PhD.

Q4: Can I do it part time? Is there distance learning? Is there an online program?
A4: The Wharton PhD program is full time during the period of coursework. Most students also pursue their theses full time for 12 to 18 months. There are no PhD-level courses offered through distance or online learning.

Q5: Do I need prior work experience or business courses?
A5: : No, not necessarily. Application decisions depend primarily on an evaluation of the candidate's ability to handle complex course material and do original research. While experience is helpful, evidence of strong intellectual ability — as indicated by test scores, course grades, or letters of recommendation — is the most important factor.

Q6: Will prior graduate work help? Can I transfer prior graduate work and have it apply to the PhD?
A6: Up to one year of graduate credits may be transferred (maximum of eight credits), but any transfers are usually less than the maximum, because students are required to take the core courses for the doctoral program here at Wharton. Prior work can shorten the time for required coursework a little, but its main advantage will be to provide a better background for dealing with the rigorous core courses.

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Admissions Requirements

Q7: What tests should I take? Is there a minimum score?
A7: All applicants must take either the GMAT or GRE, depending upon department/program admission requirements. While there is no minimum test score required to apply, good performance on one of the tests can offset lower scores on other portions.

The average GMAT scores for doctoral students who entered in fall 2008 were:
Verbal: 40.27
Quantitative: 49.82
Total: 738.18
Writing: 5.23

The average GRE scores for doctoral students who entered in fall 2008 were:
Verbal: 645.52
Quantitative: 787.24
Writing: 4.52

The average GPA of accepted applicants generally falls within the upper tenth percentile.

The ETS codes for requesting to have your scores sent to the Doctoral Program are:
GRE: 2954-4399
GMAT: G56-97-12
TOEFL: 2954-02

GRE/GMAT test scores CANNOT be waived. There are no exceptions. Failure to provide required application materials will result in your application's rejection. Please note that certain programs will accept only the GRE. See Application Requirements for specific information.

Q8: Is the TOEFL required? Can it be waived if I have lived or studied in an English-speaking country?
A8: If your native language is not English, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). You may waive the TOEFL if you have earned an undergraduate or master's degree in an English-speaking country or from an institution at which English is the language of instruction. To waive the TOEFL, you must include a letter requesting the waiver in your application or submit your request in the option essay field of the online application AND have it documented by the institution from which you earned your degree that your medium of education was English.

Q9: What is the average TOEFL score? Do you keep scores submitted in prior years?
A9: We do not keep records of average TOEFL scores from previous years. Generally, the better the test score, the more likely a student will succeed in the program. We do not keep scores submitted in prior years, unless an applicant submitted an application. Applications and all supplemental materials (including test scores) are kept on file for one year after the year of application, and then destroyed.

Q10: Can I request an interview when applying?
A10: Interviews are not granted prior to decisions. Accepted candidates are generally invited to visit at Wharton's expense before they make a decision on whether to attend.

Q11: Can the application fee be waived?
A11: No. The application fee cannot be waived and must accompany the application. Applications sent without the fee will not be processed. There are no exceptions.

Q12: Can I pay the application fee by credit card?
A12: You can pay the application fee by credit card when you submit your online application.

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Admissions Requirements

Q13: When should I apply?
A13: We will begin accepting applications in September for the following year's admission period. The deadline for applications and supporting documentation (letters of recommendation, transcripts, and test scores) is December 15.

Q14: When and how will I be notified of the committee's decision?
A14: The admissions committee meets in late February and again in early March, and the departmental programs make their final decisions by late March. Admission notification is made by April 15.

You will be notified of departmental decisions via the email address you provide, so be sure to check your email regularly and to notify the doctoral office of any changes in your contact information.

Q15: Can you provide a paper application — I would rather submit a paper application than the online application?
A15: Sorry, but we no longer offer a paper application. All applications must be submitted using the online system.

Q16: How many applications do you receive each year, and how many do you admit?
A16: The number of completed applications is usually between 800 and 1,000. Less than 10% of applicants are offered admission, and usually 30 to 40 students matriculate.

Q17: Can I defer admission?
A17: An offer of admission with financial support is made for the upcoming academic year only. Acceptance of the offer may not be deferred. An accepted applicant who must postpone acceptance of an offer of admission may request that the application be reactivated for consideration the following year. The applicant must notify the Wharton Doctoral Programs office by December 1 to reactivate the application.

Q18: Can I request feedback on my application if I am not offered admission?
A18: The admissions committee cannot offer feedback on individual applications.

Q19: Can I apply as a transfer student from a PhD program at a different school?
A19: All applicants must complete an application with all required materials by the December 15 deadline regardless of their status at another school.

Q20: Can I apply to more than one PhD program?
A20: Yes. You must submit a separate application and fee for each program to which you intend to apply.

Q21: Can I re-apply to a Doctoral Program?
A21: Yes. Candidates who submitted an application to a Wharton Doctoral Program and were not offered admission may re-apply but not for the same academic year, e.g., an applicant who was not admitted for fall 2007 may re-apply for fall 2008. See Reapplication Process for more information.

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Online Application

Q22: I'm having trouble accessing the Online Application. What is the problem?
A22: You must have a Login Account to access the Online Application. To get a Login and Password you have two options. To get a Login and Password please visit our online application, available in September.

Q23: My password will not work. Why?
A23: You may be entering the incorrect password. Some common problems are:

  • Passwords are case sensitive. Be certain you are entering your password with the same capitalizations and lower cases as appear in your confirmation email.
  • To have your login and password information re-sent to you, click the login link and follow the directions to have the information re-sent to you.
  • If all else fails, please email the doctoral office for assistance: doctoral-admissions@wharton.upenn.edu

Q24: When should I check the system after submitting the application?
A24: You should allow at least three weeks for processing for your online account to truly reflect the status of your application

Q25: Will I receive an e-mail when decisions are made? How will I know when to check the system?
A25: You will receive an e-mail each time your status changes, this includes when we release a decision. Once you receive an e-mail, you need to check your status online. The e-mail only indicates there is a change to your application, it does not indicate what the change is.

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Financial Aid

Q26: What about financial aid? Are international students eligible?
A26: The Wharton School offers full financial aid (tuition plus stipend) to all admitted doctoral students; this aid is guaranteed for four years if performance is satisfactory. The number of students accepted in any department is therefore determined by the amount of financial aid available.

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