Faculty in the Seidner Department of Financeare experts in their disciplines and globally acclaimed for their scholarship, research, and mentorship. In our collegial environment, students typically collaborate with one another and with faculty to produce groundbreaking research.
Theacademic programbegins with systematic, rigorous training in quantitative methods, economics, and finance. In addition, students complete a major research project, serve as research and teaching assistants, and write a doctoral dissertation.
Doctoral students in finance at Boston College complete a program of study that leads to competency in three areas: quantitative methods, economics, and finance. The program begins with course work in quantitative methods, economics, and finance. In the third year, students complete a major research project designed to develop their ability to do original research. Through hands-on experience as teaching assistants, students gain important pedagogical experience. Finally, each student completes a doctoral dissertation that contributes substantial, original work to the field of finance.
Students must complete a program of study that leads to competency in three areas: quantitative methods, economics, and finance. The requirements of the program of study are typically satisfied by completing 14 courses in the first two years in the program. In some cases, course work prior to entering the program or successful performance on waiver examinations may be substituted for required courses. However, each student must complete a minimum of 12 courses while in the program.
Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination marks the student’s transition from course work to full-time thesis research. The examination is intended to allow the student to demonstrate substantial knowledge of the literature and theory of finance and economics and competence in the area of quantitative methods. The examination consists of two steps.
Doctoral students are expected to engage early in research. The culmination of the program is the doctoral dissertation, a substantial, significant, and original contribution to the field that is prepared under the guidance of a thesis committee of three or more faculty members. When the research is complete, students present a thesis-defense seminar that is open to the Boston College community.
Doctoral students at the Carroll School are expected to serve as research assistants, teaching assistants, and/or instructors throughout their studies. Students work for a set number of hours per week, throughout the duration of their Ph.D. programs. In exchange, the Carroll School provides financial support for doctoral students in the form of a stipend and tuition remission.
YEAR 1 - FALL |
Microeconomic Theory I ٲپپ Ph.D. Seminar: Advanced Topics in Capital Markets |
YEAR 1 - SPRING |
Microeconomic Theory II Econometric Methods Macroeconomic Theory II Ph.D. Seminar: Corporate Finance RA/TA Work |
YEAR 2 - FALL |
Ph.D. Seminar: Asset Pricing Ph.D. Seminar: Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance Ph.D. Seminar: Topics in Empirical Corporate Finance RA/TA Work |
YEAR 2 - SPRING |
Ph.D. Seminar: Advanced Topics in Asset Pricing |
YEAR 3 - FALL |
Research Paper Defense |
YEAR 3 - SPRING |
پٲپDz RA/TA Work |
YEAR 4 - FALL |
پٲپDz RA/TA Work |
YEAR 4 - SPRING |
پٲپDz |
YEAR 5 - FALL |
پٲپDz Research and Writing RA/TA Work |
YEAR 5 - SPRING |
پٲپDz Research and Writing |
The Ph.D. Program in Finance at the Carroll School attracts applicants from all over the world and from a wide array of backgrounds. While notable for the diversity of their individual achievements, our students typically share a track record of leadership, a strong commitment to research and teaching, and a desire to make a difference in the world.
Note: The following information reflects data for the entering classes of 2020–2024. Updated September 10, 2024.
Year | Class Size |
---|---|
2020 | 4 |
2021 | 4 |
2022 | 4 |
2023 | 4 |
2024 | 4 |
Overall Selectivity | 7.7% |
Item | Data |
---|---|
Average Age | 29 |
Age Range | 23–38 |
Women | 25% |
International Students | 60% |
Metric | Data |
---|---|
Average GMAT (10th Edition) Score | 740 |
GMAT (10th Edition) 80th Percentile Range | 730–748 |
Average GRE Score | 327 |
GRE 80th Percentile Range | 315–334 |
Average Undergraduate GPA | 3.71 |
Average Full-Time Work Experience | 2.7 years |
Students Holding Master's Degree | 35% |
Our students and recent graduates are also prolific scholars and writers, publishing regularly in top economic and finance journals such as theAmerican Economic Review,Journal of Finance,Journal of Financial Economics,Review of Financial Studies,ԻtheJournal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
American University
Arizona State University
Baruch College (City University of New York)
Bocconi University
DePaul University
Fordham University
George Washington University
Indiana University
INSEAD
Lehigh University
Louisiana State University
Michigan State University
National University of Singapore
Texas A&M University
The College of William and Mary
University of Alberta
University of Arizona
University of Georgia
University of Minnesota
University of New South Wales
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
University of Virginia (Darden School)
University of Hong Kong
Villanova University
Virginia Tech University
Application Deadline:The deadline to apply for Fall 2025 is January 7, 2025.
Application Fee: All applicants are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 USD.
Interviews: If selected, applicants will be invited to interview in early spring.
Admission Decisions: Applications are generally reviewed after the final deadline has passed. There is no specific decision notification date for Ph.D. programs. Final decisions are typically available by mid-spring.
Your current curriculum vitae shouldinclude your education, research, and professional information.
We also requirea separate Employment History, using the form provided within the online application.
Recommendationsfrom two individuals who can provide an objective appraisal of your capacity for intensive graduate study and potential for professional success.
All applicants must possess a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. You must submit transcripts from every institution where you were enrolled in a degree-granting program. At the time of application, only a self-reported transcript is required but if you are admitted, we will require an official transcript sent directly from your degree-granting institution. Transcripts should include:
Course names
All grades received (including transfer credits and study abroad programs)
Cumulative GPA
Degree conferral information
Graduates of non-U.S. institutions must possess a college or university degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. If admitted, international students are required to submit an official English translation of all academic credentials, along with a third-party degree verification from an agency such asor.
Applicants must submit GMAT or GRE scores from within the past five years. We accept both the GMAT Exam and GMAT Focus Edition. Our test codes are:
While Graduate Admissions does not have a preference between the GMAT or GRE, we encourage you to consult class profile data for average test scores in order to gauge where you stand.
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are required to submit an English language proficiency exam score with your application. We accept TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. We do not accept the Duolingo English Test.
Scores must be from within the past two years, and applicants must meet the following minimum scores:
TOEFL, iBT, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition: 100
IELTS: 7.5
PTE: 68
You are eligible to waive the language test requirement if you meet either of the following criteria:
You have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree or a two-year master’s degree (or higher) at an institution where the medium language of instruction is English. You must have completed your degree in its entirety at the English-medium institution. The medium language of instruction must be indicated on your transcript or verified in an official letter from the institution.
You have worked in a full-time, post-degree position for at least two years in the United States or a country where English is an official language. NOTE: Working for a company that conducts its business in English in a country where English is not an official language will not qualify you for a language test waiver.
If you are eligible to waive the language test requirement, you do not need to submit a waiver request beforehand and can simply move forward with your application.
Applicants must submit a required essay discussing their research interests and career objectives. You may also submit an optional essay that addresses aspects of your candidacy that have not already been covered in other parts of the application.
If you have any further questions, please email us at bcmba@bc.edu, or schedule a phone call or Zoom appointment with a member of the Graduate Admission team.