Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which tracks are accepting applications this year?
A. The Full Time PhD in Accounting program will next accept students for the Fall 2026 start. There will be no fall 2025 intake for the full time PhD in Business or Full Time PhD in Accounting.

Q. When does your online application become available?
A. Our application portal opens October 15, 2025 for the PhD in Accounting fall 2026 intake.

Q. What is the final application deadline?
A. Our final application deadline is Monday, January 6, 2026 Midnight EST for our fall 2026intake.

Q. Do you offer early admissions?
A. Early applications are encouraged. We will consider all applications received prior to the January 6, 2026 deadline for early decision. If you apply early and do not receive an offer of early admission, your application will remain in the applicant pool and will be considered alongside those applications received by the January 6, 2026 deadline.

Q. When will final decisions be communicated?
A. The PhD program will review all completed applications received by the January 6, 2026 deadline. All final admissions decisions will be communicated by April 15, 2026.

Q. Is there an application fee?
A. We do not charge a fee for applying to the PhD program.

Q. If I meet the criteria for application, will I be admitted to your PhD Program?
A. Admission is competitive and acceptance depends on admissions criteria as well as your research interests, the ability to match you with an adviser, and the profile of applicants.

Q. What funding is available for doctoral students?
A. A typical award package would include a full tuition scholarship, a generous stipend to assist with living expenses, and individual student health insurance. Please refer to Fellowships for additional information.

Q. Are international students eligible for fellowship funding?
A. All applicants are reviewed automatically for a doctoral fellowship, regardless of country of citizenship.

Q. Is there a GMAT or GRE cut off score?
A. We do not have a specific cut-off, however most of our successful applicants have GMAT scores of 650 or better or GRE scores of 160+ for quantitative reasoning and 160+ for verbal reasoning. 

Q. Can the GMAT or GRE requirement be waived?
A. We require either the GMAT or the GRE and this requirement cannot be waived.

Q. Do you accept the new GMAT Focus Exam?

A.Yes, as GMAT transitions from the classic exam to the new focus edition exam, we will accept either the traditional GMAT or the new GMAT focus edition exam.

Q. Which tests are accepted to fulfill the English Language Test requirement?
A. We accept IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Duolingo scores from the past 24 months. Other types of tests may be considered only in the context of requesting an ELT waiver.

Q. What is the required TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score for international students?
A. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 100, 7.0 for the IELTS, and 130 for Duolingo.

Q. Do you offer waivers for the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo?
A. You may be able to waive the ELT requirement if you are a citizen of a pre-approved* English-speaking nation or completed a bachelor's, master's, or higher degree in which all instruction was provided in English (documentation of English instruction is required). If you meet either qualification, you may request a waiver at the time you submit your application; note that your application must be complete before your waiver will be considered, and an interview may be required. Contact us to discuss your potential eligibility for a waiver.

*Pre-approved English speaking nations include: United States, Canada, United Kingdom (including its territories), New Zealand, Australia, Uganda, and South Africa.

Q. What if I have minimal work experience?
A. We believe that work experience is important for students wanting to study and teach in a business-related field. However, candidates with very strong academic credentials, who have not had much managerial or business experience, may be considered.

Q. I have a non-business Master's degree, is this acceptable?
A. This is acceptable as long as you have some business experience.

Q. I have a general idea about a research area but nothing specific. How focused and detailed should I be?
A. We are not looking for fully formed ideas at the admission stage. What we want to know your research interests so that we can match you with a faculty member who will act as your primary adviser.

Q. What is the duration of the program?
A. Most students graduate in 4 or 5 years. 

Q. What kinds of research areas are Bentley faculty interested in?
A. The PhD pages under both the Business and Accounting programs list faculty active in the program; you can also look at other faculty in the Bentley University Faculty Profile page. If there is a faculty member who have research interests in line with your own, you can contact them and begin a conversation, even before you submit your formal application.