Frequently Asked Questions
The following should provide you with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the Fast-Track Professional MBA Program. If answers to your questions are not available on our web site, please feel free to contact us.
- Are the Terry College of Business and the University of Georgia nationally recognized?
- What are the Fast-Track Professional MBA program requirements?
- How long will it take to earn my degree?
- Are transfer credits accepted?
- What are the work experience, GMAT and GPA profiles for the program?
- What are the application requirements?
- What if I have taken the GMAT more than once?
- Can an applicant enter the program before taking the GMAT or before formally being admitted to the MBA program?
- Is an interview required?
- Do I need an undergraduate degree in business to apply?
- How do I apply?
- What are the application deadlines?
- May I specialize within the Fast-Track Professional MBA program?
- When do classes begin?
- How many new students enroll each year?
- Are students required to attend sessions year round?
- Where is the program located?
- Is the faculty teaching in the program the same as those in the full-time program?
- What is the cost of the program?
- What type of financial assistance is available to students interested in the Fast-Track Professional MBA program?
- How will the MBA degree appear on my diploma?
- If admitted, can I defer admission to the Fast-Track Professional MBA program?
The following should provide you with answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the Terry Fast-Track Professional MBA Program. If answers to your questions are not here or elsewhere within our web site, please feel free to contact us.
1. Are the Terry College of Business and the University of Georgia nationally recognized?
Yes, the Terry MBA program has long been recognized as one of the top U.S. and global MBA programs by:
- BusinessWeek
- U.S. News & World Report
- The [London] Financial Times
- Forbes and other publications.
Additionally, Money and Kiplinger's continue to rank the University of Georgia as one of the top public institutions in the U.S.
2. What are the Fast-Track Professional MBA credit requirements?
The program requires 48 credits. Up to six (6) credits can be waived based on the completion of approved course work at the graduate level.
3. How long will it take to earn my degree?
The program is two years in length. New cohort groups are admitted each fall (August).
4. Are transfer credits accepted?
Yes, up to six (6) credits can be considered for transfer if approved graduate business course work from an AACSB- accredited institution has been completed. Transfer credit will only be considered for courses where a "B" or better has been earned. To be included on a program of study, transfer credits must meet the six year requirement as required by the University of Georgia.
5. What are the work experience, GMAT and GPA profiles for the program?
Information on the profile of the class can be found on our Class Profile page. The majority of students in the program have a minimum of three years of full-time experience and the class average is more than six years. While the Fast-Track Professional MBA program does not apply minimums to either the GMAT or GPA, the Graduate School at UGA considers scores below 500 and 2.6, respectively, to be below minimum requirements. You must be competitive relative to other applicants in the pool to be considered for admission.
6. What are the application requirements?
An application requires the submission of a Graduate School application and application fee, academic transcripts, essays, GMAT scores, TOEFL scores (if necessary), work history profile, collegiate/professional honors and activities and recommendation letters.
7. What if I have taken the GMAT more than once?
We will consider the higher of your scores for those tests taken within the past 5 years.
8. Can an applicant enter the program before taking the GMAT or before formally being admitted to the MBA program?
No. The GMAT is part of the application and is required before a decision on an application will be communicated. You must have taken the test within the past 5 years.
9. Is an interview required?
A personal interview is required of all admitted students. The Office of Admissions will contact qualified students to schedule the interview once the required documents have been received.
10. Do I need an undergraduate degree in business to apply?
No. Undergraduate degree holders from an accredited institution, regardless of major, are eligible to apply.
11. How do I apply?
Click here to apply online.
12. What are the application deadlines?
| Fall | |
| US Citizens | May 30 |
| Non US Citizens | April 15 |
13. May I specialize within the Fast-Track Professional MBA program?
The Fast-Track Professional MBA program provides a general management focus in its curriculum however three elective courses can be taken in specific areas of interest.
14. When do classes begin?
The Fast-Track Professional MBA program enrolls new students in August. We do not have a spring start date.
15. How many new students enroll each year?
We will enroll groups of students (i.e. cohorts) for each of our Atlanta locations: Buckhead and Gwinnett. Each cohort will consist of 40-45 students. We will have at least one cohort in each location and more if there is sufficient demand.
16. Are students required to attend sessions year round?
Yes. The Fast-Track Professional MBA program is a two-year lockstep program. Students will take courses as a cohort group year round until completion of the program.
17. Where is the program located?
The Fast-Track Professional MBA program is offered in two locations in metro-Atlanta. One location is in Buckhead at Terry's Executive Education Center and the other facility is in Lawrenceville at UGA’s Gwinnett campus.
18. Is the faculty teaching in the program the same as those in the full-time program?
The majority of faculty teaching in the Fast-Track Professional MBA program is the same as those teaching in Athens on the main campus. Several faculty also teach in one of our other programs (Full-Time, Executive MBA). A few adjunct instructors with terminal degrees and extensive work experience also teach in the program.
19. What is the cost of the program?
Please read our Tuition and Fees page for details regarding tuition and fees.
20. What type of financial assistance is available to students interested in the Fast-Track Professional MBA program?
Students may be eligible for Stafford Loans (Federal Direct Loans), a low interest loan offered by the United States Department of Education. The most important process in applying for this loan is filing the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" or FAFSA. FAFSA forms are available at the beginning of December each year online at Federal Student Aid web site, or by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid web site at the University of Georgia at 706-542-6147. Additional financial aid links can be found under the financial area of the web site.
21. How will the MBA degree appear on my diploma?
The degree does not differentiate between programs, location of the program or areas of specialization. All diplomas will state "Master of Business Administration".
22. If admitted, can I defer admission to the Fast-Track Professional MBA program?
A candidate may request deferment. Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
