Education

On your application, we require you to provide the following information about your education history:

  • All undergraduate and graduate institutions you are attending or have attended after high school (postsecondary school), including institutions you have transferred to or from
  • Academic degree(s) pursued, received, and/or in progress
  • Grade point average (GPA)
  • Transcript of courses (translated if not in English)
  • Language proficiency

Academic Degrees

We do not prefer a particular educational institution or curriculum of undergraduate study. Instead, we look at how you have challenged yourself throughout your academic career and how you have performed.

A U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required for admission to the Stanford MBA Program. Only under rare circumstances will we consider exceptions to this policy.

International Degree Equivalents

Grade Point Average

We review your academic performance in the context of your concentration, university, and educational system.

By focusing on your achievements in context, we evaluate how you have excelled within your individual academic environment and how you have taken advantage of the opportunities available to you in your school and community. We are interested in your whole course of study, not just your final GPA.

Report your undergraduate grade point average and the scale used by your institution. Only courses for credit toward your first bachelor’s degree count in your GPA. Factor in the number of credits and grade for each class; do not simply average quarters or semesters for your annual GPA. Calculate and report your GPA in the format in which it appears on your transcript, including using the same number of decimal places. Report/calculate your GPA to the best of your ability even if your institution does not list it on your transcript. Do not convert your college/university’s scale. If necessary, you may explain how you calculated your GPA in the Additional Information section.

No minimum GPA is required for admission to the Stanford MBA Program.

Transcripts

We require you to upload a copy of your transcript(s) in the online application. We will ask you to provide your official transcript(s) only after you have been admitted. Any discrepancy between your unofficial and official transcripts could result in the withdrawal of your offer of admission.

Language Proficiency

Since all Stanford GSB courses are taught in English and class participation is essential, you must demonstrate proficiency in English. Learn more about our English language requirement. Speaking a language other than English is not required for admission to the MBA Program. If you do speak other languages, however, you can indicate your proficiency (excluding English) in your application.

Quantitative Proficiency

In assessing your readiness for the MBA Program, the MBA Admissions Office will review your university transcripts, any additional coursework you’ve taken, your GMAT or GRE scores, and your professional experience. If you have not already taken calculus, statistics, and microeconomics, it will strengthen your candidacy to do so before you apply. You can take whatever course is most convenient for you. If you are currently taking any courses to enhance your quantitative proficiency, describe them in the Education section of your application.