How to Apply

The Vanderbilt Master of Management application is hosted online. To begin, you will be asked to provide basic information such as demographic and contact information, areas of interest, activities and education, and work history. Applications are considered complete when each component has been received and processed by our team. You can check your application status at any time by accessing the application checklist.

All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the deadline date.

Vanderbilt Business specialized master's programs are test-optional. Applicants may submit GMAT or GRE scores if they feel these scores add value to their candidacy and demonstrate their readiness for graduate-level work.

Vanderbilt requires graduate students to have a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, or its equivalent. An unofficial academic transcript from every college or university you attended is required as part of the application. 

Legible, unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application submission and should include your full name, the name of the institution, all courses with grades received, grade point average, grading scale, and conferred degree with date (if applicable). If your conferred degree with date is not included on your transcript, upload a copy of your diploma along with your transcript. 

If your transcript is not in English, include your translated academic records along with your originals. 

Official Transcripts 

Official academic records are required for admitted students prior to enrollment. Final official academic records must be sent directly from the issuing institution/agency to Vanderbilt University. 

Information on the prior degree verification process, including how to submit official academic records, can be found on the Vanderbilt University Registrar’s Website. 

Written statements help us understand your unique qualities and goals. The required personal statement gives you the opportunity to describe your purpose for pursuing the Vanderbilt Master of Management program and explain how your background, skills, and interests align with this path. 

You may also submit an optional second statement to address anything important for the Admissions Committee to know that isn't covered elsewhere in your application - for example, employment gaps, academic concerns, or other relevant circumstances.

Only one letter of recommendation is required for the Vanderbilt Master of Management application and recommendations are due on the application deadline date. 

Select your recommender and enter their contact information within the application early to ensure your application will not be delayed. Instructions on submitting the Vanderbilt recommendation form will be emailed directly to your recommender. 

We encourage you to choose a recommender who can share your personal qualities and ability to succeed in the Master of Management program.  

Acceptable recommenders include current and former internship or full-time managers, current or former professors, and individuals with whom you have worked regularly, as long as they can provide a meaningful evaluation in a professional context. 

Our preference is for your recommender to complete an online recommendation form itself. If your recommender is not an English speaker, a letter of recommendation in his/her native language with a professional translation is acceptable. The original letter, the translated letter, and a certification by the translator should be combined into one document and uploaded by the recommender into the recommendation form. 

Interviews are an essential component of the application and are conducted by members of our Master of Management Recruiting & Admissions Team. Evaluative interviews are offered by invitation to applicants who have submitted a complete application.

Interview invitations are sent on a rolling basis and conducted virtually and on campus during select events. Candidates with a started application that attend a weekday campus visit are eligible to conduct an on-campus interview during their visit. There is no preference for interview format; both virtual and in-person interviews are valued equally.

Our admissions interviews are behavioral based and a great opportunity to tell us your story, share examples from your professional experience, and speak to how a Vanderbilt Master of Management can help you achieve your goals.

The video response is a chance for you to provide a glimpse of your authentic self, speaking without a script. The video questions are designed to be easy to answer, “small talk” questions to help us to get to know you. You will have time to prepare your response and the application will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to record your answers.