IllMaster of Science in FinanceUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States

Program Overview

Dates and tuition are specific to the 2027 intake

Multiple application rounds (other deadlines: Sep 9, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 18, 2026).

Please check the official program website (link below) for specific writing guidelines

Academic statement of purpose

300–500 words total.

CV or resume

One page. Include education, work and internship dates and responsibilities, training, associations, and leadership.

Short personal statements

250 words max each.

Recommendation letters x 3

Academic (course instructors) and/or professional (supervisors/mentors).

Video essay

Three randomly assigned questions; about 3 minutes total. Required.

Academic: Bachelor's degree with GPA 3.0/4.0; Four-year U.S. bachelor's equivalent required. Graduate College GPA minimum applies; admission is competitive.
Prerequisites: Professional experience; Work experience is recommended, not required. The committee emphasizes at least two years of post-bachelor professional experience; strong internships or part-time work plus strong academics may compensate.
IELTS: 7.5 overall; Graduate College full-status admission minimum. Limited status is 6.5 overall and typically requires ESL placement. Scores must be dated within two years of the proposed term.
TOEFL: New scale: 5.0 overall | Old scale: 103 overall; Graduate College full-status admission minimum. Limited status is 79 overall (old scale) / 4.0 (new scale) and typically requires ESL placement. New scale applies to tests dated after 20 Jan 2026; old scale applies before 21 Jan 2026.; Graduate College full-status admission minimum. Limited status is 79 overall (old scale) / 4.0 (new scale) and typically requires ESL placement. Scores must be dated within two years of the proposed term.