Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)  

When is the next admission season? 
Admission to the Ph.D. program in Business Data Science is for the Fall semester only. The next admission season is Fall 2026, and the application deadline will be in December 2025.

Is a GMAT or GRE score required?
Yes, either a GMAT or a GRE score is acceptable for the application. GMAT and GRE are valid for up to five years. The test score cannot expire at the time of application deadline (December 15). Expired GMAT or GRE at the time of application deadline (December 15) will not be considered.

Do I need to submit official GMAT/GRE score and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended?
Yes, they are required by the institution.

Do I need to have a TOEFL/IELTS score?
International applicants shall demonstrate proficiency in English following the NJIT admission standard. Either TOEFL, IELTS, DUOLINGO or PTE is required if English is not the applicant's first language. Exemptions can be granted to applicants who have earned (or will earn before enrolling at NJIT) a U.S. bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a university of recognized standing in a country in which all instruction is provided in English.  

What are the degree requirements?
Degree requirements and program catalog are available here. 

Am I expected to publish papers to obtain the Ph.D. degree?
Yes, students are expected to conduct innovative and independent research and have their research findings published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and/or academic conference proceedings.

Is this program a STEM-designated degree program?
Yes.

What is the cost of pursuing a Ph.D. degree?
Please refer to here for information about tuition and fees. They depend on the number of courses that a student needs to register to meet the degree requirements.  

Is there any financial support?
Competitive merit-based financial support may be available for Ph.D. students who commit to being full-time students during the Ph.D. study via teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, etc. The financial support may cover tuition, fees, and stipend at a rate set by the University. Some fellowships may provide a higher stipend. You may indicate whether you need to apply for financial support or you are self-supported in your personal statement. All applications are reviewed for financial support until positions are filled.

What is my likelihood of being admitted?
The admission decisions depends on many factors, such as the number of applications, applicants’ credentials, and funding availability. As a result, it is impossible to offer an admission “preview” on final decisions. A committee, which consists of several faculty members at Martin Tuchman School of Management, will thoroughly review all complete applications. Those who meet Admission Requirements are all encouraged to apply.

Do you accept part-time students?
Yes, we admit both full-time and part-time students who are motivated to publish in reputable peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Those who pursue a part-time status may consider the Collaborative Ph.D. Program.

How are courses delivered?
Courses can be offered face to face, online, or in a hybrid mode. They can be offered during daytime, in the evenings, or online. Coursework can be found here. Recent course schedule can be found here.

What is the application deadline?
We grant admission only for the Fall semester. NJIT’s Fall semester typically starts around September 1. The application deadline is December 15 in the prior calendar year (December 15, 2023). After the deadline, applications may be considered on a rolling basis subject to admission availability until February 15, 2024. However, applications completed after the deadline are not guaranteed to be considered.

When will my application be reviewed?
Each application will be reviewed only after its status is “complete” in the NJIT application portal. An application must be completed by the deadline. Please make sure that you have provided all required information in the check list. Incomplete applications or applications that completed after the deadline may be rejected without being reviewed.

What is my current application status? When will a decision be made?
Each complete application will be evaluated by a committee. The applicant will be notified via the NJIT application online portal as soon as a final decision is made on your application. The applicant will also receive an email if an admission or financial support offer is made.

What if I have additional materials for submission after a decision is made?
It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure all submitted applications are accurate and complete. Once an admission decision is made, it is final. The applicant can choose to apply for the program again in the future. 

In addition to program requirements, are there any other requirements for admitted students?
Yes, all admitted students must follow the institution’s Academic Policies and Procedures and fulfill requirements made by Office of Graduate Studies.  

If you have additional questions, please contact the program director, Dr. Ming Taylor: ming.f.taylor@njit.edu. Please kindly follow the guidelines for effective communication:

• Please have the email subject “Business Data Science Program Inquiry”
• Due to the large volume of inquiries, we are not able to reply to emails whose questions are already answered in FAQ.
• While we reply to emails as soon as possible, please allow a week before you send a reminder email.

Thank you for your interest in Ph.D. program in Business Data Science. We look forward to hearing from you!