Top MBA Programmes With GMAT/GRE Waiver in 2023-24

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Subhashri Roy
Updated on Mar 24, 2023 09:40 PM IST

Students without GMAT/GRE scores are now being accepted to pursue an MBA at the highest-ranked institutes including MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Virginia, to name a few. Read on to find the list of the top full-time MBA programmes that are waiving GMAT and GRE tests.

Top MBA Programmes With GMAT/GRE Waiver in 2023-24

Top MBA Programs With GMAT/GRE Waiver: Many top-ranked foreign universities made submission of GMAT or GRE scores optional amid the Covid-19 pandemic. While some decided to go back to their normal MBA admissions criteria, many continue to accept MBA applications without GMAT or GRE scores.

Candidates, with or without a remarkable academic background, often dread taking one of these challenging entrance exams. However, the ongoing trend of universities waiving off GMAT/GRE scores for MBA abroad has only made applicants' lives easier.

Prominent institutes including MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Virginia, to name a few, have invited applications from international MBA aspirants who do not have GMAT/GRE scores but do meet other requirements such as work experience, degrees or achievements, etc. Read on to find the list of the top MBA programs without GMAT or GRE scores.

Can You Study MBA Abroad without GMAT/GRE?

Yes, you can now study MBA abroad without GMAT or GRE scores. While many business schools insist that you take the GMAT or GRE for a standardised score to help in the admission process, some have waived off GMAT and GRE scores.

Those who have not obtained a good score on GMAT/GRE, or do not wish to spend time in preparation, can study MBA in Canada without GMAT and MBA in Germany without GMAT. There are business schools in other countries that provide the same opportunities to the students.

The colleges that accept international students for MBA without GMAT/GRE scores focus on academic records, work experience and skills and curricular, extracurricular and volunteer activities of the applicants.

Know the Right MBA Programme without GMAT/GRE to Apply for!

Why Take GRE/GMAT MBA Admissions Abroad?

You can choose to take the GRE/GMAT MBA admissions abroad even if the university is test-optional. The reasons why taking GRE/GMAT is a smart choice include:

  • GMAT/GRE tests the skills of the students that are essential for a successful career in management and business. Students can take the GMAT/GRE exam to assess their abilities before leaping into the study of an MBA.

  • GMAT/GRE scores are extremely reliable scores for tests accepted by almost all universities across the globe. The test scores help the admission officers choose from a bunch of bright candidates with high GPAs.

  • The scores of the GMAT or GRE are an indicator of the students' motivation, commitment and capacity to be successful. They increase the chances to get into the top universities which treat the scores as a major criterion for the admission of international applicants.

MBA Admission Process without GRE/GMAT

Students who want to know the admission process of an MBA with a GMAT waiver or an MBA with a GRE waiver can apply in the following way:

  • List down the universities and b-schools that do not require GRE/GMAT scores for admission.

  • Check out the admission intakes available at the universities and complete submitting the application before the application deadline.

  • Upload supporting documents such as:

  • Shortlisted candidates can be called in for an interview.

Alternatives to GMAT/GRE to Study MBA Abroad

Aspirants who want to study MBA without GMAT or want to do MBA with a GRE waiver can opt for schools that do not require the scores and consider applications based on other factors. They can also choose other modes of MBA if they do not wish to join full-time MBA programs. A few alternatives are given below:

  • Online MBA: Professionals who do not want to take a gap year can opt for an online MBA that helps to get an MBA degree in online mode. They can gain mastery in business, get leadership skills and build global networks. The courses give students the opportunity to interact with professors and get personalised attention.

  • Part-time MBA: The scope of a part-time MBA is increasing throughout the world and is being promoted by the corporate world to increase the efficiency of their employees. The course takes 2 to 3 years to complete.

  • Executive MBA: An Executive MBA is specially designed to last for one year. Some colleges extend it up to 18 months. The course focuses more on nuances of business rather than theories of business.

Full-Time MBA Programmes Waiving GMAT/GRE Scores 

If you fulfil a school's qualifying standards and/or are having difficulty taking the exam or demonstrating your ability adequately through the exam, you may wish to pursue the test waiver option. For a school that is providing waivers exclusively for a pandemic or safety reasons, you will need to provide a real cause for not having been able to take the exam. For schools that are giving waivers to candidates who can give an alternative proof of their ability, if you feel confident in your evidence, and you either cannot take the exam or you score below the school’s averages, the opportunity to request a waiver is worth considering.

The table highlighted below will provide you with an extensive list of top MBA colleges abroad that are offering MBA programmes with GMAT/GRE waivers to international students. 

Name of the Institute

Country

Details On GMAT/GRE Waivers

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT-Sloan)

USA

Submitted material will be reviewed as is and without negative inferences. Students have to fill up test waiver forms.

Darden - University of Virginia

USA

Waivers are offered on a case-by-case basis

Ross School of Business - University of Michigan

USA

Can request a waiver

Tepper School of Business -Carnegie Mellon University

USA

Will ask for evidence of preparedness in math

Waivers will be granted on a case-to-case basis

NC Kenan-Flagler Business School

USA

Waiver Available; students are encouraged to submit waiver requests early

Melbourne Business School

Australia

A GPA of 5.0-7.0 is required if GMAT/GRE scores are not submitted

McCombs School of Business

USA

Merit-based test waiver is approved

Kelley School of Business at Indiana University

USA

Will ask for a brief statement under 300 words stating why you deserve a waiver

Scheller College of Business

USA

Will ask for a 2000 word-character essay to support academic preparedness for a test waiver

Rice Business (Jones Graduate School Of Business)

USA

Will ask for 7 or more years of prior work experience, terminal degree, STEM master, CPA or CFA, MCAT, or LSAT

Owen Graduate School of Management

USA

Demands performance in analytical and quant coursework & 5 years of prior work experience, CPA or CFA

Carlson School of Management

USA

Needs GPA of 3.2 in Bachelor & 5+ years of work experience, a CFA or CPA, or Masters's degree

Penn State Smeal College of Business

USA

Needs PhD, MD or DO degree with 5+ years of military service, or other advanced professional degrees

Thompson Rivers University Business and Economics

Canada

GMAT/GRE not required

Simon Business School

USA

Academic record, work experience, or other things should be competitive

Wisconsin

USA

Needs 2-3 years of prior work experience and 3.0 bachelor's degree GPA

University of Georgia (Terry)

USA

Available only for Accounting major applicants

University of Pittsburgh (Katz)

USA

Waivers with exceptional undergraduate or graduate quant coursework and significant prior work experience

The University of Texas at Dallas (Jindal)

USA

Waivers are not guaranteed. Students with test waivers are not eligible for scholarships

Michigan State University (Broad)

USA

GRE/GMAT test waiver available

The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management

USA

GMAT/GRE waiver available

University of Maryland (Robert H.Smith)

USA

Industry certification, along with Six Sigma, CFA, CPA and a 3.0 GPA at least, MCAT or LSAT

UC-Irvine

USA

Needs 2 or above years of prior work experience and a strong academic performance

University of Miami

USA

Only selected programs require the transcripts

New York Institute of Technology (Vancouver)

Canada

Students must have a GPA above 3.

University of Alabama

USA

Waiver available in selected programs on a conditional basis (different for each program)

North Carolina State University

USA

Only selected programs require the transcripts; Waiver available on an optional basis; Waiver applicable for North Carolina students

University of Arizona

USA

Only selected programs require the transcripts

Northeastern University

USA

Waiver available for applicants on an optional basis

Babson College

USA

Waiver available for applicants on an optional basis

Boston College

USA

Waiver available on a case-by-case basis; Need 3 or above years of prior work experience, 3.0 Bachelor's degree GPA, or JD, MBA, PhD, or CPA, CFA

University of Colorado-Boulder

USA

Waiver available for a limited number of applicants

William & Mary

USA

Waiver applicable for Fall applicants

Fordham University

USA

Only selected programs require the transcripts; Waivers are available on an optional basis

University of Connecticut

USA

Only selected programs require the transcripts

Rutgers Business School

USA

Waiver applicable for all Rutgers Undergraduates with a GPA of 3.2 or above

Texas Christian University

USA

Waiver available on an optional and conditional basis for Masters in Strategic Communication; Non-waiver opting students shall be prioritised in merit-based tuition and stipend waivers; Waiver opting students shall be evaluated at end of the first semester (equivalent to 9 hours)

Lancaster University Management School

UK

Admission essay is accepted instead of GMAT/GRE scores

Case Western University

USA

Only selected programs require the transcripts; Waiver applicable during the initial application process

Auburn University

USA

Waiver available in selected programs on an exceptional basis

Buffalo-SUNY

USA

Waiver in courses that do not require Professional licensure for the next 2 years

UC-San Diego

USA

Waiver applicable for CSE PhD or Masters applications for Fall; Scores may be submitted if a test is taken by the applicant

Iowa State University

USA

Program-wise requirements and waivers

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

USA

Waivers for State Scholarship applicants and UMass Amherst undergraduates

Syracuse University

USA

Test waivers are available on a programme-wise basis

Rollins (Crummer)

USA

Waivers for those with graduate degrees

University of Edinburgh Business School:

UK

GMAT/GRE waived if students meet academic criteria

University of Kansas

USA

Waivers for those with terminal degrees

University of Kentucky

USA

Selected waivers for Spring and Fall

University of Denver

USA

The programme-wise approach taken by the university

Chapman (Argyros)

USA

Needs a Bachelor's degree in a quant subject with a 3.2 GPA, or a graduate degree, 50 percentile or higher score in recognised admission tests MCAT, PCAT, DAT or OAT, or a CPA, CFA, CMA or Professional Engineer Designation

University of Houston

USA

Graduated from the University of Houston within 3 years preceding the term applying for, have a minimum GPA as required by the degree applying for

Florida State University

USA

Waivers for 3.5 GPA or higher, 8 years of managerial experience, and a master's degree with a 3.0 or higher; Conditions may differ on a programme-wise basis

University of Louisville

USA

No GMAT or GRE scores are needed except in some programs

Rochester Institute of Technology

USA

Waivers for selected programs for Spring and Fall

Clarkson University

USA

Waivers available for certain programs

University of Oregon

USA

Needs a strong academic record along with an internship, prior work experience, military service, volunteer service, leadership qualities, or other relevant experiences

Oklahoma State University

USA

Limited program-wise waivers are available

NYU Stern

Spain

GMAT/GRE waivers are applicable for select programs

Note: The list is dynamic and is updated as and when announcements of waivers are made by universities.

Should You Take GRE/GMAT for MBA Abroad?

As said previously, studying abroad is a desire of most students and the GRE or GMAT is one of the most important qualifying requirements that foreign students must achieve to pursue popular master's or MBA degrees overseas. Prospective MBA students have the choice to submit either GMAT or GRE scores for their business school application. Both exams are accepted as part of the admission or eligibility criteria for enrolling in an MBA programme at many business schools all over the globe.

GMAT test is meant to examine analytical writing and problem-solving abilities with logic and critical reasoning skills that are vital in real-world business and management success. It is accepted by over 6,000 business and management programmes in over 2,100 institutions and universities in 114 countries worldwide. It has around 600 testing centres throughout the world.

Prospective graduate and business school applicants from all around the world who are interested in pursuing a Master's degree, post-graduation, MBA, specialised Master's degree in business or doctoral degree, can take the GRE revised General Test. The GRE revised General Test is available at more than 1,000 test centres in more than 160 countries. The computer-delivered test is available continuously throughout the year in most parts of the world.

In conclusion, both the GRE and the GMAT may be utilised to get admission to management schools; therefore, one must examine the details of both examinations to determine which is most appropriate for the individual to increase their chances of admission into a world-class b-schools to study MBA abroad. 

Have doubts about MBA programmes with GMAT/GRE test waivers? Write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com for further guidance.

Have Queries About MBA with GMAT/GRE Waiver?

FAQs

Which country does not need GMAT or GRE for MBA admission?

Some universities in the UK, France, the USA, Germany, Singapore and Switzerland do not require GMAT or GRE for MBA admission. Students without GMAT or GRE scores are admitted based on other criteria such as previous academic GPA, resume, letters of recommendation, interview, curricular and social activities and other factors as decided by the particular university.

Is GMAT or GRE compulsory for MBA abroad?

The GMAT or GRE is not compulsory for MBA abroad and many top universities abroad offer MBA without GMAT or GRE scores. Either they have waived the GMAT or GRE scores for a few intakes, or made it optional and left it to the student to decide or they have scraped the whole criterion of standardised test scores.

Can I do MBA in Canada without GMAT or GRE scores?

Yes, you can do MBA in Canada without GMAT or GRE scores. Though most universities require the GMAT or GRE scores, some business schools have the provision of doing an MBA without GMAT or GRE. In such universities, GMAT or GRE scores are not compulsory as they focus on other eligibility requirements. In addition, work experience of a minimum of two years plays an important role in MBA admission in Canada.

What MBA programs do not require GMAT or GRE scores?

There are alternative ways to study MBA abroad without GMAT and GRE. Students can choose to do an online MBA, part-time MBA or executive MBA where they will get GMAT and GRE waiver. They can explore these options in case they are working professionals as the courses require job experience.

How many years of work experience is required to study MBA abroad without GMAT or GRE?

Most MBA programs abroad without GMAT or GRE scores require a minimum of two years of work experience. Usually, students who study MBA have three to five years of job experience. When GMAT or GRE scores are waived, the admission committee gives importance to the number of years of work experience of the applicant. However, you can even apply to b-schools that do not require work experience.

Is MBA without GMAT or GRE scores worth it?

Yes, MBA without GMAT or GRE scores is worth it. Business schools aim to refine the qualities of students who wish to make their mark in the business and management fields. Therefore, they consider other aspects of your past experiences for admission. Once you get admitted and complete the course with flying colours, you will certainly explore lucrative and competitive career options.

What is the GPA requirement for MBA without GMAT or GRE scores?

There is no minimum GPA requirement for MBA without GMAT or GRE scores. However, students who go to the top MBA universities abroad usually have a GPA between 3.2 and 3.7. Business schools prefer candidates who have high GPAs to the ones with lower grades. However, applicants should not be disappointed as there are often admission requirements such as impressive SOPs, LORs, that can help them overcome lower GPAs.

How many LORs are needed for MBA without GMAT or GRE scores?

Most MBA programs without GMAT or GRE scores require 2-3 LORs (letters of recommendation). Mostly, the LORs are given by the supervisors you are working for before starting your MBA. In case you do not get a LOR from your direct supervisor, you can request your colleague or an indirect manager to give you the letter.

How to prepare for an interview for MBA without GMAT or GRE scores?

To prepare for an interview for MBA without GMAT or GRE scores, students must take into consideration that an interview can be a very important selection criterion. Therefore, students must first try to bring to life all the qualities or personal attributes they have mentioned in their resume. Topics such as choice of school or your achievements in past can be discussed in the interview so it is good to prepare ahead.

Is competition high for MBA without GRE or GMAT scores?

Yes, competition is high for MBA without GRE or GMAT scores. Every year, hundreds and thousands of applicants in universities across the world apply for MBA programs. In most cases, applicants submit the standardised test scores that give them an edge over the others. Without the GMAT or GRE scores, students have to set a high bar in other requirements to get selected.

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