Start your application for a March start or request more info.
Offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Engage in group discussions with professors and peers
9 courses total, 36 credit hours of graduate coursework, 10-15 hours per week, per course
Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required
Total cost of the program. Learn about your payment options
The iMSM is designed for learners ready to add business to their skill set. The program is ideal for those who have already begun their careers and seek to add a business education through a part-time program, or for those who would ultimately like to pursue an MBA, but don’t currently possess the work experience needed for admission. Through their iMSM coursework, learners can lay the foundation for future enrollment in an MBA program.
Once you’ve completed your degree, you’ll be eligible to fully stack your Master’s in Management into the iMBA program from Gies College of Business. This means if you choose to continue on to your MBA – either immediately afterward or years down the road – you’ll instantly be halfway done with your degree. Learn more.
Benefits of applying for a priority deadline:
No application fee
Apply for scholarship consideration
Priority registration for courses
Early access to Coursera for Illinois
Begin engaging with classmates via Illinois' networking platforms
Program start dates:
Program cohorts begin in January, March, May, August, and October of each year. Open courses are available to start throughout the year.
Upcoming Deadlines
Submit your application by February 6, 2025
Submit your application by March 6, 2025
Submit your application by April 3, 2025
Courses start on January 14, 2025
Summer/Fall 2025 Deadlines:
Upcoming Events:
Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu.
The full Gies Online Events Calendar can be found here.
Summer/Fall 2025 Deadlines:
Upcoming Events:
Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu.
The full Gies Online Events Calendar can be found here.
You must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent degree from an accredited institution in a foreign country. If you earned your degree(s) from a school located outside of the United States, please see the University of Illinois Graduate College's list of eligible degrees.
A grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant, for the last two years of undergraduate study is recommended. Applications are reviewed holistically; work experience, positive references, and a strong personal statement are considered indicators of success that can outweigh a lower GPA.
Applicants must upload their academic credentials (transcripts, marksheets, certificates of degree, etc.) as required by the Graduate College. For the application review process, applicants do not need to submit official academic credentials; unofficial or scanned credentials are acceptable. If admitted, however, you will be required to submit official academic credentials.
When uploading your academic credentials, please keep the following in mind:
Your professional resume should include personal information, educational background, work experience (start and end dates for each position and a brief description of responsibilities), internship experience, educational training, professional associations, and leadership experiences. Technical resumes are not required. Please limit your resume to two pages.
All degree applicants will be required to submit both an academic statement and a series of short answer personal statements. Exact essay prompts can be found within the graduate application.
Two references are required. Once contact information is entered into your application, an email is sent to your references where they will be asked to complete a short form describing their professional relationship with you. A letter of recommendation can also be submitted but is not required. It is preferred that at least one of your references is a current or former supervisor. Reference forms can be received after an application is submitted. Applicants cannot submit references on their own behalf.
If you are a non-native English speaker or do not meet one of the University of Illinois Graduate College’s exemptions, you will need to upload TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores directly to your application. If you do not have scores and do not meet an exemption, you may also upload an essay requesting an exemption. Please note that if your test scores fall within the limited status range, you may be admitted to the Performance-based Admissions Track (PAT) program to satisfy the English proficiency requirement.
The GMAT or GRE is not required for the application, but you are welcome to submit scores to supplement your application. Unofficial scores can be loaded into your application, but your official GMAT scores must be sent directly to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Institution Code – 1836.
You can use this to address any concerns you may have with your application profile. Additionally, if there is something you would like to highlight that you have been unable to discuss in other areas of the application, you can do so in this essay.
Gies College of Business and Coursera scholarship essay Gies College of Business and Coursera have partnered to offer a limited number of need-based scholarships covering 70 percent of tuition for qualified students. All applicants are eligible to apply. Recipients will be selected based on need, academic standing, and essay submissions. To apply, indicate your interest in the application and upload your essay with your application. Essay submissions must be received with the application for full consideration for the scholarship.
Requests for transfer credits will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed even if the following criteria are met. A maximum of 12 credit hours can be transferred. Transfer requests must be submitted with the application.
Ready to start your application?
The Performance-based Admissions Track (PAT) is a first-of-its-kind pathway into the iMSM program.
What is the PAT? Gies College of Business offers the PAT program for applicants who feel their profile may not be strong enough to gain direct admission to the degree program. As a PAT student, you will be able to take a set of 3 iMSM courses and get a feel for the academic rigor of the program. You will attend live sessions, complete assignments, and work on group projects just like a standard iMSM student.
If you earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, including a B or better in at least 2 courses, you will be automatically admitted to the iMSM program as a degree-seeking student. The credits earned in those three courses will also be transferred toward your MSM degree. All students admitted to the PAT will be assigned an academic advisor and will have support throughout the program. Learn more about the curriculum.
How do I apply to the PAT? If you’re interested, you simply apply using the iMSM application link, indicating that you would like to be considered for the PAT. You will undergo the same rigorous application review as a degree-seeking student, including a possible interview.
The benefits of the PAT include:
- Free application
- No enrollment deposit
- Opportunity to experience iMSM courses and earn academic credit
- Assigned academic advisor
The PAT program could be the best fit for you, if you:
- Do not meet minimum undergraduate GPA requirement (3.0)
- Have limited full-time or managerial work experience
- Are unsure if an online program is right for you
- Are uncertain about the time commitment needed to earn your MSM
International students can find admissions requirements including minimum GPA, required materials, and accepted official transcripts for their country listed here. Minimum required scores, accepted test types, and waiver information for the English proficiency requirement can be found here.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.