Accounting PhD Admissions
Thank you for your interest in the Doctoral Program in Accounting at the University of Arizona.
Application Deadline
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet these minimum requirements:
- Four-year bachelor's degree
- 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
- 675 GMAT (within the last five years)
- 100 (CBT 250, PBT 600) TOEFL (international students only)
Funding
All of our PhD students are awarded a generous financial package that covers full tuition plus a stipend for living expenses. You may be able to supplement that stipend by teaching extra courses (such as over the summer). Additional scholarships and fellowships are also available.
Recommended Prerequisite Courses
Applicants should possess a strong quantitative aptitude as evidenced by successful coursework in calculus.
Admissions Materials
Applicants must submit the following materials to the School of Accountancy:
- Official GMAT scores
- Official TOEFL scores (international applicants only, see below)
- Financial Guarantee (international applicants only, see below)
Please send materials to the following address:
PhD Program Coordinator
School of Accountancy
Eller College of Management
McClelland Hall 301
The University of Arizona
PO Box 210108
Tucson, AZ 85721-0108
Additionally, you must submit an online application to the University of Arizona Graduate College. Learn more.
International Applicants
Requirements for international applicants are listed briefly below. For more information, please refer to the Graduate College website or the International Student Programs and Services website.
U.S.-Equivalent Bachelor's Degree
Generally, a four-year, first-university degree can be considered comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, provided that it was earned at an institution officially recognized by the ministry of education as a university-level academic institution in that country. The comparability of international coursework and degrees will be determined solely by the Graduate College.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
- International applicants must have a TOEFL score of at least 100 (internet-based test).
- Test scores must not be older than two years before the start of the program they are applying to.
Please refer to the Graduate College's Proficiency in English requirements for further information.
Financial Guarantee
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires international students to have a financial guarantee during their tenure at the University of Arizona.
Financial Considerations
Program Funding
All students in our PhD program are awarded a generous financial package that covers full tuition. In addition, all students receive a stipend for living expenses. Additional opportunities to supplement the stipend by teaching extra courses (particularly over the summer) may also be available.
Although financial situations are unique to each individual, many students are able to complete the program with little to no debt associated with their cost of living and attendance.
Other Funding Opportunities
The KPMG Foundation is the founder, lead sponsor, and administrator of the PhD Project Doctoral Students Associations (DSAs), which supports minority students in business doctoral degrees through networking, joint research opportunities, peer support and mentoring. Students in the dissertation phase may also apply for the Deloitte Foundation Fellowship, worth $25,000. While this fellowship is highly competitive (awarded to just 10 students nationwide each year), multiple Arizona students have won the fellowship in prior years.
Additional funding opportunities may include:
| Funding Resource or Program | Award | Contact | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students | Up to $12,000 per year, renewable up to five years | Website | Minority students working full-time in doctoral program. Must hold Master's degree and/or have at least three years full-time experience in practice of accounting. Must be US citizen. Deadline: April 1, 2015 |
| ATA/PricewaterhouseCoopers Outstanding Tax Dissertation Award | $5,000 | Website | ATA members with completed dissertations during the required calendar year. |
| California Society of CPAs Accounting Doctoral Scholarship Program | $10,000 annually not to exceed $30,000 | Website | Candidates must be willing to become a CalCPA member, a permanent resident of the United States, and enrolled full-time in a program by September 2009. Candidates must agree to teach for at least three years in a university or college located in California. |
| Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellowship Program | $25,000 over two-year period | School of Accountancy | Candidates are recommended by the faculties of their school. Must have completed two or more semesters. $5,000 to help support during the final 12 months of required coursework and exams; $20,000 during work on dissertation. |
| Graduate Diversity Funding Programs | $10,000 fellowship for incoming students | UA Graduate College | Open to under-represented minorities, i.e. Hispanics, African Americans and Native Americans in all disciplines and under-represented students in particular disciplines. All candidates must be nominated by the UA Graduate Degree Program or the UA Student Center. |
| IIA Michael J. Barrett Doctoral Dissertation Grant | $1,000 - $10,000 | Website | Must intend to teach auditing for two years; be enrolled within one year of completion of coursework and at dissertation stage at time of award. |
| The PhD Project | Variable | Website | The mission of The PhD Project is “to increase the diversity of business school faculty by attracting African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans to business doctoral programs and providing a network of support during their doctoral programs.” |
Tucson Cost of Living
The cost of living in Tucson is significantly less than in comparable cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Houston and Denver. Compare the cost of living in Tucson to your city here.
Submit Your Application
Contact us with any questions, or if you're ready to apply to the Eller Doctoral Program in Accounting, begin your application at the UA Graduate College: