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The College of Business and Economics welcomes applications from college graduates in all areas of concentration, including the humanities, the social sciences, the physical sciences and engineering. Last year (for admission in fall 2007), the program received 19 applications and admission was granted to five applicants.  Most financial aid is in the form of graduate assistantships, which require that the recipient assist faculty in their teaching or research.  In fall 2007 three students enrolled, three with financial aid.

The Admissions Committee bases its decision upon the applicant's academic abilities, motivation, and maturity to complete graduate studies successfully. Evaluated areas include:

Grades and Courses.
Economics and finance are unique among fields in the degree to which graduate programs at the top departments differ from undergraduate programs.  The main difference involves the extent to which abstract mathematics is used.  Therefore, good grades in undergraduate courses in Economics do not guarantee success in graduate school.  Applicants should have taken a considerable amount of mathematics, up through advanced calculus at least, and should have done well in it.

GRE or GMAT scores.
We require that applicants take the 3-part general aptitude GRE or the GMAT.  The Admission Committee seeks strong evidence of quantitative ability as measured in your scores..

International Students - Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
If English is not your native language, you must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score for admissions consideration. Score minimums are as follows:

Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) - 94
Computer Based TOEFL (CBT) - 250
Paper Based TOEFL - 600

Test results cannot be more than two years old at the time you apply to your program. We must receive an official report of the scores directly from the Educational Testing Service (institution code 2365, department code 84). If you have completed a baccalaureate degree in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or Canada you may be exempt from the TOEFL exam. You are not exempt if the language of instruction is English in a non-English speaking country or if you have lived in an English speaking country for several years. For further information on the TOEFL exam, please visit www.toefl.org.

The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service® (ETS).
TOEFL Services
P. O. Box 6151
Princeton NJ 08541-6151
Phone: 1-877-863-3546 (U.S., Canada & U.S. Territories)
Phone: 1-609-771-7100 (Outside the U.S.)
Fax: 1-610-290-8972
Email: toefl@ets.org
Web: www.toefl.com

Financial Aid
International students interested in applying for college-awarded financial aid will be required to pass a Lehigh University SPEAK test upon arrival at Lehigh with a score of at least 230. The College will use the new internet-based TOEFL (iBT) as a screening tool for the awarding of financial aid to international students. In order to be considered, you must achieve a speaking section score of 28 and a listening section score of 20. All awards are contingent upon passing the Lehigh SPEAK test. Information on the Lehigh University SPEAK test may be found at www.lehigh.edu/~inesl.

Letters of recommendation.
We place considerable weight on letters of recommendation.  Letters should be from people who know you well and who are familiar with graduate programs in Economics.   

Your answers to the application questions and other written work.
Highly successful Ph.D. students in Economics display a wide variety of research skills, including creativity.  The questions we ask on the application are intended to elicit information about those skills.  Also, if you have completed a paper that displays such skills, then send us a hard copy ONLY with your application.

DOWNLOAD OUR APPLICATION BOOKLET HERE
Application Requirements

All applicants for the Ph.D. program in Economics must submit:

International applicants must also submit:

Test of English as a Foreign Language score (TOEFL)
Financial Guarantee

Applicants interested in applying for financial aid awarded through the College of Business and Economics must submit:

Financial Aid Request Form


Data Sheet
You are encouraged to apply using Lehigh's online application system .
1.  New users-create Log In ID (case sensitive) and six digit PIN number.  Please retain your Log In ID and PIN so that you may return to the application later.
2.  Choose application type " Graduate Business and Economics".
3.  International applicants-check the International Application box.
4.  Choose Term of Entry-The Program accepts applications for fall only.


The online application system will also accept your essay and resume.  Online applicants must submit their official transcripts 2 letters of recommendation and any additional forms directly to the Graduate Programs Office. Include a cover sheet with your documents listing your full application name, Date of Birth, and Log In ID.  The online application accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards for payment of the application fee of $65.

If you intend to pay the application fee by check, money order or cash, you must apply using our paper application. The application fee may not be waived.


Essay
Your essay should provide a summary of your career objectives and relevant work experiences with reference to the chosen field of graduate study.

Resume
Your resume should list your education, your professional information and your achievements. Include your computing skills.

Graduate Management Admissions Test® (GMAT) or The Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Either the GMAT or the GRE is required for admissions.  You may find a GMAT test center, test information and preparation materials by visiting the Graduate Management Admissions Council® (GMAC) website at www.mba.com

GMAT registration materials can also be obtained by contacting:
Pearson VUE
Attention: GMAT® Program
PO Box 581907
Minneapolis, MN 55458-1907
USA
Email: GMATCandidateServicesAmericas@pearson.com
Phone 1-800-717-GMAT (4628), 1-952-681-3680

The program code for GMAT test takers is 6ZB-FN-62. You may find a GRE test center, test information and preparation materials by visiting the Educational Testing Service ® (ETS) website at http://www.gre.org/generalreg.html GRE registration materials can also be obtained by contacting:
GRE - Educational Testing Service
PO Box 6000
Princeton, NJ  08541-6000
United States of America
Phone 1-609-771-7670
Phone 1-866-473-4373 (U.S.)
Fax 1-609-771-7906

Lehigh's institution code number is 2365. The GRE Department code is 1801.

Official transcripts
You must submit official transcripts from all universities attended. Official transcripts bear the signature of the university’s registrar and the seal of the issuing institution. The registrar’s office of your prior institution(s) will require written authorization for the release of your transcripts. Our sample transcript request form contains information that will be required by the registrar’s office. The transcripts must be submitted to us in a sealed envelope and may not be opened by you.

Letters of Recommendation
You must submit two letters of recommendation using our forms. Please fill in your personal information and read the waiver statement. Signing or not signing the waiver statement does not affect the admissions decision. Give the form to your recommender to complete. Your recommender is welcome to include a separate letter of recommendation along with the form. The recommender should seal the recommendation in an envelope and sign their name across the flap. The sealed recommendation may be returned to you for submission with your application materials or may be mailed directly to the Graduate Programs office. Letters from family members or friends will not be considered.

$65 Application Fee
The online application fee may be paid by Visa, MasterCard and American Express. The credit card must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Applicants using paper applications may pay by personal check, money order or cash (in person). International applicants should pay by international money order or certified bank check. Make all drafts payable to Lehigh University. The application fee may not be waived nor deferred. Applications will not be reviewed until the fee has been paid. The application fee is non-refundable.

Financial Aid Form
Financial aid in the form of assistantships and scholarships is awarded through the College of Business and Economics for full time students. Awards are based on academic performance.  Applicants for the Ph.D. in Economis program interested in financial aid must file a complete application and financial aid request form and be admitted to the Ph.D.  program before January 15. Aid is awarded in March by Lehigh’s Graduate Financial Aid Committee for the following academic year. Attach your resume to the form. International students interested in applying for college-awarded financial aid will be required to pass a Lehigh University SPEAK test upon arrival at Lehigh with a score of at least 230. The College will use the new internet-based TOEFL (iBT) as a screening tool for the awarding of financial aid to international students. In order to be considered, you must achieve a speaking section score of 28 and a listening section score of 20. All awards are contingent upon passing the Lehigh SPEAK test. Information on the Lehigh University SPEAK test may be found at www.lehigh.edu/~inesl.

Application Deadlines
Financial Aid - January 15
International students applying from outside the U.S. - May 1
Regular - June 15

Enrollment Deposit
Due to the increasing popularity of the College of Business and Economics graduate programs all degree and non-degree students must submit a $250 deposit when accepting the offer of admission to secure a place in the class. The deposit must be received by the specific deadline noted in the offer letter. Upon matriculation, the deposit will be applied to tuition; if no tuition is due, the deposit will be refunded. A student who does not matriculate forfeits the deposit.

Admission inquiries and application submissions:
Lehigh University
Graduate Programs Office
621 Taylor Street
Bethlehem PA 18015
United States of America
Phone: 610-758-5280
Fax:    610-758-5283
Email: incbe@lehigh.edu

 
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